THE DOCTRINE OF THE GODHEAD
by Pastor Britt Williams

The Bible repeatedly asserts that God is one. He is one God (James 2:19) and one Jehovah (Deut 6:4). However, nowhere in Scripture are we ever told that God is one person.  The Bible teaches there is one God manifest in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Oneness Pentecostalism teaches that Jesus is the Father, He is the Son and He is the Holy Ghost.  Hence the name, Jesus Only.  However, evidence from the Word of God clearly refutes this erroneous doctrine which dishonors the Godhead.  Indeed, the Scripture does state there is one God, but the word “one” relates to unity as well as number.  For example, I John 5:7 communicates the Godhead as being one in unity while carefully preserving the distinction of persons within.

1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The three are spoken of as one in number and yet treated individually in Scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father,of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Thus there are three separate persons in divine individuality and divine plurality. The Father is called God…

1 Cor. 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father…

The Son is called God…

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God.

And the Holy Spirit is called God…

Acts 5:3-4  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Individually, each is called God; collectively, they can be spoken of as one God because of their perfect unity. The word”God” can be used either in the singular or in the plural, like sheep. Everything that could pertain to God collectively could also apply equally to each member of the Godhead as individuals. However, there are some particulars which relate to each individual person of the deity as to position, office, and work that could not be attributed to either of the other members of the Godhead.  For instance, the Father is the head of Christ…

1 Cor. 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

The Son is the only begotten of the Father…

2 John 1:3  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

The Holy Ghost proceeds from both the Father and the Son…

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…

 Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

PLURALITY IN SCRIPTURES

The names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew word Elohim, translated “God” in Genesis 1:1 and also in more than 2,700 other places in the Old Testament, is a uni-plural noun which means “more than one.” Had the sacred writer been led to use the singular El, then there would have been no indication of a divine plurality. But in this initial reference to God, he was led of the Holy Ghost to pen the Word Elohim.

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth.

Also when one considers that the word Elohim is used about ten to one over the word El, we would have to conclude that this preference for the plural over the singular indicates a definite sign of plurality in the Godhead. Genesis 3:22, where it says, “the man has become as one of us,” proves plurality of persons by the use of the pronoun “us.” Two Lords are mentioned in Genesis 19:24–one on earth and one in heaven. Two Lords sit side by side in Psalms 110:1-5, in Matthew 22:44, and in Acts 2:33-34, 36. Two and three Persons are mentioned in the introductions to many New Testament books: Romans, James, I Corinthians, I Peter, to name a few.

JESUS IS NOT THE FATHER

We know from the Word of God that while Jesus was on earth the Father was in heaven…

Matthew 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Consider Jesus praying, “Let this cup pass from Me.”

Matthew 26:39  And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Here, Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, right before His betrayal.  He was praying to the Father about the ordeal He was about to undergo. Several points are worth bringing out here.  First, in this passage, Jesus addresses the Father. He says, “Oh my Father…” Note that Jesus says”my” and “Father.” These two words designate a “me and you” relationship.  Second, “If it be possible” is Jesus expressing a desire, a hope. What is that hope or desire? It is that “this cup pass from me.” The cup Jesus is speaking of is the immanent ordeal of betrayal, scourging, and crucifixion. Jesus did not want to go through this. He was expressing His desire.  It was His will not to undergo the severe ordeal ahead of Him.  If this was not so, He would not have expressed the desire to have the cup pass from Him.  Third, Jesus says, “Nevertheless., not my will, but thine, be done.”  With this,Jesus is expressing His will and contrasting it to the will of the Father. Yet,He is stating that even though He does not want to undergo what lay ahead,”Nevertheless,” He would submit to the will of the Father.This shows that the person of Jesus had a separate and different will than the Father. Since we have two separate simultaneous wills, we have two separate and simultaneous persons and Oneness Pentecostal theology is incorrect.

We also know that Christ now sits at the right hand of the Father…

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus also said He would confess men before His Father which was in heaven, proving He (Jesus)is not Himself the Father…

Matthew 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus was the only begotten Son of the Father. Hence, Jesus could not be the Father, nor could He beget Himself…

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Over 80 times in the Word of God Jesus affirmed that He was not the Father, nor was He the only person in the Godhead. Admittedly, we do not understand everything about the Trinity. However, it does become somewhat less confusing and mysterious if we don’t try to force two or more separate Persons into becoming only one Person, simply because we choose not to recognize that the true meaning of the word “one” actually refers to unity.

THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT JESUS OR THE FATHER

The Holy Spirit is another and He is from both the Father and the Son (John 5:32).

