Rumble
Preaching Half the Gospel. Where’s the Rest of the Story?
We find ourselves in the generation before the return of the LORD when clarity is needed concerning end times events.
I recently heard someone use the term 1/2 Gospel and it gave a name to a trend I feel needs to be exposed in these last days as we are nearing the return of Jesus.
It is popular in the church today to place all the emphasis on Christ’s first coming and to deemphasize teaching on Christ’s second coming. But the first coming of Christ was not the whole story.
We learn this from the content of the Apostolic Gospel which the disciples preached after Jesus ascended to heaven. Shortly after Christ’s ascension, we see Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:18-21 where he includes the return of Jesus as a central theme of his gospel message.
The underlined portions below are referring to the return of Jesus and the Millennial Kingdom,
But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing (Millennial Kingdom) may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration (Millennial Kingdom) of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.
In Peter’s classic message he included the return of Jesus and the Millennial Kingdom as motivation to repent and be saved. That’s missing today! Jesus has a lot more to do that’s being left out of today’s preaching.
In Acts 1:9-11, Luke records the angel speaking who also used the return of Jesus to motivate and encourage the apostles,
Now when He (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they (the apostles) watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
1/2 Gospel preaching leaves out the teaching and preaching of the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Second Coming, and Christ’s glorious Millennial Kingdom. Churches and pastors have been guilty of preaching 1/2 the gospel for so many years now that today’s church has very little idea of what these topics mean. That’s so sad because prophecy brings real relevance to our times.
I think if Jesus was giving a review of the last day’s church to this generation, he would have to say, “I have this against you…you have only preached 1/2 the gospel, you have not told the people about MY return and you’ve held back the rest of MY story!”
The opportunity to preach the Gospel is not the issue. Through the internet and social media, people are being reached all over the world. The issue is that men seem to be fearful of “turning off” their audience and scaring them away. Too bad! We need a revival of preaching the whole gospel and shouting it from the rooftops!
Jesus Christ, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS is returning!!
To make sure we got the message, God gave us the book of Revelation which is the “revealing” of Jesus Christ, so we would know and be ready! But the church is too busy doing the “contemporary thing” and being applauded by their peers. All the while this great book is supposed to be read studied and obeyed so we can give Jesus His proper praise and glory (Rev. 1:3),
And he said to me (John), “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. (Rev. 22:10)
The verse about Jesus knocking on the door in Revelation 3:20 is often misinterpreted as Jesus knocking on the door of your heart. But in context, it’s talking about Jesus knocking on the door of the church of Laodicea. Why is that? Because the church is so busy it often leaves Him out.
Today’s contemporary church with all its programs, nuances and watered-down preaching is leaving out the coming King,
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3:20)
The so-called “religious people” missed the First Coming of Jesus and the so-called “religious” people of today are ignoring His Second Coming!
Believers Wake up! The time is drawing near! Jesus is coming!
Are you ready? Are you waiting? Are you watching?
Will you receive the “crown of righteousness” reserved for those who love His appearing?
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Tim. 4:8)
At His first coming, Jesus was a lamb, but when He comes the second time, He will be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He will come back to Israel to bring judgment on the earth, to redeem His chosen people, and to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
These teachings are needed today more than ever. Please pray for your church and pastor that he might get back to the preaching of the Apostles with the whole gospel, not 1/2 Gospel; a gospel that includes the blessed return of the LORD Jesus Christ,
He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20)