THE CROSS OF CHRIST

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God" -- 1 Corinthians 1:18

Devotion 9 of 13

PREACHING THE CROSS

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:17-18 KJV).

John the Baptist sent to baptize

John the Baptist confessed that God sent him to baptize; "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water . . ." (John 1:33a). His was a preparatory ministry, readying people for the coming of Jesus, upon whom they would believe. The number of people baptized by him was phenomenal. "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matt 3:5-6). But the most significant Person he baptized was Jesus of Nazareth. From that point on, John's ministry began to fade, as, according to his own word, Jesus increased, and he decreased (John 3:30).

Paul declares that he was not sent to baptize, like John the Baptist. He was certainly not opposed to baptism, providing insightful teaching concerning its efficacy. But that was not the heart of his message, nor the purpose of his mission. His mission was to proclaim Christ's death, not our death, which occurs in baptism (Rom 6:3ff). The announcement of Christ's cross is the appointed means of power, not the declaration of our cross! Kingdom effectiveness is traced back to "the cross of Christ," not our daily cross! The whole effect of Paul's preaching was owing to the power of God that accompanied his preaching of the cross.

Top priority!

The presentation of Christ is of first rank. The direct vision of the cross, not anything said about it, is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom 1:16). The business of preachers is to set Christ and Him crucified clearly before the eyes of men.

This does not mean Paul never mentioned our death to sin, or the crucifixion of our flesh. It does mean that He relied upon the message of Christ's cross to provide the incentive and power required in the salvation and sanctification of believers. What occurred on Christ's cross is pivotal; what occurs on our cross is, in a way, incidental. The power comes from His cross, not our cross. If this were more widely comprehended, it would radically alter much of the preaching of our day.

Preaching made effectual

The whole effect of approved preaching is owing to the power of God which accompanies the message of "Christ and Him crucified." Knowing this, the Apostle avoided the presentation of the cross with "wisdom of words." These are "words" contrived by the wisdom of men- words that rely on man's pretended wisdom, rather than divine power. One has well said that the "wisdom of words are the artificial ornaments of the discourser invented by human wisdom." It is reliance upon the methods and techniques of men rather than "the wisdom of God."

It is true that such procedures have been popularized by the contemporary church, but they are still wrong and ineffectual. Seemingly good effects that have resulted from these approaches are only delusions. They have not been blessed by God, regardless of the claims of their proponents. Paul avoided the employment of "wisdom of words" because he knew that such were futile. When men see as Paul saw, they will avoid them also.

The Apostle saw that such approaches neutralized the message, causing it to lose its power. The cross of Christ, when presented in the envelope of worldly wisdom, loses its effectiveness. The very thought of making "the cross of Christ of none effect" jars the soul. Some would deny that such a thing is possible, offering the sovereignty of God as a comforting cordial to those that tamper with the Gospel. But they are wrong, and do a great disservice to the Christian community by offering their corrupted opinions. Our preaching is not to make the cross of Christ appealing, but real. It is not to reduce its abrasiveness, but to reveal its magnitude.

Some preaching takes the power away

Preaching that exalts the human element takes away the power of God! When humanity becomes preeminent, system replaces substance. Salvation, however, lays hold of fact, not system. Those who attempt to systematize the Gospel will, by that very activity remove their emphasis from the cross--"Christ and Him crucified." All knowledge, without exception, that ignores the knowledge of Christ, is insignificant and ineffectual.

The proclamation of the cross is more than setting forth the chronological events related to Christ's death. A vivid portrayal of the manner in which Christ died is not the preaching of the cross, although it is often involved in the preachment. Preaching the cross is insightful declaration of the accomplishments of Christ's death. Such preaching is "foolishness" to those that are perishing. It appears to be crude and unwise to turn the emphasis from men to the Man, and from human requirements to Divine accomplishments. However, for those that are being saved, such accent is nothing less than "the power of God." It is not that such preaching is itself power, but that it is the appointed means through which the power of God is activated.

Like Ezekiel's prophecy to the dry bones

The preaching of the cross is much like the prophecy of Ezekiel over the valley of dry bones. It is an announcement of the work of God. "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone" (Ezekiel 37:4- 7). Note the positive nature of that message! It was an announcement of what the Lord would do. The proclamation of what the Lord would do became the means through which a valley of many dry bones became filled with the noise of movement. The preaching of the cross goes further, declaring what has already been accomplished on the behalf of mankind.

PRAYER POINT: Father, grant me grace through Jesus' name to see and participate in the noble work of preaching!

-- Tomorrow: UNSEARCHABLE RICHES --