Why Preach The Gospel?

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.”