2 Coríntios 4

2 Coríntios 4:5-6

Lenski - The point to be noted is that to preach is not to argue, reason, dispute, or convince by intellectual proof, against all of which a keen intellect may bring counterargument. We simply state in public or testify to all men the truth which God bids us state. No argument can assail the truth presented in this announcement or testimony. Men either believe the truth, as all sane men should, or refuse to believe it, as only fools venture to do” (The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel [Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1964], p. 168). Dwight L. Moody well said that "The best way to revive a church is to build a fire in the pulpit (Ed: And I would add a fire in the preacher's heart! Dear pastor if you are feeling a bit "un-revived" you might enjoy revivalist Sammy Tippit's book entitled Fire in Your Heart) John Ruskin had some sage words on preaching the Word "Preaching is 30 minutes in which to raise the dead." But - Paul draws a sharp contrast ("But" ~ "changes direction") - Not ourselves but Him. The only Gospel of any worth is that which preaches Jesus Christ as Lord. How sad to see the evangelical world arguing over the Lordship of Christ. QUESTION - What is lordship salvation? | GotQuestions.org - (Excerpt) - The doctrine of lordship salvation teaches that submitting to Christ as Lord goes hand-in-hand with trusting in Christ as Savior. Lordship salvation is the opposite of what is sometimes called easy-believism or the teaching that salvation comes through an acknowledgement of a certain set of facts. Christ Jesus as Lord - The NAS surprisingly follows the Greek of the Textus Receptus (used for the KJV) which has Christ before Jesus. The more modern Greek texts have Jesus preceding Christ. (as rendered in the ESV, NIV, Amplified, NET, NLT) In any event, Hughes rightly notes that Christ Jesus as Lord is "shorthand for the Gospel." Paul is saying that this is the heartbeat of his ministry and it should be ours, preaching Christ Jesus AS Lord because Christ Jesus IS Lord! This truth is crucial to the Gospel and is reiterated by Paul in other letters... Romans 10:9-10+ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 1 Corinthians 12:3+ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Homer Kent minces no words in his comment that "One should beware of drawing categorical distinctions between accepting Christ as Savior and accepting Him as Lord. Both are clearly involved in any true commitment to Christ." (A Heart Opened Wide - Studies in 2 Corinthians; see also 2 Corinthians 2:14-4:18 The Glory of Christian Ministry - An Analysis) As Paul Apple rightly asks "What type of false gospel is it that presents Christ as less than Lord?" The Focus Must Always Be On the Lordship of Christ. The Name Christ (Messiah, Anointed One) speaks of His fulfillment of OT prophecies (Messianic Prophecies). The Name Jesus speaks of His humanity, His incarnation, and literally means "Jehovah saves" (see Mt 1:21, cp Simeon's description when he beheld the infant Jesus in Lk 2:29, 30). Lord (more below) speaks of His exaltation by the Father following His "humiliation" (His crucifixion) (Php 2:8, 9, 10, 11-+). (More in depth discussion = The Name and Titles of Jesus Christ) Give Me Jesus Vocal by Fernando Ortega In the Morning when I rise In the Morning when I rise In the Morning when I rise Give me Jesus. Refrain... Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus, You can have all this World But give me Jesus And when I am alone Oh, and when I am alone And when I am alone Give me Jesus And when I come to die Oh, and when I come to die And when I come to die. Give me Jesus. John