“The Message of the Cross”

The message of the cross is hard to accept. In fact, mankind in its wisdom rejects it. To believe that God became a man and died on a Roman cross for our sins is a foolish concept to most people. And yet, God in His wisdom ordained it would be through His Son’s atoning death that people might be saved. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:21). Because of this, Paul’s only message (and so must ours be) was the message of the cross. Among the cities in which Paul preached was the sinful city of Corinth (Acts 18). This is what he wrote to them later: For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul preached to them the gospel of Christ – His death for sin and resurrection (1Cor.5:1-5). That’s not all he taught and preached, but nothing else mattered if they did not receive that message.
It is the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified that brings salvation to those who believe. 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 (1 Corinthians 1:18). We must communicate the unadulterated message of the cross. Since it is not popular, even foolish to many, we must resist the urge to somehow make it more palatable to the religious sensibilities of people. But as Paul said, And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1). We must share the message of the cross as clearly as we can and depend on the power of God’s Spirit to grant people the faith to believe it and be saved (1 Cor.2:4-5). What a message it is! What a privilege to share it!