John 5:32  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Jesus could not be the Holy Ghost as Jesus said it was necessary for Him to go away for the Holy Ghost to come…

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

So, what do we have? Jesus is God; the Holy Ghost is God; the Father is God. But Jesus is not the Holy Spirit; Jesus is not the Father. And neither is the Father the Lord Jesus Christ; nor is the Father the Holy Spirit. The Scriptural passages which provide the basis for the Trinitarian doctrine cannot be reconciled to the Jesus Only position without totally disregarding the meaning of language and without totally ignoring many contrary Scriptures. On the other hand, the favorite Jesus Only passages can be reconciled without strain or contradiction to the Trinitarian position.

RESPONDING TO ONENESS

1. Oneness apologists claim that Deuteronomy 6:4 denies the Trinity.

Deut. 6:4  Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord…

Deuteronomy 6:4 does not deny the Trinity, but rather affirms one of the tenets of the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that there is “one God.” Quite often, those who argue against the Trinity don’t understand the doctrine of the Trinity well enough to explain it, much less refute it. Oneness apologists often claim that the Trinity is a belief in three Gods in order to make the doctrine contradict the Bible. On the contrary, Trinitarians believe in one God who exists in three separate, simultaneous, persons.

2. Oneness apologists claim that Isaiah 9:6 proves that Jesus is God the Father.

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The careful examination of the original languages indicate “Everlasting Father” can be rendered “Father of Eternity.” Therefore, “Father of eternity” in Isaiah 9:6 means that Jesus is “eternal.” According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary this implies that Jesus is the creator of the ages (Heb.1:2; 11:3). It does not mean that He is, “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor.1:3).

3. Oneness apologists claim that John 5:43 shows that “Jesus”is the Father’s name and thus that Jesus is the Father.

John 5:43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name,him ye will receive.

Notice that the second part of this verse insinuates that one who comes “in his own name” is not to be “received.” If Jesus was actually the Father which would literally make His name Jesus, then He would have been coming “in His own name” and it would have been wrong to receive Him. This contrast between “My Father’s name” and “his own name”proves that Jesus did not come “in his own name.”Therefore, “Jesus” is not the Father’s name, and Jesus is not the Father. This turns out to be a proof text against oneness theology.

4. Oneness apologists claim that John 10:30 proves the Father and the Son are one person.

John 10:30  I and my Father are one.

Any first year Greek student will notice that a one-person interpretation of this verse is precluded by the first person plural in the Greek New Testament. A literal translation of this verse would be: “I and the Father we are one.” If Jesus was the Father, He would have used the first person singular and said, “I am the Father.” Furthermore, the Greek word for “one” is in the neuter gender which points to the idea of one in “unity or one essence.”   The masculine form would have been used to signify one in contrast to many.

5. Oneness Pentecostals claim that John 14:6-11 proves that Jesus is God the Father.

John 14:6-11  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so longtime with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Notice in the passage that Jesus begins by stating, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me” and later states, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  Dr. Robert  Bowman  points out that “the natural sense of these words is that Jesus is not the Father, but a mediator between us and the Father.” It would be ridiculous for Jesus to claim that no man could come “to” the Father except “through” Him if Jesus and the Father were one and the same person. The words “to” and”through” only make sense if Jesus and the Father are distinct persons, with Jesus being the Mediator between man and the Father. In verse 7,Jesus states, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” Bowman points out that “this is true, not because Jesus is the Father,but because those who know Jesus are led by Him to know the Father as they see Him imaged perfectly in Jesus. Thus, says Jesus, ‘from now on you know Him, and have seen Him’ (v.7b). Existing with the Father as the one indivisible Divine Being, Jesus can say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ (v.9). Nevertheless, Jesus does not say, ‘I am the Father,’ but rather, ‘I am in the Father and the Father is in Me’ (v.10, repeated in v.11; and 10:38).” Oneness believers frequently cite the second part of this last statement, “the Father is in Me,” to mean that the deity (“Father”) dwells in the humanity (“Son”) of Jesus. This view, however, is clearly faulty in light of the first part of the sentence, “I am in the Father,” which in oneness terms would mean that the human nature of Jesus dwells in His deity. No Oneness Pentecostal believes the humanity of Jesus dwelt in the divinity of Jesus. Moreover, it fails to account for the fact that in this same context, as well as elsewhere, Jesus uses this sort of expression to denote His unity with believers: “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you inMe, and I in you” (v.20; and 17:21-23).

6. Oneness apologists interpret John 17:6,11-12 as proof that”Jesus” is the Father’s name and therefore that Jesus is the Father.

John 17:6, 11-12  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word….11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Oneness writers point to the words “manifested” and “gave” in order to claim that Jesus was the Father’s name, and that the Father “gave” His name to Jesus, as evidence that Jesus is the Father. They overlook the fact that a human father can give his name to his son, without the father and son being the same person!  Furthermore, it should be noted from this passage that Jesus said twice that His disciples were “in Thy (the Father’s) name.” If oneness believers interpret this phrase in a consistent manner with the way they interpret it in John 5:43, they are left with the ridiculous conclusion that the disciples are the Father! The oneness interpretation simply does not work because it is not logically consistent.

