The Cross of Christ 20
1 Cor. 1:18; 2:1-2

A. In the statement, “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” Two things explain the great success
of Paul’s preaching of the Gospel. Consecration to his Master, “Jesus Christ.” and his
concentration on his subject “and Him crucified.”
Ever wonder what Paul meant by the expression, “The preaching of the cross?” That phrase does not describe a Theological Theory, but an actual historical event that took place outside the city of Jerusalem 2000 thousand years ago. An historical event in human history that became a part of Paul’s life experience.
a. Paul was acquainted with the Jewish leaders who schemed, plotted and had made
Christ’s death a reality. Paul followed up that crucifixion by killing the followers who
claimed Jesus was Messiah of the Jews. Acts 7:58-60. In fact Paul was so closely
associated with the crucifixion, He made a vow to eradicate, destroy any memory of that
event outside the city of Jerusalem.
(A) Acts 9:1-19, “Letters of authority from High priest and Jewish leaders”.......And on the way Jesus appeared to him.......Vs. 18, says, “He was baptized.” And Vs. 20, says
“Immediately he preached in the synagogues, that Christ is the Son of God.“ What
does that tell you? Paul’s “Preaching of the Cross” Was a message born from this soul-shaking, soul-shaping experience on the Road to Damascus.
(1) Paul was just as zealous in preaching the Cross as he was in denouncing it
and both of those attitudes can be seen in his statement in 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.”
(a) What’s the attitude of the lost who are perishing? Foolishness. It’s not the
preaching that is considered foolish. It’s the content of what was being
preached that is considered to be foolish.
It’s the preaching of the Cross that the intellectually proud, spiritually insensitive and religiously prejudiced regard as foolishness.
That attitude is still prevalent today. People admire the idealism of Jesus, but deny the reality of His Deity. Extol the life of Jesus, but mock the truth that says He died and shed His blood to forgive our sins. Believe in the Example of His good, compassionate, loving life, but reject the fact of His resurrection, which is the only thing that brings salvation and eternal life.
Paul, also, talks about another attitude. The attitude of the saved. “...but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” The Cross is not a proposition or an idea. It’s a demonstration of God’s love and care. It’s not just a promise. It’s the undeniable demonstration, the proof of God’s power is demonstrated in the resurrection from the dead. God can really do it.
Did God really raise Jesus from the dead? If so, then how do you show your belief in that? By making Jesus the Ruler, Master of your life.
That song, “Jesus is all the world to me.” becomes a life styled reality just as it did for the apostle Paul. Phip. 3:8?9.

(2) The Cross reveals the fact and reality of sin. The Cross proclaims the truth that you don’t have to die in your sin. The Cross tells us, clearly, what salvation is all about Matt. 1:21, The angel told Mary, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin.” 1 Tim. 2:4, “God, through Christ and the Cross, calls all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of truth.” It is through the preaching of the Cross and Christ crucified that men find salvation.
(1) It is evident that something is drastically wrong with the world. At best, man’s life is Stressed by storms of conflict, Embittered by disappointment and sorrow, and ends in trembling because of his fear of death.
(1) The words of Paul in Rom. 7:24, can be heard on the lips of all, “Oh, wretched man that I am, who can deliver me from this body of death?” There is only one answer to that mournful question. It’s found in Vs. 25, “Jesus is the only answer.” In the Cross you can find hope. In Jesus there is hope.
(2) It is that Cross that makes Christianity Distinctly a religion of atonement. Eliminate the doctrine of Christ’s Vicarious Death for mankind and Christianity ceases to be the way to heaven. It is the foundation of the Christian faith. Heb. 9:22, says, “...without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.” That’s talking about the blood of Jesus.
(2) Phip. 2:5-8, That’s why Jesus came to earth. To die for our sins and that’s what Jno. 1:1-3, 14, says, “In the beginning was the Word, (That’s Jesus) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men...And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(1) All other religions reject that. Unitarians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Jews and all the other eastern religions categorically deny and reject Jesus as the savior of mankind. That means you have to make a choice in life. You stand with Jesus or you stand with all the unbelievers. It’s cut and dried. Make the wrong choice and you will die in your sin.
(2) If you say you believe and do not order your life style according to the Word of God you are a liar and a hypocrite. Jas. 2:18-20, explains it this way, “Show me your faith without your works (Obedience), and I will show you my faith by my works (Obedience). You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe??and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works (Obedience) is dead?”
(3) The power of the Gospel is found only by coming to God through the Cross. We ask you to look at the preaching of the Cross, believe in the power of the One who died on the Cross, Obey the Will of God Who brought you to that Cross and you will be saved. Song, “When I Survey The Cross.” Pg. 179.
(4) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 04/07/2002 am