Paul the apostle wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:5, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." He has here set forth the duty, theme, and attitude of gospel preachers. We have in the two preceding messages emphasized the duty of gospel preachers: "We preach" (see #117-118). We now emphasize the theme of their preaching. Considered negatively: "We do not preach ourselves." Considered positively: "We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." We will in this message emphasize the negative aspect.

"We do not preach ourselves." Rather, "We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." Our preaching is therefore Christocentric, centered around Christ. It is not in any way anthropocentric, centered around man. Therefore, we do not preach any doctrine which has its origin in ourselves, or which claims we may find acceptance with God through any work of, or merit in, ourselves. We here cite two of the chief forms of this heresy.

1) We do not preach that we ourselves, as ministers, have any power to absolve your sins. This power is claimed by certain priests. They hear the confessions of their followers, and then claim to grant to them absolution.

Holy Scriptures assert no man has this power. The scribes and Pharisees rightly declared "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"; and that any mortal who claims such power commits blasphemy! (Luke 5:21). In this regard, "We do not preach ourselves."

2) We do not preach that we ourselves, as fellow members of humanity, have any power or merit with regard to salvation or acceptance before God. For example, some preachers aver salvation may be received or enhanced through being circumcised and/or keeping the law of Moses (Judaism), observing sabbaths (Adventism), being baptized (Campbellism), performing good deeds (Liberalism), merely "making a decision for Christ" (much of Fundamentalism), speaking in tongues (Pentecostalism), or some other human endeavor.

All these heresies fall under the heading of free-willism. (This heresy is also known as Pelagianism, named after the British monk Pelagius [died c.419], who was opposed by Augustine; and/or Arminianism, named after the Dutch professor James Arminius [1560-1609], whose disciples were opposed by Calvinists.) Free-willism asserts salvation is received, or acceptance before God is obtained, through an act of man's free will. Free-willism therefore denies salvation is received through God's grace alone. Preachers of this heresy are often heard declaring, "God has done all He can to save you; now the rest is up to you." They therefore must of necessity declare "we preach ourselves"!

To this heresy gospel preachers reply, "We do not preach ourselves." We preach that salvation is "not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5). We preach that salvation is in its entirety a work of God's free and sovereign grace, completely apart from any work performed by, or merit found in, mankind. We preach that the salvation of sinners was purchased by the work and merit of Jesus Christ alone. We preach that salvation is received by faith alone, and that this faith must be in Jesus Christ alone, and that this faith also is a gift of God. We therefore preach to believers, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8f). "We preach Christ Jesus the Lord"!

There are therefore two kinds of ministers claiming to be gospel preachers: those who "preach ourselves"; and we who "preach Christ Jesus the Lord." All who believe the former will be damned, because no mortal work or virtue will merit salvation. But all who believe us will be saved through believing and trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Whom will you believe?

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