We Preach Christ Crucified
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24
The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes Christianity unlike any other religion or belief system in the world. All other religions are founded on the capacity of humanity to earn the favor of the deity. However, Christianity teaches the Gospel, proclaiming that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, on account of His death and resurrection.
The Law has its place by confronting us with our sin and even guiding us in the those works that are pleasing to God. However, it is only the cross of Christ that can save us from sin and death. The Law shows us our inability to ever be able to deliver ourselves from our enslavement to sin. Only Christ can do so through His death and resurrection.
At times Christians fall back into the dangerous peril of making the Christian faith a series of steps or actions that we are to do as if to earn God’s favor. At times we laud godly lives as if such works were the means to God’s favor rather than flowing from the Gospel. Let’s be clear – God does not love and forgive you because you have followed three steps to a happier marriage or because you worship Him in spirit and in truth. God loves you and because He loves you He sent His only Son to be put to death on the cross in your place and to rise triumphant from the grave so that you might have eternal life. The Gospel may seem foolishness to the world, but for us it is truly the power and wisdom of God. We preach Christ crucified so that we understand that we cannot save ourselves, but Christ and Him crucified is the source of our forgiveness, life and salvation.
Prayer - O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan