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30 December 2019 WSU

Christology and Preachers

Christology is the study of the person and the work of Jesus Christ. For Christians what could be more befitting than to study Christ? Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. Paul wanted to preach nothing else but Christ (1Cor 1:23; 2:2; 2Cor 4:5; Phil 1:18). We can never understand enough about Christ because He is beyond comprehension for a finite man. However, what He reveals in the Scripture is more than enough for our salvation and the whole of our life and ministry. Therefore, the more we search Him in the Scripture, the more we know Him. He is the good master Shepherd; preachers must follow Him to be true under-shepherds.

The preaching ministry is the ministry of the Word. The Person and Work of Christ are the central themes in the Bible. There are numerous ways addressed or named to the God of the Bible in the Bible. A deeper understanding of the eternal existence of Christ by discovering Christ in the Old Testament will surely bring greater confidence in the Word (both the OT and the NT). Which in turn will make the preaching more effective for building up the congregation through the word of God.

Salvation has come unto man only in Christ. A deeper understanding of the Person and Work of Christ will surely make preacher passionate to present the gospel in every preaching. The preaching of the gospel will convict the heart of the sinners and the self-righteous to come to Christ. Moreover, the preaching of the gospel will exalt Christ for who He is and what He has done. Worship will be more genuine. The congregation would grow to a godly living through repentance.

Christians are called out from worldly living to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. A deeper understanding of Christology will ultimately result in knowing how to be more Christ-like. Preaching will focus for the perfecting of the saints to the likeness of Christ. Thus it will help the preacher and the congregation to live maturely.

Preaching ministry will have no fruit if the word of God is not preached with a shepherding spirit to the congregation. A deeper understanding of Christology will enable preacher to have the compassion of Christ, and the boldness of Christ both to guide and protect the congregation from going astray. A wrong view of Christ would be confronted. False teaching would be warned. Low-view of Christ would be challenged. And the congregation will learn to contend for the truth against all heresies.

There are lots of important doctrines in the Bible regarding certain things. I believe a right understanding of Christology will enable preachers to understand the other major doctrines of the Bible too. Preaching ministry will be protected from convoluted teaching. Thus, preaching would be accurate, and clear enough to be understoodby the congregation.

Christ is the only perfect man ever lived. Perfect life can be attained only by imitating Him. There is no other way for humans than to imitate Him to live a meaningful, joyful, and complete life. A deeper understanding of Him will enable the preacher to imitate Him. Only then the preaching ministry will be more effective in shepherding people to imitate Christ as the highest goal of their life.

A deeper understanding of Christology will enable the preacher to live under the yoke of Christ and would be reflected in the preaching and the congregation. His love for humankind, His prayer to God, His submission to the Father, His love for the Church, and His faithfulness towards His promises. His mercy, love, grace, peace, and joy will be experienced in the preaching ministry.

Moreover, this world is full of suffering and injustice. Christ gives hope for every Christian to live on. A deeper understanding of Him would enable preachers to preach the hope we have in Christ to trust Him for what He promised both for the present and the future to come. The promises of Christ and the power of Christ would be evident in the preaching ministry for the hope of Christian life.

Are All Sins Equal?

Are All Sins Equal? (In 1000 words)

The simple answer is Yes and No. We can consider it in three headings:

I.                  CONSEQUENCE OF SIN

1.     Potential of Sins: The end result of all sins is the same – eternal separation from God, and eternal damnation (Rom 6:23). The solution for all sins is also only through one Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 6:23). Before God, all sins are an abomination. Small or big sins (humanly speaking), all sins make us miss the standard of God’s holiness (Rom 3:23). Sin is anything that falls short of the glory of God. Only one sin can cost you eternal damnation. The Bible says in James 2:10, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” In fact, sin is not primarily about committing or omitting by an individual; rather sin is already enslaving us for we are a sinner by nature, from our conception (Eph 2:1-3; Ps 51:5). Therefore, no matter how much or how less we think we do, we are all guilty before God; and the fitting place is the lake of fire because of the demand of God’s holiness. Everyone is a sinner since before we know what is right and wrong. Sin entered the world through Adam, and all died and will die because of sin (Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:22). This alone, also known as “original sin” is serious enough to condemn us to hell. We sin because we are sinful at the core of our nature. Whatever we do is sinful-though not necessarily as sinful as a sinner can be-unless God regenerates our dead soul. God will not allow any sin to go unpunished. Are All Sins Equal? YES. Serious Enough For God’s Wrath.

