THE POWER OF THE CROSS

Paul was a preacher. His priority in preaching was the cross, for it was and is the power of salvation to all who are saved. 

Consider, THE FOCUS OF GOSPEL PREACHING, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”. He was not making baptism meaningless by his comments, but instead was maximizing the cross. The symbol of salvation is significant, but the source of salvation is supreme. Apart from salvation, the sign in baptism—like any other religious exercise—is useless. The cross is everything. 

Once we come to the cross, we will confess its power that has delivered us by “dying” to the old life of sin, “burying” it beneath the water, and “rising” to the new life in Christ. Apart from the cross, baptism is worthless. It is worse than that, it would be a hindrance to genuine salvation, as we depend on our works rather than the finished work of Christ on Calvary.  

Political parties based on the preacher who had baptized them had risen in Corinth—threatening the unity of the church, (cf. v. 10-16). Paul wanted to bring that to a screeching halt, and did so by this focus on the cross. By the way, those who wish to make baptism an essential part of salvation, need to read and re-read this. The Apostle would never make such a blunt statement about baptism, if it were necessary to save someone.

Then, weigh THE FOLLY OF GOSPEL PREACHING, “not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…”. Gospel preaching is not dependent on oratorical eloquence and human genius. Indeed, Paul was concerned that such would only subvert the message. It might change the focus from the Savior to the preacher. 

I heard of a drunk who bumped into the evangelist, D. L. Moody, and slurred, “Don’t you know me? I am one of your converts.” Moody responded, “Well, my son, you look like one of mine—you’re surely not one of the Lord’s.”  The truth is that if I can talk someone into “converting,” someone else can talk them out. 

We dare not change the message to make it more culturally acceptable. The Gospel is folly to those who reject it. Think of it: 2000 years ago, an impoverished Jew, hanging naked on an instrument of torture, being the means by which we can be forgiven of sin and enter heaven!  It is not that the message is irrational, but transcends human reason.  It is all of grace and for Gods glory. 

This, however, is THE FORCE OF GOSPEL PREACHING, “but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  Again, as Paul was not making the symbol of baptism trivial, neither was he saying our manner of preaching insignificant.  But, he elevates the message over all else. For the cross of Christ alone is the power of God for salvation—period, exclamation point, forever and ever, Amen!  It is not human profundity, but heavenly power that raises one dead in sin to eternal life. It is not religious ritual, but Gospel force that regenerates a sinner, transforming them into a saint. 

We must preach the Gospel—and never move beyond it. You do not graduate to something else!  Now, other doctrines connect to it; other texts support it; there are many implications from it. But, as Spurgeon said, “I have never yet found a text that had not got a road to Christ in it.”  

You see, it is not the piece of wood that saves us, but the Person on the cross that redeems. Paul would put it this way in 2 Corinthians, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” (5‬:‭21‬‬).

Man of God—preach Christ crucified! That is our mandate.