THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST IN PREACHING (1)
2 Corinthians 4:5

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I. The persons here distinguished: "we". These persons are in the context identified as follows:

1. "... we [who] have this ministry" (v.1). Paul here refers to "ministers of the new covenant (3:6ff). The old covenant was a ministry of condemnation and death. The covenant replacing it is a ministry of righteousness and the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the dead and liberates the captive. While some today make the law and legalism preeminent in their preaching, ministers of the new covenant make Christ and His grace preeminent.

2. "... we [who] have received mercy" (v.1). Paul does not identify himself with those who boast of salvation by their own meritorious works and of what they have done for their lord. Rather, he identifies himself with those who glory in salvation by God's sovereignly-bestowed unmerited favor.

3. "... we [who] do not lose heart" (v.1). Paul does not identify himself with those who believe they may lose their salvation through weariness or cowardice. Rather, he identifies himself with those who persevere in their ministry from God.

4. "... we [who] have renounced the hidden things of shame" (v.2). Paul refers to the conduct of false preachers who hide the truth because they are ashamed of Christ. He amplifies this fact be saying "we [are] ... not walking in craftiness [being shrewd or unscrupulous in doing anything to accomplish one's ends] nor handling the word of God deceitfully [falsifying the word of God by adulterating it with doctrines of men], but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God [letting the truth we preach be our recommendation rather than recommending ourselves]".

5. "... we [who] preach" (v.5). Paul does not here include every preacher. Rather, he refers to only those preachers God has sent with the gospel He ordained for the salvation of His people (Romans 10:14f). They therefore are not those of whom God says, "I have not sent these prophets" (Jeremiah 23:21). God never entrusted His gospel to a false preacher, and never sent a preacher with a false gospel, and never used the false gospel of a false preacher to the salvation of anyone. False preachers cannot preach the gospel God ordained.

II. The activity here required: "we preach". Consider both what preaching is not, and what it is indeed.

1. What preaching is not. To "preach" is not to opine, suggest, or recommend. Neither is it to dabble in politics, civil activism, societal moral reform, financial or estate planning, nor any other secular religious activity – for no New Testament preacher ever did any of these things. Nor is it to debate God's Word – for God's Word is non-debatable truth, and anyone who starts a debate regarding it is a fool (Proverb 20:3). Nor is it to perform or entertain - for any comedian can do that. Nor is to counsel as a "Christian psychiatrist" or "Christian psychologist" - for no such officer exists in Christ's church. Nor is to build a church – for that is God's work (Acts 2:37b). Nor is it to promote a self-help recovery program – for men must depend upon God to help them (John 6:28f, 44f). Nor is it to be a beggar to men in the hope that they will let God do some good thing for them – for God begs no one. Nor is it necessarily to orate like Apollos (Acts 18:24) – for some of the men God has used most had virtually no speaking abilities, as was the case with Paul (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

2. What preaching is indeed. To "preach" is to be a herald, to publish and proclaim openly something which has been done, always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed. Like a town-crier of old, we declare to you (as from John 3:16-18): "Hear ye! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!"

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