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.
IV. Why the Cross Offends—And Why It Must
Galatians 5:11 (NLT): “If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.”
The cross offends because it reveals our helplessness. It declares that you cannot save yourself. No amount of morality, charity, or religion will do. It calls for repentance—a turning from sin and self.
Tim Keller rightly said, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”
That’s why the cross is so powerful. It cuts deep—but it heals completely.
This is the double-edged beauty of the Gospel. It confronts our sin and exposes our weakness, but then lifts us up into grace that’s greater than we imagined. That’s why the cross humbles us and heals us.
V. Christ Crucified: The Centre of Our Message
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NLT): “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.”
Paul’s focus was singular—Christ crucified. Not church growth strategies. Not cultural relevance. Not entertainment. Just Christ. Just the cross. Because everything flows from there.
The Greek word ?sta???µ???? (estauromenon) – “crucified” – is in the perfect tense, implying a completed act with ongoing results. The cross was once, but its power is forever.
Charles Stanley put it simply: “When we stray from the cross, we lose our power.”
Friends, never move beyond the cross. Stay anchored in it. If your walk feels weak, your witness dull, your worship dry—return to the foot of the cross. That’s where your strength begins again.
VI. The Gospel Proclaimed: Christ Died, Was Buried, and Rose Again
Let me proclaim clearly the good news of the cross:
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life.
He went willingly to the cross, taking upon Himself the wrath and punishment that our sins deserved.
He died and was buried.
But on the third day, He rose again, conquering sin, death, and the grave.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NLT): “Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day…”
That is the Gospel. That is the power. That is our hope.
VII. A Call to Respond
So I ask you today: Where do you stand in relation to the cross? Is it foolishness to you? Or is it the very power of God?
To the unbeliever, I plead with you: Repent. Believe. Trust in Jesus.
To the believer, I urge you: Live in the power of the cross daily. Proclaim it boldly.
Luke 9:23 (NLT): “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
The cross is not just where we were saved—it’s how we live.
VIII. A Heartfelt Invitation to Salvation
If you have never turned from your sin and trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, today is the day of salvation. The cross is calling you. Not to religion. Not to rules. But to relationship.
Jesus said in John 14:6 (NLT): “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Come to the cross. Embrace its power. Lay down your burdens. Receive His grace.
Conclusion:
Dear friends, the message of the cross may be foolish to the world, but to us—it is everything. It is life. It is love. It is liberty. Let us go from here not ashamed of the cross but emboldened by it. Go, and embrace the power of the cross—not only for yourself, but for a world dying without hope.
Benediction:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen you to live boldly by the cross, proclaim the Gospel faithfully, and shine the light of Christ wherever you go. Amen.
