The Effect Of Preaching Christ

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

I Corinthians 2:2

What is the effect of preaching Christ?  Paul articulates it succinctly in Romans when he says, ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written the just shall live by faith.’  Religion will not do this, Church attendance will not transform us.  Dedication to social causes or political agendas will not avail.  Community involvement and dedication to the public good cannot succeed where the message of Christ and Him crucified will.  By the proclamation of Christ and Him crucified, hatred has turned to love; tyranny has crumbled; lives of wretchedness have become lives of blessedness, and grace has abounded.  The perversion of this message of the Person and Work of Christ has brought untold abuse and abundant ill.  Paul rightly understood that the world would not change for good apart from the preaching of ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified.’  To this purpose, he dedicated himself with a single eye and resolute mind.  He could say, ‘For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’  We follow in this same vein.  This is what will change us, our communities, our nations, and our world.  We have one message, ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified.’

Our Good and Wise God,
we rejoice that You have given unto us the message,
that will change the world.
We praise You that we have the privilege
of pointing people to Christ,
and that He will transform them.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning