Acts 20:20-21 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,… Let us consider — I. HOW THE APOSTLE PREACHED THE GOSPEL. 1. He always made a point of explaining the gospel. He knew that it would be preposterous to call upon men to embrace it before it had been made clear. 2. After he had explained the gospel, he taught them what it was to embrace it. In repentance, the sinner fixes his eye and his heart upon God, whose law he has broken, and whose displeasure he has incurred. In faith he fixes his eye and his heart upon Christ, and loves Him for doing that which renders it consistent with all the perfections of God to pardon and save the penitent. 3. He urged them to repent and believe immediately. As soon as he had taught sinners the nature, design, and terms of the gospel, he exhorted them to embrace it without delay. II. THE PROPRIETY OF THE APOSTLE'S URGING SINNERS TO EMBRACE THE GOSPEL IMMEDIATELY. 1. Because sinners are capable of embracing the gospel as soon as they understand it. Though the moral depravity of sinners has weakened their intellectual powers, yet it has by no means destroyed them. All men act upon this principle in their common conduct. The legislator, the officer, the parent, the master first instructs, and then commands. After any person has instructed another in duty, there is a propriety in his exhorting him to an immediate compliance. This holds in regard to religious instruction as well as to any other. 2. Because it was agreeable to the directions which Christ had given to His ministers. 3. Because it was in conformity with the example of all the sacred instructors who went before him. He addressed sinners in the same manner in which the ancient prophets addressed them. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, |
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