The Message of the Cross
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1 Corinthians 1:17-18
I attended a family function and during lunch I had learned that some family members had started attended a local church in the county. It is a rather large church. Hip. Vibrant. Exciting.
And while I was glad that they were attending, I was very saddened to hear the next phrase that came for her mouth…We like going there because they don’t judge you. They don’t constantly tell you how bad you are, they have very positive and uplifting messages and teach you how to be a better person.
I cringed inside when I heard that. Because it is good to hear that you are doing well. And it is good to hear a positive message on how to change your life and live better. But it is a dangerous doctrine that removes sin and judgment from its message to lost and dying people.
And that is the world that we live in. We are content to consume a watered down gospel message. Sure, tell me about Jesus, I want to know about his love, his healing power, his grace…but you better not dare mention to me my sins.
Paul did not approve of this new Christianity then and he certainly would not approve now.
Paul preached the The Message Of The Cross!
He preached the blood of Jesus and its cleansing power. He preached about sin and judgment. And so shall we.
I. THE WORD OF THE CROSS
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,
A Singular Message
To preach the Gospel.
Paul was not focused on numbers
Paul was not focused on Baptisms
He was not focused on anything...but the gospel.
He knew his task, and his perfected it, and executed it.
All he was concerned about was preaching the gospel.
He left the results to God.
not in cleverness of speech,
Not only was it a Singular Message...it was
A Straightforward Message
Not with clever speech, No Gimmicks, No frills, No bells and whistles. JUST THE GOSPEL
No tricks, no socerery, no magic. JUST THE GOSPEL
Not in the power of Paul...but the Power of Jesus.
Not from the mind of Paul...but fom the mouth of Jesus.
so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
Not only was this a Singular Message, and a Straightforward message...it was...
A Spectacular Message
The Cross was a spectacular event.
Public.
Drew a crowd.
Drew a Blood thirsty crowd
Brutal way to die (let’s talk about that brutality
#1. Scourged
Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
#2. Mocked and Beaten
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him,
and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?”
#3. Spit upon
They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.
#4. Beard Plucked from His Face
I gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
#5. Scourged, Stripped, Crown of Throns & Mocked
Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.
They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
#6. Stripped Naked
And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.
#7. Beaten Beyong Recognition
Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
#8. Made to carry His own Cross
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
#9. Nailed to the Cross
After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
#10. Crucified between two Theives
At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.
A Spectacular event...But not in a good way. A brutal event, A bloody event. A bleak event. A Burdensome event.
And by spectacular I mean extreme.
So the Message of the Gospel is
A SIngular Message
A Straightforward Message,
A Spectacular Message
But for some. It is also a
A Stupid Message
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
Now before your get riled up because I said stupid...The Greek word for foolishness is MOROS. The same word we get our word moron.
They think we are stupid for believing that death can bring forth life.
They think we are morons for believing that God can save sinners.
They think we are morons because many of these detractors don’t believe they are sinners anyway. (We will discuss this further in a moment)
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The Jews were not looking for a passive Messiah, They wanted power, authority, a ruler that could break the iron grip of the Roman oppressors.
But that is not what they got. They got a gentle Messiah. They got a carpenters son. They got a Lamb.
Isaiah describes Him this way:
Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
This Gentle Messiah, This Lamb of God was a stumbling block to the Jews...And foolishness to the Gentiles.
So we have a Gospel Message that is a
A Singular Message
A Straightforward Message
A Spectaculer Message
It is also (and most importantly I might add)
A Saving Message
but to us who are being saved
Rom. 10:9-10.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Here’s a question...Saved from what?
This I think is where we miss the mark so many times...We try to cure a disease that people don’t think they have. Ray Comfort built an entire ministry about this concept. The Way of the Master.
He uses a “House on Fire” analogy.
Before I tell you this...this morning I was awakend by someone pounding on our door. At least that is what I thought. I got up and grabbed my phone. Looked at all the cameras...No one was banging on our door. In fact. no one was on our property except us three. And those two were sound asleep. I guess I was dreaming that someone was pounding on our back door. Anyway...I went ahead and got up.
I want to imagine if I came to your home and started banging on your door at 3am and said. “Hey neighbor, you need to come outside with me.”
