Duty to preach faithfully.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Tit. 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. 8 Sound speech that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. [See 369, 463.]

458. Preaching faithfully as “ambassadors for Christ" required and exemplified.

Dt. 33: 10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law.

Neh. 8: 8 They read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Ec. 12: 9 Because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge: yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

Jer. 1: 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. - 23: 28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. 26: 2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.

Ezk. 2: 7 Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.—3: 10 He said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. 11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Mat. 28: 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

Ac. 5: 42 Daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. 20: 18 When they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons. 20 And how I kept back nothing that

Duty to preach faithfully.

was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men, 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Cor. 4: 1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.-9: 16 Though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, wo is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel!

2 Cor. 2: 17 We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. — 4:1 Seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

Gal. 1: 10 Do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

1 Th. 2: 3 Our exhortation was not of deccit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile; 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.

2 Tim. 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.-4: 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Duty to be inoffensive - To fear not man.

Tit. 2: 1 Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. 1 Pet. 4: 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. [See 48, 65, 188, 279, 430, 462.]

459. Duty to be properly inoffensive.

Mat. 17: 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Rom. 14: 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

1 Cor. 9: 19 Though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. -10: 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God. 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

2 Cor. 6: 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.

2 Tim. 2:24 The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men. [See 67, 135.]

460. Duty to fear not man-boldness exemplified.

Jer. 1: 7 The LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith LORD. 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and

Duty to expose and reprove sin.

against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Ezk. 2: 6 Thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebel

lious house.

Ac. 4: 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. 6: 10 They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. -9: 29 He spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.18: 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee, to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 19:8 He went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

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Ph. 1: 20 According to my earnest expectation, and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [See 134, 659.]

461. Exposing sins, and reproving transgressors required and exemplified.

1 S. 13: 13 Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue.

2 S. 12:7 Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. 1 K. 18: 17 It came to pass when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments

Duty to distinguish.

of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. ---21:20 Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

Is. 58: 1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trum pet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Ezk. 16: 2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.

Mic. 3: 8 Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

Ac. 2: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.-7: 51 Ye stiff-necked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers; 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

1 Tim. 5: 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2 Tim. 4: 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

Tit. 1: 10 There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 13 This witness is true: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. [See 610, 611.]

462. Duty to distinguish saints from sinners.

Jer. 15: 19 If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. 20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Ezk. 44: 23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern be tween the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they