Preach Christ

There is a temptation in this post-modern world to use the generic name "God." We see this everywhere, when you say to someone a blessing it is often "God bless you," rather than "Christ bless you." The problem with God bless is that it is acceptable to anyone. If you say to Muslim, God bless, they replace God with Allah, and for Hindu it would be one of three major gods they follow such as Brahmin, Vishnu, and Shiva. God is so generic. At the very least we should be saying LORD,
"May the LORD be with you," (Numbers 6:24-26) because Jesus is the LORD (Philippians 2:11, Romans 14:9, Romans 10:9) and the Lord is the God of Israel. When we preach it must be Jesus Christ's name, not God the generic form. For the Apostle Paul said, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:1-2), "Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).This will cause us tribulation and suffering, because people do not like when we Christian confess the Truth, that Jesus is the Only God and the Only way to eternal life, heaven, and the Father, "Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). I am gravely concerned by the impetus in Evangelical circles to keep Christ's name hidden, especially in interfaith collaborations, particularly aid and relief. There are many in church who are starting to compromise the Gospel, and allow misunderstandings, and post-modern ideas flourish. The Apostle Paul has some choice words for these false apostles and false prophets who water down gospel or change it, "But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For [you seem willing to allow it] if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted. You tolerate all this beautifully [welcoming the deception]. For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will correspond with their deeds," (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-14), "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction! ⁹ As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction [damnation, lake of fire]!," (Galatians 1:8-9), and Jesus Christ Himself said, "there will be false christs and false prophets who will works wonders and signs to deceive if possible the Elect," (Matthew 24:24), and "Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many." (Matthew 24:4-5). We see this in modern times as Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons/Church of Latter Day Saints, Chinese Cults, Slavic Cults, and even cults in America misuse Christ's Name and create a new gospel under their false teachings (see again 1 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-14); they do not teach the True teachings of the God breathed Holy Bible (2 Timothy 3:16). The Original and True Gospel is found in the New Testament [Holy Bible] in the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and all the Epistles of Paul, Peter, John, James, Jude, and the Revelation [Apocalypse of John]; the Scriptures in Holy Bible are solid, trustworthy, accurate, the right teaching, and Truthful. Beware of those who would water down the Gospel or create new gospel that is not found in Scriptures. The Holy Bible is trustworthy and true, it was written by God dictating to the Apostles and Prophets of Old, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit," (2 Peter 1:20-21), and, "Jesus said, But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). 

There is only One name by which mankind can be saved, "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:10,12). Why would we, who carry the Word of God inside us (Colossians 2:17, Romans 8:10-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16) hide Him from a broken world? If there was one cure for cancer, and yet one million other choices of treatment, wouldn't people take the sure cure? Jesus Christ is the cure, the Christ and way of Salvation, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day," (John 6:40), "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son," (John 3:16-18) and "All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God." (1 John 4:15). Jesus is the cure for our broken hearts, our sin, and our self destruction. He is the personal God who wants to know us, and He offers us His wounded hand which was pierced for our transgressions. We must preach Him to others, to tell them God has died for their sins and risen from dead, that He is LORD and He wants them to believe in Him who is Jesus Christ and confess Him as LORD (Romans 10:9-10), and know Him and follow Him forever. Amen.

The pressure for many to push preaching Jesus Christ to the back burner, and use the generic God is telltale sign of the times, that the lukewarm spirit (Revelation 3:16-22) and the antichrist is already moving to hide Christ in churches! Why isn't the name of Jesus, the name of salvation being preached?! He is the only True God, One with Father and Holy Spirit, and yet His ambassadors hide His name?! Does a ambassador of a nation hide who they work for, the President or King or Sultan? No! They proclaim their authority by the Authority over them. Likewise, we Christians are suppose to Preach Christ Jesus and His Kingdom! Jesus is the One True God and only way of salvation! Why would anyone hide the only solution to life and the afterlife, the only door to heaven (Matthew 1:34).This world right now is collapsing beneath itself. Catastrophes, economic uncertainties, and wars are all on horizon. People need Jesus Christ, and we must Preach Him! We cannot afford the lengthy Life Time evangelism, St. Francis of Assisi is wrong, we must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ boldly! There is no time to waste. Christ is coming on the clouds soon! At any moment He could appear in sky, and His Sign proclaiming His Reign! Do not delay, do not become lukewarm and hide the cross and Christ, but rather lift up His banner and let His Name be on your lips! Amen .