Preach the Word!

The apostle Paul instructed Timothy to preach the Word of God. He said, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:1-4). The call to “preach the word” is indeed an urgent and necessary call in the times we are living today.

It is very evident that we are living in a world where for some, right is wrong and wrong is right. Paul also told Timothy, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good” (2 Timothy 3:1-3). These truths are very self-evident here in the United States. 

It is as if Paul is writing in the 21st century. Because the things stated here are undeniably taking place in today’s society. The news media tells it exactly as it is. Many Christians sincerely believe we are living in the “last days” as stated in the Scripture. And that the “second advent” of the Lord Jesus Christ can take place any day now. In comforting His apostles, Jesus announced His coming again. “Let not your hearts be troubled . . . for I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

However, in spite of the gloom and doom in the world, there is still hope and good news. The Bible says “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). There is much more to life than the things which we can actually see, feel and touch. The Christian’s hope reaches beyond this present evil age because of  faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible says this about hope. “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24,25). We are also told we “have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” (Hebrews 6:18,19). 

Church leaders and lay preachers need to preach God’s Word as never before, so that lives can be changed and people come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How shall they hear without a preacher? No wonder Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the word; be ready  in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2). Some Churches are preaching about financial prosperity, and how to “feel good about yourself,” rather than telling people their need to be right with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

After His resurrection, Jesus gave us this great commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19,20). There is only one true gospel, which is “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

The Lord Jesus appeared to the apostle Paul on the Damascus Road and saved him by His grace. Then He commissioned him to preach the Gospel. Paul response? “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. “ (Galatians 1:11,12). 

Jesus Christ is the highest authority of the Gospel. And Paul fully realized this, hence he could declare to those who were trying to add things to the Gospel: “As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:9). 

The one true gospel means “Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone.” Let pastors and others who are preaching a gospel contrary to the one true gospel be warned; “let him be “accursed,” as the Bible says.