REFLECTION: The Power of God

Found in “the preaching of the cross”…..

 

“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)

Paul, the apostle, had received a divine call to preach the gospel. He refers to this privilege and responsibility in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Renouncing all human wisdom, Paul relied entirely upon the power of God as he made known the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Skilful rhetoric may impress and even sway an audience, but it cannot impart spiritual life. As the work of preaching the gospel is a spiritual one, human effort will achieve nothing lasting. Spiritual means therefore must be used in the great task of making known the way of salvation in Christ.

 

It has often been said that the cross is the great divide. No neutral ground exists beneath it; we are either on one side or on the other – either for Christ or against Him. In 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul compares two very distinct groups of people: those who are perishing and “us” who are saved. At one time we who are now saved were perishing as well, but God in His great mercy intervened and saved us by His grace. What was it that made us aware of our need and brought us to salvation? It was the preaching of the cross.

 

 

 

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS

This is the message that the world needs to hear. Nothing else can provide effective help. People are perishing. Many humanitarian agencies are at work today, endeavouring to raise standards and provide clean water, nutritious food, better housing and better education. While these efforts are not to be despised and the motives behind them may be good, the results are only temporal. There is nothing of eternal value in them. Only the message of the cross can bring real hope. Yet many have no sense of need and regard the message as “foolish”. They ask: “How can we be saved without doing anything? How can the death of a man on a cross two thousand years ago help us today?”

 

The Son of God stepped out from eternity and took upon Himself a human body. He lived here on earth as a man – fully human, but without sin. Although truly Man, He never ceased to be God. Upon the cross He gave His spotless life as a sacrifice and shed His precious blood that there might be forgiveness for lost mankind.

 

Those who regard the preaching of the cross as “foolishness” because it calls for no self-effort, prove by their own rejection of the message that they are perishing.

 

 

 

 

NO OTHER ANSWER

Without Christ there is no hope. But when a lost sinner trusts Christ as Saviour and rests entirely on what He has done, the message of the cross becomes the power of God. The Crucified One, now risen and glorified in heaven, is the source of power for His people. It is a message of power because only in this way are souls set free from sin and enabled to live their lives for the glory of God.

 

By the Holy Spirit’s enabling, we must continue to preach the true message of the cross today. According to the Bible, there is no other way to be saved.