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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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1 Corinthians 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.”
Foolish?
The Letter to the Corinthians is probably one of the most relevant books for most of us in the Church today.
I say that in the context of a vibrant evangelistic Church in a rampantly secular and pluralistic society. The reason I say that is because in such an environment, the relevance of the practical issues that are dealt with is obvious.
The Church at Corinth was essentially a young church, which consequently had constant challenges from new converts and the manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is interesting that immediately after completing his introduction, Paul began to deal with personality divisions. “I follow Paul” (the missionary and church planter/founder), – “I follow Apollos” (the passionate orator) – “I follow Cephas” (Peter, the ‘true’ Apostle) or “I follow Christ” (v 12). Who could argue with that?
How many ‘new churches’ have been established out of a division over personalities? One of our ‘problems’ today is that we tend to focus on speakers rather than Jesus. We have developed a ‘super’ or ‘mega’ star status for some of our leaders, forgetting that they are merely His messengers, and as speakers, their ‘job’ is to lift Jesus higher so that ‘all are drawn to Him’ (see John 12:32). As John the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30).
Another aspect we tend to ignore today in all our sophistication is, as Paul said, “For Christ [sent me]… to preach the Gospel – not with words or human wisdom, lest the Cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1:17). We flock to hear the orator or mega-star but Paul preached the Cross. Why? “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” (1:18).
We should never forget that throughout the whole of history, generally it has not been the arrogant and proud who have followed God or Christ – but the simple, the humble and the poor in spirit. Christianity is largely a matter of faith, not of intelligence. We can never fully understand God, nor His ways. As He said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8) (and vice versa). (See also Hebrews 11:6.)
Let’s be honest. The Cross is foolishness to us today. How can a man dying on a Cross over 2,000 years ago have any possible relevance for me today? My mind won’t accept it. My will reacts against it. But by faith my spirit accepts it.
I said it was largely a matter of faith deliberately. Because it is not ‘blind’ faith. The facts do support it. There is more evidence that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of a virgin, lived a miraculous life, died a substitutionary death on a Roman Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, rose again in the Power of God and ascended into Heaven, than that you and I were born at all.
Listen, the Cross is all-important. Without the Cross, we remain in our sins and destined for God’s wrath and Hell. There is no other way for us to go to Heaven than by accepting Christ’s death for us on the Cross.
The ‘problem’ with the Cross is that it demands humility that none of us want to display or experience. I have to repent and turn away from the past. The Cross speaks of judgement against me, and that I need to be thankful to Christ who died in my place.
It is a constant reminder of what I deserve. I can never know life without death on a cross. I must die in order to live. I am nothing, Christ is everything.
I have no rights. My ‘job’ is simply to obey.
Do you struggle with the Cross – or has it set you free?
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