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[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:18) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "Does Our Preaching Really Save Those Who Hear?" Here's Rick and Jonathan.

[Rick] (0:21 - 0:28) Welcome everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years.

Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:28 - 0:38) Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the holy spirit."

[Rick] (0:38 - 1:23) What is the real mission of Christianity? Are we tasked with converting the world? Are we responsible to preach the gospel--the good news of the gospel--wherever we go, to anyone and everyone?

Is the eternal destiny of those we come in contact with heavily dependent upon our delivering the message of salvation? All Christians would agree that at his ascenion, Jesus commanded us to be part of preaching the gospel throughout the world. Where we differ is in the outcome of this preaching.

The bottom-line question: Do we as Christians bear the responsibility of saving sinners from the wrath of God right here and right now, in this age, or do we preach for another reason?

[Jonathan] (1:23 - 1:33) Why don't we answer the question right up front and then get into the scriptural proofs? Does our preaching really save those who hear? Yes and no!

[Rick] (1:34 - 1:55) Oh, okay, great. You're sounding like me. Yes and no.

There's actually power to that. Let's put this in perspective. Here's a little more of the context of what Jesus said at his ascension with the theme verse that you read, Jonathan, and we're going to look at this context from both Acts and Matthew.

Let's start with Acts 1. Let's look at Acts 1:6-9:

[Jonathan] (1:56 - 2:23) "So when they had come together, they were asking him, saying, Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel? He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

[Rick] (2:24 - 2:46) In that piece of Scripture, what we see is the disciples were not to know the big events of the future. Master, at this time are you restoring the kingdom of Israel? You don't need to know that.

Here's what you need to know. They were to systematically expand the reach of the gospel beginning in Jerusalem. Jonathan, when we look at how that verse reads, it says, witness "both in Jerusalem"--

now remember, at Pentecost, they were all in Jerusalem.

[Jonathan] (2:47 - 2:47) That's right.

[Rick] (2:47 - 3:14) That's where the preaching started.

Then it says in all of Judea. You spread it out. Then over time, to Samaria. It gets spread out to Gentiles and even to the remotest parts of the world. You see that the gospel is going to systematically expand, and that's part of this big question of, for what reason?

Let's go into a little bit more of this context. Let's go to Matthew 28:18-20:

[Jonathan] (3:14 - 3:34) "... All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

[Rick] (3:34 - 3:53) There's a great comfort at the end of the verse; "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Even when I'm not here where you can see, I'm still with you.

But notice how Jesus says to do the preaching. He says, make disciples of all nations. He doesn't say, make all nations my disciples.

That's an important distinction that we need to understand.

[Jonathan] (3:54 - 4:05) After you make disciples of all nations, then the nation of Israel will be restored. That's a long-term project. Rick, the main point is that it's an individual calling.

[Rick] (4:05 - 4:27) We're going to expand that in a big way, but you're right. The restoration of Israel is something that takes time, and obviously took a long time after Jesus finished his earthly course for that to even begin to unfold, but that's a subject for another episode, okay?

Let's look at what do we have so far? Let's look at The Purpose of Our Preaching. Let's put it together small step by small step.

[Jonathan] (4:28 - 4:38) While specifically commanded to spread the gospel throughout the whole world, we are not specifically commanded that it's our objective to convert everyone.

[Rick] (4:38 - 5:26) There's not a specific command. If we're saying that, how can we be sure? How can we be sure that worldwide conversion is not our responsibility here and now? How do we really know?

Well, the Bible teaches us in many scriptures and in many ways what our preaching is for. Let's look at one example here. Jesus, in the Parable of the Sower, reveals a profoundly important truth regarding the gospel and those who are exposed to it.

In this parable, Jesus uniquely interprets it after he speaks it. Most parables, he speaks and the audience is left saying, well, that's interesting, but what does it really mean? This parable, he actually gives an explanation.

[Jonathan] (5:26 - 5:58) The parable begins in Luke 8:4-5: "When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to him, he spoke by way of parable: The sower went out to sow his seed."

