Our divine calling

Divine Call of the Expositor

Our calling is summed up in three commands: "Study the Word!" (2 Tim. 2:15); "Explain the Word!" (Luke 24:27); "Preach the Word!" (2 Tim. 4:2)

First, we are to "Study the WORD!" We must be diligent in studying the Scriptures. For "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (3:16-17)." We call upon men of God to cut straight the word of Truth that they may not be put to shame before God. It is incumbent upon those whom God has called to be preachers, to diligently study, even in pain and hardship, the historical grammatical meaning of the texts of Scripture. Paul would not have mentioned the benefits of the Word of God to the believer and unbeliever alike, if they were not God-breathed.

Second, we are to "Explain the WORD!" We must follow the example of our Lord Jesus who, when He appeared to two disciples on the way to Emmaus, "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:27)." Doing so will create burning hearts within those who have ears to hear, opening the Scriptures to them (v. 32). "Beginning with Moses..." describes the demand for a thorough knowledge of Scripture, its doctrines and precepts. It also implies that our exposition should never step out of the whole counsel of God, we must follow the "analogia scriptura" mandate of biblical interpretation.

Third, we are to "Preach the WORD!" We must "be ready in season or out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:2). Our "charge is from our Lord Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom" (v. 1). We must be like Martin Luther when asked to recant by the Diet of Worms, he said, "Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me."

Therefore, we believe that only expository preaching of the Bible will fulfill our calling. By that we mean teaching the Scripture word-for-word, verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter and book-by-book. Like the Apostle Paul, we reason from Scriptures alone. Expository preaching—expressing exactly the will of the glorious Sovereign—allows God to speak, not man. Expository preaching—retaining the thoughts of the Spirit—brings the preacher into direct and continual contact with the mind of the Holy Spirit who authored Scripture. Expository preaching frees the preacher to proclaim all the revelation of God, producing a ministry of wholeness and integrity. Expository preaching promotes biblical literacy, yielding rich knowledge of redemptive truths. Expository preaching carries ultimate divine authority, rendering the very voice of God. Expository preaching transforms the preacher, leading to transformed congregations.

We use the Internet in obedience to the Lord's command, "make disciples of all the nations"(Mat. 28:19). Though the Internet is a smorgasboard of errors, it is also a mission field to reach unbelievers with "the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16)."

We could only do that by "equipping… the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Eph. 4:12). While we can never be a substitute for personal study and involvement in a local church, we complement by providing believers and ministers with materials that are faithful to the Word through the World Wide Web.

May God find us faithful to His calling.