While the Gospel of our salvation, through Jesus Christ, originated in the loving heart of God for His elect people, it is also a manifestation of the unalterable justice of God. Hence, at Calvary, as recorded in Psalm 85:10, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." In former times, preachers, whether Arminian or Calvinist, preached the Law first, believing that the Law is the schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. Galatians 3:24. However, increasingly in recent times, the preaching of the Law is frowned upon. The open statement of many preachers, when witnessing to the unconverted goes something like this: "Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life." sin is hardly mentioned, if at all. The Alpha Course is a prime example of this. The result is salvation, supposedly, without repentance. On several occasions, while preaching concerning sin, righteousness and judgement, I have had so called Evangelicals in my face, some shouting vehemently, saying we should not be preaching condemnation but the love of Jesus. When one asks them for Scripture in support of their objection, they usually shout over one or walk away indignantly. Now, if professed evangelicals object to preaching the necessity of repentance in order to be forgiven and justified, then, surely, this indicates that they have never being convicted. Maybe, they are now being convicted and are reacting in the manner that they do. Something is very wrong. It is my contention that preaching salvation, without repentance, is filling the Church with tares. Paul preached, "Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21 |
