Where In The Bible Will I Find:

That We Should Be Set To Defend The Gospel?

Some of the young theological students are matriculating in liberal colleges to enter the ministry with an avowed purpose of exposing the errors??? of pioneer men who built up the church and nurtured it through the trying days of the restoration. We read and bear of their belittling of "legalism" which is their derision of any "Thus Saith The Lord." One is considered "old fashioned, belligerent and bellicose  “if he should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).

The modern “social” preacher is quick to apologize for the "tough uncouth tactics" used by stalwart men of faith over the past few hundred years who have brought the church out of the dark ages and planted it on solid soil. He ignores the fact that he is preaching in luxurious buildings erected on the labors of men whom he derides. The shallow, pretentious claim of piety "we must restore the original spirit of love, rather than preaching on sin and commandments" ignores entirely what Jesus said, "If ye love, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), and, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings" (John 14:21-24).

Was Jesus too legalistic when He said, "Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14)? Paul encountered just about every type of opposition imaginable during his missionary work, but, he could still say, "I am set for the defence of the gospel" (Phil 1:17). He not only prayed that he would speak the Word boldly, he SPOKE, THE WORD BOLDLY and taught others to do the same, "Preach the word be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort will all longsuffering and doctrine" (II Tim. 4:2).

Sure, we are to preach the “Truth in Love” (Eph. 4:15), but as Paul said, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16). Love for lost souls is why Jesus and the apostles, as well as gospel preachers today, boldly preach all the Word of God, as Paul states, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Act 20:27).

ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD includes preaching AGAINST all sin, warning against any sin that would result in the loss of any soul, exposing FALSE DOCTRINE, using the Word of God to defend the truth and convict error. It’s not only the sinners soul but it’s our own soul which is at stake, "…thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul" (Ezek. 33:7-9).

We must defend the gospel and contend for the faith.