“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
Persecution?
That doesn't seem to be something that Christians in comfortable, prosperous America, are experiencing much of, here at home.
Have you been jailed, beaten, or tortured lately for sharing your faith in your U.S. city?
I searched throughout the book of Acts this morning to see what the main focus was by Paul and the other Disciples, and what they were persecuted for.
Any guesses what the answer is?
Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here's what Paul preached:
”Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and
that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
In that short passage, Paul twice said, "According to the Scriptures."
Jesus was crucified on a cross and died there for our sins, He was buried, and then rose from the dead on the third day—according to the Scriptures.
If you are trying to "share your faith" with unsaved people, but it doesn't include the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried and then rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, then it's not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Over the last twenty or so years of being a Christian, I have heard many religious people say the following, or something close to it:
"All I know is we're just supposed to love people."
And in context, what every one of these people meant by this, is we're to never offend people by preaching God's Word to them, we're just supposed to be loving and nice to them.
But let's be honest. The message of the Gospel is offensive to the unsaved.
It proclaims that we are sinners. That's offensive when most people will tell you, "I'm a good person. I don't kill people or rob banks." Tell someone they are a sinner and they will probably be offended.
It proclaims that our sins are so great that Jesus—the Son of God—had to die on a cross for our sins to be forgiven. That's really offensive. It tells me that my sins are so bad I deserve to go to Hell, and that I can't work my way into Heaven by doing good deeds, or according to my own merit. It tells me that I am absolutely not a "good person."
It proclaims that we all are accountable to God and that He will judge us. That is very offensive to someone who either doesn't believe in a God, or to someone who won't admit that he has broken God's laws.
It proclaims that we all are hopelessly lost and desperately in need of Christ The Savior.
If you share the Gospel Truth with people... no matter how nice and lovingly you try to do it, the chances are that they will be offended by it.
You, as one who shares God's Truth in love, will be offensive to them.
Look at the Apostles and disciples in the Bible who were jailed, beaten, or killed. They were not persecuted in this way because they "just loved people."
No one is ever persecuted, beaten, or killed for simply being nice.
Please don't misunderstand me.
We are supposed to be loving and nice to people. And in sharing our faith, we should testify of all the good things that God has done in our lives, and how He has blessed us. Never stop doing that, and always give God the glory in the process.
We are supposed to be loving and nice to people. And in sharing our faith, we should testify of all the good things that God has done in our lives, and how He has blessed us. Never stop doing that, and always give God the glory in the process.
But no matter how impressed someone might be with how God-blessed your life is, and may even say, "I want what you have"—make no mistake about it; unless they hear and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and repent of their sin, and turn to the living God; they will not be saved and born again by the Spirit of God.
When the Apostle Peter gave the fist sermon after the Church was birthed in the Spirit, on the Day of Pentecost, all those men being convicted and cut to the heart, when Peter told them that they had crucified and killed Jesus, who was both Lord and Christ, said, "What must we do?"
Peter said:
Peter said:
“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Paul said:
Even to the ultra-hip, intellectual philosophers in Athens, Paul preached repentance from sin, God's judgement, and Christ's resurrection from the dead:
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on
which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.
He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)
Study the entire book of Acts and see how many times Peter, John and Paul were imprisoned or persecuted for preaching the Gospel, or preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Paul said:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with
excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For
I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)
Had these faithful disciples of Jesus Christ not courageously loved God and people enough to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their day, we might not be where we are today; saved and free in Jesus Christ to boldly and courageously speak the same Truth in love to people in our day.
"Freely you have received—now freely give." —Jesus
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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