I want to challenge you to have Him as Lord walking real close, to have His truth with tenderness (a soft heart) inside, with strong conviction, and with graciousness. Always keep it biblical in the Spirit (relying upon Him), and honest, and balanced too as you exemplify the life “bragging on Jesus” wherever you go.
I. People Known More for What They Were Against (Cautionary Examples)
These figures often became identified not by love for God’s redemptive work, but by resistance, control, fear, or condemnation—even when they claimed spiritual authority.
1. The Pharisees
Against: Jesus’ mercy, grace to sinners, Sabbath freedom
Key verses:
-
“You shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.” — Matthew 23:13
-
“They tie up heavy burdens… but they themselves are not willing to move them.” — Matthew 23:4
They were orthodox in doctrine yet cold in compassion. They opposed sin, but also opposed the Savior who forgives sinners.
A.W. Tozer: “The Pharisees lived by negatives. Their religion was all ‘Thou shalt not,’ and very little ‘Thou shalt.’”
2. The Older Brother (Parable of the Prodigal Son)
Against: Grace for the repentant, celebration of mercy
Key verses:
-
“This son of yours… you killed the fattened calf for him!” — Luke 15:30
He stood for “rightness” but missed the Father’s heart.
Tim Keller: “You can be just as lost by keeping the rules as by breaking them.”
3. Jonah
Against: God’s mercy toward enemies
Key verses:
-
“That is why I fled… for I knew that you are a gracious God.” — Jonah 4:2
Jonah preached truth but resented grace when it worked.
Charles Spurgeon: “We often forgive but do not rejoice in forgiveness.”
4. The Judaizers
Against: Freedom in Christ
Key verses:
-
“You are severed from Christ… you who would be justified by the law.” — Galatians 5:4
They preached morality without new birth.
Martin Luther: “The law works fear and wrath; grace works hope and mercy.”
II. People Known for What They Were Against—Verbally (Prophetic but Risky)
These spoke strongly and publicly against sin, hypocrisy, or injustice. Their words were often right—but their tone, focus, or imbalance could obscure grace if not anchored in God’s heart.
1. John the Baptist
Against: Hypocrisy, immorality, false repentance
Key verses:
-
“You brood of vipers!” — Matthew 3:7
Yet John’s purpose was to point to Jesus, not to himself.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30
2. Elijah
Against: Baal worship, spiritual compromise
Key verses:
-
“How long will you waver between two opinions?” — 1 Kings 18:21
Bold, necessary, but later burned out and discouraged—showing that constant confrontation without rest and reassurance can wound the servant.
3. Jeremiah
Against: National sin and false peace
Key verses:
-
“They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” — Jeremiah 6:14
He wept more than he thundered.
Jeremiah 9:1 — “Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears…”
III. People Known More for What They Were For (The Winsome Witness)
These men and women confronted sin—but were primarily recognized for reflecting the heart of God.
1. Jesus
For: The Father’s glory, sinners’ redemption, truth with grace
Key verses:
-
“Full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14
-
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10
Jesus never minimized sin—but He maximized mercy.
Hebrews 7:25: “He is able to save to the uttermost…”
2. The Apostle Paul
For: Christ crucified, grace that transforms
Key verses:
-
“We preach Christ crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 1:23
-
“I have been crucified with Christ.” — Galatians 2:20
Paul opposed false teaching, but his life radiated joy, humility, and hope.
D.L. Moody: “The gospel is not good advice—it is good news.”
3. Barnabas
For: Encouragement, restoration, second chances
Key verses:
-
“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” — Acts 11:24
Acts 4:36 — His name means “Son of Encouragement.”
4. Stephen
For: Christ’s glory—even in death
Key verses:
-
“He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” — Acts 7:55
Even while rebuking sin, his face shone like an angel.
IV. The Biblical Balance: Preach the Word, Brag on Jesus
Scripture does not call us to silence on sin—but it does call us to lead with Christ.
Key Scriptures
-
2 Timothy 4:2 — “Preach the word… reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
-
Romans 2:4 — “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”
-
Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
-
Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light shine before others.”
Francis Schaeffer: “Truth without love is brutality; love without truth is hypocrisy.”
John Stott: “We must be able to say ‘no’ to the world, but we must first have said a joyful ‘yes’ to Christ.”
V. Closing Pastoral Thought
Christians are not called to be known primarily for what we oppose, but for Whom we belong to.
We do preach against sin—because sin kills.
We do stand for righteousness—because holiness heals.
But we boast in Jesus—because only He saves.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
God alone changes hearts.
God alone grants repentance.
God alone saves—sometimes using cracked, redeemed vessels like us.
And when people see Christ in us—His forgiveness, joy, peace, and truth—they won’t just hear what we’re against…
They’ll want the Savior we’re for.
