Last week, I encouraged us to use the right words to share your faith. But what are the right words?

2 Timothy 4:6-8 CSB

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

Paul is passing the torch to Timothy in this letter. He is nearing the end of his ministry and his life on earth. At the time of writing, it is believed that he has already stood before Caesar, and some of his fellow laborers in the Gospel have abandoned him. Soon after this, Nero will ultimately have Paul killed.

Now, the responsibility of preaching the Word has fallen to Timothy and others. For Paul’s efforts and obedience to Jesus, he will receive the crown of righteousness. He emphasizes that it will be given to all who have loved Christ’s appearing. This is stated in the past tense, indicating that we should love and respond to His appearing (and be witnesses to it) now, so that we may gain the crown of righteousness. We aim to hear the judgment on His final day of appearing: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” However, we must be faithful in our obedience now. The command is clear: preach the Word.

We are one generation away from this reality… One generation away from every tribe, nation, people, and tongue hearing and receiving the gospel. But if that’s true, then it must also be true that we are one generation away from a dead Church—a church where we failed to teach our children the Scriptures, where we failed to reach our community with the good news, a church where we failed to worship in spirit and truth. We are one generation away from a nation that cares not simply a little about Jesus, but cares nothing for Him 

We stand on the edge of a knife; we stand at the brink of either success, victory, and triumph for the kingdom, or the brink of disaster. We say that there is urgency in the gospel, and that is true—not simply because Jesus is coming back and we don’t know the day or the hour, not simply because we are not promised tomorrow, but because there are people right now, around the world, dying without the hope of salvation. Our families are struggling to keep their heads above water, grappling with brokenness, despair, and hopelessness, and the only hope they have for reconciliation, reformation, and redemption is through Jesus Christ—through the Gospel. 

If we fail to deliver this good news to them, the church is doomed. The doors will close one day; the pews will sit idly, gathering dust. The halls of our Holy Father will lie empty, drab, and dead. We are one generation away… it’s closer than you think. This message that Paul gives to young Timothy is vital for us to receive, to believe, and to carry on today. 

Preach the Word. But what are the words? What are we supposed to say exactly?

What is the gospel? 

What are the right words? 

You may feel ill-equipped for this task, questioning, “What am I announcing? What are my words as a witness and a herald? I don’t know what to say!”

Here are some messages to consider.

“God loves you”—is that the gospel? 

While this statement is true, it can leave people with the impression that there is no problem at all. God loves me; all is good. There is no mention of my sin, no mention of Jesus, no mention of His sacrifice, and no need for grace or forgiveness. In this context, that statement becomes a half-truth. While “God loves you” should lead to the gospel, it is not the gospel itself.

“You need Jesus”—is that the gospel? 

Again, this is true; we all need Jesus. But need Him for what? To do what? Without clarifying what our need is (sin) and what Jesus did to solve our problem (dying as the atoning sacrifice for our sin), then “you need Jesus” becomes an empty statement.

“Believe in God, and you’ll go to heaven”—this too has no mention of sin, Jesus, or grace.

“Just pray, and God will save you”—which God? Will any version of God suffice? Save me from what? Save me for what reason? This statement does not convey the gospel either.

“God is working all things out”—this is another half-truth. It misquotes part of a verse directed at believers who are already followers of Christ, not the unregenerate person lost in sin. That verse, Romans 8:28, states, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” If you do not already love God or are not called according to His purpose, that verse holds no promise for you. You need the gospel first.

Don’t give someone half the truth or part of the gospel when they need the whole message!

This is like reading a news article that says to continue on page 4B, and then making me search for the rest of the story, or those annoying clickbait headlines that provide just enough information to pique curiosity but not enough to convey the full story.

Don’t make them search for the answers. Give them the words! So, again, what are the words?

The gospel is…

Romans 3:23 CSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 CSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 1:9 CSB

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 10:9-10 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 CSB

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

You don’t have to teach deep theology or tough doctrine. Preach the Word by using the ACTUAL WORDS. Then simply talk about Jesus. What He has done. How He saves. Talk about Jesus clearly, fully, and lovingly. Be a witness to what you have seen Him do and what you have heard Him say. 

This is our task as his witnesses. Sin is the great problem of the world. The Gospel is the great solution. If you’ve got it, share it. Christ Himself will give you the right words. Go!