1 Corinthians 1:18 - Hopeful

 

1 Corinthians 1:18

 

NKJV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

NLT

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

 

The words “message of the cross”, for believers is understandable.  But for anyone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior, how in the world do they get on board with this?  Death on the cross was horrific and humiliating thing.  People were hung on crosses at eye level; so anyone walking by got to see the fear, pain and death in the eyes of those that were hung there.  An unbeliever (I was one of those once) doesn’t understand the redemption that hung there when Jesus Christ died.  Death shouldn’t be our message; it should be the love.  The why of Jesus hanging there.

 

All sin separates us from God and as man, there is no way for me to get back in a right relationship with God.  But God still loves me, and He proved it by providing a way for me to get back in that right relationship with Him.  In the old testament times, it was sacrifices (atonement if you will).  These did not have a long-lasting effect.  A person couldn’t keep that relationship because we would sin again; so, another sacrifice was required; and so on and so on.  When Jesus came, as the Son of God, basically He said to His Father; “I love them, and I want them to have a relationship with You” Jesus dying on the cross was our way back to the Father.  Jesus Christ was our perfect atonement that covered all of our sins.  I’ve heard mercy defined as not having to pay for my sins and grace defined as somebody else paying for my sins.  That’s what we were given, mercy and grace.  Jesus loves you and want’s nothing more than to have a relationship with you.  All your sins can be forgiven.  Does that mean we will never sin again?  Certainly not, we are still warring with our flesh.  It does mean that once we have Jesus Christ as our savior, we are once again a part of the Family; co-heirs with Christ.  I hope this isn’t confusing, because the message I have is this….God loves you, come to Christ.

Hopeful,

cej