7. Oneness writers claim that Col.2:9 proves that Jesus is God the Father and Holy Spirit.

Col. 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Since Colossians 2:9says that the fulness of “the Godhead” dwells in Jesus, Oneness writers have argued that the Godhead is in Jesus, not Jesus in the Godhead. This either/or approach, however, causes the oneness interpretation of Colossians 2:9 to contradict their interpretation of John 10:38 where Jesus states, “the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.” Since “the Father” in oneness theology is “the Godhead,” John 10:38 in their terms would mean that the Godhead is in Jesus, and Jesus is in the Godhead. When Oneness believers deny that “Jesus is in the Godhead,” what they mean to deny is that Jesus is one person in a triune Godhead. Colossians 2:9, though, does not rule out that possibility. What it affirms is that Jesus is no less than the full and complete revelation of God’s nature (‘theotetos’,”deity”) in the flesh. While not all three persons of God are incarnate in Jesus, all of God’s essence is incarnate in Jesus.

©  Edited by B.W., all rights reserved, Consuming Fire Fellowship.

Psa 127:3-5 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

I awoke today to my pregnant daughter explaining she had been up every ten minutes since 4 am with pains repeating.  Did I say she was 81/2 months pregnant?  We were not that excited at first but by afternoon her labor pains were 5 minutes apart, we called the mid wife.  She arrived and we began to set up the curtains and birthing pool downstairs.   We have had the privilege to host three previous births there from fellow believers’ families, this will be our fourth.  Our granddaughter’s name is Lydia Orissa Lovell, they thought that LOL would be cool initials, we’ll see what Lydia says in the years to come.

After a few hours of hand holding and encouragement, our son-in law Joshua came up overwhelmed with the suffering of his bride.  I chided him to return to her side to suffer alongside of her.  My wife encouraged him to take a break and get some more blankets, my wife is very wise in these things!  She explained that Jenna’s sisters were being very helpful giving him a break.  I can imagine the heartache, he is going through.  We’re all feeling it too…

As I am writing, I can hear her cries in labor.  My heart skips a beat as it has every time one of our children has been hurt over the years.   Every parent relates to this roller coaster of emotions which hit you as you see or hear your child get hurt or are hurting.  Nida related how difficult it was to bear through the painful wailing of Jenna as she began her final push for just over an hour.  It was at that time that the Lord drew me off this blogpost.  He led me and the boys to pray for her, the baby, and the rest of our family, and midwives.  We were on the second level of our home right over where the birth was happening.  We could hear her pain and cry out to the Lord with her for mercy with quick and less painful deliverance for them as she went through each birth pang.  However, we know that as difficult as these things are, this pain is a trial which brings forth joy when the child has been delivered.  As our Master Jesus taught the disciples about His going away.

John 16:20-22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

One of the midwives later stated, “Thank you for praying, that went about as quickly and smoothly as we could expect.”  Praise Jesus for His mercy unto our family in this birth of our granddaughter.  Boy, I really look forward to deliverance from this present world as well.  These earthly bodies we now inhabit will be planted so that we may inherit immortal bodies which shall never see corruption!  Hallelujah, what hope we have in you Jesus!

At 8:15pm Sarah Ann came rushing up the stairs, “Lydia is born, she’s cuuuuute!”

Lydia Orissa Lovell born 28 Jan, 2016, 8:15 pm to Joshua and Jenna Lovell in the McGlone home in Breeding, KY.   She is 20″ long, 5 lbs 14 oz, very active, estimated to be at 37-38 weeks of gestation.  Very white complexion, with little hair, lots of Joshua’s features; nose, chin, but Jenna’s legs, and toes.  More characteristics forthcoming in the next months…as God grows her at her momma’s breast.

Jenna and Lydia not long after delivery getting baby warmed up!

We pray for Joshua and Jenna to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ as they seek Him to govern over their family as they raise Lydia.  Hopefully they will have a dozen more if the Lord wills.   I always really enjoyed the old movie, “Cheaper by the Dozen” what a classic!  They even have a scene where the father mocks a planned parenthood crony.  We love babies round these parts…

Joshua already has Daddy’s touch

Lots of love for Lydia

We were speechless, all we can say now is, “Praise Jesus!”

Where Am I Going?  Heaven or Hell?

These are serious questions that every human asks themselves during the course of their life, especially during the years of our youth upon till adulthood.  Questions like:
1.  Where did I come from?
2.  What is my purpose here?
3.  Where am I going?

