The True Theme of Teaching and Preaching by G. B. Starr

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 9, 1914

The True Theme of Teaching and Preaching

By G. B. Starr

G. B. STARR

THE early disciples of Christ, it would seem, had just one theme, which served for the beginning, the middle, and the end of all their teaching and preaching, public and private, with Jew or Gentile, high or low, rich or poor: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." Acts 5:42. They had met and learned to love Jesus. They had become convinced that he himself was just what all the world needed; and so Jesus Christ, "the Messiah;" Jesus, "the Creator," the "Sacrifice" for sin; "the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world;" Jesus, "the Light of the world," "the Water of life," "the Lord our righteousness," "the way, the truth, and the life," "the Mediator of the new covenant," "the resurrection and the life," "the Prince of Peace," "the Rock of Ages," "the Root of David," "the Son of the living God," "the Word of God," "the Word of life," "the coming King," was the theme of their conversation, their preaching, and their song; and they loved to emphasize that "we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake;" and for the very good reason that "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." 2 Cor. 4:5, 6. How, then, could men whose hearts had been flooded with creative light, talk of aught else but the source of that light?

When it pleased God "to reveal his Son in me," says Paul, it was "that I might preach him among the heathen." Gal. 1:16. Paul's manner from that time was to reason "out of the Scriptures," "that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts 17:3. The people recognized clearly the theme of his preaching, for they said "he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection." Verse 18. Some even endeavored to cast out devils "by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." Acts 19:13. Paul also felt quite clear to write to the churches that they were not to receive any one who preached "another Jesus, whom we have not preached," and not to receive another spirit nor another gospel. 2 Cor. 11:4.

The disciples never failed to turn every opportunity offered into the direct preaching of Jesus. The example of Philip illustrates this. After listening to the Ethiopian read Isa. 53:7, 8, as soon as Philip "opened his mouth," he "began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." Acts 8:26-35. Jesus himself set them and us the example of thus preaching him from all parts of the Sacred Writings: "And beginning at Moses and the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27. See verse 44. So Philip went to a city of Samaria, and "preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5); and Paul straightway "preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." Acts 9:20. It mattered not who the preacher was in those days, Christ was the theme, as Paul says: "For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus." 2 Cor. 1:19.

So intent were these early preachers upon publishing the gospel of Christ, that they rejoiced when his enemies took up the subject. "Some," said they, "indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." Phil. 1:15-18.

No people ever lived who could and ought more fully to preach Christ than Seventh-day Adventists, his remnant people: for to them is opened the whole field from the earliest prediction of "the Seed of the woman," through prophecies and symbol, through gospel and revelation, to his second appearing in the clouds

of heaven; it is always this same "Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until" his work is finished and he comes again in the clouds of heaven.

It is impossible to present any truth in its true setting "as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21) without making Jesus himself the principal figure in every discourse. It was "one like the Son of man" who came with clouds to the Ancient of days, to whom there was given "dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him," whom Daniel saw; it was this same Son of man that John the revelator sees coming with clouds to take his kingdom; and it is this same Jesus whom it is our privilege to hold up high before the people, in song, in prayer, in discourse, and call for their submission to him as Lord of lords and King of kings. All heaven rings with his praise. Glory to Christ is the theme of every song. Rev. 5:11-13. And so, with the benediction of Paul to the Romans, we close this article: "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." Rom. 16:25-27.

Melrose, Mass.