Why is preaching the gospel more important than baptism?
Preaching the gospel is more important because Christ sent Paul not to baptize but to preach, so the cross of Christ would not be made of no effect. Baptism without the gospel has no use, since the gospel opens the door, transforms sinners, and makes them new creatures in Christ.
Les explains that the Corinthians were puffed up over who baptized them—Peter, Apollos, or Paul—so Paul thanked God he had baptized none of them for that reason and put no importance on water baptism because of the dangers that divide believers. In verse 17 Paul says Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. Les teaches this is about priorities: first things first. All the various baptisms are of no use if people know nothing of the gospel, because the gospel opens the door. It was the gospel that brought pagan Gentiles out of gross immorality and made them new creatures in Christ, and transformed Jewish legalists into people of grace. Paul's gospel, as he says in chapter 15, is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
More Questions
What does Paul mean when he says Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel?
In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul says he was sent not to baptize but to preach the gospel, meaning that no church practice, not even baptism, and no human eloquence may detract from the gospel because the gospel is the finished work of the cross.