“We Preach Christ Crucified”
The Bible gives great emphasis to
the death of Jesus as a substitute for sinners. Paul wrote, “But we preach
Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,”
(I Corinthians
Jesus was truly
a man without equal! His sacrificial death for our sins fills us with hope and
amazement. How could anyone love so much? Why did Jesus die?
The need that prompted Jesus’ death. In Romans
chapter three Paul, by inspiration of God, described man’s problem. In doing so
he quoted from Psalm 14:1-3. He said, “As it is written: There is none
righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks
after God. They have all turned aside; They have
together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
(Romans 3:10-12) Later in the chapter he said, “For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) As we observe Paul’s use of the terms
“all” and “none” we quickly recognize that there are no moral and respectable
people without Jesus. There are only sinners. The result of sin is horrifying.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Except for the death of Jesus we would be
forever lost; but through His blood, thank God I’m saved!
The love that was proved by Jesus’ death. Through an astonishing love Christ
took my sins so I could have His righteousness. “For He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
(II Corinthians 5:21.) His love caused Him to “become sin for us.” Romans 5:6-8
describes the love of Jesus for mankind. “For when we were still without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will
one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” John
The church which was purchased by Jesus’ death.
The
The destiny that is prevented by Jesus’ death.
The blood of Jesus provides our only escape from eternal hell. No other
religion or “savior” has any hope to offer. Without Jesus we will perish and
our “whole body” will be cast into hell. Jesus said, “If your right eye causes
you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for
you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into
hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from
you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
(Matthew 5:29-30.) It is the death of Jesus which keeps the obedient from
perishing. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John
10:28.) Hell is a place of eternal punishment. Our Lord said, “And these will
go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:46.) Were it not for the blood of Jesus we would all go there. Only
the blood of Jesus can keep you from that place of horrible pain and outer
darkness.
The hope which is provided by Jesus’ death. At
the very heart of our heavenly hope stands the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ
The cross provides the answer to man’s sin problem and frees him for heaven.
The blood of Christ provides us with the hope of heaven. Paul spoke of “the
hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word
of the truth of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:5) Hope is provided “by way of the
cross.” With Paul, all should say, “But God forbid that I should boast except
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to
me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14.) The cross shows both God’s love for
mankind and His hatred for sin. It also shows God’s desire to bring sons to
glory. (Hebrews 2:9-10.) Everything done on the cross assures us of God’s love
for, and His desire to save sinners. Salvation, peace, contentment and real joy
come through the cross of
God has done
His part. He has provided salvation through Jesus. Man’s part, through small,
is also necessary to reach heaven. Man must hear the gospel (Romans
By Charles Box,