Christ Crucified Series

Christ Crucified

Our text for today is found in First Corinthians chapter one. Follow along with me as I read:

“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (HCSB)

What a world we live in – we think we are getting wiser – but I wonder if that is really the case. There is no doubt in my mind that technology has just blossomed over the last few years. It has advanced at a mind boggling rate – but have we become any wiser?

Men boast that they are wise – but who cn understand the wisdom of God? “We preach Christ crucified, …Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.”

Here is the universe – the stars make its canopy – flowers and fields adorn it – water ripples in its reflective pools – and the name of God is written in the things He has laid His hand upon. The invisible things of God may be clearly seen in the things which are made. But wisdom is not found in the creation but in The Creator. “We preach Christ crucified, …Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.”

Philosophy does not make one wiser – but knowing Christ does. God says, “I give you all the mysteries of the universe – but all you really need is Me. Find Me. Ask for Me. Search for Me. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened.” And when the door is opened we shall find Christ Himself standing in the doorway.

“We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (HCSB)

Child-like faith in Christ shall crumble to the dust all the colossal systems of worldly wisdom. The Bible says:

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.” And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.” 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 (NLT)

In Christ there is wisdom – outside of Christ there is a void.

Folks I did not come here today to preach some concepts of philosophy. I did not come to here to talk to you about sociology. I did not come here to give you a glossary of worldly wisdom. But I did come today to preach to you the truth of God’s Holy Word – that Christ has been crucified and that He is the power of God and that He is the wisdom of God unto salvation. If I do not preach Christ and Him crucified – all I would leave you with is a message of mist and haze – a message that would have no substance and no power.

From our text today I wish to speak on only two things:

I. Christ crucified - REJECTED

II. Christ crucified – ACCEPTED

Let us start with Christ crucified – Rejected

One would think that when God sent His Son for mankind that all would listen and humbly receive the truth. We would have thought that the love of God – so intense – that He sent His son to be crucified and to die for our sins – would be whole-hardly accepted. We would have thought that when the gospel is preached that hearts and lives are always changed because the gospel is accepted with open arms. But sadly – that is not the case.

Look at the prophets of old – how they were driven from city to city – persecuted, afflicted, tormented, stoned to death, rejected.

These same men – friends of God – came with hearts full of love and hands full of mercy. These men were treated as if they were spies in the camp – carriers of disease – scum of society – enemies and not friends. Do not suppose that men of our generation like the gospel any better now than they did then.

There is an idea in our time that we have the freedom to believe what we what to believe. But preach the fact that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, The Life and that no one comes to the Father except by Him and see what happens. Tell the world that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ and see how many people will stand up in protest. They will say, "How can you be so narrow minded." Are they not protesting the crucifixion of Christ? Are they not protesting His salvation?

The human heart has not changed. Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” What was true then is still true today. Fallen man has the same opposition to the truth of God today as they did two thousand years ago.