What Is It To Preach The Gospel?
1 Corinthians 9:16
Paul did not
say, "Woe is unto me, if I preach
not." We have scads of preachers. The world would be better off
without most of them. The Lord Jesus Christ never sent any man just to preach.
Those men who are called, gifted, and sent of God to preach are sent by him to
preach the gospel, to preach the gospel exclusively, and to preach the gospel
in its entirety. Paul said, "Necessity
is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" There
is but one gospel, the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ; and
it is the great privilege and responsibility of all who preach, every time they
preach to eternity bound sinners, to preach the gospel. That makes the question
which heads this page a matter of immense importance. – What is it to preach the gospel?
The Truth About Man
To preach the
gospel is to tell the truth about man. What is the truth about man? "All flesh is grass," withering,
worthless, insignificant grass (Isa. 40:6-8). All men are fallen, depraved,
helpless, guilty sinners, without the least inclination or ability to do good,
seek God, or know God (
The Truth About God
To preach the
gospel is to tell the truth about God. Read
Isaiah 40:9-31, and find out who God is. The only God there is is the eternal,
holy, sovereign Monarch of the universe. It is he who made all things, rules
all things, and disposes of all things (including you and me) as he will. "All things are of God." Nothing
in this universe writhes or wiggles apart from God’s purpose, predestination,
providence, and power (Rom.
The Truth About Christ
To preach the
gospel is to tell the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ
is God in human flesh, God come to save. He was called "Jesus" because he is Jehovah our Savior. He came here
on an errand of mercy, with a commission from God the Father as our covenant
Surety to save his people from their sins (Matt.
The Truth About Salvation
To preach the
gospel is to tell the truth about salvation. What does it take to save a
sinner? It takes a work of God’s sovereign, eternal, electing love and
predestination (Eph. 1:3-6). It takes a work of effectual, blood redemption,
the satisfaction of divine justice by an infinitely meritorious Substitute –
The Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.
Don Fortner