We Preach Christ

Introduction

As we look at the world we live in, it is quite easy to fall prey to fear, anger, doubt, and hopelessness.

What is the point of all this?

Our country is going to hell in a hand basket and a part of me just wants to give it it’s final nudge over the cliff.

Over 60% of my generation claims to be a “none” or one with no religious affiliation.

The other 30% or so don’t know whether or not Jesus was a created being or actually God.

They may also claim to be “spiritual but not religious” which can really be distilled down to New Age Paganism.

Depression, anxiety, drug use, and suicide rates are all at an all time high.

Domestic Violence is even skyrocketing.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can agree on what the truth is about any situation or statistic.

If you bring up your set of facts to prove your point, someone who disagrees will come along with another set of facts to prove you wrong.

And so, what is the scattered, isolated, beaten, and bruised Church of the Living God supposed to do? What is Charter Oak supposed to do in this hopeless world?

We Preach Christ, and Him crucified! Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. READ

This morning, it is our purpose together to see our the sufficient Christ that we preach. The Christ that has the authority and the power to do anything about the situation that we find ourselves in.

We’ll see three things about the Christ we preach:

Christ is the source of all life and truth (John 1:1-3).

Christ is the one, presently, ruling and reigning (Philippians 2:5-11).

Christ is the merciful Savior (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

1. Christ is the Source of all Life and Truth (John 1:1-3).

Please turn in over to John 1:1-3.

In verse one we see, “In the beginning was the Word.”

“beginning” in Greek is “arche” which refers to a source or origin; or ruler or authority.

Both are true of Christ (Hebrews 12; the author or originator), but this reminds us of Genesis 1:1 for a reason.

the Word was in the beginning.

We’ll see, in fact, that the Word was in the beginning before the beginning began.

The word “was” in the first phrase is the imperfect tense of the verb “eimi” which stresses continuous action in the past.

In beginning, the Word was continuously active in the past.

This stresses Christ’s preexistence.

If John, the author, used the Greek word “ginomai” it would’ve said that Christ had a beginning point, saying that at one point He didn’t exit, and now all of a sudden he exists. But John did not do that.

The Greek word for “Word” is “logos”.

Commentators point to two meanings to this word.

A Greek meaning and a Jewish meaning.

The Greek understanding is that the logos was the identity of the impersonal force that created the universe and continues to hold it together.

in their logic, they came to the understanding that the needed to be a creator.

To the early reader, they would’ve understood that Christ was this “force” that created everything, and holds it together.

Which is true, as we see in Colossians 1:15ff.

But after reading chapter 1 of the gospel of John, they would then see that there were 21 other chapters explaining the personhood of the Greek, so-called, impersonal force.

The Jewish meaning of “logos” becomes quite apparent with a survey of the Old Testament.

The common phrase “the word of the Lord” was the expression of divine power, and divine wisdom.

The Word of the Lord is truth!

Many of the prophets and patriarch would say, “thus says the Lord” or “the word of the Lord came to me saying...”

This idea is further stressed in Hebrews 1:1–2 “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.”

Christ is the culmination and finality of all revelation from God.

This is what we mean when we say that Christ is the source of all truth.

John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Colossians 2:1–3 “For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person. I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

It is the Scriptures that reveal Christ to us!

John 5:39 “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.”

Luke 24:44–45 “He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

But people run from it. In fact, they will go kicking and screaming into judgment, unless they come to the light.

John 3:18-21.

Its a shame as well, because the author of all truth is also the author of all life, including the life of those who reject him.

Look back at John 1:3.

Here, John uses the word “ginomai” for “made” which contrasts with “eimi” so beautifully.

This points out that everything that was made had a beginning, including all humans.

Verse 4 shows us that Christ is not only the source of eternal life, but of all life.

To reject this, it to reject reality itself. It is a fools errand.

Romans 1:18-32.

THIS IS THE CHRIST WE PREACH.

2. Christ is the One, presently, ruling and reigning (Philippians 2:5-11).

This passage may be very familiar. This is the “kenosis” passage, where Christ became a man, without losing deity, and died for us.

I truly love this passage, but I want to draw your attention to verses 9-11.

God has given Christ the place of authority.

Daniel 7:9-14.

Simply put, His ways go.

We see this very thing in Ephesians 1:20-23.

“Not only in this age”

The present age!

Christ says so Himself: Matthew 28:18.

This is the Christ we preach!

if they don’t listen in this age, they will in the next when Christ returns and judges the world in righteousness.

Does not the Lord own what is His?

Psalm 24:1-2.

This isn’t some theory to be proven. This isn’t some debate. Christ IS Lord. You either recognize that now or later.

Our Lord also consdescended as a merciful savior.

3. Christ is the merciful Savior (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

Turn back with me to 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

I cannot stress verse 18 enough.

the phrase “those who are perishing” is written as if they have already rejected the Word of the Cross.

Ultimately, those who will not trust Christ are in the process of damnation.

Ultimately, those who will trust Christ are in the process of salvation.

In God’s mercy, He has reached down and saved His elect, as v. 21 states, them believing in the message preached.

Which is Christ, and Him Crucified.

A stumbling block.

Foolishness.

It should be no surprise that most of the world will not accept this message.

God is not in danger of failing. He will not be made to look weak. He will not be made to look foolish. He makes the strong man weak, and He makes the wise man the fool. The Gospel will not fail. All we must do is faithfully preach.

It is through this message that Romans 5:8–10 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.”

This.

This is the Christ we preach.

The source of all life & truth.

the reigning King of the universe.

the merciful savior.

Its a message of hope.

Its a message of truth.

Which the world is in dire need of right now.