LET'S PREACH THE GOSPEL Part 1
An Exhortation To Every Believer And Bible-Teaching Pastor
by Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser
The apostle Paul begins the great "resurrection" chapter of the Bible (1 Corinthians 15) by writing...
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Someone has wisely said, "It is not merely what you teach, but what you EMPHASIZE that people remember." If this is true, it is interesting to notice the imbalances and extremes prevalent in evangelical, Bible-believing circles when it comes to preaching the Gospel.
Unfortunately, there are some churches where little of the Bible is taught from the pulpit as sermonettes for Christianettes are given. On the other hand, in other churches a Gospel message is preached every Sunday as the saints are evangelized week after week. However, the other extreme (often reacting to this) has pastors seldom preaching the Gospel, unless the immediate text they are covering addresses it. Does it have to be one extreme or the other? Can't one teach "all the counsel of God" while still emphasizing "the Gospel"? I believe the solution to this imbalance is to consider 10 principles from the ministry of the apostle Paul regarding this matter of preaching the Gospel and its emphasis.
PRINCIPLE #1: Pastors need to KEEP PREACHING and believers need to KEEP HEARING THE GOSPEL. (1 Corinthians 15:1a)
Paul begins this chapter by writing, "Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel." This passage is the most definitive section in the entire New Testament regarding the CONTENT of the Gospel. Interestingly enough, it was NOT even written to unbelievers, but to BELIEVERS ("brethren").
The word "declare" (gnorizo) means "to make something known which was previously unknown or to assert things already known." In the case of these Corinthian believers, they had already heard and received the Gospel message. Yet, Paul believed they still needed to hear it again. In fact, this is not the first time that Paul made reference to the Gospel in this epistle.
In chapters 1-4 the apostle addressed the problem of carnal divisions in this church due to human wisdom and focusing on human leaders (1:10-13; 3:1-4). Paul's solution was to focus on the Gospel of Jesus Christ which smashes human wisdom, elevates God's grace, and helps one realize that God's messengers are but servants of the Lord "by whom you believed."
"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." (1 Corinthians 1:17-21)
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour."
(1 Corinthians 3:5-8)
"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"
(1 Corinthians 4:7)
In chapter 5, church discipline is commanded by Paul to address the sexual sin of "fornication" (incest) by a believer in the church. In doing so, he again reminds these believers of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
(1 Corinthians 5:7)
In the beginning of chapter 6 the ugly problem of believers suing other believers by going before the unsaved is tackled. And how does Paul begin and close this section?
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?" (1 Corinthians 6:1)
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
In the last half of 1 Corinthians 6, the misuse of the believers physical body is challenged. What is the basis of the correction?
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul hits head-on the issue of love and the proper use of a Christian's liberty. While one may be free to partake of meat from the temple, believers are warned...
"But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?"
(1 Corinthians 8:9-11)
1 Corinthians 9 continues the theme of a believer's liberty as it relates to Paul's apostolic ministry. And what was the focus of his ministry?
"Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel."
1 Corinthians 9:14-18
While correcting the Corinthian believers terrible misuse of the Lord's supper, the apostle to the Gentiles reminds them of what the elements symbolize and how they needed to examine themselves so as to partake in a worthy fashion.
"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." (1 Corinthians 11:23-28)
Now here in chapter 15, again the beloved Paul refers to the Gospel in order to warn about a serious doctrinal deviation threatening the Corinthian church.
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."
(1 Corinthians 15:12-14)
As one considers these various passages, one truth becomes very clear. While a teacher of the word of God needs to teach the whole counsel of God and to address the various problems within the church as they arise, the focus of their preaching needs to be on JESUS CHRIST and THE GOSPEL. This leads to Christ-centered preaching. That will bring the believer's focus back to the true essence of biblical Christianity which centers in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.
Dear reader, this is no artificial emphasis in the New Testament epistles, as revealed by the words that are employed. Referring to Jesus Christ and His finished work, we find the following words used (and there are even more!):
These all considered, Jesus Christ and His finish work are referred to at least 1250 times in the epistles alone, or approximately 10 times per chapter. It is safe to say that this is NO SMALL EMPHASIS. The cross-work of Christ becomes...
Are you catching the point? The cross of Christ is the basis of our spiritual blessings in Christ and integrally connected to a worthy walk in Christ. As my good friend Jay Chappell says, "We must never wander from the shadow of the cross."
In contemplating this truth a number of years ago the thought dawned on me, "If in 20 minutes I can read Philippians, and if Paul could refer to the gospel several times within 4 chapters, shouldn't I be including it in a 60-minute message?" Believers, like the unsaved, need to hear the Gospel.
Unfortunately, there are too many believers in Christ who are like the Athenian philosophers of Mars Hill who "spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some NEW THING." (Acts 17:21)
I have found in my teaching that communicating the Gospel on a regular basis has been beneficial for several reasons.
First of all, it has kept the focus on our Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. (Gal. 6:14)
Secondly, it has helped in establishing new believers in the truth of salvation and their riches in Christ. (Col. 1:23)
Thirdly, it has laid the groundwork for explaining how to live the Christian life by grace, just like one has been saved. (Col. 2:6)
Fourthly, I often present the Gospel early in my message to set the doctrinal context for specific truths we are studying. (e.g. Galatians 1:3-5)
Fifthly, bringing in the Gospel helps further equip believers as to how they can explain the plan of salvation to the unsaved as opportunities arise. (Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Cor. 5:17-21)
Lastly, it has proved beneficial for the unsaved who are visiting our church as they hear the preaching of the cross. (Romans 10:13-17)
I love to tell the story,
For those who know it best.
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
'Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story!
'Twill be my theme in glory
Tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.
Part 2 will be in the March/April issue.