2Cor.4:5-NKJV: 'For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.'
The pastor/preacher is summoned to the task of announcing and promoting the Person and the Gospel of Christ. The proclamation of Christ and His Gospel is the preacher's priority. See 1 Cor.1:17; 9:16; Gal.1:6-9.
The Gospel is good news about the very Good Son of God, Who was crucified in place of human sinners, and then rose from the dead so that undeserving people could be saved. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Rom.4:25). "Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18a). The Gospel affirms the goodness of Christ, rather than the supposed goodness of Christ's followers. See also John 10:11-18; 1 Tim.1:12-17.
Jesus Christ is not to be presented merely as a fine teacher, an energetic social worker, a religious gentleman or a God-fearing prophet who was killed for his beliefs; He is to be presented as Savior and Lord. We preach the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is Savior because He has saved His people from their sins (Matt.1:21). Jesus Christ is also Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom.14:9).
Jesus Christ was Lord, even as an infant. In the Christmas story, the shepherds were informed by an angel of the Lord: "Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). The Christmas hymn 'Silent Night' rightly contains the phrase 'Jesus, Lord at Thy birth'.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ is not the result of human decision-making or strategies. In Acts 2:36, Peter told a Jewish audience: "God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." No fallible human being 'makes' Jesus Lord; Jesus Christ is Lord already.
Christ's Lordship is timeless and comprehensive. Before giving the Great Commission, the Messiah said to His disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matt.28:18). Col.1:15-18 depicts Jesus as being much more than a fine teacher: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
The Apostle Paul never preached that Paul was the Lord. Church leaders are to honor the Name of Christ rather than make a name for themselves in this world; 'we preach not ourselves.' The best thing that a pastor can do is point people to Jesus; No pastor can ever replace Him. Christ alone is supreme. In the words of John the Baptist, "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
Too many churchgoers pin all of their hopes on their pastor instead of on the Lord Jesus Who has sent their pastor to them. Idolatry is idolatry, whether we are talking about idolizing an entire denomination or an individual behind the pulpit. One can appreciate a pastor without worshiping that pastor. Instead of turning a pastor into a celebrity, a congregation is to celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ. When a congregation reveres a pastor or church officer or Sunday School teacher more than Jesus, then that congregation resembles a personality cult instead of a truly Biblical church.
'We preach not ourselves'. At times in 2 Cor., Paul used the pronoun 'we' in reference to himself and Timothy (2 Cor.1:1,8,12-14; 3:1-6; 13:9); at other times, he applied 'we' to the Church of Christ as a whole (3:12-18; 5:1-10; 7:1). We Christians are entrusted with the common calling to promote the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ESV translates the beginning of v.5: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” Christ is to be publicly proclaimed by all of His people, even if such proclamation might prove uncomfortable (see Matt.10:32-33).
Personal evangelism is essentially bragging about the Cross and the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal.6:14).
In much of contemporary American opinion, 'Politics is everything, and the Church is nothing!' In point of fact, it is the Church's task to declare without compromise: 'Jesus Christ is everything!' According to Rev.19:16, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Christ's people are called to a lifestyle of service instead of a mission to advance self-serving agendas. The servant lifestyle was patterned and promoted by Jesus Himself: 'For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to offer His life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45).
From a Biblical standpoint, persons are expected to serve in Christ's Name only after they have received Him as Lord (see Eph.2:1-10; Titus 3:3-8; Heb.13:20-21).
Saved people are exhorted to serve the Savior and other people, especially Christians (see Gal.6:10). In 2 Cor.4:5, saved persons are to be servants, not power mongers, manipulators or bullies within the church. There is no such thing as a Christian bully.
'Ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.' Ultimately, all of our service is for the sake of Christ. If our acts of service spring from bad or selfish motives, then our service is not truly done for the sake of Christ.
Just what is a 'sake'? Simply put, a sake is identified with a person's honor. For Jesus' sake means that our service, our lifestyle, our devotion, our worship, our self-giving should all be done for the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By the way, this should all be done with gratitude. 'Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him' (Col.3:17).
An anonymous author captured the essence of this thanksgiving with these words:
Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow, Christ today, and Christ tomorrow;
Christ my life and Christ my light, Christ for morning, noon and night;
Christ when all around gives way, Christ my everlasting stay;
Christ my rest, Christ my food, Christ above my highest good;
Christ my well beloved, my Friend, Christ my pleasure, without end;
Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord, Christ my portion, Christ my God;
Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep, Christ Himself my soul doth keep;
Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace, Christ hath brought my soul's release;
Christ my Wisdom, Christ my Meat, Christ restores my wand'ring feet.
Christ my teacher, Christ my Guide, Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide;
Christ my Master, Christ my Head, Christ Who for my sins hath bled.
Christ hath brought us near to God, Christ the everlasting Word;
Christ my Righteousness divine, Christ for me, for He is mine.
