We Preach Christ
(1 Corinthians 1:21-24)
“…in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. [21] For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; [23] but, we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, [24] but, to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But, our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior!
(2 Peter 1:16-17) – “…we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. [17] For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
To properly preach/teach the Gospel, there must be a very clear description of the Person of Christ; to do so, we must preach Christ as God.
(Col. 2:9) – “…in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…”
Also, there must be a very clear description of the Person of Christ as Messiah.
(John 4:25-26) – “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ).’ When He comes, He will tell us all things.’ [26] Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’” Here the woman Jesus met at the well excitedly returned to the city in Samaria and proclaimed (John 4:29) – “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 1:41) – “He (Andrew) first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ).’” (Micah 5:2) – “…Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” 332 Messianic prophecies have been fulfilled (so far). This gives us one solid truth that shall never fade away: God keeps His promises!
When we preach Christ, we must preach…
I. We preach Christ crucified, AND Christ risen!
(Luke 24:2-7) – “…they (the women) found the stone rolled away from the tomb. [3] Then, they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. [5] Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? [6] He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, [7] saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential to the Heavenly Father’s plan for saving mankind from sin, death and hell. However, we cannot omit the coupled importance the resurrection of Christ has with His crucifixion. These two realities of both history and orthodox Christian doctrine must always stay attached together! If the resurrection is ever removed from what we know to be true history and Biblical theology, then all of Christology comes crashing down! The sins atoned for on the cross of Jesus – without the resurrection – fall back into their un-atoned state! Without the eternal and divine support of the empty tomb, we are still in eternal debt for all of our sins!
(1 Cor. 15:14-17) – “…if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. [15] Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up – if in fact the dead do not rise. [16] For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. [17] And, if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
(Josh McDowell) – “The first thing that stuck in the minds of the disciples was not the empty tomb, but rather the empty grave clothes…!”
II. We preach Christ crucified, AND forgiving!
(Luke 23:33-34) – “…when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. [34] Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do…’”
(John 8:3-11) – “…the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, [4] they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. [5] Now, Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But, what do You say?’ [6] This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But, Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. [7] So, when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ [8] And, again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. [9] Then, those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And, Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. [10] When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ [11] She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And, Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’”
(1 John 1:7-9) – “…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
III. We preach Christ crucified, AND redeeming!
(Zec. 10:8) – “I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them; and, they shall increase as they once increased.” Backsliders truly have hope!
(Ezek. 18:23-28) – “’Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD, and not that he should turn from his ways and live? [24] But, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. [25] Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair? [26] When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. [27] Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. [28] Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.”
(Rev. 7:14-17) – “…These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And, He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. [16] They shall neither hunger anymore, nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; [17] for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And, God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Rev. 21:2-4) – “…I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And, I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] And, God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’”
(Samuel Chadwick) – “…redemption is costly, and comfort draws from the deep. Brains can argue, but It takes heart to comfort.”
IV. We preach Christ crucified, AND sanctifying!
(John 17:15-17) – “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.”
(Eph. 5:24-27) – “…just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her, [26] that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, [27] that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
(Heb. 13:11-12) – “…the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. [12] Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”
1 Thess. 5:23-24) – “…may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
(Lastly…)
V. We preach Christ crucified AND returning!
(Phil. 3:20-21) – “…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
(1 Thess. 4:16-18) – “…the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then, we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And, thus, we shall always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”
(Martin Luther; the Great Reformer) – “In His life Christ is an Example showing us how to live; in His death He is a Sacrifice satisfying for our sins; in His resurrection, a Conqueror; in His ascension, a King; in His intercession, a High Priest.”
(Samuel Rutherford; 17th century Scottish theologian) – “Believe God’s love and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your Rock is Christ, and it is not the Rock which ebbs and flows, but your sea.”
