Preach It Clear Preach It Right

1 Timothy 6:13–16 ESV

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

If there is one thing that we need to know and be clear on, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that “the commandment” that is to be kept unstained and free from reproach is the gospel.

1 Timothy 6:20–21 ESV

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

Timothy was entrusted with the gospel. This need to share the gospel was like a deposit given to him. Paul tells him to make sure the deposit gets to the bank. When it arrives, makes sure that you do not add to it or take anything away. Keep this commandment unstained and free from reproach…. Make sure you do not get caught up in irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge.”

It is the gospel that defines the church. The church is made up of people who know the gospel, understand the gospel, believe the gospel and act on the gospel.

What is the gospel? The good news that is the gospel is that God has done what is necessary to bring any sinner back into a relationship with him.

The world labels people as good and bad. Those who are reallyh good are entitled “saints.” Those who are really bad are under judgment and condemnation.

The gospel is good news. Whatever judgment or condemnation you are under does not change the fact that God has done what is necessary for you to be brought back into a relationship with him. God is seeking you. No matter what you have done, he is not done with you.

What was necessary for you to be brought back into a relationship with him?

The very things that bother you, bother God. He does not want people lying, cheating, committing fornication, backbiting, gossiping and slandering others. We were created for better things than that, but we are not living that way.

In fact, when I say “we”, the Bible says “we.” “All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.”

You say, “I have turned away from God. I feel bad. I feel his anger about what I have done in my life. I feel his wrath.”

And well you should. God doesn’t like what you have said and done.

This is the good news.

Whatever you deserve for what you have done, God made Jesus pay. Jesus is God’s Son. He took the full brunt of God’s anger and wrath at sin that was directed to you. That is good news! It was hard for Jesus, but good for you.

Here is why it is good news.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The good news is that those who put their trust in Jesus Christ will not perish. You will not perish because Jesus died for you. Jesus died for you because God, knowing what you have done, loved you enough to send Jesus to dies on the cross for you.

The gospel, the good news, is that we can have our sins forgiven and come back to God on one condition. That one condition is that we put our trust in Jesus.

There are many who have taken this deposit and added to it. They will tell you that you must trust Jesus plus something…

You must trust in Jesus and be baptized in order to come back to God.

You must trust Jesus and join the church.

You must trust clean up your life and then trust Jesus.

The gospel says that “Just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that thou bidest me come to thee, Oh Lamb of God I come, I come.”

There are also many who have taken this deposit and taken something from it.

They believe, for example, that everyone is saved. Following Jesus is good, but if you believe in God, that that is enough. When Jesus died for the sins of the world, they say, he died for everyone’s sins. Some know it and some don’t, but everyone will get to heaven.

That is taking away from the gospel. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me.” He that has the son has life, he that does not have the son does not have life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Paul is telling Timothy to preach it clear, preach it right.

This church needs to preach it clear and preach it right. In Sunday school, youth group, we need to make sure our children know the good news of the gospel. One reason we sent the children to Fair Haven Camps this past week was because we know they preach the gospel clear and right.

What about you? Are you going to heaven because you are a good person or are you going to heaven because Jesus died for your sins? Are you going to be kept out of heaven because of what you did in life or are you going to denied heaven because you denied Jesus? Have you received a clear and right gospel?

There is no better time to put your trust in Jesus than right now.