Let's do a quick overview of some important points of this parable. A farmer sows seeds. Some fell along the path, some onto the stony places, some onto thorny places, and some onto good ground.

In Luke 8:11, Jesus tells us that the seed is the word of God.

[Rick] (5:58 - 6:32) You have this seed going to all of these different environments, only one of which ends up producing the fruitage, and we're told that the seed is the word of God. You've got these basics that are very clear, because Jesus tells us this is what this story is about. The sower, in this parable, pictures Jesus and his followers.

It's really interesting that the Apostle Paul actually confirms this interpretation many years later in his first letter to the Corinthians. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 3:6-9:

[Jonathan] (6:32 - 6:55) "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field... "

[Rick] (6:56 - 8:00) Now, think about this for a minute. Jonathan, I never made a connection between these verses and the Parable of the Sower until we were preparing for this particular episode. Paul is talking about, "I planted," and "Apollos watered."

I plant, he waters; I plant, he waters. Then he says, we're working together because you are God's field.

Remember, the good ground was the field that grew the seeds into fruitage. You can see that the Apostle Paul is using the analogy of the Parable of the Sower to say, here it is, and you--followers of Christ--are the fruitage. You are the seeds that come to fruition.

It's a beautiful thing. When we look at that verification of what the parable said, let's focus on one specific aspect of the parable that helps us see what happens as a result of our sowing the seeds of the gospel. Because remember, most of the ground that the seed went to didn't do so well,

okay? Jesus explained the meaning of the seeds falling on or beside the path. Now, this is important!

Let's look at Matthew 13:19:

[Jonathan] (8:00 - 8:58) "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road." The word "understand" means "to put together; to comprehend."

This is all about hearing God's word but not understanding the kingdom. This is so true, because most Christians don't talk about Christ's kingdom. This reminds me of when I went to a local donut shop for some donuts.

Who doesn't love donuts? While I was in line, I was fellowshipping with a Christian woman. When our discussion came around to how terrible things are in the world, I said to her, we really need the kingdom.

She said, what kingdom? I told her, the kingdom Jesus told us to pray for. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

She looked at me strangely, and our conversation ended.

[Rick] (9:00 - 9:54) Well, first of all, I'm glad you went to get donuts. Secondly, I hope you would get some from me. But thirdly, that is an interesting conversation, because it's interesting how--you're right--a lot of Christianity doesn't talk about the kingdom. Yet you have these parables that say "the kingdom of heaven is like," "the kingdom of God is like," "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth."

Lord, at this time--at his ascension--will you be establishing your kingdom? You've got all of these references. What does it mean?

It's an important piece of the big, big, big puzzle. We want to understand that. Now let's get back to this verse, because it says if you hear the words of the kingdom and you don't understand, Satan comes and takes the seed away.

Now think about that. If we're bound to the responsibility of converting the world now with our preaching, why does a simple lack of understanding of the word of God--the kingdom--give Satan the ability to take it away?

[Jonathan] (9:54 - 9:58) That's not fair. How can you reject something you don't understand?

[Rick] (9:59 - 10:38) That is an enormous point! Folks, you really have to think about that point, because Jesus is teaching this parable. He chooses his words carefully.

He says, they don't understand it, and Satan snatches it away. It's like telling a seven-year-old because they don't understand calculus, they can't have their dinner or something. It's like, come on!

It's like, well, I showed them, but they didn't get it. So we have to go a little further. Why is there no rejection?

You'd think there would be a rejection, right? But why is there no rejection of the message given as a reason for being kept in the dark? Why is Satan blamed if these individuals were truly given free choice?

[Jonathan] (10:39 - 10:40) That doesn't sound like free choice.

[Rick] (10:41 - 11:02) It doesn't. It doesn't.

We have to question how we look at this whole thing unfolding. The answer to all these difficult questions lies in what Jesus explained after he spoke the parable to the people and before he explained it to his disciples. Here's what he said;

focus in on these words. Matthew 13:10-12:

[Jonathan] (11:03 - 11:32) "And the disciples came and said to him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Jesus answered...To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance;

but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him." Rick, that's certainly not fair, especially if everyone has to be converted today.

