A Street Preacher Who Pleases God
The world hates God's Word and His people, along with a bunch of folks that claim the name of Christ as well.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would have a two-fold mission: He would be 'the comforter" to believers and would lead them into all truth, but to the world He would be an agent of supernatural conviction and convincing in regards to three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. Sin, righteousness, and judgment. This is John 16:8.
Why these three? Jesus explains in the next few verses.
(v 9) in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
(v 10) in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
(v 11) 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Because of mankind's sin, the highest form of which is rejection of Christ, we don't know what sin is unless God tells us. Our very minds are turned by sin so that we do not understand until God reveals it to us and we in turn accept it. Because of this, mankind wants to be free to do whatever they want to do - to set customized moral standards, and in their minds they convince themselves that this is acceptable - and is in fact their right. God the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, counters this error with the truth that only God sets the standards for right and wrong. These concepts begin and end with His very nature and character, which is unchanging Holiness.
Jesus Christ was the only "righteous" human ever to walk the face of the Earth because He had no sin, therefore He was in "right standing" before God - which is what "righteousness" means. Because He was only on the Earth for 33 years we no longer can see Him with our human eyes, so we have no living, breathing example of what true righteousness looks like. God the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, provides this same truth through the words of Jesus and His Apostles so that man is without excuse.
Mankind thinks he can get away with sin, because it seems that he is currently succeeding in sin. But God has said otherwise. Among all the things Christ accomplished on the Earth in regards to His teaching, humility, and suffering, stands a truth that is not often said: He defeated sin and death, as well as their champion: Satan. The prince of this world - the prince of sin and death, was defeated by the Sar Shalom - the Prince of Peace. In the cross of Jesus Christ God has shown us His very nature: His Glory. It is complete mercy and forgiveness for the repentant believer, while at the same time being an absolutely crushing, victorious power in destroying sin through His righteous judgment. God has shown that He will destroy sin wherever and in whomever He finds it. Even if it is found in His Son. This was the purpose of the sacrificial atonement on the cross. The one Who had no sin, taking our sin upon Himself so that those who repent and believe can have eternal life. But even God the Son, when sin was placed to His account, was culpable before God's justice. If this happened to Him: God's one and only Son, how will you go free unless you repent and believe? And how can you truly repent unless you are convicted of your sin? And you can you be convicted of your sin unless the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God visits you with the truth? The answer is you can't. (Romans 10:13-21)
When God speaks to these issues He speaks of sin, righteousness, and judgment. If you have a preacher, what does he speak of? The liberal, hippie Jesus seen on the sides of buses that would never say anything 'offensive' to anyone? That is an image the world loves, but it is not Christ. Is their speech filled with endless trite statements and platitudes? Do they speak like a 'life coach' that knows a bit of Scripture? If so, their claim to be God's preacher is suspect at best.
Godly preachers speak in the power of the Holy Spirit. Their tact, their words, their mission.. is His: speaking the truth of sin, righteousness, and judgment so that men and women, boys and girls can be convicted of their sin so that they will not have to spend an eternity in hell.
God bless this street preacher for loving people enough to tell them the truth. Our world needs God's approach to preaching, not man's.
News Article Here
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would have a two-fold mission: He would be 'the comforter" to believers and would lead them into all truth, but to the world He would be an agent of supernatural conviction and convincing in regards to three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. Sin, righteousness, and judgment. This is John 16:8.
Why these three? Jesus explains in the next few verses.
(v 9) in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
(v 10) in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;
(v 11) 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Because of mankind's sin, the highest form of which is rejection of Christ, we don't know what sin is unless God tells us. Our very minds are turned by sin so that we do not understand until God reveals it to us and we in turn accept it. Because of this, mankind wants to be free to do whatever they want to do - to set customized moral standards, and in their minds they convince themselves that this is acceptable - and is in fact their right. God the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, counters this error with the truth that only God sets the standards for right and wrong. These concepts begin and end with His very nature and character, which is unchanging Holiness.
Jesus Christ was the only "righteous" human ever to walk the face of the Earth because He had no sin, therefore He was in "right standing" before God - which is what "righteousness" means. Because He was only on the Earth for 33 years we no longer can see Him with our human eyes, so we have no living, breathing example of what true righteousness looks like. God the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, provides this same truth through the words of Jesus and His Apostles so that man is without excuse.
Mankind thinks he can get away with sin, because it seems that he is currently succeeding in sin. But God has said otherwise. Among all the things Christ accomplished on the Earth in regards to His teaching, humility, and suffering, stands a truth that is not often said: He defeated sin and death, as well as their champion: Satan. The prince of this world - the prince of sin and death, was defeated by the Sar Shalom - the Prince of Peace. In the cross of Jesus Christ God has shown us His very nature: His Glory. It is complete mercy and forgiveness for the repentant believer, while at the same time being an absolutely crushing, victorious power in destroying sin through His righteous judgment. God has shown that He will destroy sin wherever and in whomever He finds it. Even if it is found in His Son. This was the purpose of the sacrificial atonement on the cross. The one Who had no sin, taking our sin upon Himself so that those who repent and believe can have eternal life. But even God the Son, when sin was placed to His account, was culpable before God's justice. If this happened to Him: God's one and only Son, how will you go free unless you repent and believe? And how can you truly repent unless you are convicted of your sin? And you can you be convicted of your sin unless the Word of God in the power of the Spirit of God visits you with the truth? The answer is you can't. (Romans 10:13-21)
When God speaks to these issues He speaks of sin, righteousness, and judgment. If you have a preacher, what does he speak of? The liberal, hippie Jesus seen on the sides of buses that would never say anything 'offensive' to anyone? That is an image the world loves, but it is not Christ. Is their speech filled with endless trite statements and platitudes? Do they speak like a 'life coach' that knows a bit of Scripture? If so, their claim to be God's preacher is suspect at best.
Godly preachers speak in the power of the Holy Spirit. Their tact, their words, their mission.. is His: speaking the truth of sin, righteousness, and judgment so that men and women, boys and girls can be convicted of their sin so that they will not have to spend an eternity in hell.
God bless this street preacher for loving people enough to tell them the truth. Our world needs God's approach to preaching, not man's.
News Article Here
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