Imagine a certain coach of a basketball team that had a specific strategy in his coaching repertoire that was both effective and unstoppable. This strategy was guaranteed to work and the opponent could not stop it in any way. Would the coach use this strategy? How often would he use it? Absolutely he would use it all the time!
When it comes to being a preacher, there are many ideas about what to preach to see change occur. Some say we need to preach ‘how to’ sermons, some say we need to just explain the next verses, some say we need to find topics that are relevant to the outside world. I would submit to you that preachers should be known as gospel preachers because the gospel has the power to save and to transform.
Now, just a quick reminder, the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. It is defined as Christ dying for our sins, being buried, and raised again, as the Scriptures testify (1 Cor 15:3-4). This truth has the power to save and to transform.
Romans 1:16 says it like this, “for the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” It has the power to save a soul. 1 Corinthians 1 says something similar. “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (v 18). In the Romans passage Paul goes on to explain the gospel in great detail for a number of chapters. In 1 Corinthians 1 Paul summarizes it as “Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:23). Both of these passages showcase the power of the gospel to save.
We see the power of the gospel to save evidenced in the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. The man is reading but doesn’t understand the passage of the Bible he is reading. Philip explains to him what he is reading by “preaching Jesus to Him” (Acts 8:35). The man comes to faith and is baptized. But Philip made sure to preach Jesus to him which no doubt included the cross and the resurrection.
Preachers, pastors, and evangelists look all around for different ideas and strategies in which to win people to Christ. But in reality, the power to save souls is not located within the preacher or the speaker or an event. The power to save souls is inherent to the gospel. As a preacher who preaches every Sunday morning, why would I not preach the gospel if I wanted to see souls saved? If I have no power to bring about salvation, but the gospel has all the power, how can I preach anything else? Pastors must be known as gospel preachers.
But maybe someone reading this is thinking that they are already saved and therefore the gospel’s power to save has no application to them. I’m already saved, I don’t have to hear about how to be saved every Sunday! Fair question. Although, the gospel is also said to have the power to transform. The gospel has the power to make a person holy and sanctified.
Paul tells the Romans he was eager to come to them to preach the gospel to them (Romans 1:15). That tells me he believed the gospel had a sanctifying effect on the people. Also, in 1 Corinthians 2:2 he says “he determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That means the cross of Christ was the main focus of his preaching to this church. And if you know anything about this church, they had a lot of problems! Paul’s solution: preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified to them.
How does the gospel transform? First, understanding what God has accomplished for us in the gospel is a powerful motivator for holiness. We pursue holiness not to earn a place before God but because we have been graciously given a place before God. My heart breaks for those who are trying to be good so that God will be happy with them. In Christ, your standing is eternally resolved. You can’t be any more accepted by God than you are in Christ! What freedom for holiness!
Second, the gospel brings encouragement when we fail. As we realize our sins are forgiven and washed by Christ, we get back up on the horse and try again. We don’t have to live in discouragement and depression because of the cross of Christ!
Third, the gospel teaches us to live a life of faith. It is faith in Christ that saves but the gospel spurs us on to continue that trust. If we believe that Christ took our sins and will grant heaven when we die, should we also believe that He will guide, direct, provide, care for, andlove us as well? The answer is ‘yes!’ Believing on Christ for salvation only begins a lifetime walk of faith. Believers need to hear the gospel too and their pastors need to be gospel preachers.
So, you see how the gospel has the power to save a soul and the power to transform a believer into Christlikeness. Why would I preach anything else? Now, this does not mean that every Sunday I will be only teaching on the crucifixion. The Bible calls on me to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) so I am committed to preaching God’s Word verse by verse. But in every sermon, there has to be a connection to Christ and the gospel to really unleash the power of God. That is a power that is effective and the enemy cannot stop.