The Message of the Cross (I Cor. 1:23-24)
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan stated: “The cross interpreted by the resurrection was the Gospel according to Paul.” The message that the Apostle Paul preached centered on the fact that the entire earthly ministry of Christ would culminate in only one purpose and that was “to give His life a ransom.” This He did outside the gates of Jerusalem on Golgotha where He was suspended between heaven and earth. There between two thieves He died on the cross of Calvary for the sin of the world. There He was “made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness in Him.”
Dr. Paul S. Rees emphasizing the centrality of the cross wrote that the incarnation contemplated the cross, the resurrection complimented the cross, and Pentecost was the consequence of the cross. The message and demands of the cross is still a point of contention today as it was in Paul’s day.
Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 that there would come false Christs and false prophets that would arise in the lasts days spreading their heresies and would try to deceive the very elect. In Acts 20 Paul warns of those who would pervert the truth and draw men away from the faith. We are living in a age of deception and we are admonished to “try the spirits whether they are of God…” Tares resemble wheat, philosophy is often mistaken for theology and sectarianism has several suits and like all counterfeits they are not easily distinguishable. They must be put to the test by the Holy Scriptures. We must beware of any private interpretations or proof texts that are taken out of context and do not agree with the whole fabric of the Scriptures.
The message of the cross must be kept central in our faith otherwise it opens the door wide to all kind of heresies. Jesus encountered this fact in Matthew 16 when “Jesus began to show unto his disciples, how that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day…..Peter began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Peter was trying to initiate a counterfeit religion. He wanted Christ as the Messiah but without the suffering of the cross. Jesus saw that it savored of brimstone and rebuked him. “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Cain tried to worship God without a bleeding lamb and his sacrifice was rejected. So will it be with any who try to reject the blood of the Lamb of God. Humanitarianism without blood atonement is simply a refined heathenism. Beware of any creed or teaching that does not show a scarlet thread running all the way through it, such teaching is as counterfeit as a dollar bill without the thread of silk running through out. “Without the shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
The words we read in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” encase a truth which levels all men in a common category of demerit and reveals that all mankind is in need of a Savior. The only effective ground upon which a sinner can meet God is the ground of the cross.
C. H. Spurgeon said that He could have destroyed the sinner and punished him forever and remain just in so doing, but He would not be a loving and merciful Savior. He further said that if He forgave the sinner without pronouncing judgment on the sin He would have created rogues galore. Christianity would then be nothing but a sentimentalism, sinning would be of no consequence, and God would only have been a mere benevolent grandfather.
On the cross justice and mercy embraced one another. Through the death of the only begotten Son of God the broken law was satisfied, justice was maintained so that love, mercy, and forgiveness could be extended to all the lost sons and daughters of Adam’s race. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.”
To the Jews the cross was a stumbling block and to the intellectual Greeks it was foolishness. So even today whether through prejudice or pride the cross will remain a mystery until the arresting Holy Spirit reveals to us our lost and hell-bound condition. When, through conviction, our guilt becomes unbearable and we cry out and plead the blood of Christ, there we will find pardon for our guilt, purity from our pollution, and reconciliation for our estrangement from God. We soon discover that the cross was not only a work done for us but it is also an experience that is wrought in us.
When one truly and personally comes to grip with the words in Romans 3:23, “For there is no difference,” he discovers that this is a sweeping statement that shatters the self-righteousness of all men. It reduces all to a dependence on His atoning death as the only solution to the sin problem. This was the reason that Paul said to the Corinthians, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified.” “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, (are being saved), it is the power of God.”
The hymn writer had it right when he penned the words:
“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.”
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far to small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!”
Christianity: Not A Creed But A Christ
Biblical names often indicate one’s character. In the Old Testament Jacob, by deception, robbed Esau of his birthright. He fled the country to keep Esau from killing him. Many years later he began his journey back home to Canaan. He got word that Esau was coming with 400 men and Jacob was afraid that he was going to do him harm. He sent gifts to appease his brother’s wrath. He later sent his two wives, two womenservants, and his eleven sons over the brook Jabbok and he was left alone. God wrestled with him until the breaking of the day and He (God) finally asked him, “what is your name?” He said, “Jacob” (which means ‘heel-grasper, deceiver’).The Lord replied, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel” (which means ‘power with God’). His name change denoted a change in his character.
