The True Aim of Preaching

worlddic.com

Acts 13:38-39

Be it known to you therefore, men and brothers, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins:

Paul's mode of preaching, as illustrated by this chapter, was first of all to appeal to the understanding with a clear exposition of truth, and then to impress that truth upon the emotions with earnest exhortations. This is an excellent model for revivalists. They must not give exhortation without doctrine, for if so, they will be like men who burn powder but have omitted the shot. At the same time let such of our brethren as are passionately fond of mere doctrine, but having little of the marrow of Divine mercy or the milk of human kindness stand rebuked by the example of the apostle. He knew well that even truth itself must be powerless unless applied. We cannot expect that men will make an application of the truth to themselves. Let us now notice —

I. PAUL'S SUBJECT, the subject of subjects — the great master doctrine of the Christian ministry. The "forgiveness of sins" is a topic interesting to everyone in proportion as he feels the guilt of sin. To those good people who fold their arms and say, "I have done no wrong either to God or man," I have nothing to say. You need no physician, for you are not sick.

1. The Christian minister tells men the exclusive method by which God will pardon sin. "Through this Man." The Lord Jesus has a monopoly of mercy. Into the one silver pipe of the atoning sacrifice God has made to flow the full current of pardoning grace. If you will not go to that, you may be tempted by the mirage, you may think that you can drink to the full, but you shall die disappointed. God will forgive sin, because the sin which He forgives has been already atoned for by the sufferings of His dear Son. You know the story of the young Roman who was condemned to die. But his elder brother who had often been to the front in the battles of the Republic, came and showed his many scars, and said, "I cannot ask life for my brother on account of anything that he has done for the Republic; he deserves to die, I know, but I set my scars before you as the price of his life, and I ask you whether you will not spare him for his brother's sake." Sinner, this is what Christ does for you.

2. It is our business also to preach to you the instrument through which you may obtain this pardon. All that thou hast to do is to come to Him as thou art, and trust in Him where thou art. Cling to the Cross, thou shipwrecked sinner, and thou shalt never go down while clinging to that. You will be saved, not by repentings and tears, not by wailings or workings, or prayings. When thy soul saith by faith what Christ said in fact — "It is finished," thou art saved, and thou mayest go thy way rejoicing.

3. We are also enjoined to preach about the character of this forgiveness of sin.

(1) When God pardons a man's sins, He pardons them all, never half leaving the rest in His book. Luther tells us of the devil, in a dream, bringing before him the long roll of his sins, and when he recited them, Luther said — "Now write at the bottom, 'The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.'"(2) It is a full pardon and it is a free pardon likewise. God never pardons any sinner from any other motive than His own pure grace. It cost the Saviour much; but it costs us nothing.

(3) It is irreversible. Whom God pardons He never condemns. Let Him once say, I absolve thee, and none can lay anything to our charge.

(4) Present pardon. It is a notion still current that you cannot know you are forgiven till you come to die. If you reckoned a clear profit of ten thousand pounds upon some speculation, and somebody said to you, "It's all foolery!" the proof would be unanswerable if you had received the amount. So the Christian can say, Being justified by faith we have peace with God.

II. THE CONGREGATION WHICH PAUL ADDRESSED. Never mind the Jews and Gentiles. The verse is quite as applicable here as it was there. "Unto you." My friend, it is no small privilege to be where this message can yet be heard. Tens of thousands have gone the way of all flesh, unpardoned. What would they give to have another opportunity? I said that this was a privilege; but it is a privilege which some of you have despised. Those who heard Paul had never heard it before. Many of you have heard it from your youth up. All the exhortations in the world are to you as if they were spoken to an iron column or a brazen wall! Why will ye die? When you die we shall have to think, "Ah, that man is lost, and yet unto him was preached the forgiveness of sins!" Well, notwithstanding that you have neglected the privilege, it is still preached unto you. Fain would I point with my finger to some of you, and say, "Well, now, we really do mean you personally."

III. WHAT BECAME OF THEM.

1. Some of them raved at a very great rate, until Paul shook off the dust of his feet against them, and went his way. But there was another class (ver. 48). Here was his comfort — there were some upon whom there had been a blessed work, and those "some" believed. Now, you need not ask the question whether you are God's elect. If you are God's chosen ones, you will know it by your trusting in Jesus. But if thou believest not, thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bonds of iniquity. May eternal mercy bring thee out of that state at once.

worlddic.com