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Pastor Scott Jones
Have you ever met a person who just wanted to argue with you? This world seems full of people who just want to argue, fight, or debate. I have found it to be true that “no one changes their mind after losing a debate.”
It is important to stand for the truth, but it is almost useless arguing or debating over the truth. Arguing or debating is very seldom successful. No, people will not be changed because we beat them in an argument. People are changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“In Him you also [trusted], after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13 NKJV) Paul reminded the believers in Ephesus that they believed – after – they heard the Word of truth. They were not converted from the pagan religion that surrounded them because Paul or anyone else proved that their stone idols were not deities at all.
Today, very few will see th destruction of their worldly logic because of a debate held on a street corner, college campus, or social media trend. Few will turn from their sinful lifestyles because of a poster, TV commercial, or social media post, but the gospel is still powerful and life changing.
The people of Ephesus had been exposed to the gospel by people who not only spoke the truth, but lived it. These believers and many others over the centuries had their lives changed and their priorities put into perspective by the “Good News of Jesus Christ.”
Paul made clear his conviction when he wrote to the Christians at Rome “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 NKJV) The gospel was powerful for Paul and it is powerful for us as well.
I want to be clear, we must stand strong for the truth, but we must also tell the truth in love. There is no greater love than to tell others about Christ. All the blessings we have examined from the book of Ephesians are totally dependent upon the individual’s belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It does little good to persuade a person to correct moral conduct if their soul is left on a path to destruction. Only Jesus and His gospel can change the heart.
So let us take strong stands on the truth. Go ahead and wear the t-shirts, post the memes, and state the truth, but don’t forget to live and speak the gospel in love. Don’t let our zeal for righteousness be seen as contempt for the lost. Remember, the lost are simply following their nature (Eph 2: 1-3). As the old song says, “People need the Lord.”
Let them see Jesus and His gospel in us. God bless.
Scott Jones is Pastor of Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church.
Scott Jones is Pastor of Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church.
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