The Cross In Our Time
The Cross In Our Time
1 Corinthians 1:17-31
One of the most moving stories I have ever read is the account of the conversion of Cr. Ciryl E.M.Joad, a skeptic and one of the world’s greatest philosophers. For years he was the head of the Philosophy Dept. of London University and was the contemporary of such athiests and agnostics as H.G. Wells, Bertrand Russell, and Thomas Huxley. He believe that Jesus was a mere man...God was just part of the universe...there is no such thing as sin...and give man a little time and he will have heaven on earth. But in the 1948 magazine section of the Los Angeles Times there was a picture of him and a passage written by him. This is what he said: “Two wars and the eminence of another have demonstrated conclusively to me that man is sinful. Now I believe that the only explanation of sin is found in the word of God and the only solution is found in the cross of Jesus Christ.”
1. The Cross Is the FOCUS of God’s MESSAGE Which CONVICTS People Of Their Sins (v. 17).
(1 Cor 1:17) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 1:21-24==“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. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
2. The Cross Is the FORCE of God’s MISSIONARY WORK Which CONVERTS People From Their Sins (v. 18).
(1 Cor 1:18) 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.
Jesus came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owe a debt we couldn’t pay.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5==“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
3. The Cross Is the FOOLISHNESS of God’s MENTALITY Which CONFOUNDS People In Their Sins (v. 19-31).
(1 Cor 1:19-31) For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." {20} 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? {21} 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. {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, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. {26} Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. {27} But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. {28} He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, {29} so that no one may boast before him. {30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. {31} Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall...Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all:
Harken! What meaneth the sudden call!...What will you do with Jesus.
Jesus is standing on trial still,...You can be false to Him if you will...
You can be faithful through good or ill....What will you do with Jesus?
Will you evade Him as Pilate tried?...Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?...
Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:...What will you do with Jesus?
“Jesus, I give Thee my heart today!...Jesus, I’ll follow Thee all the way,...
Gladly obeying Thee!” will you say? “This will I do with Jesus!”
What will you do with Jesus?...Neutral you cannot be:...
Someday your heart will be asking,...What will He do with me?
How do people react to the cross:
[1] To Some People The Cross Is An Insult and, therefore, To Be Denied.
[2] To Other People The Cross Is Irrelevant and, therefore, To Be Ignored.
[3] But To Christians The Cross Is Redemptive and, therefore, To Be Embraced.
Edgar Guest:
When Jesus went to Golgotha They nailed Him to a tree.
They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, Red were His wounds and deep,
For those were crude and cruel days, And human flesh was cheap.
When Jesus came to Our Town, They simply passed Him by,
They would not hurt a hair of Him, They only let Him die;
For men had grown more tender, They would not give Him pain,
They only just walked on down the street, And left Him in the rain.
And so it rained a winters rain That drenched Him through and through;
And when all crowds had left the streets Without a soul to see,
Jesus crouched against a wallAnd cried for Calvary.