During the days of the Protestant Reformation, the Lord raised up a man by the name of Martin Luther to break the arms of
Papacy and crush its superstitious doctrines. Luther preached plainly and
clearly the gospel doctrine of justification by faith alone, in a day when it
was vehemently opposed. One thing which motivated him in his labors was the
firm conviction of his responsibility as a preacher. He expressed that
conviction in these words - "If I profess, with the loudest voice and
clearest exposition, the truth of God except precisely that point which the
world and the devil are at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing
Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him! Where the battle rages, there
the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all
the battle front besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at
that point."
Today, the religious world is violently opposing the
perfection and efficacy of Christ's substitutionary work in the place of his
people and his sovereign Lordship, which is the result of his redemptive
sacrifice. This is the place where the battle rages today - Christ the
Satisfactory Substitute and Christ the Sovereign Lord. And this is the place
where the soldier of Christ is proven. The very honor of our Redeemer's name is
at stake. And it is the preacher's responsibility to declare plainly, clearly,
and boldly that Jesus Christ is both the perfect Redeemer and the Sovereign
Lord of his people. If I fail to proclaim these two things, I must be counted a
traitor to my own conscience, the Word of God, the