The Power of the Cross

I Cor. 1:17-18

Summary: In this passage, Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the message of the cross, showing how the latter is viewed as foolishness by those who are perishing but is the power of God for those who are being saved.

Teaching: The key teaching is that the cross, which appears to be a symbol of shame and weakness, is actually the ultimate demonstration of God’s power and wisdom. It challenges the audience to consider where they place their trust and values, promoting a deeper understanding of faith's paradoxical nature.

Big Idea: True strength and wisdom in our lives come from embracing the power of the cross, which challenges the wisdom of the world and offers true salvation.

Welcome to Mountain View Baptist Church. We are approaching the most important event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will celebrate His resurrection on April 20. Please be sure to invite your family members, neighbors, and friends as we commemorate His resurrection.

We are glad you are here today as we continue our series on the cross. Today’s message will be on the Power of the Cross.

The term power comes from the Greek Word dynamis meaning power, might, strength, or force. When the word is connected to Christ and the gospel, it is all power. That which appears to be a symbol of shame and weakness is actually the ultimate demonstration of God’s power and wisdom. Where do you place your trust and values? For the Corinthian community, they placed their trust in some worldly wisdom or religious value and not in the power of the cross. This power is counter cultural; yet, the only true wisdom.

Dynamite explosions can cause extensive damage even extensive widespread destructions of structures and ecosystems, contamination of soil and water, and potential long-term health effects from exposure to explosive materials and their byproducts. Dynamite is used to remove road landslides or buildings.

The cross is the power of God to destroy our sinful life and re-arrange our life in a way that is pleasing and honoring to God. It only takes a decision for the explosion to happen but ultimately its rearranging of our lives comes with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

While the power of the Christ is available to you and me, it is not automatic. You must choose, you must decide where you place your trust. This comes as we respond to God’s Word.

People will often ignore a message or refuse to respond to it. In my dad’s DQ one time, we were having work done one of the entrances into the lobby. We placed picnic tables around the area with a yellow tape and signs that asked people to go to the other entrance. Do you think everyone responded properly? Most did, but there were some who refused to respond properly so one man broke the tape, climbed over the picnic table, walked on the new entrance and banged on the locked door. Why?

God is giving a message to mankind that offers the only hope for a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Here in this passage there are two truths regarding the power of the cross.

1. Power in the message

1 Corinthians 1:17

A. Message of the gospel

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Paul is not undermining the authority of baptism. He is reminding them that baptism is not the gospel. Baptism is not salvation. It is not offering man a washing of sins by the water. Baptism is the next step after a person receives Jesus Christ as Savior. It is commanded that every believer should be baptized immediately after salvation.

Gospel is proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only hope. The gospel refers to the fact that Jesus died on a cross bearing the load of mankind’s sin on Himself. He suffered the punishment. He literally died, and three days later He arose from the dead. He came out of the grave which means God accepted the sacrifice of His Son as the payment for sin.

The message should be simple and made clear so that people can understand. The cross is not to be diminished, altered, or changed in any form or fashion. You don’t need fancy words and great depth of explanation in order to be a Christian. Some people wait to be saved thinking they need some deeper.

The message of the gospel… is the message of a new creation in the midst of an old, the message of the invasion of our human nature by the eternal life of God and the displacing of the old by the new.4

A. W. Tozer

We don’t want in anyway to make the cross of none effect. We can do that by trying to ignore or diminish the necessity of the cross.

B. Correction by the gospel

Unfortunately, many will confuse the gospel with baptism. Some people will think that by getting baptized, that they are Christians and everything is right with God. It seems the religious ritual of getting baptized takes care of their spiritual relationship.

One Israel trip, a man tried to pay for a souvenir with franks The Israelite refused his payment. He said only Jewish shekels.

The human tendency is to rely on personal prowess and being baptized will take care of our sin. However, the baptism is not the gospel. The cross must be the central and unadulterated power we rely upon.

When we come to Jesus for salvation, we come to the one who is Lord over all. Any message omitting this truth cannot be called the gospel according to Jesus.

John F. MacArthur

The message of the gospel once it is heard and explained, you will have a hard time dismissing it out of your mind. The truth is gripping and when we hear the gospel, we can’t help but want received the gospel.

Truth . . .2

2. Power in the acceptance

1 Corinthians 1:18

A. The rejection of the gospel v. 17a

There are two groups of people in the world. Those who know Christ as their Savior and those who don’t know Christ. Those who see the cross as foolishness and those who recognize it as the power of God. Christianity is the cross and to see it without the cross is no gospel at all.

It is most interesting how people can accept the babe in Bethlehem’s manger for Christmas but reject the cross. The reason: the cross points us to our sinfulness and need of a Savior.

One who does not seek the Cross of Jesus isn’t seeking the glory of Christ.

St John of the Cross

In the cross, sin is cursed and cancelled. In the cross, grace is victorious and available.

George Campbell Morgan (British Preacher)

B. The effect of the gospel v. 17b

We must stand firm on the cross of Christ because of our only hope of salvation. Religionists want us to believe their relationship to God secure because of what they do. Christianity is not what we do, it is what has been done for us.

This power rearranges our life. It has brought purpose, meaning, and peace through the cross.

Nursery rhyme says it best: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Mankind had a great fall and no man is able to put man back together again. However God came, died, and rose again so that man can be right with God. The power of the gospel re-arranges the order and purpose of your life.

What about your life? Do you know Christ? If you don’t know Him, you can receive Him today as your personal Savior. If you are a Christian, embrace the power of the cross. His power can give you strength through the darkest hour, through the most difficult time, and through the greatest challenge.

The saving power of the cross does not depend on faith being added to it; its saving power is such that faith flows from it.

J. I. Packer

Among the categorical imperatives of the faith, the saving power of the cross is central and inescapable.

George Campbell Morgan (British Preacher)