Sermon Central
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We Preach Christ
Contributed by Darin Gary on Jan 23, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: When others deliberately avoid preaching the Lord who planned & made Himself to be the sacrifical Lamb of God, we (as the Apostle Paul) PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED!
We Preach Christ
“…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!
