Daily Devotions
It Is Written
"To preach the gospel..."
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:17
SENT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
The Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ was most conscious that they were sent by the Lord to bear witness and to preach the Gospel. The Apostle Paul possessed this strong understanding of his calling from the Lord.
“For Christ did not send me to baptize,
but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
1. “For Christ did not send me to baptize”
a) This statement does not play down the significance of baptism.
b) This statement must be read carefully in conjunction with the next part of the verse.
2. “But to preach the gospel”
a) Paul was comparing two things.
i) The ministry of baptizing
ii) The ministry of preaching the gospel
b) Paul’s emphasis was on the ministry of preaching.
i) It was necessary to preach the Gospel.
ii) Without the preaching of the word there would be no salvation nor baptism.
3. The cross of Christ
a) This was the heart of the Gospel.
b) The focus must be on the reason why Christ had to be crucified on the cross.
c) The cross cannot be eliminated from the preaching of the gospel message.
4. “The message of the cross… is the power of God”
a) To some it is “foolishness”.
b) To others, preaching must be with the wisdom of words.
c) To the Apostle Paul
i) The message in itself must be presented in its purity.
ii) We must not attempt to make the message more “acceptable” or “pleasing” to people.
5. “To us who are being saved”
They will be in full agreement with the Apostle Paul. The message of the cross will be backed up by the power of God, enabling people to come to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.