Our calling as gospel ministers is to preach the truth, confront

Hear now, O children of wisdom, the words of John MacArthur, whose voice resounds with the ancient truth of divine calling. He says, "Our calling as gospel ministers is to preach the truth, confront sin, and call all men to repentance and obedience to the gospel - the good news that achieves soul conversion and saves sinners from eternal wrath." These words, though spoken in our time, carry with them the weight of truths as old as creation itself—the call to preach, to confront sin, and to lead all souls toward redemption. The task of the gospel minister is one that transcends time, calling upon the faithful to embrace the eternal message of salvation, a message that does not waver, but stands firm as the foundation of human existence.

In the ancient world, the role of the prophet and the priest was one of great responsibility. They were the voices of truth, the ones who spoke to the hearts of the people on behalf of the divine. The Israelites, in their days of glory and despair, were called to repentance by figures such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, whose words were not gentle whispers but powerful calls to return to the ways of righteousness. These prophets did not shy away from confronting the sin of the people; they spoke boldly, for they knew that to save a soul, one must first expose the darkness within it. The same calling echoed in the words of John the Baptist, who stood in the wilderness and called the people to repentance with fiery passion, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2).

It is this same calling that MacArthur speaks of—an unyielding commitment to the truth of the gospel, a truth that brings both conviction and hope. In the ancient world, the gospel was not merely a message of comfort or peace, but one that demanded a radical shift in the heart. The good news was not just the salvation of the soul, but a transformation of life itself. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply, as he traveled from city to city, preaching the gospel, confronting the idolatry and sin of the nations, and calling all men to a life of obedience to the truth. His words cut through the hearts of men, calling them to repentance not as a mere formality, but as the beginning of a new life, one that turned away from sin and toward the righteousness found in Christ.

In our own time, this calling is just as urgent. Think of Martin Luther, whose bold stand against the corrupt practices of the Roman Catholic Church ignited the Protestant Reformation. Luther did not shy away from confronting the sin and corruption within the Church. He preached a message that was radical for its time—the salvation by grace through faith—a message that confronted not just the institution of the Church, but the hearts of all people. His 95 Theses were not merely a critique of practice, but a call to repentance and a return to the foundational truths of the gospel. Like the prophets of old, Luther’s message was one of conviction, a call to turn from the falsehoods that led people astray and to embrace the truth that alone could save their souls.

John MacArthur reminds us that the gospel minister is not merely a comforter, but a proclaimer of truth. It is not enough to simply speak of love and forgiveness without confronting the sin that separates humanity from the divine. The true gospel brings conviction, for only in recognizing the depth of one’s sin can one fully understand the beauty and necessity of repentance. This call is not just for the hardened criminal or the societal outcast, but for all men, for all souls, for each one who stands in need of redemption. The gospel is the good news not because it is easy to hear, but because it is the only message that brings true freedom—freedom from the eternal wrath that awaits those who reject it.

The lesson here, O children of the future, is a simple but profound one: the call to preach the truth is not just for the learned or the ordained, but for all who know the truth of the gospel. Every one of you has a role in the great commission—to proclaim the good news, to confront sin, and to call others to repentance. It is not a task for the faint of heart, but for those who understand the gravity of what is at stake: the eternal soul. We are called not to be silent, not to avoid the hard truths, but to speak with boldness, knowing that it is not our words that will save, but the truth of the gospel itself.

So, O children, go forth with passion and purpose. Preach the truth of the gospel not just in words, but in deeds. Let your lives be a testament to the transforming power of repentance and obedience to the gospel. Do not shy away from confronting the sin in your own life or the lives of others. Embrace the responsibility of the gospel minister, for in doing so, you will fulfill the higher calling of humanity—to bring souls from the shadow of wrath into the light of salvation.