Preaching Christ - Part 1 of 2

The Baptist Bible lowered no gums to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior will and this will share Bradley Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace in a will and may be a T and D will be will be one of the May, my you join us for the broadcast. Today the subject of our message is an important one, preaching Christ. We will always be lifting up his name. Our wonderful Lord and Savior and Redeemer message is a blessing to you and you want to help keep this broadcast on the air. Our mailing address is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 Lee mentioned the call letters of the station which the program comes to you or the website where your receipt. I ask that you pray for us during the summer months often are. It's a challenging time.

It seems people probably are not traveling as much because of concerns about covert but still the summer time is a time of activity in the tend to forget us a little bit. So if you can help us now, will certainly appreciate first Corinthians chapter 2 read beginning with the first verse and I brother when I came to you came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God, right, determined not to know anything among you Savior Jesus Christ and him crucified and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling in my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. The apostle says I have determined not to know anything among you Savior Jesus Christ and him crucified. Obviously he does not say here that he never touched on any other thing because the apostle Paul in great detail on many fundamental doctrinal issues on many issues pertaining to godly living. Many details concerning the church and as he wrote the epistles to young ministers that which pertain to the ministry itself, but he's saying essentially the matter what the subject may have been Jesus Christ was the theme of his preaching. First of all, as we examine this portion of Scripture is think about the man himself.

Paul formally known as Saul of Tarsus's experience was indeed very unique start of the 26th Of the book of acts, as he relates this experience and examine it from his own words. Of course Paul was writing of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but he records that which she set forth when he was before King Agrippa and says in acts chapter 26 verse nine.

I verily thought with myself that I want to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus Christ, which they also did in Jerusalem, and many of the servants did not shut up in prison having received authority from the chief priests and when they were put to death.

I gave my voice against this describes where this man was in his religious involvement being as he said elsewhere, a Pharisee of the Pharisees.

He was very dedicated to what he believed at that time was the truth is, as I thought within myself that I should do these things.

Contrary to the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, he hated the gospel he despise the message he thought they would do. Got a favor to put Christians to death and hopefully to wipe out the church and remove the testimony from the face of the earth put some in prison had authority from the chief priest to do so many were put to death. I gave my voice against them, and I punish them all in every synagogue and compel them to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities Ceballos chair was not a casual attitude at all was a matter of just saying here's my point of view and I differ with these people. He felt like they should be destroyed and was doing all within his power to accomplish that verse 12 whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. At midday working as Saul in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shining round about me and them which journeyed with me and when we were all falling to the earth. I heard a voice speaking on the me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecuted Stanley. It is hard for the need to kick against the pricks going on his way zealous in his religion determined to add to the suffering of Christians wanting to subdue this message, but suddenly there's a light from heaven a brilliant light above the brightness of the sun so that we found there heard a voice. The voice call my name, Saul, Saul, why persecuted his family and I said, who are now Lord, and he said I am Jesus whom thou persecuted us alleys the words of Jesus the Saul of Tarsus, but rise, and stand upon my feet. For I have appeared on the lead for this purpose, to make me a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I will appear under the delivering the from the people and from the Gentiles, under whom now I send the open their eyes to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me, whereupon old King Agrippa, I was not disobedient under the heavenly vision. What a remarkable transformation if somebody had send the Saul of Tarsus. Prior to this experience.

One day you will be a believer one day you will embrace Jesus Christ. One day you will preach his gospel even said that's an absolute absurdity. It can never happen and no doubt, there are those today who would make such a declaration.

I will never believe the message of the gospel. I will never become a follower of Christ, the gospel makes no sense to me. I have no interest in. But that doesn't mean that when such a declaration is made that the case is hopeless because we have this vivid example before us that God is able to transform any individual no matter how sick they maybe no matter how zealous and sincere in their own religion, our Lord is able to transform them totally gives me a lot of hope and courage because frankly today, when we see that there are so many skeptics so many question the validity of Scripture. So many who question the very fundamental truth of the gospel. So many who are enamored with the thing to this world and the philosophies of man we say how can we ever find one whose heart is open who is willing to receive the message and we know full well that if it was left of our abilities, we would miserably fail, but what we see in this example that no case is too hard for the Lord and that Jesus Christ change this man's life we have hope and believe that he is still in the business of changing others.

Saul of Tarsus became totally surrendered to Jesus Christ transform back Christ humbled by Christ now surrendered to Christ back in the knife Of the plaques the camp that is given which Paul was reiterating and reviewing in the 26 check for which we have read the Lord spoke to him from heaven and he said, who art thou, and Jesus responded on Jesus whom thou persecuted us, he said in acts 96 and he trembling and astonished said, Lord, report will file have me to do.

And the Lord said in him, arise, and go to the city and it shall be told thee what thou must do is a humble heart is a subdued man, a man who'd been viciously fighting the gospel of Jesus Christ now bows humbly before the risen Savior and asked the question, what with thou have me to do or how I would pray that if there are those today who have never asked that question that this will be the day that you ask it insincerity, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do verse 15 the Lord said in him, go thy way, this is speaking to Ananias he is a chosen vessel in the me the bear my name for the Gentiles, and the kings and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my namesake. It was rather interesting that here at the outset of this man's experience. The Lord's will inform him that there are sufferings to be endured. Admit that if I was talking to someone that was a new convert. I might hold off a little bit mad. I know there's an appropriate time to remind them that there are persecutions to endure than sufferings that will be encountered, but I would hope to see them becoming somewhat stable and maybe tell them later on.

