“Preach unto the People”...the Wayfarer 2/9/14

“Preach unto the People”
 2/9/14

Acts 10:42-43 King James Version (KJV)

⁴² And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

⁴³ To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:42-43 King James Version (KJV)

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we then do?

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.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
 (Acts 2-37-39)

Too many, today have forgotten what we are to preach. They preach that warm fuzzy that all seek, without preaching what is required for that warm fuzzy to be of any effect, or they preach condemnation, WITHOUT PREACHING the hope and certainty of the remission of sin. available through those requirements, just as did the scribes, lawyers and Pharisees of Christ's own time.

I would, today, speak to you about that remission available, what it is, what it means, how to achieve it and to recognize if you have obtained it… why it is important to realize that that importance is foremost in any ability to approach our God, and expect blessings, or any answer to prayer.

First, let us define remission!

Webster’s definition is most inadequate: “The act or process of remitting”

Wycliffe is a bit better, though still incomplete: “Forgiveness; exemption from the consequences of an offense: relinquishment of a claim or obligation; pardon for transgression. 

The scriptures teach us that Christ’s blood was shed for the remission of the sins of ALL mankind. Without that remission of sin, we are incapable of reaching our God in our prayer, because He will not hear any requests made while that remission is missing!

To place this into context for all, it is necessary for the reader to understand Peter was addressing the witnesses on the day of Pentecost, who had no idea of what they had seen and heard.

They accused the apostles of drunkenness and insanity, because of their own failure to believe.

What was being preached required comprehension, and comprehension came through the ability for each of those of different languages to hear and understand in their own language.

The same holds true today. In order to understand the glory of Christ, and, what is our inheritance through Him, we must first open our minds and hear in the language of our heart what has been given.

We must first have that remission of sin!

To have this, we have to first come to the conclusion that sin exits, and that we are guilty of it. Without that realization, we live in denial of our weakness, and the need for that remission given, and cannot hope to receive it.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

(Mark 1: 3&4)

John, the forerunner, made straight the path for our Lord. What he preached was that remission of sin was needed by all.

His mission was to prepare the way for our Lord, and the message of redemption through repentance that granted that remission of sin to all.

He was observant and obedient to what was asked of him by God, knowing that he was only a servant to the one able to provide that remission, but required to preach its necessity, whether politically correct or not.

Eventually this obedience to God and fervent adherence to the message given him to preach, cost him his head and life because he had no fear of the earthly consequences of doing so. 

He preached the full gospel, not the warm fuzzy alone, not the condemnation alone, but both as is the requirement given to those chosen to assist in spreading that same gospel even today!

Temerity, complacence, compliance with, and silence on things that are in opposition to Christ’s teachings, for expedience, safety, fear of derision, or political correctness to fit in with the society we live in, are unacceptable. They deny the need for that remission, deny its availability, and deny the love of Christ that provides it, thereby denying the entire message given us to preach.

Many fail to preach the entire message out of fear of offending anyone.


 These are the ones who boast about the huge congregations they attract by preaching only that warm fuzzy... or by preaching only condemnation, for those who are so self-righteous that they forget that, that very remission of sin, is the real purpose behind any message that should be preached.

Most of these also, are, cautiously politically correct, avoiding any subject addressed by the scriptures that they feel would give others a reason to persecute them through the auspices of a government, (of men), that is in contravention of the teachings of Christ that should be taught. Again there can be no remission of sin until it is recognized for being that sin!

“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God; 

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)

(Hebrews 10:14-23)

One offering is all that is made for that required remission, and only one is acceptable!

One is all that is required, and must be the one defined in this passage delivered, again through Paul.

That higher priest is still over the house of God. 

His name is Jesus, priest chosen by God, not ordained by any but the Father for that purpose, still making intercession, and still providing that required remission through the blood given on the cross.

We no longer have any need for temerity, but should with all boldness approach the throne of grace, and with no less boldness proclaim that remission of sin to one and all without fear of any consequence.

Preach! 


 Preach salvation!

 Preach remission of sin! 

Preach redemption!

Preach the requirements for that remission and redemption.

If you call yourself preacher, parson, pastor, servant of God…Be that servant of God!!!

Preach that warm fuzzy, but also preach what needs to be given in order to know it is not just that passing feeling that comes with all the self-help philosophy, the psychology of the day, the “do whatever feels good” taught by most, but is in fact real and abiding remission of sin both realized and repented, for which that remission is given.

I close in prayer for all, that, that message of redemption through repentance be made apparent to all. I pray that the Hope of remission of sin, and the realization of that hope, be apparent and accepted by those who in turn receive the TRUTH the Way and the LIFE given through that remission.

As for me, I shall continue to be one voice in this wilderness, still and yet, the simple sinner saved by grace through faith, not through any worthiness of my own, called into His service as a soldier to preach that remittance, and its price…despite any distraction or detraction from the naysayers and politically correct of our society, a warrior whose war is not yet over, but whose outcome is determined from the beginning, clinging to God, my Savior and the teachings of that Savior.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer