Jabez Burns Sermons: 034. 2Co 4:5. Evangelical Preaching

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Jabez Burns Sermons: 034. 2Co 4:5. Evangelical Preaching


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2Co_4:5. Evangelical Preaching

"We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."—2Co_4:5.

Work of the ministry most solemn and important. The highest office to which we can be exalted. Such are laborers together with God, and are identified with Jesus in that great work which he shed his precious blood to accomplish. If the office is great, so the responsibilities are truly momentous. How desirable to be rightly furnished for the holy calling; and so to labor in it, that we may make full proof of our ministry, that at last we may receive from the hand of the Great Shepherd the crown of glory that fadeth not away! One grand object seems ever to have been kept in view by the apostles, and that was, to exhibit Christ, to exalt him on all occasions, to make him the Alpha and Omega of all their discourses. This is the substance of the apostle's avowal in the language of our text, "We preach not ourselves," &c.

We have in the text, I. What the Apostles did not Preach. And, II. What was the Theme of their Ministry. Notice,

I. What the Apostles did not Preach.

"We preach not ourselves." It signifies,

1. That they were not self-appointed.

The apostle Paul frequently takes notice of this in his various epistles to the churches. "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, through the will of God." 1Co_1:1. He repeats the same in the commencement of his second epistle to the same church. When writing to the Galatians, he says, "Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man," &c. Gal_1:1 See also, Eph_1:1; Col_1:1; 1 Tim i 1; 2Ti_1:1. It is God's prerogative through the agency of his church to put men into the work of the ministry 2. They were not self-taught.

They received the truths they delivered from God. They were but the publishers of the will and word of the Lord. Ministers art not to deliver their own sentiments, but the whole unadulterated counsels of God. They are to preach, not their own theories, but Christ's gospel, &c.

3. They were not self-seeking preachers.

They did not manage their calling as a secular business, they sought not human favor or applause, they sought not the riches of the churches, but their spiritual welfare and salvation; they were strangers to mercenary motives, and counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord.

4. They were the church's servants for Jesus' sake.

Not lords over God's heritage, not masters in Christ's family, but servants. It was theirs to wait upon, and to minister to the spiritual necessities of their charge; and, as servants, they were examples of humility, of patience, of labor, constancy, and disinterestedness. And they were servants for Jesus' sake; from the constraining influence his love produced on their souls. 2Co_5:12-15. Notice,

II. What was the Theme of their Ministry.

"Christ Jesus the Lord."

By his authority they preached, his gospel they declared, his glory they sought. And how did they preach Christ Jesus the Lord?

1. In the divinity of his person.

They preached him both as Lord and Christ, as the anointed of God, and, at the same time, Lord of all. They exalted him above all prophets and righteous men; above all angels, principalities, and powers; they gave him divine titles, divine perfections, attributed to him divine works, offered him divine homage, &c. They declared, He was God manifest in the flesh, &c.; the true God; only wise God; God over all, blessed for evermore. (See Sketch on Divinity of Christ.) Joh_1:1, &c.; Col_2:3, &c.; 1Ti_3:16; Php_2:6 &c. &c.

They preach Christ,

2. In his sacred offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King.

(1) Prophet. Act_3:23; Luk_24:19.

(2) Priest. Heb_2:17; Heb_4:14; Heb_9:11, &c.

(3) King. Act_17:17; 1Ti_6:15; Rev_1:5, &c.

They preach Christ,

3. In the mystery of his incarnation.

Born of a woman, even a virgin, according to the prophet Isaiah; "A virgin shall conceive," &c. Mat_1:23. "In the fulness of the times God sent his Son," &c. Gal_4:4. "Great is the mystery," &c. 1Ti_3:16.

They preached Christ,

4. In the purity of his nature.

Though made in all respects like unto his brethren, yet without sin. Holy, harmless, and separate from sinners, &c. Heb_1:26.

They preached Christ,

5. In the splendor of his miracles.

Observe Peter's sermon at Jerusalem. "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs." Act_2:22. None ever did the miraculous works which Christ did. Consider the number, the variety, the graciousness of them, and also that they were effected by his own power, and in his own name.

They preached Christ,

6. In the perfection of his example.

In humility, patience, zeal, fidelity, constancy, mercy, goodness, &c. He hath left us an example, says the apostle, that we should follow his steps. To Christ they directed the people to look, to consider Jesus; to follow Jesus; to be like-minded with Jesus. Heb_12:2; Philip, Heb_3:17; 1Th_1:6, &c.

They preached Christ,

7. In the depths of his humiliation, and intensity of his sufferings.

"Made himself of no reputation," &c. Php_2:7, Php_2:8. "Though he was rich, yet for our sakes," &c. 2Co_8:9. "For Christ also hath once suffered," &c.

Pet. 1Pe_2:21; Heb_2:18; Heb_13:12.

They preached Christ,

8. In the atoning efficacy of his death.

"That he died for our sins, according to the Scriptures." 1Co_15:1. "Redeemed us from the curse of the law,. be ing made a curse for us." Gal_3:13 "Made sin for us who knew no sin." 2Co_5:21. "We have redemption through his blood," &c. Col_1:14. "Tasted death for every man." Heb_2:9, &c.

They preached Christ,

9. In the power of his resurrection That he rose from the dead the third day, according to the Scriptures; that he rose for our justification; that it was not possible he should be holden of death, &c. Act_2:24. 1Co_15:4.

They preached Christ,

10. In the glory of his ascension.

"That he who had ascended was the same who descended first into the lower parts of the earth, and that he is ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." Eph_4:9. "Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour," &c. Act_5:31. "Exalted above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion," &c. Eph_1:21.

They preached Christ,

11. In the prevalency of his intercession as the Great High-priest of our profession He is not only ascended to receive his own reward, but to carry on a most glorious and important work: as the advocate of his church, who ever liveth to make intercession for us. He is mediator of the New Testament, &c. Heb_9:15. See Heb_10:12-23.

They preached Christ,

12. As the final judge of quick and dead.

See 2Ti_4:1. "Father committed all judgment to the Son." Joh_5:22. "We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Rom_14:10.

Finally, they preached Christ always, in all places and times, and to all ranks and classes. They preached him as the world's Redeemer, the sinner's only hope, the believer's joy, and the church's Head. And they preached him as the end of the law; as the substance of sacrifices, shadows, and types; as the sum of the Gospel—as the all, and in all.

Application

This subject presents, 1. A model worthy of the attention of every minister of Jesus Christ Christ must be the grand theme of preaching; his pen on and work must be constantly exhibited.

2. The duty of Christian hearers—to receive the Saviour who is presented to them in the gospel.

3. The effects of evangelical preaching. Savor of life to believers, and a savor of death to those who despise the cross of Christ. Here the sinner is left without excuse, and justly perishes for rejecting that Jesus who died for his sins, and who came expressly that men might have life, and have it more abundantly.