Preaching the Gospel

January 22

(Acts 2:22-23 NIV)  ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. {23} This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."

(1 Corinthians 1:20-25 NIV)  "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

After Peter had straightened out the mockers on the power of the Holy Spirit, he began to preach the gospel. The gospel according to Peter consisted of two parts: the bad news and the good news -- our need, and God’s grace filled solution. Peter defied all modern calls for a positive introduction to his sermon and began with the bad news -- Jesus had died because of them. He later shared the good news that Jesus had also died for them, but he started by looking them in the eye and telling them that Jesus had died because of them. We could have easily been standing with them on that day, because that’s still a true statement. Jesus died because of us. Our sins nailed Jesus to that cross. We will seldom grasp the depth of God’s love and mercy, until we understand that Jesus died because of us. This truth should rid us of all spiritual smugness. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day