The Message of the Cross

"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. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 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? 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." (1 Corinthians 1:18-21) 

We are living in a day when the message of the church is changing. Churches, and even whole denominations, are moving away from the old message of salvation through the blood of Jesus, and are moving toward a message of salvation through social activism and good works.  The old message of the cross is quickly being replaced by a bloodless message that lacks power and that lacks hope. Instead of hearing the devastating, but life changing news that men are sinners, people hear a message that tells them, “I’m OK and you’re OK!”

Ever since the gospel first began to be preached, the message of the cross has been rejected as foolish or unbelievable.  Paul says that to both the Jews, and the Gentiles (or non-Jews) the cross was offensive.  The Jews rejected the cross because it was not what they expected from the Messiah. But the non-Jews, like the Romans also thought it was foolish.  You can just imagine the response of many of the Romans.  Rome worshiped power.  Rome WAS power!  They served a god of war! Offering them the gospel of a man whose country they held in bondage, and whose supposed leader they had nailed to a cross and killed, was indeed foolishness. 

We see an example of their attitude of the foolishness of the cross in Acts 26, when Paul was on trial before King Agrippa and Festus, the Roman governor of Judea.  After Paul shared his beliefs, Festus cries out in Acts 26:24, “You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."  It was just foolishness to him, and to many, many Romans who were just like him. 

But the cross is not only an offense intellectually; the idea that Jesus died on the cross for our sins can also be an offense to their ego for a couple of reasons:

1) It is an offense to some because it calls them “sinners” who need someone to die for their sins. That offends them.  They say things like, “Don’t you call ME a sinner!” or “I am a pretty good person, I don’t need someone to die for my sins!”

2) The concept of salvation through the cross of Jesus takes away all thought of “merit” in salvation. It is not what YOU do to save yourself; it is all about what HE did on the cross.  That is a blow to many, who think they “deserve” to go to heaven.  They have a pride in their accomplishments, and they don’t want to humble themselves and admit that they need someone else to save them.

For many people today the message of the cross is foolish.   Yet, it demands action.  The cross calls for a decision.  You can’t ignore the cross.   And for God’s people, those who believe, the message of the cross is the power and wisdom we so desperately need in our lives.  There’s nothing deeper to be studied.  There’s nothing beyond the cross in the Christian life.  We never outgrow our need for the gospel of God’s saving grace, and I need to be reminded of the cross every single day.

There is nothing is more powerful to move a community of Christ-followers forward in their faith than the preaching of the gospel.  It’s the reason why communion matters so much, it’s a visible reminder of the cross.  Never allow the cross to lose its centrality to the ministry of your church.  I believe we ought to connect ancient truth to contemporary questions, but the ultimate source of hope for every problem we face in our lives is the cross where Jesus died.  What about the resurrection?  It matters just as much.  It’s the glorious end to the redemptive narrative and its hope can never be separated from the message of the cross.  But it’s the cross that calls us to decision, to repentance, and to the life of a disciple of Jesus.

Has the blood been applied to your life?  Is your faith in Jesus and in Him Alone?

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.

 

Spiritual Battles

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:11-13)

We are at war.  Whether you like it or not, you are living in a war zone.  It’s not like the war in the Middle East. This is a war that rages on all around us, every day and every night. Most of it is unseen and unheard, but you are in the middle of it.  It is spiritual warfare.

This is also true in our relationship with God.  If having faith feels like a constant struggle, that’s because it is!  The Bible says we are all in the midst of a spiritual battle against evil rulers and authorities, mighty powers, and evil spirits in the heavenly places. Think about that for a second, evil rulers, authorities, and powers. And they are all against you!  They want to steal, kill, and destroy your faith. (See John 10:10)  You are going to need some help.  Fortunately, God has not left us unprotected or ignorant about what we are up against.  He gives us the armor and the weapons we need to not only fight back, but to defeat these spiritual enemies.

Is your faith being attacked?  Just remember that as Christians, we are given Christ’s clothes to wear. It is said that the clothes make the man, and these clothes, the armor of God, make us who we are and who God wants us to be.  Each piece further makes us into a Christ like person.  But we will talk about each piece and how we own it.  But for now, just remember that when you became a Christian you were given God’s armor.  When you have on this armor, you have on the best protection in the universe.

