WHY PREACH THE GOSPEL?
I Corinthians 1:17-23a “ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 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. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified . . .”
Introduction: Why preach the gospel? For those who have been born into the family of God, scripturally baptized by full immersion in water and blessed with the fellowship of the saints in a fundamental, Bible-believing and Bible-preaching New Testament Church, this simple question might seem redundant. But even in Paul’s day there were those who had already strayed from the basic task of preaching the gospel to all the world. Paul said to the church in Galatia,
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Our world is daily bombarded with a variety of gospels. Some preach a social gospel. A gospel that is focused on the social ills of society. A gospel that is designed to deal with the temporal, short term problems of a culture. This gospel is based upon the false concept that life in the here and now is what really matters. After all those that believe in hell, judgment and life beyond the grave, are just wistful dreamers looking for the panacea of pie in the sky by and by.
Others preach a revolutionary gospel. A gospel that advocates violent change at the business end of a gun. During the cold war era much of the budget of such groups as the World Council of Churches was expended on support of Marxist- Leninist groups in Central and South America, Africa and Asia, that were dedicated to the violent revolutionary change.
Some preach a gospel of humanism. This gospel begins with the premise that man is innately good. He has within him a spark of divinity. A bit of judicious fanning will bring out the divine. Man can move to a materialistic utopia on earth through his collective efforts. It doesn’t take an academic or a scholar to observe the practical failure of such a theory in our world today.
There are those who are more Biblically based who preach a good works gospel that resembles the error that crept into the Galatian church. A gospel of working one’s way to heaven through keeping of God’s laws, observing rituals and liturgies, and ultimately establishing their self-righteousness before God. The primary problem with this gospel is that it is unscriptural and unworkable and stands in direct opposition and stark contrast to the gospel of grace which Paul preached and which true Bible-believing Christians preach today.
It is obvious that the simple gospel of truth is not preached in every place where the name of Christ is spoken today. In some places purporting to be places of Christian worship, the simple gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone is rarely heard, much less preached in the boldness of the Spirit of God.
It’s puzzling and perplexing that places purposing to honour and worship Christ would not presently proclaim His powerful gospel. Why is the gospel not preached? Perhaps there is a fear of scorn and ridicule. Some preachers may fear loss of tenure if the truth about sin is spoken. There might be many reasons for the dulling of the sharp Sword of the Spirit, the cooling of evangelistic fervor and the loss of basic boldness in the proclamation of the Word. This obvious neglect only emphasizes the importance and urgency we should attach to preaching the gospel. Let us positively pursue the reasons why we should preach the gospel of Jesus Christ!
I. PREACHING THE GOSPEL PLEASES GOD.
A. We preach the gospel to fulfil a Biblical injunction. It is our first command, duty, and obligation.
Mark 16:15 “ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
B. We owe the gospel to everyone.
Romans 1:14-16 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
C. The love of God compels us to preach the gospel.
II Cor. 7:14 “ For the love of Christ constraineth us....”
Ro. 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
D. We preach the gospel to get out the message we received from God.
Gal. 1:9 “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
E. We preach the gospel because we wish to obey God.
Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
II. PREACHING THE GOSPEL EXPOSES MAN’S SIN.
A. Man’s true nature is revealed in the facts of the gospel.
1. Our own sins placed Him upon the cross.
Isaiah 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
I Peter 3:18 “ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
2. His own people falsely accused and tried Him, crying out for His blood.
John 18:15 “ But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. . .”
B. The existence of the gospel today is a testimony to man’s sinfulness and need for a Saviour. Jer. 17:9 “The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
II Cor. 5:21 “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him.”
C. Preaching the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit leads men to repentance and faith. John 16:8-10 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because
I go to my Father, and ye see me no more..”
Acts 20:20-21 “And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
III. PREACHING THE GOSPEL REVEALS GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE.
A. God’s grace gave us the gospel.
Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
B. The gospel focuses upon the grace of God.
John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
C. The good news is that sinful man can be graciously forgiven of all his sins. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Isaiah 43:25 “I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
IV. PREACHING THE GOSPEL EXALTS CHRIST AND GLORIFIES GOD.
A. All other religions and gospels glorify and exalt Satan and mankind.
Isa. 14:13-14 “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
B. Paul was determined to preach a gospel that only exalted Jesus Christ.
I Cor. 2:2 “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
C. The test for the purity of our message should be, “Does it exalt Jesus Christ?”
Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Romans 14:11 “For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
D. The true God is always glorified through the declaration of truth .
John 4:24 “God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’
E. The preaching of the gospel in the New Testament Church glorifies God.
Eph. 3:21 “Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
V. PREACHING THE GOSPEL INFURIATES SATAN
A. Christians should hinder Satan in his mission to damn souls.
I Peter 5:7 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
Eph. 4:7 “Neither give place to the devil.”
B. He blinds the lost and hides, hinders, dilutes, subverts and perverts the gospel.
II Cor. 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
I Cor. 16:9 “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and [there are] many adversaries” I Thess. 2:18 “Therefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”
VI. PREACHING THE GOSPEL RESULTS IN THE SALVATION OF SOULS.
A. Through preaching the gospel we sow the seed of salvation.
Matt. 13:23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; . . .”
Psalm 126:6 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].”
B. Through preaching the gospel we can ring the joy bells in heaven!
Luke 15:10 “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