[Rick] (11:32 - 11:59) Exactly. To you it's been granted to know the mysteries, but them it has not been granted. He's saying they're not going to understand. When he used that "understanding" language, he really meant it.

He's saying some of you will understand, most of the listeners won't. That's a big, big issue in understanding what the reason for preaching is. Let's look again at The Purpose of Our Preaching:

[Jonathan] (12:00 - 12:16) While we are to preach to the world, we also need to realize the fact that this is Satan's world, and his influence is very powerful in most lives. He CAN undo the power of the gospel of the kingdom, but only temporarily!

[Rick] (12:17 - 12:54) Yes, it's only temporary, his ability to undo it, but it's very clear that Jesus says Satan can take away the power of the gospel from those who don't understand it. There's a very clear statement.

We've got to put this into its broader perspective. You've got to get to the "why" of all of this. Let's now look at the scriptural practicality of these thoughts that we're beginning to introduce through these Scriptures.

Let's understand the baseline everybody agrees on: Jesus is God's gift of salvation to the world. We look at John 3:16, and then, Jonathan, also add verse 17.

We all know 16, but add 17 as you read it <John 3:16-17>:

[Jonathan] (12:54 - 13:09) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

[Rick] (13:09 - 13:47) Jesus' words about the will of God-- let's understand the power of the truth here. God didn't send His son into the world to judge it, but that the world might be saved by him.

If Jesus said what is true--and he did say what is true--if it's God's objective to save the world, why then does Jesus make these following statements that seem to completely contradict and undermine that? Let's look at two other scriptures that we're going to look at in relation to this statement of God saving the world through Jesus. First is John 6:44:

[Jonathan] (13:48 - 13:58) "No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." God only draws a few.

[Rick] (13:59 - 14:14) Now you say, okay, Jesus said God sent me to save the world, and yet God only draws a few; and those are the words of Jesus as well. We seem to have a developing contradiction. Well, let's make it even bigger.

Let's go to Matthew 7:13-14:

[Jonathan] (14:15 - 14:36) "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Rick, couldn't this be referring to those who are called to be disciples of all the nations that we read back in Matthew 28?

[Rick] (14:37 - 15:01) Absolutely has to be, because what we're seeing is a development of something that looks contradictory on the surface. We're going to put this all in order in just a moment. Here's the thing;

like you said, those who are called to follow Jesus, these disciples, only a few walk the way that Jesus calls the "narrow way." Only a few. That's what the Bible tells us.

Why wouldn't God draw all men to Him? Why wouldn't He?

[Jonathan] (15:02 - 15:07) Rick, do you remember our atheist friend, Don, who used to call into our live program?

[Rick] (15:07 - 15:08) Yes, yes.

[Jonathan] (15:08 - 15:13) What did you often tell him when he was using the Scriptures to prove his point?

[Rick] (15:14 - 16:37) Yeah, that's interesting. He was an atheist. We used to do radio.

It was a call-in program, and he would call just merely to try to trip us up. Full disclosure, I loved the guy. I loved talking to him.

It was so much fun. But he would call, and he'd be starting to quote some New Testament Scriptures to try to contradict what we were saying. My reaction to him would very often be, Don, there you go again reading somebody else's mail.

It's not written to you. You've told us you don't want to believe in any of this, so why are you trying to interpret that which wasn't even addressed to you? Leave it to those who it was addressed to.

That's, Jonathan, what we need to understand. There are really two groups of people here; those to which the Bible is NOT addressed, and those of us to which it IS addressed, who are walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

That's why God doesn't draw ALL men. He doesn't draw all men to Him now because--and here's the reason, here's where the contradiction now becomes sensible-- He doesn't draw all men to Him now because His plan works in two stages.

First is the calling to follow Jesus, and that's what these statements of Jesus are referring to; the narrow way, God calling only a few.

For you it's granted to know the mysteries, but others it's not. That's the first part. Their mission is to be faithful now for the benefit of all others later.

[Jonathan] (16:38 - 16:41) Let's call these "disciples" for the rest of this episode.

