If there was ever a person who knew what his calling was, it was the Apostle Paul. God had called him to bring the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles. (Acts 9:15)
Here in our text Paul prioritizes his work for the Lord. Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.
Paul is not minimizing the importance of baptism, but is saying that his main role in Christian service, was to preach. And not with wise persuasive words, but with straight talk about the cross of Jesus Christ.
It was at the cross of Calvary where Jesus died, shedding His blood to pay for our sin debt. And if we place ourselves under the covering of the blood of Christ, God's forgiveness, and cleansing for sin, is ours.
But to those who were perishing, this message of the Gospel was a joke.
To the Jews it was a stumbling block, because they looked for miraculous signs. The Greeks emphasized wisdom, and the cross made no sense to them from a human standpoint.
But to Paul, and all those who believed in what Jesus accomplished on the cross, it was the power of God to change lives, and give people eternal hope. It is at the cross where salvation is available.
No other place.
It is urgent that we speak about one placing their heart and soul, under the covering of the blood of Jesus. We must repent of sin, and be baptized for the remission of our sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
While there is still time, we need to share this message.
Too many lives have been eternally ruined, because they did not really hear it. GP
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