Preaching To Please The Lord - (No. 3)
In this article it will be the burden of the writer to point out that to please the Lord in preaching, preachers must deal with sin as it exists.
Some Deny Sin Exists
Many will admit that there is such a thing as sin, but they act like they know of no person who is guilty of sinning. Others may act as though they live above sin that they live perfect lives.
Many times when someone has committed some sin and it is found out, the attitude too often is, "Well, it doesn't really matter very much because it will 'all come out in the wash'."
Sin Exists And Brings Death
The Bible pictures sin as something that really does exist. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) "All unrighteousness is sin...." (1 John 5:17) "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1) James said (4:17), "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not to him it is sin." Inspiration teaches that to violate one's conscience is sin. (Rom. 14:23)
When one sins and does not receive forgiveness, that sin brings death. Rom. 6:23 states that "....the wages of sin is death." This death is eternal death where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. (Rev. 20:14; Matt. 25:46; Mk. 9:43-48)
To die the "second death" (Rev. 20:14) is to be banishedi forever from the presence of God and to dwell in the fires of hell with Satan,
Bible Deals With Reality — Sin
Sin is so real that man had no remedy for sin. (Tit. 3:8) The blood of bulls and goats under the law of Moses could not remove sin. The "blood of goats and calves" could not "obtain eternal redemption for us." (Heb. 9:12) It is not possible for the blood of animals to take away sins. (Heb. 10:4)
Therefore, since it was impossible for the blood of animals to remove sin, it was necessary that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, should come into the world. (John 1:29) The Lord would not accept "sacrifice and offering" for sin, thus a body was prepared for the Christ. (Heb. 10:5) Jesus Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father which was for Him to die on the cross for redemption for us all. (Heb. 10:7,9)
The sacrifice of Christ was offered one time thus it is sufficient for all time to come. (Heb. 7:27; 9:24-26) A sacrifice or "mass" does not need to be offered daily now. (Heb. 7:27)
Jesus told Zaccheus, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Lk. 19:10)
The child born of the virgin was called Jesus "for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21) Jesus declared that his blood was shed "for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28) We are washed from our sins in the blood of Christ. (Rev. 1:5)
Sin was so real that nothing but the blood of Christ could remove sin from the soul of man. (Heb. 9:22)
Those of us who preach need to deal with sin as a reality, showing our listeners that to die in sin means that they are lost eternally in hell fire. (John 8:21-24) There is too much of an attitude for us to wink at sin, to let it slip by and say nothing about it.
To please God, we must preach that sin is a reality and show lost men the scheme of redemption that God has for their salvation.
— Box 763, Jasper, Alabama
A Request From Florida Christian College
James R. Cope Several years ago the Board of Directors of Florida Christian College began consideration of the desirability to change the name of the College. After numerous discussions, the decision was made to announce that the name would definitely be changed. This announcement was made at the close of the Annual Lecture Series last February.
The Board desires the suggestions of interested friends in determining the new name of the school. Numerous suggestions have been by-passed because there are already Florida schools with those names. Out of the many names suggested by many people, the following have emerged as the three most desirable:
Florida Suncoast College Florida Coastal College Florida Westcoast College
The Board of Directors desires the comments, criticisms and suggestions of F.F.C:s friends and supporters regarding the three names listed here. A Board Committee has recommended that one of these three names be selected. Will those who read these lines be kind enough to weigh this matter and write me your thinking about it? Feel free to offer any other name that you feel better than the three now being considered by the Board. I shall then pass your observations to the Board Committee charged with the responsibility of pursuing the project to completion. Address me c/o Florida Christian College, Temple Terrace, Florida.
—O—
Jimmy Tuten, Jr., 3800 Blain Ave., St. Louis 9, Missouri. I began work with the church at Spring and Blaine the first Sunday in October. During the week of October 14-21, brother Leslie Diestlekamp preached an excellent meeting in which much good was accomplished. During the meeting there were three responses. Since the meeting, four have responded. One of these came from the Christian Church and has renounced its error. I would appreciate it if you who mailed me your bulletin while 1 was in Lauderdale, would continue to do so. I continue to appreciate the Guardian.