Why preaching Christ Matters

Preaching Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2) is the heart of the gospel. 'The word of the cross' is 'the power of God' for salvation (v 18). Preaching Christ matters because it reveals the central message of the salvation God offers the world and awakens faith in the hearers which leads to salvation. Preaching Christ matters for three main reasons: blindness, belief and blessing. It breaks spiritual blindness, shapes belief in accordance with divine truth and ushers in God's blessing for those who receive Christ by faith. Christ and Him crucified must be the centre of gospel proclamation. We proclaim the Apostolic Gospel; it matters! Here is why preaching Christ matters.

Introduction

One of the fundamental tenets of biblical doctrine is humanity affected by sin: people do evil things because their nature is corrupted with a tendency towards breaking God's commandments by default. We know what is good and right (conscience), yet human nature and behaviour is such that we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:21-23); we don't meet His standards of perfection. To 'sin' means to 'miss the mark.' Another crucial tenet is that human beings are created in God's image. Our conscience bears witness to His Law and moral standards written on our hearts. We know what's right, but still do what's wrong—to different degrees, of course. Conscience dictates goodness, which we either choose to heed or reject. Although we are created in God's image, we are prone to sin because of fallen human nature, but also because of spiritual and other external influences.

The biblical worldview affirms a spiritual reality that influences human behaviour. Not everything about our existence is physical. There is also a metaphysical reality, that which is beyond the natural, physical world of matter. Our thouhts and feelings are immaterial, yet as real as anything we can see or touch. Our words are heard but not seen, yet have trememdous power. The Bible rightly affirms that life and death lie within the power of our tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Guarding our tongue (what we say) keeps us out of trouble (21:23), but foolish talk can get us into trouble (12:13; 13:3). We will all be held accountable for what we say (Matthew 10:36-37), hence it is important to guard our hearts from where all thought and speech emerges (v 34b-35; Proverbs 4:23).

Yet there is also a spiritual source that influences human thought, speech and behaviour. In bondage under the yoke of sin, there is a demonic force, 'the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience' (Ephesians 2:1-3). Fallen human beings are 'by nature children of wrath,' craving what is lustful and sinful (v 3). But in Christ and through Christ, God offers us salvation from the punishment of sin and a new lifestyle in His will (vv 4-10). This is the essence of the gospel. The first important aspect of why preaching Christ matters is to break spiritual blindness in the process of salvation, as God transfers us from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His Son (Colossians 1:13-14).

1 Blindness

Paul was a preacher of the Gospel and a servant of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus, having received his adequacy from God and being empowered by the life-giving Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:4-6). He was commissioned by God to the ministry of glory and righteouenss. The apostle preached Christ so that the veil that lies over people's eyes and blinds their minds can be removed (vv 7-16), so that they can then experience the glorious freedom of the children of God (vv 17-18). The veil is removed when people turn to Christ in repentance and faith (v 16). John and Jesus preached repentance from sin and faith in God and the good news (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15). Jesus came for that purpose (Luke 3:43). Paul preached repentance towards God and faith in Christ (Acts 20:21). Jesus instructed His apostles to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in the power of the Spirit (Luke 24:44-45). Paul preached Christ in order for the blinding veil to be removed (2 Corinthians 3:16) and for the light of the gospel to break the spiritual blindess of people (4:3-5). God shines His light in people's hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ (v 6). Preaching Christ matters so that the light of the gospel can break spiritual blindness and shed the light of salvation in people's hearts and minds. The veil of blindness is lifted through Christ—and through Christ alone. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12) who enlightens people with the light of life (1:4-5, 9).

Jesus came to set the captives free, bring recovery of sight for the blind and declare the year of God's favour—His forgiveness, salvation and blessing (Luke 4:18-19). Christ came to break spiritual blindness. He healed those who were physically blind and gave spiritual sight to His disciples to understand Scripture (Luke 24:44-45; Matthew 13:11; see Q3). The apostles proclaimed Jesus as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5), as 'Lord of all' (Acts 10:36) and the One through who God, the 'Lord of heaven,' would judge the world (Acts 17:24-31). Jesus is Lord of lords and carries the Name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11). It is He who gives sight to the blind. There was one healing miracle that illustrates this very well.

