Receiving Preaching as the Word of God (3)

The truth of I Thessalonians 2:13 that faithful preaching is the Word of God has implications, first, for the minister. Obviously, he must not teach error or his own opinions. Such are wood, hay and stubble (I Cor. 3:12f.), if not worse. For these things the minister receives no reward, and by such doctrines he and the congregation are led astray. Instead, the preacher must labor hard in rightly dividing the Word of truth. He must meditate on the passage, compare Scripture with Scripture, study the context and use the original languages. Like Paul in Acts 17:2-3, he must point his hearers to the sufferings and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Word of God incarnate revealed in the Word of God written and proclaimed in the Word of God preached.

Second, there is also a calling here for the elders. They must test the preaching. Did the sermon come "out of" the Scriptures? Did it explain the text? Did it apply the text? Is this sound or health-giving doctrine? If it is not, the elders should lovingly admonish and correct the minister. They should also sustain proper criticisms of the minister’s preaching made by members of the congregation and exhort the preacher in a brotherly manner. It is amazing today how much anemic and erroneous preaching goes unchallenged! On the other hand, if the minister’s preaching is a faithful exposition of the text of Scripture, the elders should receive it as the Word of God, encourage the minister in his work and rebuke those who criticize it.

Third, the congregation has a calling. Every member should be a Berean, searching the Scriptures daily to see if the doctrine taught is in accordance with God’s Word (Acts 17:11). If a minister mispronounces a word, or states that a verse is in John 8 when it is in John 5, or even if he interprets a text or part of a text in a different way from you (provided his interpretation is within the analogy of faith), you may wish to say something to him about it but there is no ground for a protest. Moreover, if the minister is faithfully exercising his office and if believers are faithfully exercising their office, there will not be any protests. If the preaching is faithful then all are under solemn obligation before God to receive it as God’s Word or, as the apostle puts it, "the word of God .. in truth" (I Thess. 2:13). Those who do not receive it as such are guilty of the sin of unbelief and hardness of heart. They are resisting a means of grace, the chief means of grace. Such people will not benefit as they ought from the preaching and their spiritual life will suffer accordingly. They must repent. However, those who receive faithful preaching as God’s Word will grow in grace. Christ will speak to you and you will know His Word working effectually in you. Thus you will thank God for a minister "who feed[s] you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer. 3:15).