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Preaching Christ #2The apostle Paul said of Christ, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9) It was necessary that the atoning sacrifice for sin be a perfect sacrifice. Likewise it was necessary that the foundation of the church, the kingdom of God, be a perfect foundation. Isaiah had prophesied that God said, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation." (Isaiah 28:16) The greatest trial that our Lord encountered and endured while on this earth was His crucifixion on the cross. The author of the Hebrew letter emphasizes that Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (12:2) In his willingness to suffer death on the cross that redemption might be available to mankind, he triumphed over the devil in that God raised him from the dead. He thereby broke the devil’s hold on death and sin (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). Jesus became the "tried stone, the sure foundation" as Paul said, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11) To preach Christ, one must fully preach Christ as the perfect sacrifice for sin and the perfect foundation of the church. Also as 1 Corinthians 3:11 states that he is the only foundation for the church. One must also preach the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Christ himself had promised that He would die and be raised again the third day (Matthew 20:19; Mark 9:31; 10:34; Luke 18:33; 24:7). This would be in keeping with the prophecies that had been made concerning His resurrection. Peter said that David was a prophet and that God had "sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." (Acts 2:29-36) Peter further affirms that Christ has been exalted to the right hand of God. (Verse 33) This is as affirmed in Hebrews 12:2. Paul said that God had wrought His mighty power in raising Christ from the dead and "set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:19-23) One cannot fully preach Christ then without preaching (1) the death of Jesus Christ; (2) the burial of Christ; (3) the resurrection of Christ from the dead; (4) the exaltation of Christ to the right hand of God; (5) that Christ is the head of the church; (6) and the church is the body of Christ. Howard See
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