Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A Call to Preach the Fullness of Judgment and Grace

It is not our business to talk about the gospel, to talk about forgiveness.  It is our task to preach the gospel: that is to tell people right in front, "You, my friend are a damned sinner under the law.  And you, without faith in Christ, will go to hell.  You, even you sitting here in this church—the best of the moral people—you without faith in Christ will go to hell.  It is not your church attendance which is going to save you.  It is not your so-called moral life which will save you.  Your good works are nothing—nothing—if you expect to get some favor from God for them.  They do nothing but earn you hell.  Turn to Christ.  Repent, and in repentance one receives Christ—Christ as preached.  You are forgiven.  Are you a sinner?  You better be a sinner, because Christ came only for the unrighteous, not for the righteous.  He comes only for the sick, not for the well.  He comes only for sinners.  Are you a damned sinner under the law?  I hope so.  You must be.  If you aren't, leave the space.  Christ is not for you."

Matthew Harrison
President, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

No comments: