Preaching Christ #1

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21 Here the apostle Paul emphasizes the absolute necessity for the preaching of God’s truth, for people to be saved. Paul is not here stating that God saves by foolish preaching as I have heard some assert. Rather he states in verse 18 that the preaching of the cross is to them that perish "foolishness". To the saved, however, it is the power of God. For this reason Paul could say, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

To preach Christ is to preach concerning the greatness of His obedience. "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God." When Jesus was twelve years old Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem to observe the feast of Passover. When they had finished observing the feast of the Passover and began returning home Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary found Him, Jesus said, "How is it that ye sought me? Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?" Luke 2:49 Again Jesus said, "the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me." John 14:24 "For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." John 12:49-50

Jesus Christ came not to do his own will. Rather he came to do the will of the Father who sent him into this world. John 5:30. In the Garden before his death Jesus prayed, "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup (the cup of death) from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done." Luke 22:42 Jesus prayed that he might be able to not have to die, but he also knew that for that purpose he had come into the world and had come to that point in his ministry when he would have to die in order to redeem mankind. John 12:23-27 Therefore Jesus "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" Philippians 2:8.

In his life, teaching and suffering of death, Jesus set us a perfect example. "For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 "For it became him, for whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering." Hebrews 2:10 "God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:8-9 Paul can thus affirm that it is in Christ that we are justified by His blood. Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14. Peter affirms that we are not redeemed by silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ" 1 Peter 1:18-19. Man is baptized into Christ. Romans 6:1-6; Galatians 3:26-27. Hence in preaching Christ the apostles called upon people to "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38; 22:16.

Howard See