Warning and Teaching. Colossians 1:28. The message Paul preached and every faithful Gospel preacher today must share is “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Christ is our message to lost sinners in the world because only through Him can we be saved, made perfect in God's sight, and accepted into heaven. Our gospel message includes warnings about rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and teaching that people should accept Him as their personal Savior. These two approaches to presenting the Gospel appeal to the mind and will. A wise person will carefully consider what they hear and from whom they hear it, and will turn from their sins in repentance to God, confessing with their mouth their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin and its consequences.
Warning and teaching are two ways of preaching that can lead to the necessary and desired results of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Teaching involves providing information that is essential for understanding the truth correctly. Warning helps people avoid the influence of false teachings and misinterpretation of scripture. Warnings often aim to prevent wrong actions from starting and taking hold among those influenced by charismatic speakers with personal agendas. When we teach, we explain things repeatedly so that learners will grow spiritually from what is shared.
The key to Gospel preaching is not how we preach but whom we preach. “We preach Christ crucified.” Preaching the word of God at every possible opportunity—clarifying, challenging, rebuking, correcting, warning, and urging people to act on what they know while they have the chance—is faithful preaching. Some people will dislike open, honest exposure of sin because they want to be made to “feel good about themselves.”
The teacher emphasizes two ways of passing on essential knowledge to teach sound doctrine. It will be much easier to understand when he shares sound doctrine with the wisdom and compassion he has gained through Bible study and meditation. The goal is that everyone who listens may grow and mature in the Lord. None of this will happen if it’s just personal ideas that aren’t grounded in God.
Those who teach the Word are responsible for ensuring that those who listen truly understand what is being taught. We have not completed our task if our teaching leaves the listeners behind, unaware of what we said or the main message. Illustrations are important, and common sense helps people grasp the truth they hear. I must set an example of what I teach and preach so that the spiritual maturity that signifies those headed to heaven is evident to everyone listening.
When witnessing to lead souls to Christ, show them from the Bible their need for the Savior; all are condemned sinners. Then demonstrate from the Bible that Jesus is the only Savior, and show them how to personally receive the Savior using scripture. Explain how to be sure of salvation by having them read verses aloud themselves. John 3:16 includes all of these points in one verse: “Perish” refers to those who do not accept Him. God gave “His only begotten Son” as the Savior. “Believeth in Him” means to accept Him personally. Assurance of salvation is found in “Have everlasting life.”
Paul wanted to present every believer to God as a spiritually mature Christian. That is the purpose of the word of reconciliation. In the future, what is perfect will have come, and we will be like Christ when we see Him. He wants us to be “perfect” even as our heavenly Father is perfect. This will be true when God's will is always done in obedience to the Lord.
We also share the same privilege today. It is nothing to be ashamed of if we are called to suffer for the sake of the Gospel and God's people. It is our duty to proclaim the word of God. No one has the right to add to a finished work, but we are responsible for making it understood in both doctrine and practice. Believers are members of His body, the church. The Lord Jesus is the Head of the church. No other person holds that position or can claim the right to it. Christ lives in believers, and believers are in Him, part of His body, the church. The splendor of this glory is often experienced more fully when there is suffering for the truth rather than an easy life.
The true servant shares the Gospel by announcing its truth, warning about its consequences, and striving to win souls for God's glory. But such a servant doesn't stop there. He is tasked with teaching God's word to encourage each person, uniting believers in fellowship, and revealing the mystery of the church. A true servant also acts as an intercessor, understanding people's need to be reconciled with God.