Christology
is the study of the person and the work of Jesus Christ. For Christians what
could be more befitting than to study Christ? Christ is the cornerstone of
Christianity. Paul wanted to preach nothing else but Christ (1Cor 1:23; 2:2;
2Cor 4:5; Phil 1:18). We can never understand enough about Christ because He is
beyond comprehension for a finite man. However, what He reveals in the Scripture
is more than enough for our salvation and the whole of our life and ministry.
Therefore, the more we search Him in the Scripture, the more we know Him. He is the
good master Shepherd; preachers must follow Him to be true under-shepherds.
The preaching ministry is the ministry of the Word. The Person and Work of Christ are the central themes in the Bible. There are numerous ways addressed or named to the God of the Bible in the Bible. A deeper understanding of the eternal existence of Christ by discovering Christ in the Old Testament will surely bring greater confidence in the Word (both the OT and the NT). Which in turn will make the preaching more effective for building up the congregation through the word of God.
Salvation
has come unto man only in Christ. A deeper understanding of the Person and Work
of Christ will surely make preacher passionate to present the gospel in
every preaching. The preaching of the gospel will convict the heart of the
sinners and the self-righteous to come to Christ. Moreover, the preaching of
the gospel will exalt Christ for who He is and what He has done. Worship will
be more genuine. The congregation would grow to a godly living through
repentance.
Christians
are called out from worldly living to be conformed to the image of Jesus
Christ. A deeper understanding of Christology will ultimately result in knowing
how to be more Christ-like. Preaching will focus for the perfecting of the
saints to the likeness of Christ. Thus it will help the preacher and the
congregation to live maturely.
Preaching
ministry will have no fruit if the word of God is not preached with a
shepherding spirit to the congregation. A deeper understanding of Christology
will enable preacher to have the compassion of Christ, and the boldness of
Christ both to guide and protect the congregation from going astray. A wrong
view of Christ would be confronted. False teaching would be warned. Low-view of
Christ would be challenged. And the congregation will learn to contend for the
truth against all heresies.
There
are lots of important doctrines in the Bible regarding certain things. I believe a right
understanding of Christology will enable preachers to understand the other
major doctrines of the Bible too. Preaching ministry will be protected from
convoluted teaching. Thus, preaching would be accurate, and clear enough to be understoodby the congregation.
Christ
is the only perfect man ever lived. Perfect life can be attained only by
imitating Him. There is no other way for humans than to imitate Him to live a meaningful,
joyful, and complete life. A deeper understanding of Him will enable the preacher
to imitate Him. Only then the preaching ministry will be more effective in
shepherding people to imitate Christ as the highest goal of their life.
A
deeper understanding of Christology will enable the preacher to live under
the yoke of Christ and would be reflected in the preaching and the
congregation. His love for humankind, His prayer to God, His submission to the
Father, His love for the Church, and His faithfulness towards His promises. His
mercy, love, grace, peace, and joy will be experienced in the preaching
ministry.
Moreover,
this world is full of suffering and injustice. Christ gives hope for every
Christian to live on. A deeper understanding of Him would enable preachers to preach
the hope we have in Christ to trust Him for what He promised both for the
present and the future to come. The promises of Christ and the power of Christ
would be evident in the preaching ministry for the hope of Christian life.