When John the Baptist was to be named they wanted to call him Zachariah but his father, who was stricken and unable to speak for days, wrote that his name was to be John. It was not until then that his tongue was loosed and he once again could speak.
God never permitted Joseph and Mary to select a name for their new born babe but were given instructions, “thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” There was meaning and purpose in Biblical names. Christianity is not a creed it is Christ. Jesus Christ is so vitally related to Christianity, that what He is, it is. The religion of Jesus Christ is the religion of a person. It is not a somewhat but someone. He is the divine Son of God.
When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus He said to him, “Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.” We are reminded throughout the ministry of Christ that He had insight into man’s heart. In John 2:25 we read that, “Jesus needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man.” This was revealed time and time again with people like Nicodemus, he knew the rich young ruler’s weakness, also the woman at the well left saying, “Come, see a man, which told me all things which I ever did; is not this the Christ?”
When we examine our text we notice that Simon was never the same man after he met Christ. He was previously known as a profane, rough fisherman. His volatile instability made people very nervous about being around him. But from the very beginning when he was introduced to Jesus he started life anew. While he experienced a marvelous transformation from the old life he had not completely altered his impetuous and sometime vacillating spirit. Sometimes he spoke and acted as Simon and sometimes he responded as Cephas (a stone). The reason was that he was double-minded. In James 1:8 we are reminded that “A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways.” In James 4:8 the writer admonishes, “cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” When the sinner is forgiven it leaves him double-minded because he now has not only a measure of the mind of Christ but also the carnal mind. This is clearly revealed in Peter’s life after his conversion.
At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks an interesting question of his disciples,”whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” While others said that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets, “He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God.” He blessed Peter and said that you received that as a revelation from my Father in heaven. What a compliment he paid to him. He received that revelation from God above.
However, it was just a little while after that pronounced blessing that Jesus gave to Peter that He told His disciples that “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee. But Jesus turned and said unto Peter. Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou art an offence unto me.”
Previously Peter had received a revelation from the Father but the source of this information was not from above but from below, from Satan himself. Jesus rebuked him for entertaining conflicting voices. Simon Peter had one mind that loved Jesus and another mind that loved Simon. As long as one continues in that state, characterized in Galatians 5:17 as the “Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that you cannot do the things that you would.” The double-minded or unclean heart will always hinder one’s ability to stay true in the crucibles of life.
It was this vacillating, arrogant spirit that manifested itself when Peter said, “I will lay down my life for thy sake.” (John 13:37) He failed to keep his vow and eventually denied his Lord. In Luke 22:31-34 when Jesus foretold of his denial He addressed him as, “Simon, Simon…” Why didn’t he address him as Peter (Cephas)? Because it was not Peter doing the talking but the ‘strutting’ Simon saying I will go with you to prison and even death.
However, following His resurrection Jesus instructed Mary to, “go tell my disciples and Peter.” He told them to go to the upper room and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit and when the Holy Spirit comes he will purify their hearts of the ‘Simon nature’ and fill them with the Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit). The one who preached on the Day of Pentecost was not ‘Simon’ but it was ‘Petros’ the Spirit filled man.
Every Christian needs a personal Pentecost. We may not need to change our names but we need not only to be forgiven for our past sins but be cleansed of the old fallen nature. It is then that our character will be radically changed. We can love, live, labor and witness out of a pure heart fervently. We will then be able to discern whether the voice that speaks to us is from below or if it is a revelation from the Father above. So when we are questioned, “But whom say ye that I am?” We too, with a single-mind, will be able to answer, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.” It is on the rock of His deity that Christ builds His Church. He is the foundation, the cornerstone and the capstone of His Church. We, the blood washed (forgiven and cleansed), are the Temple of God.
