When the Apostle Paul went to the great and intellectual Grecian city of Corinth, he said, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). When Paul described what his message was, he said, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
To the people of Corinth the preaching of the cross was foolishness and nonsense.
But Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). In that great intellectual center, the Cross of Christ was a stumbling block to the Jew, and to the Gentiles it was foolishness.
This “Gospel” of Christ and Him crucified is still foolishness to millions who are perishing all over the world today. Few people recognize that the answer to all the world’s problems can be found at the foot of the Cross.
As we stand at the cross today and look at a confused and frustrated world, God still asks the question, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who Believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21,)
“We preach Christ crucified.” This is the focal point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a picture of blood flowing from Christ’s veins as He hung on the cross. The message of shed blood is gross to many, and they turn from such a gory and horrible sight, feeling offended and even outraged. Many people will accept Christ’s teaching and character , but they reject His crucifixion.
The people of Corinth were blind to Christ crucified and what it meant. To them, His death in this manner was foolishness. The Greek word here is moria, which literally means “idiocy.” Out of this Greek word comes the word moron. This is how the Corinthians evaluated the crucifixion of Christ.
The idea of a world being saved by Christ crucified was indeed foolishness to those who were proud and boastful and who thought the wisdom of the world was invented by them. How different it is for those of us who, in simple faith, know Christ crucified. For us, the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
There are many deeply religious but have not yet come to the point where they are willing to accept Christ and Him crucified. Thus, they stumble on blindly toward eventual judgment and destruction, not realizing that they are rejecting Christ and Him crucified, which is the only hope for salvation.
When we look at the cross, we see several things:
First, in the cross we see the clearest evidence of the world’s guilt. At the cross of Christ, sin reached its maximum. Its most terrible display took place at Calvary. It was never so wicked! We see the human heart laid bare and its corruption fully exposed. The Scripture teaches that person’s heart is desperately wicked.
Christ does come to us every day–in the form of Bibles that we do not read, in the form of churches that we do not attend, in the form of human need that we pass by.
In the judgment hall of Pilate the cry was heard, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” The people had seen His miracles. They had heard His words of Love! They had seen how He relieved suffering humanity.
Why this murderous spirit?
The answer is found deep in the human heart. Human nature has not changed, and as we stand and look at the cross, we see clear evidence that humankind is basically wrong, and we hear the thunderous verdict of God Himself when He says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Second, in the cross we see the strongest proof of God’s hatred of what sin does. God has stated that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20) and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
To gain a clear understanding of God’s attitude toward sin, we only have to consider the purpose of Christ’s death. The Scripture says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Here is a positive statement that there can be no forgiveness of sin unless our debt has been paid.
God will not tolerate sin. He condemns it and demands payment for it. God could not remain a righteous God and compromise with sin. His holiness and His justice demand the death penalty.
The tendency today is to feel that such a position on God’s part is too severe. So we find ourselves manufacturing another gospel. We may say that sin is not that bad–but God said it is very bad. So bad that He demands the death penalty. When we look at the cross we see how drastically God deals with sin. The Scripture says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). If God had to send His only Son to the cross in order to pay for sin, then sin must be so dark in the sight of God.
Third, in the cross we see a glorious exhibition of God’s love. We look out upon the world of nature, and in the provisions and plans made for our happiness we discover a revelation of God’s love. Yet as wonderful as these things are in revealing divine love, nothing is comparable to the sacrifice of Calvary. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Paul writes to the Roman Christians, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).
Fourth, in the cross we see the way to Victory. All of us have at times been defeated by Satan. We are held in bondage to sin and are controlled by the power of the devil. The cross is the instrument by which God delivers us from the penalty of our sin and from the hand of Satan.
God makes it plain that our old carnal nature was dealt with at the cross, so that in our standing in Christ this old nature has no more power over us. We are told that our “old man was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6) and that we do not need to serve sin any longer. The Scripture promises that sin shall no longer have dominion over us (Romans 6:14). Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on The Cross-
Thousands of Christians wrestle with temptation and sin because they don’t know the Power Of The Cross. Satan uses jealousy, pride, gossip, gluttony, sex and old appetites to control them. However, in the cross you have power over all those things because Christ overcame those temptations and sins.
God cleansed you 100% at the cross and made you a New Creation- We can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). You have been delivered once and for all!
The cross of Christ is not only the basis of our peace and hope–but it is the means of our eternal salvation, Righteousness and healing was accomplished. The goal of the cross is not only a full and free pardon, but a changed life lived in fellowship with God. No wonder Paul said 2,000 years ago, “We preach Christ crucified.” The world needs this message today. This is the message of hope, peace and acceptance with Our God. The world calls it “foolishness” but we who have been saved it IS The Power and Wisdom Of God.
What are you doing with the Cross of Christ? Is the Cross foolishness to you or is it The Wisdom and the Power Of God? Have you received God’s gift of Salvation through the Cross of Christ by believing in Him?
You can by simply asking-
Pray this Prayer- “Lord God I believe and receive what Jesus accomplished for me at the Cross; in Jesus Name Amen-
Love in His Grace, Pastor Joe-
See You At 12:00 Noon New Creation Church!