** Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. **

Date:   5/16/2018 8:07:48 PM ( 6 y ago)

" The Truth hurts when you can not accept it! "

John 6:61, "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Does this offend you?"

This scripture, as well as Matthew 15:12, reveals that people will often be offended by the Gospel message.

Mark 7:10-14
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:

11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Acts 10:15; Rom. 14:14, 17, 20; 1 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:15)

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said,
“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. (Is. 60:21; 61:3; John 15:2; 1 Cor. 3:12, 13)

14 Let them alone.
They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Is. 9:16; Mal. 2:8; Matt. 23:16, 24; Luke 6:39; Rom. 2:19

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As much as possible, however, we should make sure that it is not we ourselves that are offensive.
But we cannot labor under the deception that everyone will receive the Gospel, even if the truth was presented properly. We know that Jesus represented His Father perfectly and yet most people rejected His message.

In these two instances, when Jesus realized He had offended the listeners, He didn't apologize and try to make concessions to gain their acceptance.

Instead, He got harder. This hard message of commitment is not only beneficial to those who receive it, but it serves a dual purpose in that it exposes the "tares among the wheat."

It is important to be aware that the children of the wicked one are placed among the true believers. We should be very careful about putting just anyone who professes Christianity into any position of authority (1 Tim. 3:10).

Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down.
False brethren will not endure sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3).

They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. There will still, however, be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, remaining among the Church until the end of this world.

As long as Jesus was in the world in His physical body, He was lighting the way to the Father. He now shines through our lives.
It is our responsibility to be a witness. The purpose of a light is to dispel the darkness. So "let your light shine before men...."
(Matt. 5:16).

 

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