Preaching: Dispensing Truth to Be Received (3)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. -2 Cor. 5:20
The gospel is declared in a sweet manner. 'I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God' (Rom. 12:1). The law comes with curses, but now in the gospel Christ is preached with sweet alluring. 'We as ambassadors beseech you, as if Christ by us did beseech you, be reconciled to God' (2 Cor. 5:20). This is the manner of the spreading of the gospel, even to beg people to be good to their own souls. The great God of heaven and earth begs our love, that we would care for our own souls and be reconciled to him. It is more fit that we should beg of him, but God stoops in the ministry of the gospel, and he becomes the beggar and suitor to us to be good to our souls. He himself becomes a beseecher of reconciliation, as if he were the party that had offended. This is the manner of the publication of the gospel, showing us what it is to preach Christ.
Further, it is more helpful to people's weakness to have men who preach the gospel to speak out of their own experience, to speak of the comfort they have felt for themselves. Those who first preached the gospel, they were such as had felt the sweetness of it themselves. Paul, a great sinner outside of the church, and Peter inside the church. Peter fell after he was in the state of grace, that these great apostles might show to all people that there is no ground for despair. Paul was 'a blasphemer' and 'a persecutor' (1 Tim. 1:13), yet he found mercy . He found mercy for this end, that he 'might teach the mercy of God to others, that he might be an example of the mercy of God' (1 Tim. 1:16). If we relapse and fall, let no one despair. For Peter, a great teacher in the church, an apostle, see how foully he fell! Now, when men subject to the same infirmities, proclaim the mercy of God out of the book of God, their preaching will work more effectively upon their listeners.
Further, it is more helpful to people's weakness to have men who preach the gospel to speak out of their own experience, to speak of the comfort they have felt for themselves. Those who first preached the gospel, they were such as had felt the sweetness of it themselves. Paul, a great sinner outside of the church, and Peter inside the church. Peter fell after he was in the state of grace, that these great apostles might show to all people that there is no ground for despair. Paul was 'a blasphemer' and 'a persecutor' (1 Tim. 1:13), yet he found mercy . He found mercy for this end, that he 'might teach the mercy of God to others, that he might be an example of the mercy of God' (1 Tim. 1:16). If we relapse and fall, let no one despair. For Peter, a great teacher in the church, an apostle, see how foully he fell! Now, when men subject to the same infirmities, proclaim the mercy of God out of the book of God, their preaching will work more effectively upon their listeners.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 506-07
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 506-07
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Categories
Recent
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 30
December 30th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 29
December 29th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 28
December 28th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 27
December 27th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 26
December 26th, 2024
2024
January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
No Comments