“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 

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Words: Pastor Jim Byrd Tune: "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,"

1. God in wisdom chose to save us,

Praise Him for His sovereign grace;

Gave us to our cov'nant Surety,

Son of God, our Hiding Place.

REFRAIN: Come and worship God our Savior,

Sing His praise with one accord;

Bow before Him, praise Jehovah,

Praise our everlasting Lord.

2. Christ the Savior of poor sinners,

Came into this world of woe;

Came to save His chosen people,

To pay all the debt we owe. REFRAIN

3. "It is finished" cried the Savior,

Then in triumph Jesus died;

With His blood He sealed our pardon,

We are fully justified. REFRAIN

4. Now exalted in the heavens,

Jesus reigns upon His throne;

And to us He sends His Spirit,

Making Christ the Savior known. REFRAIN

5. Soon in heaven we shall see Him,

We will gaze upon His face;

There with joy we all shall praise Him,

For His mercy, love and grace. REFRAIN

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I wrote these words many years ago and they remain pasted in the front of my Bible. Before I step behind the pulpit to proclaim the Word of God, I desire to remember these things.

[1] I want to magnify the Lord in the trinity of His persons. That is always to be my goal. Perhaps I will have much liberty, little liberty or no liberty in preaching, that is a matter left entirely to the sovereign Spirit, but my desire is to magnify the Lord. The supreme order of business in every service is to honor God.

[2] I want to preach as though you were going to step out into eternity as soon as you exit the building. I want to earnestly declare the gospel of Christ as if this were the last time you would ever hear a sermon.

[3] I want to plainly preach "Christ and Him crucified." My message is the Person of Christ, His life of obedience to the law, His sin-atoning, ransom-paying, justice-satisfying death that upheld the integrity of God and enabled God to be both just and Justifier of all who believe on His Son. I desire to set forth Christ's victorious resurrection by which the Father declared that He was wellpleased with His Son and the work of redemption He accomplished. I want everyone to know that the gospel is summed up in these words, substitution and satisfaction. I want to proclaim, in the clearest words, that Christ has gone back to glory, sat down upon His heavenly throne and that He reigns over all things in order to accomplish His eternal purpose.

[4] I want to earnestly declare the gospel as though this were the last time I would ever preach. Whatever words I would say to eternity-bound sinners if I knew I would never preach the gospel again, let me speak them right now.

[5] I want to compel men and women to close with Christ, to trust the blessed Savior, to own up to their guilt and come humbly to the Lord Jesus and find rest for their souls! He is plenteous in mercy and ready to abundantly pardon.

[6] I want to make certain that everyone understands that the salvation of sinners is of the Lord and of Him only. I desire to proclaim God's electing grace, the Son's redeeming grace and the Spirit's regenerating grace every time I get up to preach.

[7]I want to preach with such a love for Christ, with such concern for the eternal safety of my hearers and with such conviction for the truth that, though some of my listeners may not believe the gospel of Christ, they will leave the building absolutely convinced that I do. --Pastor Jim Byrd

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