Jesus Christ: The Theme Of Themes
Dennis L. Moss (1909-1995)
The apostle Paul wrote, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:5-7.
The ancient worthy said, “Were the highest heavens my pulpit, and the angels, with the numberless host of redeemed ones my audience, and eternity my day, Jesus should always be my text!” This was the text of Peter in Acts 22:36. This was the text of Phillip in Acts 8:5-36. In Acts 5:42, the Bible says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
When the visiting preacher was worried as to what to preach, the located preacher’s little girl said, “Preach about Jesus.” In my early ministry, a little girl invited others to attend the services. When they asked, “What does your preacher preach about?” she said, “He tells us all about Jesus.”
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS TEACHER. John 7:45, 46. Matthew 7:28, 29. There is no virtue He did not exalt; there is no vice He did not condemn. Only by following His instructions are men safe and happy in this life and have a hope beyond this vale of tears.
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS THE SACRIFICE FOR SIN. John 1:29; 3:16; Romans 5:7,8; 1 John 1:7. It is only through the merits of His precious shed blood that we have access to the throne of grace. He is the Lamb of God of Revelation 1:5, 6. He is ever loving, loosing, and lifting. His people are a purchased people, a purified people, a priestly people, a princely people, and a praising people. He is the Lamb of God Typified (Gen 4), the Lamb of God Prophesied (Gen 22), the Lamb of God Crucified (Isa 53), the Lamb of God Identified (John 1:29), the Lamb of God Glorified (Rev 5), and the Lamb of God Satisfied (Rev 19). He is the Redeeming Lamb, the Heavenly Lamb, the Reigning Lamb, the Shepherd Lamb, the Shining Lamb, and the Conquering Lamb. He is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. He raised Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:35-43), the widow’s son (Lk 7:11-17), Lazarus (John 11:38-44), and, as the crowning miracle, He, Himself, was raised from the tomb! Matt 28:1-6, Rev 1:12-18, 2 Tim 1:8-12.
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS THE LAWGIVER. Matthew 28:18. He has all authority – both in heaven and on earth. This means there is no legislative authority left for any man or group of men in the church, be he preacher, priest, or pope! Woe is unto the man who assumes the authority to bind upon God’s redeemed people his own petty theories or the traditions of men. Matthew 15:9.
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS THE SAVIOUR. Matthew 1:21. He saves from sin; He saves from the love of sin; He saves from the practice of sin; He saves from the guilt of sin; He saves from the penalty of sin. He does this through a gracious plan. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:36-41; 22:16; Hebrews 5:8, 9; Romans 6:17, 18.
WE SHALL PREACH HIM AS THE JUDGE OF THIS WORLD. John 12:48, Acts 17:30-31, 2 Corinthians 5:10. The time of the judgment will be at His Coming. Matthew 25:31-33.
When Phillip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the treasurer listened. He was teachable and willing to obey. “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:12, 13.