One reason that so much of our application has so little effect is that it is divorced from its source of spiritual power. Apart from Christ I can do nothing (John 15:5). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). Moral imperatives and personal correction that are not connected to Christ are spiritually futile even if they result in behavioral change. I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and, the life that I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20). Christ is my life (Col. 3:4). To seek to live a renewed life apart from him, without mention of him, and/or by the brute effort of human will or strength, accomplishes nothing. As a regenerate being I require Christ to be present in his Word for my life's sustenance. He is the Bread of my life — eternal sustenance and daily manna. I spiritually starve without him. Trying to feed others spiritually without him is like trying to raise healthy children on white bread without the vitamins infused. Such children may appear to be satisfied, and may cry for more such bread, but they will not thrive and mature with such a diet.

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The reason that we often do not see the reason for preaching Christ is that we have not fully perceived that all of our power to honor and worship him is through our union with him. If we more fully perceived that he is the only source of power for them that believe, then we would be less ready to proclaim or demand anything without him. Additionally, we would see that all Christ-centered preaching has a narrative, a story, for this story-thirsty culture. Jesus always comes to the rescue.8 It is his hand that reaches for us, his arm that carries us, his promise that comforts us, his Word that guides us, his life that substitutes for ours, his righteousness that fulfills ours, his home that awaits us, and his Kingdom that shall prevail.

Beyond the limits of our understanding of how to preach Christ in all the scriptures, the primary reason that we do not do so is that we have failed to understand why we must. We have not recognized how truly helpless we are apart from him. If we really understood that we have no life or strength or hope apart from him, then we could not perceive of preaching his commandments without summoning his aid; we would never pronounce his expectations without pleading for his grace. If we truly perceived the degree of our inability apart from him, would not dare proclaim any portion of his Word without searching for him. To the extent that we do preach without resorting to him, we ultimately erode faith in him because we crack the door to the consideration, however slight, that we do not need him. Preaching obedience of any sort without mention of the one who enables our service communicates that there is strength apart from him. Additionally, such preaching implies that life that can be lived without him so long as he stands to offer forgiveness when needed.