WHY I PREACH THE CROSS
1 CORINTHIANS 1:17-2:5
THERE IS A STORY ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL WHO PROUDLY WORE A SHINY CROSS ON A CHAIN AROUND HER NECK. ONE DAY SHE WAS APPROACHED BY A MAN WHO SAID TO HER, “LITTLE GIRL, DON’T YOU KNOW THAT THE CROSS JESUS DIED ON WASN’T BEAUTIFUL LIKE THE ONE YOU’RE WEARING? IT WAS AN UGLY, WOODEN THING.” TO WHICH THE GIRL REPLIED, “YES I KNOW. BUT THEY TOLD ME IN SUNDAY SCHOOL THAT WHATEVER JESUS TOUCHES, HE CHANGES.”
THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS A VERY OBSERVANT CHILD. WHEN WE TRULY PREACH ABOUT THE CROSS, WE SPEAK OF THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF GOD IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE.
I HEAR SO MANY PEOPLE, WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, SPEAKING OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF IT. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT PEOPLE HAVE PLACED THEIR FAITH IN FOR THE FUTURE HAS FAILED.
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU TODAY THAT THERE IS ONE RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. WE CAN HAVE FULL ASSURANCE OF THE FUTURE BASED ON THE CROSS OF CHRIST. GOD WANTS US ALL TO BE PERSISTENT AND PASSIONATE IN OUR PURSUIT OF FULL ASSURANCE. HE DOESN’T WANT US TO LIVE IN FEAR ABOUT THE FUTURE. HE WANTS US TO KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT, THAT IF WE WERE TO DIE TODAY, EVEN BEFORE THE END OF THIS SERVICE, THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE FULL ASSURANCE OF AN ETERNITY SPENT IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
PAUL TEACHES:
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
TODAY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHY I PREACH THE CROSS, NOT ONLY AS THE ONLY WAY FOR SALVATION, BUT ALSO THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE IN THIS WORLD. I BELIEVE THAT PREACHING THE CROSS IS: CRUCIAL TO PEOPLE TODAY
TO PREACH THE CALL OF GOD
TO BE GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE
DEMANDS A COMMITMENT
CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE:
WHEN PAUL WRITES FIRST CORINTHIANS, HE IS DEALING WITH A YOUNG CHURCH WITH MANY ISSUES. ONE ISSUE WAS THE DIVISION THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE CHURCH. THE DIVISION RESULTED FROM THE PEOPLE LOOKING MORE AT THE MESSENGER THAN AT THE MESSAGE.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:12: “What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."”
PAUL WANTS TO TEACH THE CORINTH CHURCH, AND HE WANTS US TO REALIZE AS WELL, THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHRIST, THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MESSENGER. IT’S NOT WRONG TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE AS A GOOD SPEAKER OR LEADER IN THE CHURCH, BUT THAT SHOULD NEVER BE THE MEASURING ROD FOR ALL SPEAKERS. PAUL WANTS US TO REMEMBER IS THAT IT IS THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS THAT GOD USES TO DRAW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF.
HE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MESSENGER WE ARE LOOKING AT A HUMAN ELEMENT. WE ARE NOT PERFECT, NOR DO WE HAVE THE POWER OF THE MESSAGE. PEOPLE WHO ARE SWAYED BY THE MESSENGER ARE NOT NECESSARILY BEING TOUCHED BY THE MESSAGE.
THE DANGER IS THIS. PEOPLE WHO ARE SWAYED BY THE MESSENGER ARE COMMITED TO THE MESSENGER. WHEN THE MESSENGER LEAVES WHAT HAPPENS? MOST TIMES THE PERSON COMMITED TO THE MESSENGER LEAVES AS WELL.
PAUL, IN THIS PASSAGE, IS DIRECTING THE PEOPLE WHERE THEIR FOCUS SHOULD BE AND THAT IS ON THE CROSS. THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT’S ETERNAL. THIS IS THE MESSAGE THAT GIVES LIFE, HOPE AND POWER TO PEOPLE THEN, AND NOW.
LET’S CONSIDER SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF WHY I PREACH THE THE CROSS, AND WHY I CONSIDER IT TO BE ESSENTIAL TO THE FAITH.
POINT ONE: I PREACH THE CROSS BECAUSE IT IS CRUCIAL TO THE FAITH:
I PREACH THE CROSS BECAUSE IT IS CRUCIAL TO THE FAITH. PAUL TEACHES US IN THIS PASSAGE THAT TO PREACH THE CROSS IS TO PREACH THE WISDOM AND POWER OF GOD TO THE WORLD.
THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION ARE CRUCIAL TO GOD’S PLAN TO SAVE HUMANITY FROM SIN, DEATH AND HELL. PAUL IS CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:14-17:
“14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
IT IS CRUCIAL FOR US TO PROCLAIM THE CROSS FOR THE CROSS IS THE NARROW ROAD THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE. WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT THINKS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HEAVEN, OR THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAVEN WHETHER THEY BELIEVE OR NOT. BOTH OF THESE THOUGHTS ARE WRONG. WE LIVE IN A WORLD TODAY WHERE PEOPLE GO TO HEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR. PAUL WROTE TO TIMOTHY:
2 TIMOTHY 2:1-6:
“1 ¶ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
TO PREACH THE CROSS IS TO PREACH JESUS CHRIST. JESUS SAID I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FALL TO US TO PROCLAIM THE TRUTH TO THE WORLD TODAY. THEREFORE IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE PREACH THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
POINT TWO: TO PREACH THE CROSS IS TO PREACH THE CALL OF GOD:
GODS CALL COMES WITH THE POWER TO DO WHAT IT DEMANDS. GOD MAY CALL US TO A SPECIFIC MINISTRY, OR IT MAY BE A CALL TO COME TO CHRIST IN SALVATION. WHATEVER THE CALL IS, ALSO COMES THE POWER TO DO WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO.
GOD IS THE ONE WHO CALLS US. HE IS THE ONE WHO WANTS TO ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH US. HE ALWAYS MAKES THE FIRST MOVE.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9: “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
2 THESSALONIANS 2:14: “He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
WHEN PAUL PREACHES CHRIST CRUCIFIED, HE TELLS THE STORY OF HOW JESUS DIED TO SAVE SINNERS, BOTH JEW AND GENTILE. IN A CRUCIAL SENSE PAUL AND GOD ARE CALLING ALL PEOPLE TO TAKE CHRIST INTO THEIR LIVES AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
WHEN WE PROCLAIM THE CROSS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WHEN PAUL PREACHED WILL HAPPEN TO US. SOME LISTENERS WILL STUMBLE OVER THE GOSPEL AS UNACCEPTABLE. SOME WILL SAY IT IS FOOLISHNESS. BUT SOME WILL RESPOND AND SAY “THIS CHRIST IS THE TRUE POWER OF GOD AND THE TRUE WISDOM OF GOD.” THESE PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT CHRIST AND BE SAVED.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE HEARD THE CALL OF GOD TODAY. HAVE YOU FELT HIS CALL TO COME TO HIM IN SALVATION? PERHAPS GOD IS CALLING YOU AS A CHRISTIAN TO A SPECIFIC MISSION, ARE YOU LISTENING FOR IT? REMEMBER, THOSE HE CALLS HE ALSO EMPOWERS.
PREACHING THE CROSS IS PREACHING GOD’S CALL. NOT ONLY DOES IT START WITH GOD, NOT ONLY DOES HE EMPOWER THOSE HE CALLS, BUT IN HIS CALL IS HIS GUARANTEE THAT HE WILL DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED.
2 TIMOTHY 1:9: “ (GOD) who has saved us and called us to a holy life— not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,”
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT GOD CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS. GOD DOES NOT ELECT AND PRE-DESTINE AND THEN STAND BACK AND WONDER IF HIS ELECTING PURPOSE WILL COME TO PASS. HE BRINGS IT TO PASS WITH HIS ALL-POWERFUL CALL, AND CREATES IN US THE FAITH NEEDED TO ACCEPT THAT CALL.
THUS THE CALL OF GOD BECOMES AN IRREVOCABLE FOUNDATION FOR FULL ASSURANCE. GOD DOES NOT REPEAL, REVERSE, OR CANCEL HIS CALL.
JOHN 10:27-29: “27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
IF YOU HAVE HEARD THE CALL OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE, AND HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO IT THEN THIS PASSAGE TELLS US THAT WE CAN HAVE THE FULL ASSURANCE THAT WE CANNOT BE SNATCHED OUT OF THE HANDS OF GOD. THE WHOLE POINT OF THE OMNIPOTENT CALL OR ALL POWERFUL CALL OF GOD IS THE GUARANTEE THAT GOD’S ALL-POWERFUL PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE TODAY.
POINT THREE: WHEN WE PREACH THE CROSS, WE PREACH TO A CHOSEN PEOPLE:
THE CHOSEN PEOPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE THE JEWS AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE CHOSEN PEOPLE THEN BECAME THOSE WHO WOULD ENTER INTO THE NEW COVENANT WITH HIM THROUGH BEING BORN-AGAIN.
PAUL SPEAKS OF HOW THE JEWS AND GREEKS, OR GENTILES, DEALT WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:22-23:
“22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,”
WHY WAS THE CROSS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO THE JEWS? IT WAS A STUMBLING BLOCK BECAUSE JESUS WAN’T THE KIND OF MESSIAH THEY WANTED. THEY WERE EXPECTING A MESSIAH WHO WOULD PERFORM MIRACLES ON THEIR BEHALF. INSTEAD JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS, A SYMBOL OF SHAME AND DISGRACE TO THE JEWS.
