The Preaching of the Cross
1 Co 1:18 – …the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Paul’s ministry centred on one message: the Cross and the Crucified Christ. 1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Nothing was more important to Paul, not his reputation, not the opinions of men however learned, not even his own life. The Cross is the most important in his life: it is his only glory, for he said: Ga 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, …The cross is the glory of Paul, but the preaching of the cross is his ministry. He delights in proclaiming the message of the cross, for it is his conviction : “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel” 1 Cor 9:16. Notice three responses to the preaching of the cross from this verse:
- It is foolishness to them that perish. Natural man cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor 2:14) because they are spiritually blinded (2 Cor 4:4) and they have made a choice to reject the Lord because the bible tells us “The fool hath said in his heart: there is no God” Psa 14:1. There are many in this world who resists GOD when the word of GOD was spoken. God has drawn them, but they have volitionally rejected the word of GOD. And thus because of the blindness of their hearts, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. And when the gospel is preached to them, it is naturally therefore foolishness to them.
- It is the power of God to us that are saved. People having heard the word of GOD, repenting of their sin and placing their trust in Christ, have eternal life. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise… Sinners, being dead in sin, have no life with GOD. But God in His mercy, draws the sinner but the gospel of Christ. Like the prodigal son, he had to come to himself. He begin to realise in his heart that he has sinned against God and against his father. The secret conviction of the heart by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) brings about that realisation, leading him to action: I will go to my Father. The bible is clear: the word of GOD is preached, the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, we place our trust in Christ, and at the moment of our confession of sin, God does that regenerating work in our lives, changing worthless sinners into worthy saints. All by the power of God! What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought: since Jesus came into my life!!
- We must preach: Man will not reject the word or receive the word, without the presentation of the word. The preaching of the cross is a much neglected practice today: there is the preaching of the prosperity gospel, there is the preaching of a system of belief and thought, there is the preaching of the methods for spiritual growth and mechanics for church growth, but Paul says it is the preaching of the cross of Christ and Him crucified that brings lasting change.
Lord thank you for sending the Lord Jesus to die on the cross and to rise again the third day, that all those who place their trust in Christ will have eternal life. Thank you for the power of God in my life and Lord, I pray for mercy upon those who would reject You, that you might still reach them before it is too late, for so have You come into this world, to seek and to save that which was lost.
May this be our personal prayer
Evangelist – Pastor Johnny Tan
Ambassador Baptist Church