1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. I. BY THE "PREACHING OF THE CROSS" WE UNDERSTAND THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. There are two circumstances which may have led to the use of this name. 1. The apostle did not so preach the gospel as to conceal the Cross. This has sometimes been done. The Roman Catholic missionaries that went out to the East held back the fact that the great Saviour had died in ignominy upon the Cross, and told their hearers only of those facts concerning Him which had a glorious appearance, such as His resurrection and ascension. And the first disciples may have sympathised in such a feeling. The Cross tended to attach dishonour to Christ and to His gospel. But the apostles did not do so; they told the whole story. 2. The crucifixion supplied, and was the whole origin of, the great topics which their preaching of the gospel contained. It would have been nothing for Paul to have preached the resurrection, &c., if he had not preached His death. These facts have no evangelical glory or meaning if you separate them from the Cross. Take away the Cross, and you take away the very life and soul of the gospel itself. II. THIS GOSPEL IS PERVERTED. 1. By those who say that it derives its power not so much from the death of Christ, but mainly from His life. Now I do not mean to depreciate the life of Christ, which was superlatively grand and striking in all respects. But the presenting to the world of a life of virtue will not in any degree be influential in its regeneration, and as for presenting an aspect of the benignity of God this is infinitely exceeded in the death of Christ. What Paul preached was not Christ's life, but Christ's death. 2. By those who say that the death of Christ has an influence, but that it is not an atonement. What is it then? It is a "way of speaking"! To this I would say — (1) If God tells us about an atonement, and there really is none, that is not truth. (2) Unless the Atonement be a fact it cannot be a power. III. THE GOSPEL IS A POWER IN THAT IT PRESENTS A SET OF TOPICS AND CONSIDERATIONS INTENDED TO WORK UPON MEN'S HEARTS AND CONSCIENCES. If the atoning death of Christ be a fact — 1. What a fact must sin itself be! He is God making a vast provision by the humiliating death of His own Son for the expiation of the sin of the world. What a proof it is of the lost state of man! 2. What a fact is God's justice! The sinner says, "Well, I have sinned, but God is merciful." Well, now, come again with me to the Cross. See a dying Saviour; there is God's vengeance against man's representative. 3. How great the love of God to a rebellious world. See to what an expense He has gone to save you. 4. What a fact is the foundation of a sinner's hope. None need despair; whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved. 5. What a fact is a believer's obligation to devotedness and love. If we have been bought at such a price, we are no more our own, but our Purchaser's. 6. What a fact is the guarantee of a believer's faith! "He that spared not His own Son," &c.Conclusion: 1. How wonderful it is that God should be pleased thus to deal with men! 2. What a thought it is for ungodly men that there is a Divine power in the gospel, and that in it God puts forth all His powers of persuasion. 3. And it is for us to remember that the gospel is a power for all the exigencies of the Christian life. (J. H. Hinton, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. |
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