Notes on Faith & Preaching

"Preaching far excels the precepts and philosophies of man. The wisdom and mysteries of

God are undiscoverable by man’s wisdom; they are a revelation for the redemption of man. This

wisdom is not attained by men of the world, nor by the [rulers] of this world to whom God’s

purpose is to confound.

“According to St. Paul, 1 Cor. 2:5: The true foundation of faith, or rather, the foundation of true faith is the power of God . . .the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with and by the truth in our hearts. . . .A faith founded on the demonstration of the Spirit [of God] is abiding, infallible, and works by love and purifies the heart. “The proper state of mind in which to preach the Gospel is the opposite of self-confidence or carelessness. The Gospel should be preached with a sense of great weakness and with great anxiety and solicitude (concern; [dependence upon God]). The success of the Gospel does not rely upon the skill of the preacher, but on the demonstration of God’s Spirit [the Spirit proving & giving faith in the heart; bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel producing faith and salvation]. The foundation of saving faith is not reason, i.e., not arguments addressed to the understanding, but the power of God as exerted with and by the truth [of God’s Word] upon the heart.” ~Amen.

A few sentences extracted from Charles Hodge Commentary, 1 & 2 Corinthians (not his exact wording), Geneva Series of Commentaries, Banner of Truth Trust, 1857 (& several reprints since), pp. 32-35.