Here are those answers with the Bible references added:

1.  Where did I come from?  You were created by the Creator of the universe.  
Psa 139:13-18  For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

2. What is my purpose here?  Your purposes are to; fear God, keep His commands, Love Him supremely, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Ecc 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Mat 22:36-40  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

3.  Where am I going?  You are going to one of two places that Jesus taught and warned about in the Holy Bible; either the Kingdom of God, or the Lake of Fire.  Regarding the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught few would enter and most would be damned.
Mat 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Mark 9:43-48  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’

 Please take the following state of your soul test:
1.  God forbid, if you died today and stood before Jesus Christ in judgment, would you be guilty or innocent?
ANSWERS:  a.  guilty  b. innocent
c. unsure

2.  If you are guilty where would the good and just Judge Jesus Christ, send you?

3.  If you are guilty does that concern you?

4.  If you are innocent, why?

5.  Since you are unsure, can I share with you how I am sure I will be saved and how you can be?

6.  What is the Gospel according to the Holy Bible?

7.  Are you willing to surrender your life; heart, mind, strength, and soul to Jesus Christ today?  

Please contact me if you would like more answers to these questions from the Bible.  Thank you!

Mat_6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Mat_12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Mat_19:24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mat_21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

Mat_21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

Mar_1:14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar_1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mar_4:11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

Mar_4:26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,

Mar_4:30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

Mar_9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

Mar_9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—

Mar_10:14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Mar_10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Mar_10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mar_10:24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Mar_10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mar_12:34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

Mar_14:25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Mar_15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Luk_4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Luk_6:20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

Luk_7:28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Luk_8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

Luk_8:10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.’

Luk_9:2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Luk_9:11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.

Luk_9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

Luk_9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

Luk_9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luk_10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Luk_10:11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’

Luk_11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luk_12:31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

Luk_13:18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?

Luk_13:20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

Luk_13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

Luk_13:29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luk_14:15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

Luk_16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Luk_17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

Luk_17:21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luk_18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

Luk_18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

Luk_18:24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Luk_18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Luk_18:29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

Luk_19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

Luk_21:31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

Luk_22:16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Luk_22:18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Luk_23:51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.

Joh_3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Joh_3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Act_1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Act_8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Act_14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Act_19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

Act_20:25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

Act_28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.

Act_28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Once you have watched the above video you should be very concerned for your family’s security as we press further with this immigration madness that President Obama has foisted upon the American people.

When I speak on University campuses about the Gospel of Jesus I find they are not intellectually honest or scholarly about Islam.  The students feign not knowing about prolific ISIS beheadings, shootings, maimings, and killings of people even innocent children which are easily found on YouTube.   I will speak to the wicked cruelty of the religion of Islam instructing that ISIS members are just being consistent with their religion.  They of course will try to half heartedly defend the ‘religion of peace’.  But, their hearts show them differently.

Matt 7:15-19  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Is it racist or unrighteous to attack such an ideology as Islam?   Absolutely not, because the religion of Islam is so obviously evil and wicked.  This of course,  leaves it open to criticism by logic, moral reasoning, and other worldviews.   When that happens then the demonic doctrines of Islam really bare their teeth.

Qur’an (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides…”

Qur’an (8:12) – “Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them.”

Qur’an (24:2) – “The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you.”  Not only is physical torture prescribed as punishment for moral crime between consenting adults, but believers are told to suppress their natural urge for human compassion.

Torture in the next:

Qur’an (22:19-22) – “These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads.   Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are driven back therein and (it is said unto them): Taste the doom of burning.”

The punishment of those who merely disbelieve in Muhammad’s claims about himself is described as being horrifically brutal in many other places as well, such as Qur’an 4:56, which says that they will face a continuous cycle of torture in which their skin will be burned off only to be replaced by new skin.

How Allah feels about non-Muslims naturally determines the attitude of devout Muslims.  In the Qur’an, Muhammad explicitly uses Allah’s hatred of unbelievers to motivate his people to Jihad:

Qur’an (9:73):  “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey’s end.”

Why is it the 10,000 refugees that just arrived in New Orleans are all strapping males 18-45 years old?  Do Muslims not care for their women and children first?   Within days of the waves of Muslim immigrants into Europe, Paris comes under terrorist attack by ISIS in a coordinated heinous act which is just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a population demographic that we must concern ourselves with here in this situation.  With Americans averaging a bit less than 2 children per family we are barely able to sustain our population. But, the Muslims have over 8 children per family or marriage. They are allowed four wives by the way.  In only a few generations the Muslim population will overwhelm every western culture.  What’s wrong with that, you may ask?  I refer to what I just wrote a few paragraphs back, “…the religion of Islam is so obviously evil and wicked.”  These horribly destructive behaviors associated with this false religion means that  we will become a culture of fear, intimidation, and slavery.  Can you imagine that in our country?  I can and believe it will come if we are not spiritual watchmen on the wall and modern day Paul Revere’s crying out, “Repent America is under God’s judgment.”  The Muslims will be used by God against America, as He used the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and other gentile peoples as instruments of justice against Jerusalem repeatedly.

