2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The Word of God is Truth which has different effects or can impact us differently at different times:
- Hebrews 4:12 Sword that penetrates/cuts.
- Acts 2:37 Pricked/stunned.
- Luke 24:32 Hearts burn.
- Jeremiah 23:29 Word is like fire.
- Jeremiah 23:29 Hammer that: breaks; drives things in; chisels; pries; pounds.
- Luke 3:9 Axe laid to the roots.
Sometimes the Word preached has different effects other than soothing, comforting, and encouraging like in 2 Timothy 4:2 which says it reproves, rebukes, and exhorts. These verses were inspired by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul given to his son in the faith Timothy. Apparently, preaching the Word and sound doctrine will at times reprove, rebuke, and exhort. The Apostle Paul had a revelation of Jesus Christ and of the grace of God so 2 Timothy 4: 2 is one of the ways he preached grace. It has been said by those who claim to be teaching the real grace message that other preachers who aren’t preaching like they do are not preaching grace like Paul preached grace. The reality is that they who refuse to teach any of the word of His grace that may bring reproof, rebuke, and exhortation are the ones not teaching grace like the Apostle Paul. Certainly it isn’t what you should hear every week in our churches in every message but it shouldn’t be excluded under the false guise of preaching grace.
They also don’t think the message of repentance is needed either or that repentance should not be repentance from sin. Using reproof, rebuke, and exhortation creates conviction within us and grievousness because it’s the chastening of the Lord or corrective in nature; after, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11). Conviction can sometimes be described as the pain you feel in your conscience when you break God’s moral law. Repentance is when you acknowledge the truth of God’s Word about it and change. What physical pain is to your outward body conviction is to your inner man. If your physical body did not send the sensation of pain when you stepped on a piece of glass and cut the bottom of your foot you could bleed to death. In the same way, if truth didn’t cause conviction (pain) in your conscience you could get in trouble spiritually.
The effect of removing truths that reprove, rebuke, and exhort is a lukewarm, lawless, non-discipled church. It is the Church of no reproof. The majority of truths in the word of His grace are overwhelmingly positive, encouraging, and edifying but we shouldn’t exclude the truths that call for repentance, a change, and correction. A Church with no correction is illegitimate and not true sons (Hebrews 12:8). The devil in the Last Days would much rather face a Church from a generation who will not receive correction (an illegitimate Church) so that there is no restraint on his lawlessness. We need all of the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) in our ministries in order to be equipped for every good work!
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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