WHAT THEY FAILED TO SEE IS THAT GOD HAD PERFORMED MIRACLES FOR THEM ALL THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THIS ALLOWED SOME TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF GOD, BUT WHAT OF JESUS? THROUGHOUT HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES EVERYWHERE HE WENT. HE GAVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND, MADE THE LAME AND CRIPPLED WALK, CLEANSED THE LEPERS, BROUGHT PEOPLE BACK FROM THE DEAD.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT JESUS WAS NOT PERFORMING THE MIRACLES THEY WANTED. THEY WANTED A MESSIAH WHO WOULD OVERTHROW THE ROMANS AND RE-ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF DAVID.
I WONDER HOW MANY OF US ARE LIKE THE JEWS OF PAUL’S DAY? DO WE PUT CONDITIONS ON WHAT MAKES US BELIEVE IN JESUS? HOW OFTEN HAVE PEOPLE SAID, “LORD IF YOU DO THIS FOR ME, THEN I’LL BELIEVE IN YOU”, OR “LORD IF YOU DO THIS, THEN I’LL KNOW YOU’RE REAL AND I’LL TURN MY LIFE OVER TO YOU.”? IF GOD SAYS “NO” TO A PARTICULAR REQUEST, DOES IT MAKE HIM ANY LESS GOD?
PAUL ALSO MENTIONED THE GREEKS. THE GREEKS WERE A PEOPLE WHO DEALT WITH THE INTELLECT. THEY INTRODUCED MEN LIKE SOCRATES, PLATO, AND ARISTOTLE.
THE GREEKS BELIEVED THAT ALL SOULS EVENTUALLY WILL GO TO HEAVEN. IF YOU DIE, YOU COULD AUTOMATICALLY GO TO BE WITH THE GODS. IF YOUR LIFE WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, THEN YOU WOULD BE REINCARNATED AND GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE UNTIL YOU GOT IT RIGHT.
REASON TOLD THEM THAT ALMIGHT GOD WOULD NOT ALLOW MEN TO NAIL HIM TO A CROSS. REASON TOLD THEM THAT WHEN A MAN DIES HE CANNOT BE RESURRECTED. REASON TOLD THEM THAT GOD DOESN’T BECOME FLESH.
FOR THE GREEKS THEN, THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS WAS FOLLISHNESS. THERE ARE PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE TRYING TO INTELLECTUALIZE THEIR WAY INTO HEAVEN. WE WANT GOD TO BE THE GOD WE BELIEVE IN, WHAT WE THINK GOD SHOULD BE. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT GOD’S CHARACTER IS TOO GREAT FOR OUR FINITE MINDS TO CONCEIVE OF. THE SCRIPTURE IS OUR GUIDE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOT WHAT WE CAN CONCEINVE OF.
PAUL GOES ON TO STATE THAT FOR THE ONES GOD HAS CHOSEN THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS THE POWER OF GOD.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-19:
“18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."”
POINT FOUR: WHEN WE PREACH THE CROSS WE PREACH THE NECESSITY OF A COMMITMENT TO CHRIST:
WHEN WE PREACH THE CROSS WE ARE PREACHINF FOR A COMMITMENT ON TWO LEVELS.
THE FIRST LEVEL IS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
THE SECOND LEVEL THOUGH IS FOR CHRISTIANS TO REMEMBER THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT TO LIVE FOR THE LORD.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER. CHRIST DIED TO SAVE US FROM HELL, BUT NOT TO SAVE US FROM THE CROSS. HE DIED SO THAT WE COULD BE GLORIFIED, BUT NOT TO KEEP US FROM BEING CRUCIFIED. FOR THE CHRISTIAN THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS NOT MERELY A PAST PLACE OF SUBSTITUTION. IT IS A PLACE OF DAILY EXECUTION. THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE “IF ANYONE WOULD COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY.”
TO PREACH THE CROSS FOR THE CHRISTIAN MEANS TO PREACH A LIFE OF SELF-SACRIFICE. THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT VICTORIOUS FOR WE ALREADY ARE, BUT WE ARE TO ENDURE THE CROSS DAILY AS CHRIST DID FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM.
CONCLUSION:
WHY THEN DO I PREACH THE CROSS OF CHRIST?
I PREACH THE CROSS BECAUSE IT SPEAKS OF THE SAVING WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
I PREACH THE CROSS FOR IT SPEAKS OF THE VICTORY OF THE RESURRECTION.
I PREACH THE CROSS FOR IN THE CROSS THERE IS FORGIVENESS.
I PREACH THE CROSS FOR IT IS THE ONLY MEANS OF SALVATION.
AND I PREACH THE CROSS FOR THE REDEEMING WORK OF CHRIST IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY.
IT CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE TODAY, IF YOU WILL ONLY REALIZE THAT THE CROSS IS: CRUCIAL TO YOUR SALVATION
HEAR THE CALL OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE
REST IN THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU RESPOND
POSITIVELY TO THE GOSPEL THAT YOU HAVE
ASSURANCE THAT YOU ARE CHOSEN BY GOD
REALIZE THAT YOU MAKE A DAILY
COMMITMENT TO BEAR THE CROSS OF CHRIST.
WON’T YOU MAKE THAT DECISION TODAY.