Since the 1960s, immigrants from Muslim countries started to appear in numbers in Western Europe, especially in Germany, France and Belgium. Although large Muslim communities existed on the continent long before this, especially in the Balkans, this was the first major wave of immigration of Muslims to northwestern Europe.[3]

Muslims in Europe are not a homogeneous group. They are of various national, ethnic and racial identities. The top countries of origin of Muslims in Western Europe are Pakistan, Turkey and the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).[4] Muslims also vary in terms of their religious commitment: some adhere very strictly to the tenets of Islam while others have largely assimilated into secular European culture.

In Western Europe, Muslims generally live in major urban areas, often concentrated in poor neighborhoods of large cities.[5]

According to the Pew Forum, the total number of Muslims in Europe in 2010 was about 44 million (6%).[6] The total number of Muslims in the European Union in 2010 was about 19 million (3.8%).[6] The French capital of Paris and its metropolitan area has the largest number (up to 1.7 million according to The Economist)[7] of Muslims than any other city in the European Union. London also has a substantial community of Muslim origin, numbering about 1 million within the limits of Greater London and exceeding this figure when the entire metropolitan area is taken into account.

If the current rate of migration of Muslims to Europe and the Muslim fertility rate remains constant, by 2030, people of Muslim faith or origin are predicted to form about 10% of the French populationand 8% of the European population.

The table below lists large cities of the European Union with significant Muslim populations.

Eurabia is a political neologism. The concept was coined by Bat Ye’Or in the early 2000s. Bat Ye’Or (pen name of Gisele Littman) claims a conspiracy of Europe, allegedly led by France and Arab powers, to Islamise and Arabise Europe, thereby weakening its existing culture and undermining an alleged previous alignment with the U.S. and Israel.[3][4]

The causes and characteristics of Islamophobia are still debated. Some scholars have defined it as a type of racism. Some commentators have posited an increase in Islamophobia resulting from the September 11 attacks, while others have associated it with the increased presence of Muslims in the United States, the European Union and other secular nations.

IF there are 6,200,000 Muslims in the US and only 1% of them are radical terrorists, then we now have 62,000 murdering jihadists among us. If only 5% are radical terrorists, then we now have 310,000 pedo raping, murderous head severing monsters in our midst. If  there are only 10% are radical terrorists, then we have 620,000 radically irreligious nut cases that have no problem blowing themselves to hell, while tormenting as many infidels as they can on the way.  That long legged mac daddy Barack Barry Hussein Soetoro Obama has invited another 200,000 muslims over the next two years into our country.

MUSLIM POPULATION EXPLOSION IN THE US

Not done with this post yet, just wanted to get some information out there!

This is perhaps one of the best defenses of Biblical open air preaching I have ever read. Please study it carefully and completely.  You have been given this link because you most likely have expressed a disdain for this practice. Any objections to this thesis should be commented below with Scripture to support your claims against it.  Thank you for your patience as you examine this very important topic!  I will be doing a Gr. Word study at the end of this to show how much this important word preach is used and how.  God bless you!  

John McGlone, founder Jesus Preacher Ministries

Used with kind permission

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
-1 Corinthians 1:21

In all the world’s wisdom, it still didn’t know God…so he sent PREACHERS!

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? – Romans 10:14

What was God thinking? At first blush it doesn’t seem like a terribly effective method of getting the Word to people. At least not in this day and time. “Preaching” has changed a lot over the years, especially over the last 100 years. I wonder if we really know what the Scriptural model for preaching is any more. I am truly convinced that if preachers followed the Biblical model for preaching, it would be far more effective.

To start let me make a distinction between preaching and witnessing. Witnessing is how you interact with sinners on a daily basis. Jesus had many commands on how to show kindness and love to those who don’t know Him. He ate with them and showed compassion on them. He lived an example. Preaching is a specific function that God uses to warn sinners of His impending judgment and it’s results, and to offer the gift of salvation through repentance and belief in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

Let me also make a distinction between preaching and teaching. Preaching is primarily what is done for the benefit of the lost whom we are attempting to reach with the Gospel. Teaching is primarily the Word as it is given to those who are saved and are being edified and matured by it. While those may not be hard-and-fast definitions, they are generally accurate and will suffice for the sake of my points on preaching. I am discussing the way that God’s Word is preached to the lost.

