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  THE SUM OF THE GOSPEL
  by C.H. Spurgeon
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Summary: Jesus is the central theme of the gospel, and without Him, our
preaching and teaching are empty and ineffective.

Topics: "The Power of the Gospel", "The Centrality of Christ"
Scripture References: Matthew 5:14-16, John 8:12, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Galatians 6:14, Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 12:2

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DESCRIPTION
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C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that Jesus is the central theme of the gospel,
asserting that preaching without Him is futile and devoid of value. He
insists that the focus of all teaching and ministry should be on Christ
and His crucifixion, as anything less leads to spiritual darkness.
Spurgeon warns that when Jesus is sidelined, the message loses its power
and effectiveness, urging ministers to ensure that their sermons are
filled with the light and life that only Christ can provide. He
concludes that a sermon without Jesus is not worthy of the effort, as
true nourishment for the soul comes from Him alone.

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CONTENT
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Beloved, because Jesus is the sum of the gospel he must be our constant
theme. "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ." "I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus
Christ and him crucified." So spake men of old, and so say we.

When we have done preaching Christ we had better have done preaching;
when you have done teaching in your classes Jesus Christ himself, give
up Sunday school work, for nothing else is worthy of your pains. Put out
the sun, and light is gone, life is gone, all is gone. When Jesus is
pushed into the background or left out of a minister's teaching, the
darkness is darkness that might be felt, and the people escape from it
into gospel light as soon as they can. A sermon without Jesus in it is
savourless, and worthless to God's tried saints, and they soon seek
other food. The more of Christ in our testimony the more of light and
life and power to save.

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "The Jesus Christ
Himself," delivered December 9, 1877.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ch-spurgeon/the-sum-of-the-gospel/
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