The miraculous healing of the man born blind (John 9) and the concluding words of Jesus (vv 39-41) about the symbolic meaning of this healing, are striking. Jesus purposefully applied mud to the man's eyes (v 6) in allusion to Isaiah's words of judgment on a sinful nation with the commission to dim or, literally, besmear their eyes (Isaiah 6:10). The people with unclean lips (v 5) were the people whose ears were spiritually deaf and whose eyes were spiritually blind (v 10). Turning to God in humble repentance and faith would've opened their ears and eyes, yet they refused—and were not healed of spiritual apathy (blindness and deafness). The same was true of Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 6:16). Jesus compared the unrepentant people of His time to the stubborn hearts of ancient times (Matthew 15:7-8; 21:13). The spiritual principle is that pride blinds people's hearts, as God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. As punishment for people's rebellious hearts and purposfully goind astray, God gives them over to their sinful desires (Paul applies this principle in Romans 1).

Jesus' sobering words after the miracle of the man born blind speak of both salvation and judgment: the blind who are humble would receive spiritual sight by understanding who Jesus is (salvation), but those who think they see yet are actually blind in their religious pride would become blind, failing to see that Jesus was the Son of God and promised Messiah (judgment). The humble blind man received both physical and spiritual sight (John 9:6-7; 38). He also started teaching the (blind) teachers, but they did not respond well (vv 30-34). Jesus pronounced judgement on such proud hearts who refused to see despite this powerful, undeniable miracle (v 39). The hardened heart is a blind heart; God gives grace only to the humble. This is a fundamental principle throughout Scripture and applies to the proclamation of the gospel.

The heart of the gospel is the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. It was the centre of Paul's preaching and teaching (1 Corinthians 2:2). Christ and Him crucified is the wisdom and power of God unto salvation (v1:18, 23). Some sought philosophical wisdom, others signs from heaven (v 22), but Paul preached Christ and Christ crucified, for it was the power of God to save (vv 23-24). Paul preached Christ in the power of the Spirit so that people's faith would be based on Christ. Human wisdom and eloquence cannot break spiritual blindess, nor is it a solid basis for proper belief. Only Christ, preached in the power of the Spirit, can accomplish that (2:4-5). The things God promised to those who live Him are revealed only by His Spirit (v 9-10) and understood by the mind of Christ (vv 11-16).

Preaching Christ is also the unifying factor in a church divided over personalities (1:10-17). When people are too focused on individual personalities, unhealthy divisions occur. This has a potential for destructive forces within the church. Paul sought to unite people in Christ, not divide them by personalities. Christ is the unifying 'factor' as Saviour and Lord of His people. Christ is our peace and we are all one in Him! We were called into the fellowship with Christ (v 9) and have our unity in Him in our fellowship with one another. Paul did not want to the church to revolved around preachers and personalities, but centre around God's Messiah and the gospel message. Preachers are but servants—Christ is Lord and Saviour (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 4:5). Through the message of the gospel we see truth unto salvation and learn to relate to others based on God's grace for us.

Those who believe in Christ as proclaimed in the gospel, receive eternal life (Romans 1:16-17). Through the preaching of Christ faith arises in the hearts of hearers (Romans 10:14-17) and they can receive the Saviour (Ephesians 1:13-14). We become children of God by receiving Christ by believing in His Name (John 1:12-13). Believing in Christ and receiving eternal life is the main purpose of John's gospel (John 20:30-31) and the central expression of God's love: Christ came to save, not condemn (John 3:16-17). But only those who believe would be saved; those who choose to remain in the darkness of unbelief, remain under condemnation (vv 18-21). Christ must be preached so spiritual blindness can be broken and people can come into the light of salvation by the light of the Gospel. It is not fancy words or human wisdom, but the power of God that is at work when we preach Christ and Him crucified! This preaching shapes the belief of the hearers.

