Two words lead Paul from the matter of unity among the believers at Corinth to the great subject of preaching.He refers to baptism, V 13, and rejoices that he had baptised few of them lest it had been seen as an attempt by him to establish his name among them, V 15. He further explains his policy on baptism by showing that it was not the main purpose of his calling. He was sent by Christ to preach, V 17. The word apostle is derived from this word sent. He then expounds the doctrine that he preached and the method of his preaching as well as declaring the results of preaching the gospel.Let us consider first of all . . .
I. THE PRIORITY OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL
1. Preaching is the chief public ordinance. Acts 6:4, 26:16-23.
Baptism will not save you but the message of the gospel will.
2. Here is a priority that must be guarded.
Look at Acts 6:4. These words were spoken in defence of this priority. A minister may very easily be side-tracked into some other aspect of the work or, worse still, into that which has no place in God's work.
3. The substance of Paul's preaching.
He defines his message as the gospel, 17, the cross, 18, Christ crucified, 23.
The glad tidings of salvation centres upon the cross and consists of Christ dying as the sinless substitutionary sacrifice for His elect people.
4. The manner of Paul's preaching.
Not with wisdom of words, 17. In the simplest of terms for the power of the gospel does not lie in its presentation but in its substance. This was the very thing that would have appealed to the Corinthians but Paul deliberately avoided it lest the effect of the gospel be attributed to oratory.
II. THE POWER IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL
There is power in the gospel, 18, 24. The power (dunamis) of God. God channels and displays His power through His word, Luke 9:43. As it was in creation, Gen 1, John 1:3, Hebs 1:2-3, so in salvation.
This power is manifested to and experienced by . .1. The elect. V. 24, Called. It refers to the effectual call of God to His elect, Acts 13:48, Romans 8:30. 2. Believers. V. 18. They are saved and kept by that power. I Peter 1:5. There is a day by day experience of the gospel's power, II Cor 4:15.
III. THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL
They are three-fold.
1. The salvation of the elect. V. 21, SAVE—Matt 1:21, Romans 1:16.
2. The confounding and destruction of man's wisdom. 19, 27-28. The two-fold effect of the gospel, Matt 21:44, II Cor 2:16. As the angels which came to Sodom were at once the messengers of mercy and destruction, so it is with the gospel. Those who believe it are saved, those who do not will be destroyed. Gen11:7, I Thess 1:9.
3. The glorifying of God's name. The gospel scheme of salvation leaves men with nothing of which to boast. The glory will all be the Lord's. Rev 5:12-13, Rev 7:12, Rev 19:1.
We can close this study with those great words of Paul:
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1:17).