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. Their duty: "We preach" (see #117-118). Their theme: negatively, "We do not preach ourselves" (see #119); positively, "We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." Their attitude: "We are your servants for Jesus' sake." We here emphasize what it is to preach Christ, and afterward what is to preach Jesus and the Lord.

"We preach Christ Jesus the Lord." That is, we preach that Jesus is the Christ. The word Christ in the New Testament (as in our text), which was first written in the Greek language, is the equivalent of the word Messiah in the Old Testament (as in Daniel 9:26f), which was first written in the Hebrew language (see John 1:41; 4:25). It is a title meaning Anointed, and designates the One promised by God to be the great Deliverer of His people. When we preach Christ, we declare that all the Old Testament prophecies of the promised Messiah are fulfilled in and by Jesus. Consider a few.

1) Messiah was prophesied to be the seed of the woman who would, when His own heel was bruised, bruise the head of the serpent Satan (Genesis 3:15 -- the first prophecy and gospel message). Jesus is indeed the seed of the woman, being "born of a woman" (Galatians 4:4). And in fulfillment of another Messianic prophecy, He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; cp. Matthew 1:22f). Both He and Satan were bruised when He died on Mount Calvary. He bruised His own heel in crushing the head of Satan. The bruising of His heel denotes a temporary injury: He indeed died, but was afterward resurrected. But the bruising of Satan's head was a permanent injury: he was decisively defeated and his powers were destroyed (Hebrews 2:14). We therefore preach that all who believe and trust in Jesus as the Christ will be delivered from the power of Satan.

2) Messiah was prophesied as the seed of the Israelite patriarch Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Jesus has indeed descended from Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17; see especially Galatians 3:16) and obtained salvation for peoples of every nation (Revelation 7:9). We therefore preach that all who believe and trust in Jesus as the Christ will receive this blessing.

3) Messiah was prophesied as the seed of David for whom Jehovah would establish an everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jesus has indeed descended from David (Matthew 1:1-17). And God has forever enthroned Him in heaven on the throne of His father David (Acts 2:26-39). We therefore preach that all should submit to Jesus, the Christ whom God has exalted.

4) Messiah was prophesied as the suffering servant of Jehovah who would die for the sins of Jehovah's people, thereby obtaining their justification (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Jesus is the theme of this passage (Acts 8:30-35). He came as Jehovah's servant (John 17:1-4), and died as the substitute of Jehovah's people (John 10:11), and obtained justification for every one of them (Romans 5:15-18). We therefore preach that all who believe and trust in Jesus as the Christ will be justified by God.

5) Messiah was prophesied as the Son of God who will rule all the nations (Psalm 2). God Himself declares Jesus is "My beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17; 17:5; 16:13-17; Romans 1:4) -- by an eternal generation. And God has enthroned Jesus on His own throne (Hebrews 1:8), and given to Him universal authority (Matthew 28:18). We therefore preach the commandment of God to "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:12). Do you submit to Jesus as the Christ?

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