Understanding the Message of the Cross

by Pastor Eddie Hughes

January 17, 2005

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Did you know, the preaching of the cross is never mentioned in the New Testament, except in Paul’s letters to the churches? Never, in the book of Acts was it written that the apostles preached “the cross” to the sinner...They preached ”Jesus and the resurrection”.

Certainly, the apostles proclaimed the truth that Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins and rose again, but that which Paul refers to as the Message of the cross should not be confused with the simple historical account of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. To tell the sinner that Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again to give us eternal life is vitally important. But for the believer, there is much more to the message of the cross...

The message of the cross is for the Christian. It is foolishness to the non-Christian. Why? Because it is a revelation of how the believer, through union with Christ in His death and resurrection, was redeemed, reconciled to God, and made righteous in God’s eyes.

Understanding ”Christ and Him crucified” means understanding we were crucified with Him and raised together with Him; and through our union with Him, we now have the potential to grow spiritually and live in a way that pleases god, demonstrating His life and light to the world. This is why Paul said the preaching of the cross, though foolishness to those who are lose — is the very wisdom and power of God to the Christian (1 Cor. 1:23-24).

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified...(1 Cor. 2:1-2)

And I...could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ...For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Cor. 3:1,3)

Paul’s message to the Corinthian church, both as its beginning, and later, during its time of strife and chaos, was one and the same — Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is through the preaching of the cross, the believer’s faith is developed and strengthened; and the power of God is demonstrated. Conversely, it is in the absence of this message, that disunity, strife, and carnality arise.

If it was true then, it is true today. If strife, envy, and division reign in your church — your church is carnal ruled by the fleshly mind). And though one may rise in defense, saying, “But no one is perfect — after all, we are only human”; there still remains no justification. As Paul pointed out, the ’only human’ mentality was their main problem...They were acting as [mere] men == “only human’ — when in reality, the born-again Christian is much more.

We are new creations, in union with Christ. We are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us. We are overcomers by virtue of the fact we believe in Jesus Christ our Lord. We stand before the Almighty as righteous sons of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. We are His children, the apple of His eye, a holy nation, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood...We can accurately say we are ‘also’ human, but not ‘merely’ human — and we should not act like it.

Years ago, God began to cause an awakening in His church. It was an awakening to the integrity of the Word and the fullness of the gospel — teaching the believer, his identity in Christ — the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. The preaching of the uncompromised Word was bringing the church up to the size and changing weak and defeated Christians into victorious overcomers. But we took those treasures of revelation knowledge and began to apply them to selfish desire.

With mountain-moving power and authority, we could cast out spirits of poverty, sickness, and low self esteem — cast them out of our own individual lives, that is. But we began to be real tolerant of the spirits of carnality and worldliness. In fact, we got pretty good at just blending right in with the world. Like Israel in Canaan, we began to make friends with the very enemies God wanted driven out of the land.

God did not make us overcomers just so we could prosper financially and ride first class. Though He delights in our prosperity, Jesus did not come to give a life of abundance...He came to give abundance of life. And the words will fail to describe how much greater in value, is the LIFE of God, than the LIFESTYLES of the rich and famous. Far too many Christians have squandered their faith, just to put on a new thousand dollar suit, when they could (and should) be donning a robe of righteousness.

Why do so many today, who have been educated in the Word and set free from the bondage of vain tradition, still avoid the message and power of the cross?

Oh, it’s not too difficult to sit, once in a while, through a little preaching of Christ and Him crucified; and smugly not the head or even utter an occasional, ”Yaas, Amen. That’s right.” It’s easy enough to hear that Jesus died for you, that He bore your sins, healed your diseases, became poor so you might be rich, and that He rose again to give you eternal life.

It’s that part where you were crucified with Him — planted together, in the likeness of His death so you could live in the power of His resurrection, and walk in newness of life (Romans 6)...It’s that part that promises no more bondage to sin, because he that is dead is free from sin’s authority and should not longer be obedient to its demands...It’s the ”I was crucified to the world, and the world to me” part that is sometimes hard to embrace because it requires our participation on the cross of Christ. Yet, we must come to that place where we are no longer mere spectators of His suffering, but participants with Him. The more we become involved in reckoning ourselves to have dies with Christ (Romans 6:11), the more difficult it will be to blend in and conform to the influences of the world — from which that death separates us.

It also becomes hard to associate resurrection life with the ability to acquire earthly possessions, when we who are risen with Christ, no longer set our affections on the things of earth, but on the heavenly attributes of Christ Himself. (Colossians 3).

Jesus was approached one day by two of His disciples who were brothers, along with their mother (who did most of the talking for them). Their expressed desire was to be able to sit at Jesus’ side at His left and at His right , in the kingdom. His response to them was... ”Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” (Matthew 20:21-22). In their ignorance, they replied, “We are able.”

Jesus knew they did not understand that He was speaking of the cross, so He attempted no explanation, but simply said, ”You will indeed drink my cup...” He then proceeded to explain to them and to the other disciples, that the gaining of position in His kingdom works differently than in the world’s system. Those who are greatest in God’s kingdom, are those who have been the lowliest of servants.

It’s not easy to take our desires for greatness, wealth, popularity, etc. to the cross. But the wisdom of the gospel tells us that as we were crucified with Christ, we were also raised together with Him as well. We are seated together with Him in heavenly places and as recipients of His grace and the gift of righteousness we reign in life with Him (Ephesians 1, 2 - Romans 5:17).

So, when we face the trials of this life — not only health and financial problems, but the temptations to sin or to become weary in well-doing — that is when the inward knowledge of the cross will do its marvelous work.

That is when we rise up and declare...

”I was crucified with Christ, and the life I now love, I live by His faith...It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me...This is why I am more than a conqueror...This is why I will not be defeated but run the race with patience and receive the prize — to the glory of God!”

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