Go! And Embrace The Power Of The Cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18 Series

Go! And Embrace the Power of the Cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18

1 Corinthians 1:18 (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.”

Introduction: The Paradox of the Cross

Let me begin today with a simple yet profound truth: there is power in the cross of Christ. To the unbelieving world, the cross is a symbol of weakness and defeat. But to those of us who are being saved, the cross is not a relic of shame—it is the power of God!

In our continuing series, “Go! And…” we now come to a vital moment of reflection and response—today’s message is titled: Go! And Embrace the Power of the Cross. Let us go with boldness, with courage, and with conviction, as we explore the cross—not as a mere symbol, but as the very heartbeat of our faith, the source of our hope, and the reason we live.

I. The Context of 1 Corinthians 1:18 – A Divided Church and a Unified Gospel

1 Corinthians 1:18 (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 Apostle Paul writes to a troubled church in Corinth—divided by pride, split by factions, and obsessed with worldly wisdom. The Corinthian church lived in a city renowned for intellectualism and immorality. In the midst of confusion and arrogance, Paul lifts up the cross—not as a side note—but as the centrepiece of the Gospel.

Paul uses a powerful Greek contrast here:

“Foolishness” (Greek: µ???a, moria) – where we get the English word “moron”. To the natural mind, the idea of a crucified Saviour was utter nonsense.

“Power” (Greek: d??aµ??, dynamis) – the very dynamic, explosive power of God.

This verse reminds us: there is no neutral response to the cross. It divides all of humanity into two categories—those perishing and those being saved. It forces a decision.

As John Piper said, “The cross of Christ is either your foolishness or your power. There is no third category.”

Church, this is a holy dividing line. Either you cling to the cross or you reject it. You can’t straddle the fence. You’re either all-in with Christ or still lost in the world’s delusion. The cross demands our decision.

II. The Folly of the Cross to the World

To the proud philosophers of Paul’s day, salvation through a crucified Jew was absurd. The Greeks sought wisdom, and the Jews sought miraculous signs. But Jesus offered neither in their terms—He offered a bloodied cross.

Isaiah 53:3–5 (NLT): “He was despised and rejected... It was our weaknesses he carried... He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.”

Isaiah’s prophecy reveals the upside-down logic of God. The Suffering Servant didn’t come in grandeur but in grief. The Messiah bled. He was crushed. And through that crushing came our healing.

Charles Spurgeon said, “The gospel is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”

Amen! The gospel doesn’t need to be dressed up or diluted. Just preach Christ crucified. Let the Spirit do the rest. The raw truth of Calvary is what transforms hearts.

And yet so many try to dress up the gospel to make it palatable. But the raw, unfiltered message of a crucified Saviour is where true power lies.

Illustration:

A pastor once shared how a successful businessman scoffed when he heard about the cross. “How can the death of a man 2,000 years ago affect my life?” he asked. The pastor simply replied, “It changes everything—because that death wasn’t ordinary. That was God taking your place.” Weeks later, that same man knelt in tears, whispering, “Now I see. It was for me.”

III. The Power of the Cross for Those Being Saved

The cross is not just a historical event—it is a current reality. “We who are being saved”—note the present continuous tense—know its power. Salvation is not a one-time transaction only; it is a continuing transformation.

Romans 1:16 (NLT): “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…”

The Gospel doesn’t just improve your life—it resurrects it. That power is not abstract—it’s personal, real, transformative. The cross shatters chains, breaks addictions, heals marriages, restores identities, and gives eternal life.

The word s???µ????? (sozomenois) – “being saved” – implies an ongoing process. Sanctification. God is at work in us continually through the message of the cross.

A missionary once ministered to a tribe that practiced ritual sacrifice. When they heard about Jesus, they were stunned. “You mean the Great Spirit sacrificed His own Son for us?” one man asked. “Yes,” the missionary replied. The man wept and said, “Then we will follow Him forever.” That’s the power of the cross.