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"Christ Jesus the Lord..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:5

THE CONTENT OF PREACHING

The content of preaching has been determined by the Lord God. Paul understood and was deeply committed to the task of preaching the Word of God!

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,
and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.”
2 Corinthians 4:5

1. “For we do not preach ourselves”

a) This was stated emphatically.

b) Preaching is never focused on

i) The preacher.

ii) No matter what kind of interesting stories he can tell about himself.

2. “But Christ Jesus the Lord”

a) The focus must be correct.

b) It must be centred on Jesus.

i) He is to be proclaimed to be the Christ.

ii) He is to be honoured as “The Lord”.

3. “And ourselves your bondservants”

a) The preacher must have a right view of himself.

b) Paul exemplifies the correct view.

i) He is a bondservant.

ii) This is the humblest of a semantic field of words that are translated “servants”.

iii) Essentially this word (Greek “doulos”) means a slave.

4. “For Jesus’ sake”

a) Why would anyone want to consider himself “a slave?”

b) A slave in the Roman Empire:

i) He is owned by a master.

ii) He has no rights.

iii) He works day and night for his master.

iv) If he infringes, he may be sold.

v) A slave is worth next to nothing.

c) Paul was glad to be a slave for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He remained faithful and loyal to the Lord until the day he died!