I first heard of John MacArthur as the man who called Steven Furtick unqualified. At the time, my favorite preacher was Michael Todd of Transformation Church. I devoured his sermons and believed he was among the best. There wasn’t much discernment content on him yet. However, many resources addressed the teachings of his mentor, Steven Furtick.
One such article mentioned that John MacArthur called Furtick unqualified. I didn’t know who MacArthur was, so his opinion carried little weight with me. But one line caught my attention.
The article mentioned in passing that MacArthur had preached through the entire New Testament. Now that shocked me!
I was a new Christian attending seeker-sensitive churches where God’s Word was rarely the focus. Sermons were primarily motivational talks, with a few Bible verses interspersed throughout the message. It never occurred to me that a pastor could preach through an entire book of the Bible, verse by verse.
Curious, I looked up John MacArthur and found his ministry website, Grace to You. And there it was! Hundreds of sermons, all centered on “unleashing God’s truth one verse at a time.” I started listening, and for the first time, I encountered expository preaching. I wasn’t hearing sermons all about me anymore, but God’s Word explained, honored, and applied.
It quickly became a habit to listen to his sermons, whether working through a New Testament book or while doing daily tasks. Without MacArthur’s faithful exposition of Scripture, I may have remained in shallow, self-centered, and unbiblical teachings. His ministry helped me grow in discernment and biblical depth. This blog would not be what it is now had I not encountered his ministry a year into my writing journey. God used him and many others to steer me away from a path of heresy to a path of truth. And for that, I am deeply grateful.
And I know I am not alone. Even in my small church, I have met people who were once caught in false teaching until they heard MacArthur on the radio or received his cassette tapes. Only God knows the full extent of his legacy. I suspect it will endure alongside the distinguished men God has raised throughout church history.
I never met or corresponded with John MacArthur, and now that he is with the Lord, I won’t have the chance this side of eternity. But from everything I have learned of him, two things influenced me the most: his passion for Scripture and his boldness in proclaiming it.
A Man Who Believed the Bible
John MacArthur deeply believed in the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. His sermons, books, and public ministry all reflected unwavering confidence in God’s Word. When I became a Christian, I had been taught that hearing from God came through audible voices, signs, dreams, and inner impressions. Scripture was treated as one of many ways to hear from him. But MacArthur challenged that view. He not only refuted such teachings but also modeled what it looks like to rely wholly on the Bible for knowing God and living faithfully. His book and conference, “Strange Fire,” also helped me arrive at a cessationist view of the gifts and understand the proper ministry of the Holy Spirit.
In an age when many Christians chase after trends, psychology, and various ideologies, MacArthur stood out as someone grounded in the timeless truths of Scripture. His example helped me grow in my reverence for God’s Word and gave me the courage to trust in its sufficiency.
A Man Who Contended for the Truth
MacArthur’s ministry was not without controversies—The Lordship Salvation, social Justice movement, Charismatic movement, Women preacher, and more. I discovered him in 2019, toward the end of his public ministry, so I didn’t witness many of those earlier battles firsthand. But I was struck by how unwavering he remained in his biblical convictions. Even when it brought heavy criticism or alienation from peers, he stood firm. Like Luther, he stood on God’s Word and could do no other.
One moment that most encouraged me was during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many churches shut down indefinitely, MacArthur and the elders at Grace Community Church boldly declared that the church is essential and reopened their doors. That stand gave me so much hope! Many prominent leaders had complied or compromised with the government’s mandates, and it was heartening to see one who contended.
His courage in all his battles inspired me to stand firm on God’s Word. He taught me that God’s truth is worth defending, even when it comes at a cost. Even if you must stand alone.
A Race Well Run
John MacArthur was not a perfect man. Like all of us, he had his flaws and sins. But he was a great man. He was not great because of any innate ability, but because of the grace of Christ at work in him. His life and legacy are a testimony to what God can do through someone fully committed to his Word.
MacArthur will be remembered as a man of the Bible who stood firm in an age of compromise. And now, he is with the church triumphant, worshiping the Savior he served so faithfully.
I grieve for his passing. I mourn the loss of a bold voice that stood as a bulwark against false doctrines. However, I also trust that God will raise more like him, just as he always has.
So here’s to another faithful servant, now at rest in glory. In a time when stories of fallen leaders dominate headlines, it’s a blessing to celebrate a race well run.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8.
