I saw a sign yesterday that read, “The best sermons are those without words!” What Bible is that in?
Some will be quick to mention 1 Peter 3:1, which is the advice given to holy women trying to win their husbands without a word (1 Peter 3:1-6), but that’s not the “charge” given to those who are supposed to be preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. NKJV
That doesn’t sound anything like “a sermon without words” does it? No it doesn’t. The best “sermons” use words to convince, rebuke, and exhort, since that is what is expected from those who are called to preach (verse 2 above).
A time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will gather up teachers to say what they want to hear according to their desires. That is what you can expect out of those who are not called by God to preach the Word, but called by man to fill a building. However, in any case, a sermon without words can be misleading when it is used to say “just look at the way I live,” as if that particular person is living according to what is written.
In fact, that could be a death trap if that person is blind, since when the blind lead the blind, both fall (Matthew 15:14). Therefore, test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21)! If you follow someone who doesn’t preach the Word, and doesn’t bring the doctrine of Jesus Christ (2 John 1:9-11), then let that in itself be a sign to you.
A husband may be won over by the holy conduct of his wife through conviction, but at some point someone will need to preach the Gospel to him. We are sealed through hearing the Gospel of our salvation and believing (Ephesians 1:13), and not through silence.
That’s not just a get saved and now you are going to Heaven man-made message either. No, the Gospel contains much more than that.
In the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed, which is by faith (Romans 1:16-17). The just live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” NKJV
Verse 17 starts with, “for in it,” meaning “in the Gospel” the righteousness of God is revealed. If you have not heard about the righteousness of God, which is by faith, then you have not heard the Gospel.
That may be a shock to you, but 2 Timothy 4:1-4 is happening today and has been happening since before I was born. There are millions today who have swallowed the “once saved, always saved” false doctrine, and believe that once they said Jesus is Lord, that was all they needed to do. After that, “Jesus did it all,” is proclaimed to the unsuspecting, but the Gospel is not preached with the “wisdom of words.”
1 Corinthians 1:17
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. NKJV
The Gospel itself has the power to save. As it is written, “I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe” (Romans 1:16).
The Words written on the page in the Holy Bible are what people need to hear, and not what somebody thinks. The Words themselves contain the power unto salvation. Words of human wisdom do not have the same effect (verse 17 above).
That is the very reason why people who have been “man enabled,” and not “God enabled” to come to Christ, do not accept the Words of Christ written in their own Bibles (John 6:60-69).
John 6:60-66
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” 66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. NKJV
People who have “not” been enabled by God to come to Christ (verse 65 above, and John 6:44), do not accept the teachings of Jesus. Yes they got “saved, since they are disciples, but they do not believe, and it takes believing in order to be “sealed” according to Ephesians 1:13. Consequently, they “no longer follow” Jesus after they hear the teachings of Jesus (verse 66 above), and so it is today.
Guess what happens when church building after church building is filled with these disciples who no longer follow Jesus? It’s becomes an abomination that leads to the desolation of the true church, and it is standing where it should not (Mark 13:14).
They say, “no one can snatch me out of His hands,” but they fail to realize that the sheep Jesus is referring to in John 10:28, believe Him, follow Him, and hear His voice according to John 10:25-27.
John 10:25-28
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. NKJV
Can you see what would happen if you never hear verses 25 through 27 above, but only hear John 10:28 over and over, thrown out as a promise to anyone who will listen? That’s what is happening today, and not only with that promise, but any promise that sounds good to those who simply gather up teachers to say what they want to hear.
You may be among those who got saved, but reject the teachings of Jesus. If that is the case, I suggest that you start over with John’s message, which is a baptism of repentance (Luke chapter 3). Read Matthew through John, and simply accept and believe what you read. Read all of the New Testament and do the same.
This you can be sure. Only the righteous make it into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20), and if God said it, the righteous believe it, point, blank, period. That is the very reason why they are credited righteousness (Romans 4:18-24). So, there is no such thing as a righteous person who does not believe what Jesus said.
Jesus said that if we do not abide in Him, we will be cut down and thrown into the fire and burned according to the Word of the Lord written in John 15:5-6. Do you believe that or does that offend you? Jesus said, blessed is he who is not offended because of me (Matthew 11:6).
John 15:5-6
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
If you do not believe Jesus then let that be a sign to you. Imagine that. There are people who say they trust Jesus for salvation, and yet they reject what He said. They carry a Bible and belong to faith based organizations, based on trusting someone they do not believe.
If you believe that, then how can you believe “once saved, always saved?” You can’t and with good reason; it’s not written in your Bible. In fact the exact opposite is; “saved if.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. NKJV
By the Gospel that was preached to you, and by which you have taken your stand, you are “saved, if”… Does that say saved if? Right, believe that instead. If we do not continue in God’s kindness, we will be cut off.
Romans 11:20-22
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. NKJV
If you do not believe, you will be cut off. It’s that simple. Now I know that most who read this have already turned away to follow men who say what they want to hear, but those who have been appointed for eternal life, believe the Word of the Lord (Acts 13:48).
Acts 13:48
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. NKJV
“It,” the Word itself, contains the power to build you up, and give you an inheritance among those who are being sanctified. Praise God!
Acts 20:32
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. NKJV
Those who do not obey the Gospel will simply be destroyed. Only those from among the righteous will make it.
1 Peter 4:17-19
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. NKJV
Look at the verses and know that what I am telling you is first of all written, and then believe it. Only the righteous will make it (Matthew 5:20), and the righteous believe every Word of God, point, blank, period (Romans 4:18-24).
Yes Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, and God justifies the wicked, but only the righteous have the promise listed below.
Romans 4:5-8
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” NKJV
Do you see what would happen if all you heard was verse 8 above over and over? It would be for everyone, but when you read the whole passage, then the promise is only for the righteous person. Do all believe as Abraham believed? If they did, they would accept Jesus’ teachings.
There are millions and millions who have been tricked simply because they do not know what is written in their own Bible. They carry a Bible, and attend church services every week, but their faith is in a man whom they can’t correct. The man-made system that is set up will not allow correction from the floor, which is not in line with scripture (1 Corinthians 14:29, 11:19).
Even those who are called to preach mistakenly follow the system rather than following what is written in their Bibles; chasing the lure of what seems to be the success of those who tell people what they want to hear.
However, righteousness is a part of the Gospel message, and if you are persecuted for teaching it, then you are blessed.
Matthew 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NKJV
Those who persecute you will be condemned, not because they did not get saved, but because they did not obey the Gospel.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. NKJV
In fact, all will be condemned who do not love the truth, but rather take pleasure in unrighteousness. Notice the two groups of people below. One chases miracles, but ignores the truth, and the other group holds to the teachings. Which group are you in?
2 Thessalonians 2:9-15
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
NKJV
There are two groups of people in the following passage, One does the will of the Father, and the other is caught up in miracles all the while thinking they are doing what they are supposed to be doing, but they never came to know Jesus.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ NKJV
How do we come to know Jesus except to obey His commands (1 John 2:3), and put off our old self (Ephesians 4:20-24)? If you have been in church for years, but you have never heard that, then that is why I write; to turn those who have wondered from the truth, back to the truth before they die in their sins.
James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. NKJV
Those who are sent preach the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:2, 60, John 3:34, Jeremiah 23:22), but those who have not been sent, preach whatever people want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). If that is a silent Gospel, then let them preach a silent Gospel (Revelation 22:11). I’m just trying to reach those who believe, who may have been swallowed up in the hype among them.
Revelation 22:11
11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” NKJV
I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If you have a question, please ask below, or send me a message from my home page HowToStopSinning.com.