[Rick] (16:41 - 16:55) Disciples, the ones called out here and now. Let's look at 1 Peter 2:9, 12. Jonathan, I want you to pause after verse 9 so we can expand it a little bit:

[Jonathan] (16:55 - 17:08) "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."

[Rick] (17:09 - 17:35) We're going to pause there after verse 9. "A chosen race, a royal priesthood..." What does a priesthood do? It serves others.

That's what it's there for. This "people for God's own possession," to "proclaim the excellencies of Him" to others. There's privilege and there's responsibility.

This is to the called-out ones. Now let's go to verse 12 to see how the called-out ones are supposed to be acting in relation to the "everybody else" <1 Peter 2:12>:

[Jonathan] (17:35 - 18:02) "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." The Gentiles--let's call them the rest of the world-- those that slander us but see our good deeds.

It says that they will glorify God. When?

[Rick] (18:02 - 18:38) It says "in the day of visitation." What does that mean? That's the next thing we're going to begin to unfold in just a few minutes.

The key, Jonathan, is they will glorify God. That's what you see. You see these two groups that look like they are completely at odds at the beginning, but it looks like at the end they're in harmony.

How does all of that happen? How does that unfold? Let's keep going.

The world waits for the faithfulness-- this is an unusual statement-- the world waits for the faithfulness of the followers of Jesus to be completed.

Let's look at Romans 8:19-21:

[Jonathan] (18:38 - 18:56) "For the anxious longing of the creation (the rest of the world) waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (the disciples). For the creation (the rest of the world) was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope..."

[Rick] (18:56 - 19:12) Pause there for a second after verse 20. This "anxious longing of the creation," the rest of the world, waits for the revealing of the disciples. Go do a survey on the street and ask a hundred people, are you waiting for "the revealing of the sons of God," the disciples? They're going to look at you like, what are you talking about?

[Jonathan] (19:12 - 19:14) Right. They don't know what they're waiting for, actually.

[Rick] (19:14 - 19:36) Here's what they're looking for.

They're looking for answers to these problems that seem unsolvable. They're looking for a way to find harmony and unity and to get rid of all of the injustice and the horror of this world. That's what they're looking for.

The sons of God will bring that. They're waiting for them, but they just don't know it, but they do know what they want. Now let's read Romans 8:21:

[Jonathan] (19:37 - 19:52) "...that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God." So the rest of the world will be given freedom from futility and Adam's sin, but when?

[Rick] (19:53 - 20:17) That's the big question. They're given freedom from the futility of all of the problems, from the difficulty that they are unwillingly having to undergo. That comes in the future. That comes as a result of the "sons of God."

There's a lot here. Now let's shift gears a little bit and look back at the true followers of Jesus in Romans 8:28:

[Jonathan] (20:18 - 20:30) "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." This message is only for disciples, the called-out ones.

[Rick] (20:31 - 21:24) It's really important to understand that. It's called, this part of the message, because this gets quoted very regularly. Well, all things work together for good.

For whom? At this point, for those who are called according to His purpose. The called-out ones that are walking in Jesus' footsteps.

Not somebody who's a fan of Jesus, who loves Jesus, but is not changing their life because Jesus is showing them how to live a life of sacrifice. It's for those, like the Apostles, who are walking the way Jesus walked. They have a special privilege at this point in time.

What we're looking at is, the disciples are the subject of that verse. We are not converting the world right here and now. You can see that there's a discrepancy between the two, but at some time in the future, the discrepancy will dissolve.

We need to grasp that. We need to put it in order. Again, what's The Purpose of Our Preaching?

[Jonathan] (21:25 - 21:42) God's plan of redemption for every human being works through true Christians, through Jesus' disciples. They are called to be a faithful and royal priesthood for the benefit of the whole world.

We preach to find "those who are called according to His purpose."

[Rick] (21:42 - 22:30) We're preaching to find those called according to His purpose. But along the way, like you in the donut shop, give the opportunity for the kingdom to be revealed. Again, most people don't think about it, and it doesn't even make sense.

