Expository Preaching Blog #31 – “Moral People Go To Hell Too!”

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As I listen to a lot of modern preaching in churches of the current day I hear a similar theme through most churches of every denomination. I hear preaching about behaviors. I recently heard a sermon titled “How to Be a Five Star Christian!” It was not from a single passage of Scripture but created from many passages. The theme and the entire sermon was man made. It was completely invented by the preacher with a bunch of Bible verses used to try and support his thoughts. They were not God’s thoughts. They were the preacher’s thoughts. God never taught us how to be a five star Christian.

He took a piece of this and a piece of that and put it together in his own way to say what he wanted to say. I wanted to walk out in the first 10 minutes but it would have been upsetting in the service with a very small congregation. He spent the first 15 minutes of his 45 minutes talking about funerals. By his own admission his speaking about funerals had absolutely nothing to do with his “sermon.” He stated he did that because “he had a large amount of time to fill.” Really? This is what Bible preaching has been reduced to?

I have heard too many sermons to mention here about behaviors. “How to listen to God.” “Don’t turn away from Jesus.” How to have faith. How to be patient. How to love others. Etc., etc. and etc.

The Bible is overwhelming NOT about being righteous, moral or a good Christian. Now don’t misunderstand me. It does speak to those things but that is not the main theme. That is because you can be a righteous, moral, upright, godly person and still go to hell.

The Bible is about the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. It is about the history of the nation of Israel and the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. Read it for yourself it is all there.

The gospels are about the birth, ministry, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. The rest of the New Testament is predominately about the church of Jesus Christ and then the coming rapture of the church and the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. It ends with the final judgement and the eternity of mankind in either heaven or hell. The Bible is about Jesus from Genesis to Revelation. It is about Him coming to be the Savior of the world and Him preparing a home called heaven for Him, His angels and all believers in Him.

The Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses is in the Bible. But it is actually a very minor portion of Scripture. Jesus does teach many things in the gospels but He spends much of His time doing miracles and dealing with people in small and large groups. He teaches about the kingdom of God and shares many parables. Are there moral lessons? Of course there are. But He is primarily pointing to Himself as the Son of God and Savior of the World. Things like the light of the world, the bread of life, the door, the good shepherd etc. are about Jesus not about us. The epistles are loaded with the grace of God and His mercy every day to us. It is not judgmental but the grace of God to us sinners. Read them all from Romans to Jude. You will see the theme.

Preachers, preach what God wrote God’s way. Don’t make it up. Let God and His Word speak through your lips every time you step in the pulpit. It will be worth it. Show sinners the Grace of God less your moral congregation goes straight to hell.

 

 

Rev. David Johnson

Former Pastor

First Baptist Church of Austin, MN

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