January 14^th , 2017

9:30 am -----------------------------------Seven Things of God From Romans 1 – Romans 1:1-32

10:00 am ---------------------------------------------Christ Before The High Priest – John 18:12-24

Speaking The Truth In Love

I do not want to speak or preach the truth to men with a harsh or mean spirit. I do not want to speak the truth in anger or wrath, for ‘the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.’ Let me witness the Truth in love to men’s souls, and do it in a loving manner. However, it is hard, if not impossible to holler ‘FIRE!’ to someone in a burning building, without appearing to be too hard. It is impossible to warn people of their danger and impending peril with a smile on your face. John the Baptist was a loving, Christ-like man, yet he cried aloud, and spared not the multitude which heard him, saying, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” It is impossible to cry , “Woe unto the wicked . . . Woe to the rebellious children . . . Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker . . . Woe unto thee Bethsaida . . . Chorazin . . . Rocky Mount; . . .it is impossible to cry, Woe unto thee, without being called ‘he that troubleth Israel.’ It is impossible to love God’s Truth and be loved by the world (Matt.5:10-12). It is impossible to be both the friend of God and the friend of the world (James 4:4).

The Truth itself is offensive and the man or woman who witnesses the Truth will seem offensive to those who hate It; being called their enemy for telling the Truth. I do not want to present the Truth in an offensive manner. However, I do not want to tone down that Truth, nor speak in such a way as to remove the offense, but must rather speak It boldly, dogmatically, and forcefully. It is too urgent, man’s case is too desperate to mince words and beat around the bush. And here’s the thing. Though our fellow man is to be pitied by us, and compassion shown to him, yet, he is to be blamed. He needs to be charged with his sin(s). He needs to see His guilt before God. Man’s unbelief is not merely ignorance, it is willful ignorance. It is not ‘poor fellow, he just doesn’t know’, it is, “You have despised and rejected the Son of God, and have taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain.” To ignore and pay no attention to the gospel, to be uninterested in God’s Son, is the same as saying, ‘I don’t care if He lived or died.’ Man’s unbelief is not because he has not been taught, for, have they not all heard? Do they not have a Bible? Man’s unbelief is willful rebellion against God; He is the enemy of God and hates God’s Truth (Rom. 8:7).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding” (Prov.9:10). Men must be brought to fear the Holy One (for their rebellion against Him). Before they hear of love and mercy, they must fear Him and cry for mercy. Before they hear of the Substitute for sinners, they must need that Substitute. Men must see themselves as the hell-deserving creatures that they are and call on God for mercy. Sinners need to first see themselves as sinners in the hands of an angry God, before they hear of the love and mercy of God. It is old-fashioned, but I am talking about REPENTANCE.

Let me not apologize or excuse man’s sin and rebellion . . . my sin and rebellion; and let me not apologize to men for God’s wrath and condemnation against it. Let me not fail to warn men to flee from the wrath to come, while telling them to flee to that very same God to hide them. Let me tell the Truth in love and zeal. Let me speak the Truth with fire in my heart and a tear in my eye. Let me love God’s Truth and hate every false way. Let me be a friend to unbelieving men and yet not be the friend, nor the companion of them. Let me bring proud man down, while telling him to look up. Let me not be afraid to call out and denounce sin and sins, while telling men there is forgiveness for sins. Let me be a man after God’s own heart, like David, saying, “ They speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy Name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” (Psa.139:20-22). At the same time, let me say with Isaiah, “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa.55:6-7).

Spiritual Blindness