If you can give somebody hope and say, wouldn't it be great to have a world where all of this stuff is just going to go away and there will be one clear focus for the world; it'll be peace and tranquility and everybody getting along? They're like, yeah, too good to be true. Okay, well, hold that thought. We'll come back to that.

Because we're saying that the world is not being given an opportunity right here and now, just the true followers of Jesus. If they're not being given an opportunity, but they say they're going to find it, does that mean the world is given a free pass? Does that mean, do they just get away with all of their sinful behavior?

[Jonathan] (22:30 - 23:02) No, they do not! Let's go to 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Now notice, it doesn't say all come to eternal life.

It says "all should come to repentance," so they can learn what's required for eternal life. That's what the kingdom on earth is for.

[Rick] (23:02 - 23:47) That's a huge point. It says God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." He's not just going to give them a "Get out of jail FREE" card and say, you don't have to worry about anything.

You're just going to have eternal life no matter what. It's saying you have to come to repentance. You have to come to that reversal of looking at what you've done in your life and say, wow, what a mess I've made.

I need to make amends. That's where people will come to. That's the important piece.

Let's think about that. How does this true repentance actually happen? It happens through a complete education regarding God's truth.

We know that because 1 Timothy 2:4-6 tell us:

[Jonathan] (23:47 - 24:02) "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." That word for "knowledge" means full discernment, full understanding. Remember in the parable, they didn't understand and Satan took away the word of the kingdom?

[Rick] (24:02 - 24:02) Right.

[Jonathan] (24:02 - 24:16) It's the complete opposite. Let's continue.

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."

[Rick] (24:16 - 25:05) Before we comment on the latter part of the verse, Jonathan, I want to go back to that knowledge point that you made. Remember we were talking about the parable, saying they don't understand and Satan takes away and you're like, that's not fair. You're right.

It's not fair. Here's where the fairness comes into play; God "will have all men to be saved," to "come to the knowledge"--the full discernment--"of the truth."

All men will be able to understand. They can't now. It's okay--

they will later. They have to do the work, but they will understand. They will do the work and Jesus will mediate between God and men to give everyone a true opportunity for life.

Jonathan, this is why we preach! This is the purpose. This is what we're there for.

[Jonathan] (25:06 - 25:15) It's good news of great joy for all people. It's good news for the disciples, the followers of Jesus. It's good news for the rest of the world.

[Rick] (25:15 - 25:36) It is. This is why we preach! This opportunity will absolutely include all and it will give a full and appropriate testing for true learning. They're going to have the ability to be tested and to learn because they're going to know how to understand.

Let's look at 2 Peter 2:9:

[Jonathan] (25:37 - 25:58) "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished." The "day of judgment" is the "day of visitation" that we read earlier. Rick, this word for "punish" isn't what we may think.

It means "to lop or prune, as in trees and wings; to curb, check, restrain."

[Rick] (25:59 - 27:14) You've got this lopping, this pruning, this judgment, this separation, this trial...all of these things. These are difficult. You know what?

You said it's good news for all people. You think about this. You just said that and now we're talking about judgment and lopping and pruning and restraining.

Think of it like knee surgery. You have knee surgery, you get your knee reconstructed, and you come out of surgery and you wake up and the doctor comes in and says, got great news for you. You're like, what, what?

You're going to be fine. You're absolutely going to be fine. You're like, awesome.

He says, now hang on, hang on. To get to be fine, we have to get you through serious therapy, and the therapy is painful.

The therapy is difficult. Now, are you willing to go through the pain and difficulty so you can be fine? Of course!

That's what we're looking at. That's what this is. Salvation will be enacted by walking the world through accountability, so they'll be able to stand before God forever on their own merits of learned and accepted righteousness.

There's learning, there's trial, there's difficulty, there's things to grow through. But that's where they get to. This is why we preach, because it's good news!

It's good news. It's good news, but it takes effort on everybody's part.

[Jonathan] (27:15 - 27:19) Yeah. We prepare the world for the message of hope and plant those seeds.

