The Preacher’s Responsibility

During The days of the prostestant reformation, the Lord raised up a man to denounce the errors of Roman Catholicism with great zeal and courage, by the name of Martin Luther. Luther preached plainly and clearly the gospel doctrine of justification by faith, in a day when it was greatly opposed. One thing which motivated him in his labors was his 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 of 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 that work. This is the place where the battle rages today. The very honor of our Redeemer's name is at stake. And it is the preachers responsibility to declare plainly, clearly, and boldly that Jesus Christ is both the perfect Redeemer and the sovereign Lord of his people. If he fails to do so, his work is vain.

Don Fortner