2 Corinthians 4:5-6 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.… I. WHAT WE DO NOT PREACH. "Ourselves." 1. This practice is prevalent, and ought to be censured. Men preach themselves when they preach — (1) Only to promote their own interest. (2) Only to display their own talents. (3) Only to maintain some particular system, regardless of the glory of Christ and the salvation of souls. 2. This practice is not apostolical, and should be avoided. (1) Was emolument their object? "Silver and gold," said they, "we have none."(2) Did they seek the applause of men? They were content to be "esteemed as the filth of the earth," etc. (3) Were they ambitious to display their own talents? "We came to you, not with excellency of speech," etc. (4) Had they a system of their own to establish — any human institutions to contend for? No. "We determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 3. This practice is ruinous, and ought to be condemned. It is, indeed, to defeat the very design of the gospel, and entails eternal ruin on those who persist in it. II. WHAT WE DO PREACH. "Christ Jesus the Lord." How wide the extreme! From an object the most contemptible we turn to one the most dignified. 1. What is implied in preaching Christ Jesus the Lord? (1) That His person and work be the principal subject of our preaching. It is not enough that we speak of Him occasionally. He must be the Alpha and the Omega. In every science there are first and general principles to which every teacher of that science constantly refers; and the first principles of the science which is to make men wise unto salvation are found in the scheme of redemption. (2) That His glory must be the aim and the end of our preaching. Our own glory is to be placed quite out of the question; nor must we seek to please men, "for," saith the apostle, "if I seek to please men I should not be the servant of Christ." His own glory is the great end which God has in view in all His works. It is impossible it should be otherwise. What is the great end of all the works of creation? "For Thy glory they were and are created." What is His great object in the government of the world? That He may direct everything to the grand consummation of that day in which the whole scheme of His moral government shall be accomplished. But what is the glory of creation and providence compared with that which shines in the great work of redemption? Hence — 2. The absolute necessity of thus preaching Christ in order to attain the great object of our ministry. (1) It is the only object for which it has been appointed. Suppose, instead of setting up the brazen serpent, Moses had elevated a figure of himself, not many only, but all the people, would have perished. (2) Its peculiar adaptation to all the purposes of our ministry proves the necessity of preaching Christ Jesus the Lord. (a) Do we attempt to awaken the sinner, to arouse the careless? Shall we have recourse to moral suasion? Shall we exhibit the enormities of vice and the beauties of virtue, or the punishment due to the one and the rewards promised to the other? Alas! the moral history of the world is but a uniform record of the inefficacy of these efforts. But he who is insensible to every other attraction, and resists every other impression, is often affected by aa exhibition of the Cross. (b) By what means shall we administer consolation to the wounded spirit? Palliatives may be easily found. Hence the complaint, "They have healed the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly." But has the arrow of conviction pierced the conscience? What can effect a cure but the balm in Gilead, applied by the hand of the Physician there? (c) Do we seek to promote the edification, the holiness, the comfort of believers? These objects will be attained only as we preach "Christ Jesus the Lord." That knowledge which is unto salvation is the knowledge of Him (John 17:3). Your holiness consists in conformity to His image. Comfort can only be given by Him who is the consolation of Israel. (3) It is to secure the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, without which our ministry must be altogether ineffectual. Success depends upon His influence. "He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you." Conclusion: We are taught from this subject — 1. The intrinsic value of the Christian ministry is to be estimated by the degree of attention it pays to the Redeemer, and the place which it assigns to Him, in the discharge of its functions. Rank, intellectual endowment, literary attainment, graces of oratory, are only subservient to the nobler pursuits of the Christian minister. 2. As it is the duty of ministers to preach Christ Jesus the Lord, it is equally the duty of those who hear to receive Him. Without this, the most eminent ministry will be in vain. 3. Are you willing to receive Him? He is willing to receive you. "He waiteth to be gracious." 4. Have you received Him? Remember your obligations, and seek to glorify Him. 5. The certain perdition of all who reject Christ. (J. Hunt.) Parallel Verses KJV: For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. |
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