Proclaim
We celebrate that our God is a speaking God who has revealed Himself to us. The Bible is our inspired text, which He will never contradict. We are commissioned to proclaim His message in word and deed. We will “not be ashamed of the gospel” but serve as “Christ’s ambassadors.” And so we ask ourselves, “Are we students of the Scripture? Do our sermons and life messages arise from the Word? Do we have a listening ear for His voice? Are our words and lives proclaiming His truth? Do we both ‘show’ and ‘tell’ the truth?”
Acts 1:8; Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 2:17, 4:5, 13; 2 Corinthians 5:11–21; 1 Tim. 4:15–16; 2 Tim. 3:14–4:6; 1 Peter 2:10–12
Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (2 Corinthians 5:11-16 NKJV)
There is a lot to proclaim in these verses; Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” Knowing, therefore, the terror (Greek is phobos where we get phobia an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.) Therefore, is referring back to verse 10 which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (KJV)
What have you done in which you will be judged?
Heb 10:31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Let us not forget 1 Corinthians 3:11-16
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (KJV)
We who are in Christ Jesus will still be judged for our works (actions whether good or bad) and shall be proved by fire. The good works will be rewarded and the self-centered works will be burned off. That is still Good News for the believer, but what about the unbeliever? Revelations 21:8 says, “shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” O their souls will burn in the second death which is Ghenna or hell. Can you see people in their final eternal state?
What would that look like? For the believer eternal life in bliss, but the unbeliever a soul on fired separated from God’s love and grace. If you can picture people as dead men walking and on fire than you have the eternal water “the Gospel of Jesus Christ” which can quench their eternal destination. PRCLAIM the truth and save an eternal soul heading for eternal fire.
This brings us to the next bold text, “One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” We are to live for Christ, Christ-centered not self-centered. Eph 2:10 says, we are saved unto good works. Not that works saves us but because we live for Christ and our action so follow the good works of Jesus Christ.
Proclaim the Good news for the truth will set the captives free from their eternal destination!
In Christ,
Greg