2.     Actual Judgment of Sins: Some sins are worse than the others. The Bible says clearly in many passages that there is a degree of sins, and so the judgments too. (Luke 7: 41-47; 12: 47-48). There are greater sins (Eze. 8:6 , 13, 15). The Mosaic laws differentiate intentional and unintentional sins (Lev 4:2, 13, 22, 27). Jesus in his teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and the Law declares judgment concerning the degree of commitment (Matthew 5:19).  Moreover, Jesus says in John 19: 11, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” Matthew 11:20-24 also gives enough evidence about the degree of Judgment. Even the Believers Judgment of 1Cor 3:12-15 implies the degree of judgment. And still Hebrews 10:26-29 talks about the worst punishments. Are All Sins Equal? NO. As a man sows, so shall he reap!

II.               SOLUTION FOR SINS

God is not only a righteous and just God but also a merciful and gracious God. God will not just send anyone to hell because of the original sin. He provides salvation in Jesus. People go to hell on their choices. (John 3:16-18; 8:21, 24). Moreover, Galatians 6: 7 says “whatever a man sows that he will also reap.”

1.     Pardonable: Jesus’ blood suffices for the forgiveness of all sins (Heb 10:10; 2: 17; Rom 3:25; 1John 2:2; 4:10) The Condition is to believe in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3: 8, 16). If one knows Christ (is saved), his sins are no longer counted. Big sins or small sins do not matter. He has become the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21)

2.     Unpardonable Sin: Sins are not equal. It matters what sin you commit. There is a sin that leads to death, which should not be asked for forgiveness (1John 5:16). Hebrews 6:4-6 talks about the impossibility of repentance towards God for Salvation. More so, Christ talks about the unpardonable sin in Matt.12: 31-32 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the [age] to come.” We understand this in the light of John 3:17-18; Heb 10: 26-29; Matthew 7:21-23. No matter how you feel, no matter how much good work (including Christian work) you do, no matter whatsoever, if you reject Christ constantly, you die in your sin.

III.           POSITION OF A SINNER

1.     Redeemed Sinner: All the sins of believers are justified in the Cross (Heb 10: 14; 1John 1:9). There is nothing that he can do to lose his salvation (Rom 8:31-39). No sin has any effect on his eternal position. Moreover, a believer is free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). However, sin matters in the earthly life. Believers sin (1John1:8) and therefore, God chastises His children (Hebrews 12:3-11). And that too, in God’s sovereignty, all things work out together for good (Romans 8:28). And one day he shall be free from the practice and presence of sin (Romans 8:29-30).

2.     Unregenerate Sinner: He has no forgiveness of sins both in earth and eternity (John 3:17-18). Sin reigns over him. He is bondage to sin (John 8:48). Death reigns over him physically and spiritually; earthly and eternally. (Rom 5: 12-14). Moreover, God has no obligation to do good for sinners (Proverbs 28:9). Non-believers live in guilt and finally go to the eternal lake of fire.

The effect and consequence of sin are different for a believer (redeemed sinner) and a non-believer (unregenerate sinner). Sins Are Not Equal.

CONCLUSION: Sins in the sight of God are all the same. It demands His holiness against it – damnation and eternal separation. There is no small sin that God will look over it and let you be in heaven. However, God punishes and will punish sin according to the degree of sin. Jesus provides the only Salvation for the forgiveness of sins. He who believes is saved and He who does not believe (reject) dies in his sin (which is the eternal torment). A believer is freed from sin and a  non-believer is a slave of sin. The Effect And Consequence Of Sin Are Not The Same.