Gospel Honesty
Jesus had a heart for the lost, He wept over them.
He brought them the truth, He offered the gospel of salvation.
He did it with love, compassion, tenderness and kindness.
He told them to believe the scripture.
He told them to believe the prophets.
He told them to believe John the Baptist.
He told them to believe in Him!
To believe His Words!
The scripture clearly tells who Jesus is. He is the way, the truth and the life. (John 14:6)
From Matthew chapter 1 through chapter 10, Matthew lays out who Jesus is.
It all culminates in Matthew 10:32, “whoever receives Me, confesses Me, and I will confess before My Father who is in heaven.”
Then comes the typical responses from sinners back then as well as sinners today: doubt, confusion, perplexity, superficial amazement, rejection and even blasphemy.
The most common response of unbelief is “being indifferent” and having a general disinterest in Jesus.
Sinners always make up an excuse for their indifference. One that justifies them. They have no interest. People are often plagued with stubborn disinterest. Jesus will not allow anyone to be on the fence. You are either with Him or against Him!
People will say, God is not judgmental, so I don’t need to repent!
Well, John the Baptist came in funeral mode, stating “Repent you brood of Vipers!” (Judgmental) and many people refused to repent.
People then said, “God is loving so I don’t need to repent.“
Well, Jesus came in wedding mode. (Loving and compassionate) eating and drinking with sinners, healing the sick, resurrecting the dead and celebrating life, … people then criticized Him for that.
See, a sinful person looks for any excuse not to submit and surrender to God, refusing to repent, refusing to humble oneself by giving up control over their life to Jesus.
This was not a new thing back when Jesus preached, nor is it a new thing today when people hear the gospel!
What did Jesus do when the message of repentance and faith was rejected as it often is?
He did not change the message or the method, He just pronounced devastating judgment. (Matthew 11:20)
Jesus said, “It will be worse for Capernaum than Sodom in the judgment because Capernaum has heard the truth and still rejected Me.” Jesus spoke of worse punishments in hell for those who have been exposed to the gospel than those who were not. (Matthew 11:23)
The people back then were respectful, religious, and self righteous, but they still were unmoved, indifferent to the truth of Jesus Christ and the gospel and were promised to receive the severest punishment in hell in the day of judgment. That is gospel honesty! (Matthew 11:24)
If you have heard, and you have, you will be under more wrath from God if you know better and still reject His Son Jesus who He sent for you to forgive your sins.
When telling others about Jesus and the Gospel, in order for it to be honest and biblical, we must give a compelling warning as well as a compassionate plea! (Matthew 11:16-19)
If they stay indifferent, rejecting Jesus, don’t be frustrated, but praise God. Because salvation is an act of God, He deserves praise even if the offer is rejected. (Matthew 11:25)
The sinner must be told, “You are now in deeper danger than you were before you heard this! And every time you hear it again and reject Him, you are compounding your eternal punishment.”
Praise you Father of heaven and earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed it to babes.
Salvation is in the purpose and the plan of the Father! We are not in charge of the outcome, God is!
Jesus made a gracious offer, people did not want to repent and receive Him. So, He pronounces damnation on them. (Matthew 11:25)
It is not the wise and the intelligent that believe, it is the ones God has chosen. (1 Corinthians 1:21)
Why did God reveal this only to those He chose?
Jesus says, “Yes Father, It was well pleasing and good in Your sight. “ (Matthew 11:26)
It is according to and up to God’s plan.
Why was God so pleased to elect those to salvation?
He chose us for His own glory sake, according to the good pleasure of His Will, to the praise of the glory of His grace. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
It pleases Him because it gave all glory to God!
No man comes to Me unless the Father draws him. (John 6:65)
Every person who comes to salvation is a love gift from the Father to the Son, chosen before the foundation of the world, their name written down in the book of Life, drawn closer by the Father and given to the Son.
Jesus said, “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father and no one knows the Son except the Father nor does anyone know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27)
The Father saves who He wills, and the Son reveals Him to whom He wills.
Any preaching of the gospel, must include showing the sinner the punishment they have earned, what destruction lay before them, who Jesus is and what He has done for them if they believe, (trust) in Him, and if they reject Him, they will suffer more punishment than if they didn’t hear the gospel. Every hearing of the gospel and refusal to trust in the Son brings more and more punishment in Hell. (Eternal Damnation)
That is Gospel Honesty that many churches refuse to acknowledge to their congregation. That is what Jesus did. He revealed who He was, they rejected Him, He then pronounced the devastating judgment they would suffer eternally. (Matthew 11:24)
Remember, we don’t change the message or the method, we simply tell the honest truth of the gospel from scripture.
Feel free to reach out to me anytime and may God’s grace surround you.
