In Acts 2:14-36 we have given to us by the Lord the words spoken by Peter on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem after the resurrection of Christ. Empowered clearly by the Holy Spirit of God, Peter preached Christ. Repeatedly Peter spoke of the man, Jesus, as being far more than anyone could have imagined. He makes it clear that the 'Jesus' about whom he was talking is the same man that had just recently been walking among them [Jesus of Nazareth, vs. 22]. He goes on to assert that it was [this Jesus, vs. 32] that God had raised up in resurrection power. But Peter isn't finished yet. He goes on to declare that [God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ, vs.36]. Finally, at the very end of his remarks, Peter applies what he has been saying by adding [Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...vs. 38].
Later Paul would emphatically identify the essence of his entire ministry when he said the following.
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:21
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1 Corinthians 1:23
Clearly the preaching of Christ by these apostles is very different from much that passes as 'preaching Christ' today. Their preaching was not about a destination ['Where would you go if you died tonight?']. Nor did it have anything to do with prosperity in life ['Name-it, Claim-it theology']. Nor did they say anything about the vital necessity of so-called unity ['What we all need now is love.']. Perhaps the reason that so much of so-called Christianity in America today is so weak and anemic is that we are literally preaching a different Christ!
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