You would have many many questions.
The first being, “What is wrong with you?”
Probably followed by, “Why are you beating on my door at 3am”
and then likely followed up with “Have you lost your mind?”
But if I was banging on your door and shouting “Neighbor, wake up, come out, your house is on fire! You need to come outside!”
I doubt there would be many questions. Probably instant obedience. There would be plenty of time for questions later...but in the meantime...safety first. Let’s get everyone out the house.
The same analogy holds as if you went go to your doctor. The doctor tells you, “Sir, ma’am, you need to take this life saving drug immediately”
Your first instinct might be to say, “But I’m not sick”
“But you MUST take this cure...it is important that you take this.”
“But I’m not sick. I have no symptoms.”
We are so bent on giving the cure first, we forgot to convince people that they have a disease.
“You need to be saved!”
“Saved from what?”
“I’ve got a great family.
I’ve got a great job.
I’ve got crazy neighbors...but hey...you can’t have it all.
What do I need to be saved from?”
“Hell!”
“But that is for bad people...I’m a good person.”
or
“I don’t believe in hell. So I’m good.”
or
“I don’t believe in God...so it doesn’t matter.”
We must tell them about their sinful condition first. before we offer the cure of salvation.
We rightly proclaim that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We rightly proclaim that Jesus Died for the sins of mankind.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We rightly proclaim these things, but the often fall on deaf ears because people are not convinced that they need a Savior.
It is the Spirit’s job to CONVICT people of their sin.
It is our job is to CONVINCE people that sin is deadly and that the gospel delivers.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Hell is for bad people...and I’m a good person.
Let’s test that out.
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever stolen?
Have you always honored your parents?
Have you ever looked with lust? Adultery
Have you ever hated anyone? Murder
If you have broken just one of God’s commandments...you are a sinner.
For the wages of sin is death,
If we are all sinners...and the penalty of sin is death...how can I be saved. It seems pretty hopeless? It seems impossible on my own.
And it is impossible on your own.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Courtroom scene.
If I commit a crime I have to go to court or pay a fine.
I got pulled over back in January. I was headed to Panda express for lunch. And the Selma PD did a you turn right there at our billboard in front of Hobby Lobby. and pulled me over. Apparently it is 35 MPH beginning at the intersection before you get to the new shopping center. I did not know this. I was running 45+.
I plead my case...I thought it was 45...blah blah blah.
We he didn’t give me ticket for speeding...but I did get one for my license tags being expired. Which is kinda ironic considering I collect license plates. You would have thought I would have been on top of that. But I wasn’t
So fast forward. I get my Jeep inspected, I get my tags renewed. And I have to go to the DA’s office to get this ticket dealt with.
And I was mad. Irritated. The old curmudgeon riled up in me. And i was fuming under my breath the whole elevator ride up. “What a scam this is. Just a money racket. Why do I even need my car inspected in the first place. How much is this mess gonna cost me?
Just being a grumpy old man.
I get to the DA’s office. I have the lady my ticket. And she makes me fill out some paperwork and then sit down. I sit down...still fuming. She calls my name, I go back to the window. And she hands me a business card with my case number written on it.
She then said, the ticket has been dismissed. If you would like to check the status of this here’s the number.
So then I asked the question that I had dread since I got on the elevator. How much is this going to cost me?
She said. Absolutely nothing. The fine has been dismissed as well.
Those words made my scouring frown turn into a smile.
I said, “Really?”
She said yes. No charge, you are free to go.
And in that moment. I realized something. That is exactly what Jesus does to the punishment of our sin. He took it upon Himself...He paid the fine. We get to go free..If we accept it.
You see I knew I had sinned. I knew my tags had expired. I knew I was in the wrong. He had me dead to rights.
But a way was made to forgive that debt.
And Jesus made a way to forgive our debts. He paid it all.
Your lies.
Your lust.
Your thievery.
Your disrespect.
Your coveting.
Your sinning had deeply offended God.
And He sent His son Jesus to pay the penalty of that sin so that you could be free.
And you can accept it...or reject it.
If you accept it. You are free
If you reject it, you remain bound in your sins.