But the Lord informs it right up front, I want to show them what great things he must suffer, but that didn't deter this man. He was surrendered. He was committed, and so he continues on course first 20 and straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues that he is the son of God. But all that heard him were remains and said, is not this he that destroyed them, which called on this name in Jerusalem and came together for the intent that he might bring them bound under the chief priests. Saul increases the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ you imagine how flabbergasted the people were. This is something extremely remarkable. This is this is the very man that has been the greatest enemy of this cause and now he's become a defender of his preaching Jesus what testimony, what a witness. He went straight way preaching Christ in the synagogues that he is the son of God. He was in the surrendered to Jesus Christ and factors in the book of Philippians chapter 1 of the 21st verse for to me to live is Christ, his whole life. Every detail of his life was surrendered to Christ involved with Christ committed to Christ, and yet he wasn't ever totally satisfied boy was satisfied with Jesus Christ, but was not satisfied with himself, though his experiences were unique, though he had heard the Lord himself called his name from heaven, and though he had been caught up into the third heaven had very unique experiences with the Lord. He wasn't proud he wasn't boastful. He was an arrogant he didn't exalt himself above others, he didn't have the attitude I have arrived. But in contrast to such an attitude.

He says in Philippians chapter 3 verse eight yea doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I make.

We cry. He didn't look back longingly at those things that he had left, count them to be of no value. Whatever.

My desire is that I may win Christ, I want to have a closer walk with him. I want to have communion with him be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ and the righteousness which is of God by faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death by any means I might attain on the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that on the African that for which also I am apprehended in Christ Jesus brethren, count not myself to have apprehended this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth of those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Read these words you can come to no other conclusion but following this great experience on the road to Damascus. This man is transformed. This man is surrendered to Christ this man is continually desiring to have greater knowledge of Christ and a closer walk with Christ. So as we see something about the man we can come to appreciate a little more what he means when he speaks of his message. I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Of course, the person heard the apostle Paul preached very often somebody might come to the conclusion.

Well, he just preaches the same thing over and over again because in every message he was preaching Christ. Christ was the name lifted up the truth about the son of God was that which he loved to declare and that permeated every message, no matter what other subject might have been considered preaching Christ was at the heart of it all shortly. That was true and it came to preaching the gospel itself. Paul gives us a definition of the gospel, and for strength in chapter 15 when he says in verse one. Moreover brethren I declare under you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you received and where you stand. By the which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached on the you and let you have believed in vain.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which also receive. Here's the fundamental principle, the truth concerning the gospel how the Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. It's interesting to note that he not only declares Christ died for our sins, but specifically says he did according to the Scripture that immediately connects this truth with all of the Old Testament prophecy with the details such as a given. The 53rd chapter the book of Isaiah that passage revealing to us the success of Christ's work because he saw the prevailing soul and was satisfied so he died. According to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas and then of the 12 and after that he was seen of about 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain under the present, but some are fallen asleep, so he sets forth the truth of the death the burial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the message of the gospel. The gospel is not an appeal for men to reform their lives. The gospel is not a message which outlines a series of religious duties that they must perform. The gospel is not a message which encourages people to develop a better personality and is going to give them health, wealth and prosperity here. The gospel concerns the person of Jesus Christ.

It concerns the issue of how fallen will in centers can stand acceptable and on-site through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ in acts chapter 3 verse 18 it says about those things which God before had shown him in the mouth of all his prophets that Christ should suffer, he had so fulfill his another plane declaration that the things of the prophets, and spoken the many many prophetic references about the Old Testament. Some of them in the song. Some of them in the prophets, some of them by types and shadows, but the message is continually there, and that these things are fulfilled.

Another point of emphasis upon that 13th chapter of the book of acts, verse 33 God fulfilled the same unto us, their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again as it is also written in the second Psalm, thou art my son, this day have I begotten day, and as concerning that he raised him from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he set on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David was Paul was preaching the gospel. It was emphasizing that what he preached was not a new message. It was in fact the fulfillment of the message that had been declared through the ages. Romans chapter 5 verse six says for when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Here's a clear deprivation of the gospel. Here's the good news in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Peradventure for a good man somewhat even dare to die.

But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the message of the gospel is not going to appeal to one who is self-righteous. The individual who considers himself to be worthy and acceptable to God individual and feels like he can work his way to heaven. You telling that he's a bankrupt guilty center that he cannot contribute to his own salvation that it must be given by divine grace and that it is through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. There is no interest in it.

But the gospel is preaching Jesus Christ and him crucified. Jesus Christ was the greatest example.

But the gospel is not printing them. As an example, he was the greatest teacher were not talking here about him being a great teacher were talking about him being the Savior were talking about him being crucified by we are to follow his example that which is the basis of our salvation is Jesus Christ and him crucified in the same principle. True, not only as Paul preach the gospel message itself traveled far and wide as God gave him opportunity found great encouragement when the Lords of the one occasion that there much people in the city or a place to preach place for the Lord is already identified the fact I have much people here so no matter what the opposition may have been.

He was remain in that place and continue preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and him crucified and the apostle Paul was a faithful preacher of the gospel is message was Jesus Christ and him crucified. He was never seem to be identified with his role he suffered much. He suffered reproach and persecution of the grace of God. He was faithful bringing the good news of the gospel. That's the message we have today through Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death at Calvary there is hope fallen ruling center. There is no other way. There is no other Savior, but by his saving grace. The chiefest of centers can be reclaimed from their fallen and ruined state. I hope that you will write us this week to next week at the same time with the Lord richly bless you all.

The Baptist Bible lowers come to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior address all mail to the Baptist Bible Lord Cincinnati, OH 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Lord Cincinnati, OH 45217 11