Preach the Truth
Christians preach the truth in their own view, but it often differs from the truth of the Bible. This is because they are not trying to understand the truth by the Word of God. Many determine what is the truth by their own hearts and thoughts, but we can only know the truth through the Word of God.
Proverbs 16:25
„There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
We don’t want to walk the path of death, so we need to know absolutely whether the path we are on is true in the eyes of the Lord or not? For though it may seem true in our eyes, it may still be the path of damnation.
Unfortunately, many are still on this path today due to a lack of proclamation of the truth. Because it is not enough to know the perfect truth, it must be preached to the people!
Matthew 10:27
„What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”
What could Jesus say in secret to his disciples? A lot of things, because we can't read an example in the word. But he forbade not only the disciples not to share certain things, but also those who were healed of leprosy or blindness. Why was this necessary? Why did Jesus ask for this? Because he didn’t want things to speed up. He had to fulfill all the prophecies that preceded his death. Jesus could not die without the prophecies about him being fulfilled. What Jesus said in the dark or whispered in the ear, let us now proclaim in the light and from the rooftops! But what to proclaim? The Word of God:
John 17:17
„Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
We don’t have to preach our own thoughts about Jesus. We need to proclaim what the Word of God says about Jesus. We need to preach the word, not what we think is good. We must proclaim what God has revealed to us.
Many Christians think we cannot preach God’s judgment. Yet the main message of God’s word is to be converted! From what? From the action of dead things. Therefore, if the Word of God is just rebuking someone, you have to rebuke that person! And if you do not rebuke the sinner, the sinner will continue on the path of death, and you will commit sin:
Ezekiel 3:18
„If I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”
We have a huge responsibility! If we do not preach the Word of God, which not only builds, comforts, and encourages, but primarily leads to repentance (to forsake sin), then we are actually ashamed of Jesus’ words. If we are ashamed of Jesus' words, Jesus will be ashamed of us:
Luke 9:23-26
„And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
So whoever is ashamed of Jesus’ words will be ashamed of Jesus as well. Jesus said His word is spirit and life (John 6:63), so whoever is ashamed of His words will not have eternal life.
Therefore, let us proclaim what God has revealed to us. For if we remain only the hearer of the Word of God, it will not save us from damnation.
1Corinthians 13:2
„And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
We may have great knowledge or great faith, but if we do not practice love, neither our knowledge nor our faith is worth anything. Because what is love? We learned the concept of love in the fact that the perfect and sinless Jesus, gave His life for us. That is why we are obligated to give our lives to Jesus, and even to our brothers and sisters.
1John 3:16
„By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
Therefore, we share what we have received from God, because it is not given for our own pleasures, but to give pleasure to others. We need to share our daily bread, and that is the Word of God that we can live by and give life to those who consume it. Therefore, it is not enough to know the Word of God, we need to share it with others. Love is nothing but obedience to Jesus, obedience to the Word of God, that is, obedience to the law:
Romans 13:8-11
„Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”
Yet many live in a dream. They trust in a grace they cannot partake of (for grace is conditional), wait for the fulfillment of promises that will not be fulfilled on them (because it is also conditional), think of beautiful things, and not only deceive themselves but others too. Many should wake up from their sleep and see the true message of God’s word.
But those who are awakened should be God's workers who will awaken others from spiritual death. For God called us to be light in darkness:
Luke 11:33
„No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”
Antal Farkas
(June 19, 2021)