The most popular method of preaching is the type popularized by Billy Graham. Those of us who are street preachers call it the “God Loves You and Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Life” preaching. Sinners are told that “Jesus loves you. He accepts you just the way you are. Invite him into your heart right now. That’s all you have to do. Believe and profess His name right now and you will be born again.” This of course is followed by “With every head bowed and every eye closed…Come down to the front right now. Your friends will wait. Don’t worry, the buses will not leave”. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of people stream to the front of the auditorium as “Just As I Am” plays over the sound system.

What becomes of these thousands and thousands of “converts” over the years? You might think that after all these thousands coming forward, we would have had a major revival in the U.S. by now. What gives? The answer may surprise you.

According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, only about 10% of those making a profession of faith at a Billy Graham crusade are regularly attending church members one year later. That’s right. Just ten percent. What’s the problem? Is it the messenger, or is it the message? Or did the Holy Spirit goof up somehow?

The Bible has a pretty basic model for preaching. It can be summed up in two words, REPENT and BELIEVE. Now you might think that this smacks of old-timey fire and brimstone preaching that is outdated and, well, FOOLISH. Guess again.

Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

But aren’t we supposed to preach the Love of Christ? Aren’t we supposed to be “non-judgmental”? Haven’t we been taught that the Holy Spirit “woos” sinners to Himself in love? Well, not according to Scripture:

John 16:8 And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

But, you might say, doesn’t God love everyone? That’s why He sent Jesus, to redeem the whole world. We all know that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, right? Not really.

Actually, the Word clearly says that God HATES some people. That’s right. HATES. And furthermore it is acceptable to hate the enemies of God (not YOUR enemies). This is not an emotional hatred, but a strenuous opposition. I know this sounds radical according to modern Christian teaching, but when in doubt, let’s go back to the Holy Word.

Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalm 5:5,6 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Proverbs 6:16-17 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Psalm 139:21, 22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

So we find that God loved “mankind” (His creation) so much that He wanted to redeem us, but He hates individual sinners. Preaching should reflect this. In other words, preaching should be the warning of the wicked from his way; letting him know that he is a disgusting and filthy sinner in the eyes of God. But that in spite of that, God is giving him the opportunity to REPENT and turn to God if he believes in His death, burial and resurrection-His redemptive work on the cross. But be it known that He requires holiness (be ye holy even as I am holy). He is a “jealous God that will have no other Gods before Him”. And if you continue to “willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is NO MORE sacrifice for sins, just a fearful looking forward to of the fiery indignation that God has reserved for his enemies” (Hebrews 10:26).

Instead of this, people are being told that they need only “believe and confess the name of Jesus”; that Jesus loves you so much He made it that simple. Folks converted under this preaching are looking for what God will do for them next, not what God REQUIRES of them. They want Jesus to be their best friend and lover, they don’t want to be His sold-out slave. It truly is a fundamental difference. In truth, He wants us to be ALL of that.

Most of the sermons in the Bible are in the Book of Acts. NOT ONCE is the love of Jesus mentioned in any of those sermons. But repentance is mentioned in virtually all of them.

What about “name-calling?” Is it right for preachers to get on the corner and call people “wicked sinners, fornicators, sodomites, adulterers”, etc.? The apostles did. “And God added to the church such as should be saved.”

For those of you who think that the Old Testament verses I quoted are not relevant to New Testament preaching, we’ll clear that up now.

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Scripture Paul is referring to of course is the Old Testament. It was the only Scripture they had.

2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Here, Paul goes into specifics about HOW one should preach: REPROVE, REBUKE and EXHORT. Most of us only understand in a general sense what these words mean. Let’s take a look at the word “reprove” in the Greek. It is an extremely strong word.

Strongs: #1651 elegcho

1) to convict, refute, confute

1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted

1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

2) to find fault with, correct

2a) by word

2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove

2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation

2b) by deed

2b1) to chasten, to punish

Paul is basically saying that when you preach, “find fault with them, reprehend them severely, warn (admonish) them, chide them, show them their faults, bring shame on them”. Obviously this is done along with the message that if the sinner DOES repent and turn to God he will be saved and experience the “times of refreshing”. But there are no instructions about the “love of Jesus”. He is also saying that ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for reproof as well.

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

Many modern translations say “expose” rather than reprove, but the Greek word is the same, with the same strong meaning. We should not only avoid fellowship with these works, but should warn, bring shame on, reprehend severely, chide, call them to account and show them their faults”.

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

But doesn’t that kind of preaching just bring ridicule and arguments? Sometimes. But it also gets people’s attention. Nobody thinks of himself or herself as evil. Very few think of themselves as God-haters. They will almost always stop to defend themselves against this kind of preaching. You have a captive audience for a time anyway. Is it wrong to argue with the wicked? Nah.

