Nothing But Christ

Sermon @ Little Hocking, OH 10/15/2006 a.m.

Mark T. Tonkery

Nothing but Christ

Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Introduction

A. What does the Christian need to teach? You are sitting in a car and next to you is your teenage child who has never obeyed the Gospel, you know you need to say something about his soul? What do you say? You are sitting down for a cup of coffee with your next door neighbor. She has no understanding of the Bible, no religious beliefs. There you are wanting to share with this person about what makes your life tick. What do you teach her? You sitting in the living room with your husband or wife. He or she has no religious commitment. In fact, any time the topic of religion comes up, things get very quiet. What do you share at times like these that can change a life?

B. The mind boggles us at all the things we as Christians must teach. The Bible. The Church. Commands. Doctrines. Worship. Moral issues. But when we ask the question, “What must the Christian teach first, foremost, fundamentally? There is only one answer. Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! He is our primary message. Do you think it is possible to be and outgoing church, to have programs, Gospel Meetings, Friend Days, Vacation Bible Schools, and Clothing Give a ways but never really confront people with the Jesus Christ and Him Crucified? Do you think it is possible to teach people about the plan of salvation (belief, confession, repentance, baptism, and holy living), the Bible, the Church, Commands, Doctrines, worship, and Moral issues, but never confront our friends with Jesus.

C. Notice how Paul answered this question in 1 Cor. 2:1-2. Notice also how central this message was and is to us as Christians even today:

Body

I. The cross is what Jesus preached.

A. Jesus taught that what he was going to do at the cross was the gospel, the good news for human’s salvation.

1. He taught this to Nicodemus in John 3:13-15.

2. He taught this to the woman at the well John 4:21-24.

3. He taught this in John 6:26-27; 35-40

4. He taught this to His Apostles John 15.

B. We know that the in all these passages He is making reference to His death, burial, resurrection, because he also foretells his own death and resurrection

1. Near Caesarea Philippi in Mat-16:21-28; Mar-8:31-38; Mar-9:1; Luk-9:22-27.

2. In Galilee in Mat-17:22; Mat-17:23; Mar-9:30-32; Luk-9:43-45.

3. In Peraea- Mat-20:17-19; Mar-10:32-34; Luk-18:31-34.

C. Jesus shows through His teachings, and His death, burial, and resurrection that it is the central message to the Christian faith.

1. The cross is the central message to the Christian faith because Jesus taught that salvation does not lie in people’s goodness.

2. Jesus preaches that the cross states that all are sinners and all need Salvation.

3. The cross states clearly that man cannot save himself by his own works or power or goodness. We need a Savior. Jesus is that Savior.

i. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

ii. Acts 4:12, “And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”

II. The cross is what the Apostles preached.

A. Before Jesus ascended into Heaven Jesus told His Apostles to preach the cross.

1. Matthew 28:18-20

2. Mark 16:15-16

B. This is what they did and in fact the number one thing that the Apostles preached in the Book of Acts was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

1. Peter and the apostles preached this on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:14-39.

2. Peter again preaches this same message in Acts 3:11-26.

3. Stephen preaches Jesus’ message before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:1-53.

4. Philip preaches this to Samaria and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8.

5. Paul preaches Jesus is the Messiah who died, was buried, and resurrected in the Jewish synagogues.

6. Paul preaches Jesus died and was resurrected to those in Athens in Acts 17.

7. Five of the great sermons of Paul in the book of Acts centered on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

8. The last words of Paul in the book of Acts chapter 28 verse 31, say that Paul was “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.”

9. Paul stated, “"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Gal. 6:14)

10. We see in our text today 1 Cor. 2:1-2 and 1 Cor. 15:1-5 that the message of Paul the Apostles was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.