The Importance of Preaching Christ
December 18th, 2007
(By Charles Spurgeon)
Today’s post comes from an 1884 sermon by Spurgeon. Though over a century old, its point is as relevant today as when it was first preached.
You [as preachers] have nothing else to employ as the means of good, except the salvation of Jesus, and there is nothing else worth telling.
I heard of a congregation the other day that was so very small that hardly any one came to listen to the preacher. Instead of blaming himself, and preaching better, the minister said he thought he was not doing much good by sermons and prayer-meetings, and therefore he would found a club, and if the fellows came in, and played draughts, that might do them good. What a lot of that sort of thing is now being tried! We are going to convert souls on a new system,—are we? Are we also to have a substitute for bread?—and healthier drink than pure water? . . .
[T]o hope ever to bring sinners to holiness and heaven by any teaching but that which begins and ends in Jesus Christ is a sheer delusion. None other name is given among men whereby they can be saved. If you have to deal with highly learned and educated people, nothing is so good for them as preaching Jesus Christ; and if the people be ignorant and degraded, nothing is better for them than the preaching of Jesus.
A young man said to another the other day, “I am going down to preach at So-and-so, what sort of people are they there? What kind of doctrine will suit them?” Having heard of the question, I gave this advice,—”You preach Jesus Christ, and that will suit them, I am sure, if they are learned people it will suit them; if they are ignorant it will suit them—God blessing it.”
When the great Biblical critic, Bengel, was dying, he sent for a young theological student, to whom he said, “I am low in spirit; say something good to cheer me.” “My dear Sir,” said the student, “I am so insignificant a person, what can I say to a great man like yourself?” “But if you are a student of theology,” said Bengel, “you ought to have a good word to say to a dying man; pray say it without fear.” “Well, Sir,” said he, “What can I say to you, but that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin?” Bengel said, “Give me your hand, young man; that is the very word I wanted.”
A simple gospel text is the word which every man needs who is in fear of divine wrath, and he may be sitting next to you at this moment, or he is in the same house of business with you, and needs that you should tell him about Christ. Do that, and bless his soul. May you all understand the Scriptures in this way, and may God make you a great blessing to those around you.
Oh that the LORD would raise up many more faithful men of grace to preach conviction unto righteousness. That the lost might repent and turn away from the power of sin unto the liberty of our Master and LORD Jesus. That He may receive the honor, glory and praise due unto His merciful and just name.
I thank the LORD for the ministries that continue the expositional preaching of the Word in season and out of season, may the LORD work mightly through the Masters School, College, Seminary, Grace Community Church, Grace to You and all other members of the household of faith across the globe. Would it be that we would ferverently pray for the hand of the LORD to move upon His people to speak the Truth in Love at all times.
My appreciation to all the elders, faculty and in particular Johnny MacA and Phil Johnson, Tom Patton not to forget others but to include all others at the same time, to forget none. Our brothers in the spiritual battle with our Redeemer.
1 Timothy 5:17
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”
Oh dear Father, I pray that You will raise up more men like your blessed servant Charles Haddon Spurgeon. May we heed his message to preach Jesus — The Savior of sinners. May we not be ashamed of the Gospel.
Thank you, sfpulpit.com for printing these words.
I feel like the dying man. This is the very word I wanted. Thank you.
In Colossians 1:28 Paul tells of his chief aim and that is to present every man complete in Christ. How can anyone be presented before God as complete in Christ without Christ being preached. In that same verse Paul says that he proclaims Christ admonishing every man and teaching every man, which is his method to complete every man.
Presenting every man complete is Christ is our main function as preachers as shepards of the flock. It is not to make those under our care better people, better husbands and wives, better employees, or better at handling stress. It is not our job to be sure they have a better sex life, feel better about themselves, get them involved in social projects, or to get them to become enviromentally or politcally active. Our job is to conform them to the image of Christ through the preaching of the word, which does its work in those who believe, and works upon those who do not believe. As we do this they become more like Christ, and then they will automatically become a better person, a better spouse, a better parent, and more financially responsible. They will actually like themselves more and will feel better about themselves as more of the old man is put off and the new man is renewed.
There is no majic to this, but it does require patience and commitment on the part of the preacher. Both of which are evidenced in the life of Spurgeon, who, like Paul, preached Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. So like them we must have Christ as the center of our preaching and the goal of our preaching.
Preach Christ! Nothing else is better to know, hear, follow and obey, than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
God make us faithful in these waning days. What a blessed resource Grace To You has been these many years!
I feel that I have complicated God when He so simply laid Himself on the cross and in the pages of Scripture. Thank you God for your goodness to us.
1 Corinthians 1:18
“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.”
AMEN!
What is our motivation for preaching Christ alone? A response to this Spurgeon snippet is found here.