Prov. 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law CONTEND with them.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Many preachers want to be “nicer than God” when they preach. I feel no such responsibility. Preaching in the open air is really the only way to reach those that will not walk into church to hear the gospel. And in 99 churches out of 100, they wouldn’t hear what they needed to hear in church anyway. The Apostles are recorded in Acts as ARGUING with people as a method of preaching.

Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he (Paul) in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Acts 19:8 And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

In the first verse above, we see that Paul not only preached to the Jews this way in the synagogue, but also “in the marketplace”. This is the chief concourse, the place where the largest possible audience could be found. They used the same method of preaching in the synagogues, in the marketplace and in the schools.

I have been accused of “name-calling” when I preach. I will sometimes call people fornicators, sodomites, etc. This is not name-calling in the sense of being hateful or derogatory. It is an effective and Biblical way of making the sinner understand that they are being identified by the sins they commit. I preach on the street. I’m called a street preacher. If I were boastful, some would call me a braggart or an egomaniac. We are identified by our attributes. When I preach at the sodomite marches, I refer to those I’m preaching to as sodomites. That’s what the Bible calls them I have no problem with that.

Here is a list of some of the names that people are called in the New Testament. Some of these were spoken of religious leaders, some were spoken of ordinary folks.

* “DOGS” Matt. 7:6 Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs” (see also 2 Peter 2:20-22, Rev. 22:15)

* “SWINE” Matt. 7:6 “…neither cast your pearls before swine”

* “VIPERS” Matt. 3:7 “O generation of vipers…” (see also Matt. 12:34, 23:33 and Luke 3:7)

* “HYPOCRITES” Matt.6:2 “…as the hypocrites in the synagogues…” (see also Matt.6:5, 16, 15:7, 16:3, 22:18, 23:13-15, 29, 24:51, Mark 7:6, Luke 11:44, 12:56)

* “CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL” John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil…” (see also Acts 13:10)

* “PERVERSE” Mat. 17:17″…O faithless and perverse generation” (see also Luke 9:41, Acts 20:30, Phil. 2:15, 1Tim. 6:5)

* “REPROBATE” 2Cor 13:5-7 “…except ye be reprobates” (see also Rom 1:28, 2Tim. 3:8, Tit. 1:16)

* “HEATHEN” Mat. 6:7 “…as the heathen do” (see also Mat.18:17, Act 4:25, 2Cor. 11:26, Gal. 1:16, 2:9, 3:8)

* “FOOLS” Mat. 23:17 “…Ye fools and blind” (see also Luke 12:20, 1Cor.15:36, Mat.23:19, Luke 11:40, 24:25, Eph. 5:15)

* “WICKED AND ADULTEROUS” Mat. 16:4 “A wicked and adulterous generation” (see also Mat. 12:45, 13:49, 18:32, 21:41, 25:26, Luke 19:22, 1Cor. 5:13, 2Thes. 3:2, 2Pet. 2:7, 3:17)

* “O YE OF LITTLE FAITH” (Christ’s favorite name for His apostles!) Mat.6:30, 8:26, 14:31, etc., etc., etc.

* “STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED” Acts7:53 “…stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart”

* “LIARS, EVIL BEASTS, SLOW BELLIES” Titus 1:12 (see also 2Peter 2:12, Jude 10)

* “ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES” Hebrews 13:4 “…whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses…” (see also Rom 7:3, Mat. 12:39, 16:4, Mark 8:38)

* “WHITED WALL” Acts 23:3 Paul to the high priest .

Again, the purpose for this type of approach is for the sinner’s benefit. He must be told that God requires him to REPENT and believe in Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross to be saved and escape the fires of hell. In the verses in the Gospels there is a persistent theme: If you do not REPENT, you will perish. It doesn’t say you will perish if you don’t believe (although you will obviously), the emphasis is on the repentance.

Now I realize that all this goes contrary to what most of us have been taught about preaching. We all know how embarrassing it is to hear a street preacher out on the corner telling folks to “Turn or Burn”, “Get Right or Get Left”. But is that embarrassment because the method is wrong, or is it a problem with our own pride in our own hearts?

I have laid out a case for it from Scripture. But let’s also look at the witness of history. As I mentioned earlier, the Apostles NEVER preached about the “love of Jesus” or any such thing when they preached. Let’s look at the Reformers and the Revivalists.

Martin Luther preached vehemently against the notion that God “hates the sin but loves the sinner”. Of the Revivalists of the Great Awakenings, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and later Charles Finney all denounced the notion as well. They all taught that you cannot separate the sin from the sinner. God doesn’t send the sin to hell, but the sinner to heaven. God “hates the hands that shed innocent blood.” Does He just hate that part of the sinner’s anatomy? Of course not.

