Christ Crucified - All The Counsel Of God

Without question, the Apostle Paul is the pattern for preachers. He was the Apostle to the Gentiles, miraculously called and gifted for the work of the gospel. God honored him with revelations made to no other man on earth and used him mightily. Fourteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament were written by Paul! His message, his ministry and his methods should be carefully studied by all who preach the gospel. Every preacher should strive to pattern himself after Paul.

This man, Paul, summed up his entire ministry in two statements, one made to the elders of the church at Ephesus,and one written to the church at Corinth. These two statements summarize all that Paul ever preached or sought to accomplish in the work of the ministry.

To the Ephesian elders he said, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Neither the fear of man, nor covetousness, nor the love of money, nor desire for approval, nor personal ambition could keep Paul from preaching the full purpose, counsel and redemptive glory of God revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

To the church at Corinth Paul wrote, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2). In both places he was declaring the same thing. Christ crucified is all the counsel of God!To preach Christ crucified is to declare all the counsel of God, for all that God almighty has purposed, decreed, revealed, required from and given to the sons of men is in Jesus Christ and him crucified. No text of Scripture in the Old Testament or the New has any message, meaning, or relevance apart from Christ crucified. The Doctrine of the Bible is Jesus Christ and him crucified (Luke 24:44-46). The motive, the inspiration, the example, and the reward of all Christian service is Jesus Christ. The basis of unity, love, and forgiveness among God's saints is Christ crucified. And the glory of heaven is Christ crucified.

Don Fortner