The Conquest of the Cross
God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, (1 Corinthians 1:21b-23 NASB)
For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom. We all want our say in matters don’t we, yet eventually some people come to find comfort in the wisdom of God in our lives. Who do we try to satisfy? Who would God want to appease is the real question. Does He act in such ways to please me, or should it be you, or maybe someone else you know? The answer becomes obvious doesn’t it? Then what does this also say about the church’s message?
If a church and her people want to be faithful to the victorious Jesus and true to the will of God, then they must be intentional and ever watchful to the ministry of its pulpit. The focal point of her preaching must be… we preach Christ crucified. For integrity’s sake the church must be open and honest of its devotion to preach Christ crucified.
The church must do so with full knowledge of the consequences. The church and her people have to be committed to this message and appreciate the spiritual battle inherent to the Gospel because the message of Christ crucified will have its opponents… For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom..
The church must also be disciplined if her intent is to preach Christ crucified even willing to forsake popularity and peace should compromise threaten her message of Christ crucified. There are today as when the church began those who attempt to dictate to the church the subject matter of her message. Some do so by verbal bluntness while others are deceptively diplomatic using innuendo and subtle hint to let be known their opposition to the cross’ foolish message. Others communicate their dispute with the preaching of the cross with their feet removing themselves from the fellowship and regular Sunday attendance. Yes not only the Jews find the preaching of Christ crucified to be a stumbling block to their comfort and security in the church and relationship to God.
But Christ crucified is what has given rise to the church (Acts 20:28) and it is the preaching of Christ crucified which builds His church. The church is built upon and grows on the Good News of Christ crucified.
We’re reminded again today of why we need to be under the preaching of the word of the cross; why preachers must not ever hold back the message of the cross, no matter how he himself sees the flock in sin before him. The Law will awaken the heart but it will never convert it. The Law will bruise and crush the soul, but it will never console it. The Law will hammer away the wayward will of man, but it will not change it. No only the hope of the Good News of Christ crucified for us will do that.
What did you hear today in church? Did you hear only Law and its demands? Was the fault the preacher or your own heart? If we live in defiance with unconfessed sin in our lives, we will only hear Law until we are broken to repent, for the Law is out tutor to lead us to Christ. Certainly the whole counsel of God is to be proclaimed and taught, but is it not God’s desire, to the glory of Jesus His Son and for the well-being of His children that again this Sunday we hear the man of the pulpit preach Christ crucified.