“So what?”, you might say. They could have gotten it wrong. After all, they’re just a bunch of dead white guys. Maybe. Except for one thing. The Holy Spirit visited their preaching with REVIVAL! Massive, widespread, nation-changing, intercontinental REVIVAL. The fact is that there has NEVER been that kind of vindication from the Holy Spirit for the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” preaching.

Jonathan Edwards’ sermons were all very much as I have described preaching as I believe it should be. He preached many of his Revival sermons in New England in 1738-1741. He is most famous for his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Here is an excerpt from the sermon that the Holy Spirit visited with revival:

“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment.

It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you were suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell. O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in!”

Yikes! Doesn’t sound like the “love of Christ” to me! How could you get revival from THIS? But the effect of that preaching was astonishing, and literally changed the spiritual makeup of America and ushered in sweeping reforms in law and culture.

This is a photo of me preaching in front of the Liberty Bell on July 4th. The crowd was less than enthusiastic. People didn’t want to hear about God’s Holy Word and Law on their vacation.

This sort of preaching is opposed by Christians more vehemently than anyone else. I have had Christians routinely stop to rebuke and chastise me for being “judgmental” and “un-Christlike” and “unloving.”

They listen to God being blasphemed by some of the onlookers. Instead of defending God against the heathen, they defend the heathen against me! The world (and the police) view it as “hate speech”. In America, you cannot be assured that you have the freedom to preach the unvarnished Word of God any more. But we must.

Open-air preaching is not fun. Like the U.S. Army ads used to say, “It’s not a job, it’s an adventure!” I am routinely cursed and screamed at; I have had sodomites expose themselves at me and spit in my face; I’ve been assaulted. I hear God blasphemed. Some respond with interest and some with just anger. This is a ministry of seed-planting. But the measure of the success of this preaching isn’t necessarily found on the day that it is preached.

They hear the Word from me. They have been warned. They have been offered the knowledge of His saving grace. In the quiet of the evening when they lie in bed and ponder the thoughts of the day, they will consider that what they heard about themselves and God may be true.

I don’t see a large harvest. But that’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to show the TRUE love of God. It is not love to preach to sinners that they need only believe and come to Jesus (“for even the devils believe, and tremble”). The LOVING thing is to tell them the truth about how God actually sees them, and to show them what it takes for that to change; to show them what God expects in return for His eternal salvation. Many say that salvation is a “free gift” from God. It is free in the sense that there is nothing WE can do to obtain it; we only get it by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. But it costs us EVERYTHING. We are bought with a price and belong to Him to do His bidding and not our own. THIS IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Unfortunately, there is so little church discipline and proper teaching about holiness and sin, that sin runs amok in the camp! And preachers who have hidden sins cannot effectively preach against it, because their heart condemns them as they preach. So they stay with the “grace, mercy and compassion” message instead of the “holiness, justice and judgment” message. They are both aspects of God’s nature, but those who continue to practice sin and tolerate it within the church concentrate on one to the exclusion of the other. I believe that is why the American Christian Church is in the condition it’s in.

In American churches, we are not called upon to live holy lives, we are offered “counseling” for our “problems”. We are not called to account for our sins. We offer cliches for our sin, such as “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet”. This is Bumper Sticker Christianity. We are NOT told that if we fail to conform to God’s Holy Word and Law that we will be denied communion, or even the fellowship of other believers. This is what Paul demanded of the Corinthians, and of us as well. In failing to do so, we have let sin run rampant within the church, making her totally ineffective in calling the world to repentance.

This won’t change until we repent of our own sin, demand the same within the church and the church leadership and begin to preach boldly in the marketplace the true message of salvation.

Let me say with the Psalmist:

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40:9-10

Here is another great note on this important subject! http://officialstreetpreachers.com/History/History%20of%20Street%20Preaching.pdf

The Study of the Greek Words:

The KJV translates Strong’s G2784 PREACH kēryssō in the following manner:
preach (51x), publish (5x), proclaim (2x), preached (with G2258) (2x), preacher (1x).

Note that this following definition is listed fifty one times in the NT! This makes ‘preach’, herald, etc to be the primary meaning for the activity we should be doing as Christians!

κηρύσσω kērýssō, kay-roos’-so; of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.

STRONGS NT 2099: EVANGELIST εὐαγγελιστής εὐαγγελιστής, εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ὁ (εὐαγγελίζω), a Biblical and ecclesiastical word, a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist (Vulg.evangelista). This name is given in the N. T. to those heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles: Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5. (B. D. under the word .)

The KJV translates Strong’s G3144 WITNESS in the following manner: witness (29x), martyr (3x), record (2x).

μάρτυς mártys, mar’-toos; of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a “martyr”:—martyr, record, witness.

Biblical Usage a witness, think of a courtroom
1. in a legal sense
2. an historical sense
3. one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
4. in an ethical sense
5. those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death