[Rick] (27:19 - 27:28) Absolutely. The time in which Jesus mediates will have an entirely different basis for operation than the world does today. Let's look at Acts 3:20-21:

[Jonathan] (27:29 - 27:42) "... and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time."

[Rick] (27:42 - 28:01) The period of restoration of all things is not going to look like the way the world is run right now. Jesus' mediation is a future time, and it's a future time of universal restoration. I don't know about you, but boy, that sounds pretty awesome!

You know what? This is why we preach!

[Jonathan] (28:02 - 28:12) To show how good God is, as He desires all to be saved and come back into harmony with Him. They will need to choose everlasting life.

[Rick] (28:12 - 28:23) This period of restoration... now let's add another scripture that doesn't sound quite like it's so much fun, that happens before the period of restoration. Let's look at Zephaniah 3:8:

[Jonathan] (28:24 - 28:41) "Therefore wait for Me, declares the LORD, for the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all My burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal."

[Rick] (28:41 - 29:16) Doesn't that just burst the bubble that we just built here? It sounds awful. Like, wait, the earth is going to be devoured by the fire of His zeal?

Does that mean the earth is going to melt? Is it going to be destroyed? The answer is no.

Hang on! Once the time of trouble and Armageddon are over--that's what those parts of the verse are about--the landscape on earth changes dramatically as the removal of the broken systems of imperfect human government and of false religion open the door to true learning. You can't read Zephaniah 3:8 without reading verse 9:

[Jonathan] (29:16 - 29:25) "For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him shoulder to shoulder."

[Rick] (29:26 - 29:32) How much better do you want it to be than that? Jonathan, this is why we preach!

[Jonathan] (29:33 - 29:37) All of mankind will speak one language, praising God. Can you imagine?

[Rick] (29:38 - 29:59) Yes, I can imagine, but I don't get it. It's too big. You can imagine it and you say it's just awesome, but however our imagination goes, it gets even bigger.

Let's go further. One more scripture here to just give us a sense of the context of the gospel being completely unfolded. Let's look at Micah 4:3-4:

[Jonathan] (30:00 - 30:25) "And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken."

[Rick] (30:25 - 30:48) There's so much power in here. First of all, there's no more war. Beating their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, never again training for war.

You get the verification that this is true because that verse ends by saying "for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken." What God has spoken, God does! This is why we preach!

[Jonathan] (30:49 - 30:53) Peace and safety and food and shelter for all. God is good!

[Rick] (30:53 - 31:01) It's amazing. It is amazing. Let's go to our final scripture, Jonathan. Revelation 21:3-4:

[Jonathan] (31:01 - 31:26) "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

[Rick] (31:27 - 31:51) When you read that verse, a lot of pieces jump out at you, but it says, "...and God Himself shall be with them and be their God." That sounds exactly like the way it was in the Garden of Eden. God was with Adam and Eve.

It goes back to what was, and all of the pain and the suffering is taken away. This is the gospel. This is why we preach! Let's finish this up. The Purpose of Our Preaching:

[Jonathan] (31:52 - 32:19) God is still calling out those who would answer His call to walk in Jesus' footsteps. Our mission IS to preach, to spread the seeds of the gospel of the kingdom,

find those who would answer God's call to discipleship, and to spread hope to any and all who will accept it. Our preaching the gospel in its original form helps, encourages, and brings praise and honor to our God and to our Lord Jesus Christ!

[Rick] (32:20 - 33:22) When we look at this, we have to ask the question again: Does our preaching really save those who hear? Does it really save those who hear? Actually, no.

Our preaching doesn't save those who hear. What it does is it gives out the hope that's in the gospel because Jesus saves everyone. It will draw some to follow in Jesus' footsteps.

For most, they'll dismiss it or they'll say too good to be true, but it applies to every one of them. The preaching of the gospel is to fulfill the commandment to draw disciples, but it's to give hope to the rest of the world because their salvation is coming. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

This is why we preach! Think about it. Folks, we love hearing from our listeners.

We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Coming up in our next episode: How Did God's Spirit Inspire Those Surrounding Jesus' Birth?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.