The Substance of Preaching (1)

Even more important than the fact that preaching is primary is the truth of exactly what we are supposed to be preaching. What should our content be? It shouldn’t be what is shallow, trendy, entertaining, popular, and pleasing; neither should be such as things as current events, patriotism, politics, or even moral reform. Rather, as the Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 3:8b-9, it should be the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

First, we should be preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. The Greek for unsearchable (anexichniaston) means “that which cannot be traced out.” The root of this word is a noun that means “a track or a trail.” The verb used in our text is found only one other place in the New Testament: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgment and His ways past finding out” (Rom. 11:33). The word is also found in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testa­ment). It was, for example, one of Job’s favorite words, as he declared of God, “Who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number (Job 5:9; 9:10).

The word riches (ploutos) literally means “wealth.” The meaning here, however, is figurative; it speaks of the whole wealth of salvation and growth in Christ. It is interesting to note that Paul was the only Scripture writer who used the figurative meaning of this ploutos, and that five of those fourteen figurative usages are in Ephesians (1:7, 18; 2:7; 3:8, 16). So, putting all this together we see: The wealth we have in Christ is a pathway we cannot trace; it is unfathomable from human understanding. Instead of the fluff and shallowness of most contemporary preaching, Paul declares that we are to preach unfathomable Truths. Reformer John Calvin explained this by calling it “the astonishing and boundless treasures of grace.”

Now, to what riches is Paul specifically referring? Is he implying entertainment, pop-psychology, “felt needs,” or other popular notion? Hardly! He is, of course, referring back to the riches spoken of in Ephesians 1. How can any of us fathom (“trace out”) redemption, forgiveness, acceptance, election, adoption, God’s will, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit? We can’t! From human understanding we cannot understand these truths; we cannot possibly trace out this Truth; it is all a path in a jungle we could never find, much less follow. Rather, it is the Holy Spirit who gives us understanding. Do you see? Paul was to preach all this truth, but it was the Holy Spirit Who would illumine it to men.

Consider again how abundant these riches are; they’re everywhere we look! As one commentator points out, extremely precious and valuable items are usually rare, which is why they are so valuable. Only cheap things are abundant. But here is the exception that proves the rule. The most precious, the most valuable realities in the universe—the riches of Christ—are also the most bountiful; they are everywhere we look. No Christian is poor! Every single one of us is a spiritual tycoon. Men strive for monetary riches, but no matter how much they acquire, they want more. A reporter once asked oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, “If you retired now, would you say your holdings would be worth a billion dollars?” Pacing up and down the room mentally adding, Getty answered. “I suppose so, but remember, a billion doesn’t go as far as it used to.” What a blessing to know that we can’t get any richer when we posses the unsearchable riches of Christ.

So, like Paul, every preacher is to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Instead of preaching shallow sermons, delivering motivational talks, having feel-good discussions, and teaching bad theology, we should be preaching the doctrine of the unsearch­able riches of Christ. We are to preach doctrine, not drivel.