2 Belief

The message of the Gospel, 'the word of the cross,' is 'the power of God' unto salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18) for those who believe (Romans 1:16-17). Paul preached Christ and Him crucified' (1 Corinthians 2:2) so that people's faith would rest on Christ—and on nothing else. He preached Christ in the power of God, not human wisdom (vv 4-6), so that their belief would rest on the power of God—and on nothing else. Despite his formidable education, Paul did no trust in human eloquences, but in the power of God to accomplish the work of God. Spiritual blindness is not broken by human power; the veil over people's hearts is removed in Christ as people turn to Him in repentance and faith (2 Corinthians 3:16).

Furthermore, Christ is the irreplaceable foundation of the church (3:11) and must be the centre of our message (2:2) as the faith-foundation that is laid in people's hearts and minds. Paul preached the gospel of the crucified Messiah as 'of first importance' (15:3). Faith arises in the hearts of the hearers of the gospel. Their faith is formed by Christ as the foundation (3:11) based on the apostolic witness (Ephesians 2:11-21). If we build on any other foundation than Christ, other than what comes from preaching Christ, we build wrongly, with potentially dramatic consequences (1 Corinthians 3:12-17). Only those who obey the words of Christ will be stable in life (Matthew 7:24-27). If we preach without the power of God, people's faith will be weak. It is God who empowered Paul; he would minister in God's power—and so should we! The adequacy for ministry in Paul and others came from God, who empowered them by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). They carried this divine treasure in earthern (i.e., human) vessels (4:7).

Faith comes from hearing the Word of/about Christ (Romans 10:17). How can people believe unless they hear? (vv 14-16). Faith comes from hearing and that faith leads to salvation as people receive the Saviour by faith and become children by God, born of God (John 1:12-13). Salvation comes to those who, after hearing the gospel, trust in the One who died for them (Ephesians 1:13). They are sealed with the Spirit of God (v 14), who is given to the children of God (Romans 8:15-17). Through the Spirit we are born-again, born from above and adopted as children of God. And by His Spirit we cry out to God the Father: 'Abba,' or 'Daddy' (Galatians 4:4-6). Only when Christ is preached can faith unto salvation arise in the hearts of the hearers. It is not wrong to use intellectual arguments to remove obstacles in the minds of people and help them understand the gospel; yet only by preaching Christ the light of the gospel can penetrate people's spiritual darkness and break their spiritual blindess and lead them to salvation by faith in Christ. Salvation is God's gift by grace, which we receive through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not by works, but as a result of believing in Him who died for us. We cannot save ourselves, but we can believe in the One who can—Jesus the Messiah!

Paul taught many things, but everything centred around the gospel. His other teachings focused on the outworking of the gospel in the children of God, both in the individual and in the community of faith corporately. John, Peter and Jude had the same approach. For the apostles, the forgiveness of sin through the Messiah whose blood was shed for all of humanity mattered (1 John 1:9—2:2); the precious blood of the Lamb of God and His resurrection was central (1 Peter 1:17-21); the gospel once and for all delivered to the believers is what we must contend for (Jude 3). We must proclaim the gospel as the revealed mystery (Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:1-7).

The apostolic ministry is to preach Christ and Him crucified so that spiritual blindess can be broken and people's belief be set on Christ, the Saviour and Lord. They are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13-14). Paul preached Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5), so people could focus on Christ, not the His servant-preachers, and have a right belief unto salvation. Preaching ourselves in human capabilities will not produce spiritual fruit; preaching Christ in the power of the Spirit will. Paul understood himself as a steward (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) and servant (v 5), preaching Christ and God's plan for humanity in Christ, a mystery previously hidden but now revealed. We are not to preach ourselves but Christ; we are not to teach our doctrine, but His truth! In His truth is liberation; in Christ is recovery of spiritual sight leading to salvation. In Christ the unfolding of God's purpose takes place and in Christ and through Him all of God's blessings come to us.

