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The Message Of The Cross:The Continual Work Of The Cross In The Life Of The Believer

December 31, 2006

The message of the cross

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross [“the message (logos) of the cross,” NKJ] is (present indicative) to them that perish (present participle) foolishness (insignificant); but unto us which are [being] saved (present passive participle) it is the power of God.

The cross was an instrument of death

Matthew 20:18-19 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him [lit. to nail him to a cross]: and the third day he shall rise again

Christ left behind a path for us to follow

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving (behind) us an example (a path), that you should follow His steps (lit. suffer for Him):

Suffering must precede glory

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his ~~eternal~~ age-lasting glory (“called you unto His kingdom and glory,” 1Thes.2:12) by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

This is foolishness to the natural man

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural [soulish] man receiveth not [present indicative] the things of the Spirit of God (the future promises of things to come Jn.16:13): for they are foolishness (insignificant) unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned [understood after careful examination].

An Example of a natural man

Luke 12:19-21 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The things eye has not seen

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The heavenly city

Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven (to the earth), prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The Things not seen = age-lasting things

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at [we don’t contemplate or keep thinking about] the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (the things only pertaining to this age); but the things which are not seen (things of faith - the promises) are ~~eternal~~ age-lasting things.(the things we hope to see in the age to come)

Without faith we cannot endure the cross

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author [“the pioneer,” RSV – one who first goes ahead to make clear the path] and finisher of ~~our~~ the faith (he did not quit); who for the joy that was set before him (the things not seen) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The enemies of the cross

Philippians 3:18 For many walk (lifestyle, choices, behaviour), of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Those who are perishing

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing [apollumi :destruction, loss, ruin, waste]…”

Minding earthly things

Philippians 3:19 Whose end is destruction [apoleia : perishing, loss, ruin, waste – in the age to come], whose God is their belly (living in the natural man), and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things (the things which are seen).

Perishing shall last a thousand years

2 Thessalonians 1:9 They shall suffer the punishment of ~~eternal~~ age-lasting (“a thousand years,”Rev.20:4-6) destruction [olethros - perish, loss, ruin, waste] and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

Israelites perished from enjoying life in Canaan

Jude 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither may we (Christians) tempt the Christ, as also certain of them (the children of Israel) did tempt, and by the serpents did perish; 10 neither murmur ye, as also some of them did murmur, and did perish by the destroyer. (YLT)

The message of the cross has saving power

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved [present tense] it is the power of God.

The cross is a choice

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross [present active indicative], and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

We can avoid suffering for the cross of Christ

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Take up your cross daily

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, [aorist active imperative] and take up [aorist active imperative] his cross daily, and follow me [present active imperative].

The context is suffering

Luke 9:22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain (by the cross), and be raised the third day.

Bearing His Reproach

Hebrews 13:12 Therefore Jesus… suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.[shame, disgrace, abuse]

The cross crucifies the natural man

Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s (the members of His body) have crucified the flesh (the natural man) with the affections and lusts.

Through obeying the commandments

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (in age to come): but if ye through the Spirit (through obedience to His commandments) do mortify [continually put to death or kill –present active] the deeds of the body, ye shall live (in age to come).

The losing and saving of the soul

Luke 9:24 For [connects to verse 23] whosoever will save his life [or his soul – now in this age – no cross] shall lose [apollumi - to perish, to ruin, or to destroy] it [his life or his soul –in the age to come] but whosoever will lose his life [or soul now in this age] for my sake (for obeying His commands – denial of self, taking up his cross), the same shall save it (his soul or life – in the age to come).

The gain of this age shall not offset the future loss

Luke 9:25 For [connects to verse 24] what is a man advantaged [or profited], if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Rejecting our cross now has future consequences

Luke 9:26 For [connects to verse 25] whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

A future Salvation through present sufferings

1 Peter 1:9-11 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of for Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The salvation of your soul

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Let us glory in the cross

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.