Tuesday, May 2, 2017
A Life-and-Death Debate
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.—Jude 1:3
I have been preaching for a long time now. I have seen a lot of generations come and go, from the Boomers and the Busters to Generations X, Y, and Z. But one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is my emphasis on the teaching of the Bible, and the preaching of the gospel. That never can change. It never will change. And it never must change.
The gospel “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16), and the gospel is under attack like never before. While the church always has had its little disagreements and has debated different things, the attack that I’m talking about is not a disagreement about preferred styles of worship music, the order of prophetic events, or the never-ending debate about the sovereignty of God and the free will of man.
This is a life-and-death debate, because there are a growing number of people who call themselves evangelicals who are questioning whether Jesus Christ really is the only way to salvation. They are debating whether all Scripture is indeed inspired by God.
Some of them would encourage us to engage in a dialogue and not in bold and decisive preaching. And we even have some who are telling us the most important thing the church should be focusing on is global warming.
This is not the faith that “was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). This is not the faith we are called to earnestly contend for.
I am all for being contemporary. I am all for being relevant. But we must be truthful. We must be accurate. And, most importantly, we must be biblical.
Let’s get our priorities straight. Let’s get back to our primary message, or we will lose what little influence we have as a church today.
Dig Deeper:
Today’s Radio Program
“Why Does God Allow Trials in the Life of the Believer?–2”
This Week’s TV Program
“Can We Have Revival in Our Time, Part 1”
Today’s Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 16; Psalm 106; Matthew 19
Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000.
Have you seen those shows where they take an old ugly house with very little potential and make it look like a dream home? That’s what Jesus does with you and me!
One of those shows—you’ve probably seen it—is called Fixer Upperand the best part about it is the interaction between the Christian couple who does the remodeling: Chip and Joanna Gaines. You can tell that they really love each other and their family and they take pride in the work they do. Well, they’ve written a book about their experiences and we’re giving copies away as thank-you gifts to those who donate to the ministry this month. You can get yours here.
P.S. – This book would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift!
