Can Anything Good Come From the Cross?

Continuing on with the thought that we aren't as modern as we think, the cross still offends people today. Ever since Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, people have scoffed at such a seemingly foolish idea. To those who assume that they're wise, they can't figure out how some carpenter from Nazareth could pay for the sins of his followers.

These so-called intellectuals assume they know so much because of their university degrees. Their problem is that they aren't alive spiritually. In fact, all who aren't regenerated are heading for eternal damnation. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV). "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

How is this so? Paul answers that in 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV). "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Therefore, these unsaved individuals assume what the Bible teaches is ridiculous.

Since this is so, why bother telling anybody such spiritual facts? Paul answers that in 1 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV) "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." So it is to reach those who will believe that we proclaim Christ crucified.

Paul again tells us why  the cross is absurd to unsaved humanity. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23 (KJV), "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" The Jews had their fixed idea of the Messiah coming to boot out the Romans and set up Israel as God's kingdom. The Greeks prided themselves on being intellectuals so a crucified saviour made no logical sense to them.

In my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven?, I'll go into deeper examinations of why many reject Christ and only a few will actually be with God in the end.