The pastor/preacher is summoned to the task of announcing and promoting the Person and the Gospel of Christ. The proclamation of Christ and His Gospel is the preacher's priority. See 1 Cor.1:17; 9:16; Gal.1:6-9.
The Gospel is good news about the very Good Son of God, Who was crucified in place of human sinners, and then rose from the dead so that undeserving people could be saved. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Rom.4:25). "Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18a). The Gospel affirms the goodness of Christ, rather than the supposed goodness of Christ's followers. See also John 10:11-18; 1 Tim.1:12-17.
Jesus Christ is not to be presented merely as a fine teacher, an energetic social worker, a religious gentleman or a God-fearing prophet who was killed for his beliefs; He is to be presented as Savior and Lord. We preach the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is Savior because He has saved His people from their sins (Matt.1:21). Jesus Christ is also Lord of both the dead and the living (Rom.14:9).
Jesus Christ was Lord, even as an infant. In the Christmas story, the shepherds were informed by an angel of the Lord: "Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). The Christmas hymn 'Silent Night' rightly contains the phrase 'Jesus, Lord at Thy birth'.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ is not the result of human decision-making or strategies. In Acts 2:36, Peter told a Jewish audience: "God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." No fallible human being 'makes' Jesus Lord; Jesus Christ is Lord already.
Christ's Lordship is timeless and comprehensive. Before giving the Great Commission, the Messiah said to His disciples: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matt.28:18). Col.1:15-18 depicts Jesus as being much more than a fine teacher: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
The Apostle Paul never preached that Paul was the Lord. Church leaders are to honor the Name of Christ rather than make a name for themselves in this world; 'we preach not ourselves.' The best thing that a pastor can do is point people to Jesus; No pastor can ever replace Him. Christ alone is supreme. In the words of John the Baptist, "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
Too many churchgoers pin all of their hopes on their pastor instead of on the Lord Jesus Who has sent their pastor to them. Idolatry is idolatry, whether we are talking about idolizing an entire denomination or an individual behind the pulpit. One can appreciate a pastor without worshiping that pastor. Instead of turning a pastor into a celebrity, a congregation is to celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ. When a congregation reveres a pastor or church officer or Sunday School teacher more than Jesus, then that congregation resembles a personality cult instead of a truly Biblical church.
'We preach not ourselves'. At times in 2 Cor., Paul used the pronoun 'we' in reference to himself and Timothy (2 Cor.1:1,8,12-14; 3:1-6; 13:9); at other times, he applied 'we' to the Church of Christ as a whole (3:12-18; 5:1-10; 7:1). We Christians are entrusted with the common calling to promote the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ESV translates the beginning of v.5: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” Christ is to be publicly proclaimed by all of His people, even if such proclamation might prove uncomfortable (see Matt.10:32-33).
Personal evangelism is essentially bragging about the Cross and the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal.6:14).
In much of contemporary American opinion, 'Politics is everything, and the Church is nothing!' In point of fact, it is the Church's task to declare without compromise: 'Jesus Christ is everything!' According to Rev.19:16, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Christ's people are called to a lifestyle of service instead of a mission to advance self-serving agendas. The servant lifestyle was patterned and promoted by Jesus Himself: 'For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to offer His life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45).
From a Biblical standpoint, persons are expected to serve in Christ's Name only after they have received Him as Lord (see Eph.2:1-10; Titus 3:3-8; Heb.13:20-21).
Saved people are exhorted to serve the Savior and other people, especially Christians (see Gal.6:10). In 2 Cor.4:5, saved persons are to be servants, not power mongers, manipulators or bullies within the church. There is no such thing as a Christian bully.
'Ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.' Ultimately, all of our service is for the sake of Christ. If our acts of service spring from bad or selfish motives, then our service is not truly done for the sake of Christ.
Just what is a 'sake'? Simply put, a sake is identified with a person's honor. For Jesus' sake means that our service, our lifestyle, our devotion, our worship, our self-giving should all be done for the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By the way, this should all be done with gratitude. 'Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him' (Col.3:17).
An anonymous author captured the essence of this thanksgiving with these words:
Christ for joy, Christ for sorrow, Christ today, and Christ tomorrow;
Christ my life and Christ my light, Christ for morning, noon and night;
Christ when all around gives way, Christ my everlasting stay;
Christ my rest, Christ my food, Christ above my highest good;
Christ my well beloved, my Friend, Christ my pleasure, without end;
Christ my Savior, Christ my Lord, Christ my portion, Christ my God;
Christ my Shepherd, I His sheep, Christ Himself my soul doth keep;
Christ my Leader, Christ my Peace, Christ hath brought my soul's release;
Christ my Wisdom, Christ my Meat, Christ restores my wand'ring feet.
Christ my teacher, Christ my Guide, Christ my Rock, in Christ I hide;
Christ my Master, Christ my Head, Christ Who for my sins hath bled.
Christ hath brought us near to God, Christ the everlasting Word;
Christ my Righteousness divine, Christ for me, for He is mine.