Be That Bold Preacher of Righteousness

As America and the West continue to resemble Sodom and Gomorrah before the day of God’s judgment (Gen 19), the preacher’s task will only become more difficult (2 Tim 3:1–10). The Bible states that Noah’s generation did not understand, until the flood came and took them all away (Mt 24:39).

The Great Deluge and the twin cities of sin, according to the apostle Peter, ended with divine acts of judgment and destruction, and these were made to be examples, to those who would live ungodly thereafter (2 Pet 2:6). God did not spare the fallen angels (demons), nor the ancient world in unrighteousness (2 Pet 2:4–5), for His wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18).

The Bible warns us, as the day of God’s coming destruction of the whole earth and heavens approach (2 Pet 3:10–12), there will be many false Christs, many false prophets, and many false teachers (Mt 24:5, 11, 24; 2 Pet 1:1–3). The task of these wicked purveyors of unholy, ungodly living is to deceive the multitudes, by misrepresenting God and Christ. By misleading many, lawlessness will increase and love will grow cold (Mt 24:11–12).

Since the creation of Adam (Gen 2), the first man — a preacher — God has raised up preachers, to warn people that God is right and just, to bring His destructive judgments upon the rebellious. This is no easy task, and many shy away from the “bad news.” It is, however, utterly impossible to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, without accurately presenting the plight of man (Gen 6:5; Is 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 1:18–32; 3:10–12, 23; 6:23; Eph 2:1–3, 12).

Peter called Noah, “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet 4:5). He, like all other preachers, was appointed by God, for this calling (Rom 10:14; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11). Noah served as a type of Jesus Christ, who as God’s Son, was sent into the world to be a preacher. Jesus is also building an ark of salvation, by building His church (Mt 16:18), as a Temple in the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:20–22).

There was salvation in Noah’s ark, which took a long time to build (100 years). There is salvation in Christ Jesus, who promised to build His church (Mt 16:18), which has taken some time (2 Pet 3:8–9). God’s elect found their place on Noah’s ark (8 people), even as God’s chosen ones find their place in Christ’s body, His church, the Israel of God (Mt 16:18; Gal 6:16; Eph 5:25). Noah’s ark of deliverance ended up being a family enterprise, and those who labor as slaves of Christ (Eph 6:6) carry another title “children of God” (1 Jn 3:1, 10) because God has made Himself to be their Father by adoption (Rom 8:15, 23; Eph 1:4–5; 1 Jn 3:1, 10).

Because humanity sins in the same way as Noah and Lot’s contemporaries, we should not be alarmed by the flamboyant pride of sexual deviants or violent offenders. Their insurrection must grow worse and worse, as the day of great tribulation takes its place in the fulfillment of prophecy and in history (Rev 6–18). Even the day of evil has been ordained for the wicked and the wicked for these days (Prv 16:4).

Preachers of righteousness must, themselves, be warned that men will not love the truth, so as to be saved (2 Thess 2:10). Even to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) will invite ridicule and persecution (Mt 5:10–11). They have ears, but they cannot hear.

Every preacher of the Lord, our righteousness (Jer 23:6; 33:16), must deny himself approval in the world, even in the world-infested church. Few prophets escaped the scorn of Israel’s leadership and religious establishment. It behooves every seminary and pastoral training endeavor, to properly prepare preachers for the persecution, both external and internal, that is promised in God’s Word. Simply put, preachers will suffer and suffer more when closely aligned with the truth.

Noah finished his building project in God’s appointed time because God is the architect and builder of all things (Heb 11:10). There is an appointed day for Christ’s completed building of His church (Mt 24:42). When the Gospel has been preached to the whole world (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15), and the full number of the saved have entered the ark of Christ (Acts 13:47), then comes the end.

As the Spirit of Christ fills each preacher, appointed (Acts 20:28), called (Phil 3:14), and sent to his assignment (Is 6:8; Rom 10:15), it is Christ Himself calling in the elect, redeemed to His glorious vessel of deliverance (Mt 11:28; Rom 8:30). The Lord closed the door of Noah’s ark (Gen 7:16), and He will soon close the door of His Temple on the earth.

The judgment of God, by fire and fervent heat (2 Pet 3:10–12), complements an eternity of fiery hell (Mt 18:9). Punishment is for those who did not believe (Mt 25:46) because they, too, will not understand, until the fire burns them, in conscious torment (Mt 8:29; Lk 16:23), in the place of outer darkness (Mt 8:12), where weeping and gnashing of teeth will occupy them, forever.

It is the preacher of righteousness, who speaks of these realities because the false Christs, prophets, and teachers will not. Noah surely heard the cries of those who would not heed his sermons on the wrath to come, as they succumbed to the flood. Even Lazarus was made to hear the torment of the rich man in hell (Lk 16:23). We must imagine the terrors of eternal hell and the lake of fire (Rev 20:10, 14–15), so that the world may know.

Friend, have you considered these matters? Jesus spoke of Noah, as being a real man, living in a real world (Mt 24:37–38). Peter also wrote of him, as a real example to warn you (1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5). Who will deliver you from wrath to come (Mt 3:7; Lk 3:7)? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). He is the sovereign King and Lord of all (1 Tim 6:15). He calls you to repent of the same sins that were so prevalent in Noah’s day and at Sodom (Acts 17:30). You must flee from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10), and Jesus is the way of salvation (Jn 14:6). It is time to board His ark.

Preachers, tell the truth to sinners! Do not cave to the pressures of our evil society of hypocrites and wicked culture. Do not add your approval to sinful lifestyles but expose their evil (Eph 5:11). Do not be in the company of preachers, who claim to have served the Lord of glory, only to hear His scathing rebuke of not even knowing you (Mt 7:21–23). You, too, must heed the warning of God’s wrath to come.

Examine yourself and make your preaching ministry sure, so that others will testify, “That man of God was a bold preacher of righteousness.”

David Norczyk

Missoula, Montana

July 24, 2022