3 Blessing

Christ is the fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant (Galatians 3:13-14), the blessing God promised millennia ago (Genesis 12:1-3). In Christ, God's eternal plan came to pass and all blessings are in Him (Ephesians 1:3-14). God promised that all the nations should be blessed, but how would this divine plan unfold and become reality?

When the time was right, in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to redeem humanity and make those who believe in the Messiah His children by giving them His Spirit (Galatians 4:4-6). Justification before God, that is, being made righteous, comes by believing in Christ, based on what He has done on the cross. No one is justified by the Law or religious works (3:11), because Scripture had already stated that 'the just shall live by faith' (Habakuk 2:4). This is the gospel of Christ which revealed God's righteouness by faith (Romans 1:16-17) as promised in the holy Scriptures (v 2). There is no other gospel (Galatians 1:8). The gospel of Christ's death and resurrection is according to the Scriptuires (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), as 'He promised before through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures' (Romans 1:1-2). The gospel is not contrary to Scripture; it is the fulfilment of Scripture and in accordance with the Hebrew Bible.

Christ's sacrifice on the cross for the forgivness of sins which bestows salvation on believers (Ephesians 1:7), was the all-sufficient atonement. It is the once-for-all sacrifice which is the heart of the once-for-all delivered message of salvation (Jude 3). The wages of sin is death, yet Christ offers us the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23). Christ came to redeem us from the curse that are the consequences of sin, as written in the Law (Galatians 3:13). God did not send His Son to condemn the world under a curse; He came to save humanity and give them all of heaven's blessings (John 3:16-17). Christ became a curse on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). Cursed is the one who hangs on a tree, the Law stated. It was the punishment for breaking God's Law. That is the place Christ took for us. He did not die because He had sin, but because we had sin—and are under its condemnation. He was condemned because we stood under condemnation—in order to save us from it. He came to redeem (Galatians 3:13) with the purpose of making believers righteous by faith in Him and with it they would be receiving the blessing of Abraham, manifested by receiving the Spirit of God (v 14). Why the Spirit of God?

The Spirit of God is the seal of our salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14). He is the Spirit of adoption (Galatians 4:6). He causes believers to be born-again to a living hope and new creation in Christ (John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). The Spirit gives life (John 6:63). The blessing of Abraham as fulfilled in the New Covenant by Christ's blood is salvation in Christ. This is the blessing that came on all nations, to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 1:16). Those who believe in Christ are heirs to the promises of God to Abraham and have become children of God, sealed by the Spirit of God. 'For we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus' (Galatians 3:27). Faith in Christ brings us into the New Covenant of salvation. The gospel is the message of God's redemption; Christ is the crucified Messiah who established the covenant—a New Covenant in His blood. Through Him we can have forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Salvation is by grace through faith as the gift of God, not a result of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). We have peace with God through Christ (Romans 5:1-2). The gospel is the hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2; 3:7).

Conclusion: Why Preaching Christ Matters

Preaching Christ matters because only in Christ the blinding veil is removed from people's hearts, their belief is directed to Christ the Saviour—and that faith makes them righteous and saves them—and the blessings of God can come to the believers in Christ. Preaching Christ and Him crucified is the power of God unto salvation and brings believers into the New Covenant where all of God's blessings are. Preaching Christ in the power of God matters so that people's faith will rest on the power of God. Preaching Christ matters so that the light of the gospel can shine into people's hearts in order to receive eternal life and have a hope that won't disappoint. Christ is the Messiah and Saviour in whom alone is salvation. Christ is the irreplaceable foundation of the faith and the faith community. Christ must be and remain the centre of our proclamation—we preach Christ as Lord and Saviour!