Let's look at the pieces of the armor Paul describes as he develops this military analogy in Ephesians 6:14-18:

First, the belt of truth.  Think of the wide belt that a weight lifter wears to protect and strengthen him.  In John 8:31-32 we read, “…If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."   When we hold firmly to the truth that we know and seek faithfully to acquire wisdom, we are protected.  This is a good piece of equipment to put on in the morning with a regular reading of the Scriptures.

Then in Ephesian 6:14b we are told “…to stand firm with the breastplate of righteousness.”  The Roman soldier would wear a steel, leather, or coat of mail that would protect the torso in the thick of battle.  Our protection is righteousness.  First, we have been made righteous by Christ's death on our behalf.  We are "holy, set apart," and we belong to God now.  His righteousness is our righteousness, and His blood covers our sins.  But we are also protected by living holy lives, by walking in God's ways righteously.  Our righteous ways are a powerful protection from the destruction that sin brings with it.

Strong foot gear is important in a battle situation.  Ephesians 6:15 reminds us that our “…feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”  If we wear sandals on our feet instead of Army-issue boots, we may slip in the struggle, and leave ourselves exposed to the enemy.  But notice that shoes on our feet are also an offensive weapon, enabling us to run with and share the gospel of peace.  Truth and good news are a weapon that give us sure footing against darkness, deceit, and despair.

And then in verse 16 we are to take up the shield of faith.  Often before battle, soldiers would soak their leather shields in the local creeks.  This made them much heavier, but made them impervious to the flaming arrows shot by the enemy.  A shield is both a defensive weapon to hide behind as well as an offensive weapon, which enables you to strike with your sword hand while protecting your body with the shield held in the other.

Sometimes we have overwhelming situations come upon us like a flaming arrow and threaten to consume us, our family, and our whole place in life.  We can react with fear and terror.  Or we can put up the shield of faith and start to trust God.  Your faith helps you to stand in the intense battles within your mind as well as in your home and workplace.  Trust God no matter what is going on, for He knows what He is doing. Put up the shield of faith; don't let it hang useless at your side.

Then in verse 17 we are told to pick up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.  Helmets protect the head, therefore battle helmets.  Our salvation from God protects us against self-doubt and fear that God won't forgive us when we mess up.   We must put on our confidence in His salvation daily and not let Satan slam us in the head with his lies.  The sword, too, is both offensive and defensive.  We deflect our enemy's blows with our sword, as well as thrust it home when we see a weakness in his defense. Our sword is God's Word.  When we study the Bible for its principles and truths, we can stand against Satan's lies.  Reading the scripture often, studying it, and committing it to memory are all ways to sharpen this sword, so when we are attacked we'll know how to respond.

And finally, in verse 18, we are called to Pray in the Spirit.  The military analogy in our day would be, "Carry your walkies-talkie and call in when you get in trouble so we can direct firepower where you need it."  To what extent are these weapons offensive or defensive?  In a very real sense they are all offensive weapons, since they allow the warrior to continue in the battle instead of being wiped out early. 

Martin Luther, who wrote that great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," had many well-chronicled battles with the devil.  One line of this hymn is particularly telling about the devil: "One little word shall fell him."  We are weak in ourselves. But in God these simple weapons, truth, righteousness, the good news, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer are more than we need to fend off an attack and remain standing at the end of the day.

A day is coming when our victorious king will return to this earth.  It will be a triumphant entry.  The King will set up His throne in Jerusalem and set the whole world straight.  He will reward His faithful servants and punish those who rebelled against Him.  On that glorious day, faithful and heroic men and women of God will receive their medals of honor and courage.  Although we now live in the evil day, and although it now seems like Satan gets his way far too often, and he has free reign, a day is coming, when he will no longer be able to tempt and destroy.  The book of Revelation tells us that he will be cast into the lake of fire forever. (See Revelation 20:10)

Jesus Christ has won it all.  Just stand your ground a few days more, until this evil day is at an end, and the glorious day begins.  And this day of glory will never end.

Can God change your life?

God has made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.

Discover how you can find peace with God.