Just a very few years ago, it was a rather popular thing among some to say, “Let’s just preach Christ, but not the church.” Thankfully, that inane “tell-tale” slogan of liberal philosophy is not heard very much anymore. Hopefully, it won’t be heard again. The whole premise was fallacious. Christ and His church are inseparable. One can’t be preached, completely, without the other being preached. They go together.
Notice Acts 8:12, which reads, “But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God (i.e., the church) and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Later on in Acts, Luke recorded that Paul resided for two years in his own hired dwelling in Rome, receiving all those who came to see him, “preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness…” (28:31).
Philip and Paul (both men enabled by the Holy Spirit to do great signs, and undoubtedly guided by Him in the message they proclaimed, Acts 6:5-10; 8:5-7, 13; Galatians 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:10, 13) each preached Christ and the kingdom of God.
Even a casual reading of the New Testament would convince anyone that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer! (See Acts 2:36; 4:10-12; 13:23, 38; Romans 3:24-25; 1 Timothy 1:15.) It is equally plain that the saved are added to the church, “translated” into the kingdom, which has been purchased by Christ’s blood (Colossians 1:13-14).
To be in Christ is to be in His church, which is the kingdom (Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 16:18-19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 2:19-22). The church is the “house” (i.e., the family) of God (1 Timothy 3:15), and all of God’s children are in His family. He gave them the name, “Christian” (Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16).
Let us always preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 1:18; 2:1-2; 15:1-3) as the very “heart” of our message, but let us also teach people the truth concerning the kingdom and what is necessary to become citizens thereof.
