The Foolishness of Preaching 1 Cor. 1:18 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. It is hard to understand what the world thinks is so foolish about preaching the cross when you consider what it is.
The creator of the universe lived as a man and was tempted in all points like as we are. He lived a perfect life without sin and then he was crucified for you. He was buried and rose from the dead three days later and is now seated and the right hand of God waiting to return and rule this earth.
You can trust his finished work on Calvary and be saved today and have eternal life and know it. He can change you into his image as your old man is crucified with him and your new man walks in the newness of life. He will return for you and you’ll be raised with a glorified body in which you will live and reign with him forever.
That’s the preaching of the cross and according to this text, the world sees this as the foolishness of preaching. I’ve been saved so long that I don’t see anything foolish about it at all. But you can be sure that the world does.
What’s so foolish about the preaching of the cross?
It’s Contrary – Man has his own ideas about salvation but the simplicity of salvation by the cross disagrees with his ideas – if you want to go along with the world you are going to have a very difficult time preaching the cross – the cross is essential for you to have life – think about it, things have to die for you to eat and have natural life – so why should it be so strange for Jesus to die that you might have everlasting life?
It’s Exclusive – There is no other way for you to get to heaven aside from the cross – and men don’t like that – they like their religions – and they cannot handle someone telling them that their religions cannot save them.
It’s Condemning – If you reject Jesus Christ, you will wind up in hell – men really have a hard time with a loving God sending them to hell for rejecting the cross – they come to church feeling really good about themselves and they want someone to make them feel even better – preaching on the cross is not a feel good sermon – it is condemning to a self-righteous sinner.
It’s Humbling – In order to get saved you have to repent of your own righteousness and receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ – in many cases after the preaching of the cross in a church there is an invitation to humbly “come forward” and receive Jesus Christ at the altar – a proud man would find that foolish and demeaning.
Conclusion: In fact, the cross of Jesus Christ, while it may seem foolish to a lost man, is much more than he can tell:
It’s Powerful – It will change your life here and hereafter, forever.
It’s Sufficient – You really don’t need anything else to give you the life of Christ.
It’s Eternal – The salvation of Jesus Christ is something you can never lose.