Why the Cross Can Save Anybody
1Corinthians 1:18-29
March 17, 2019 AM St. Patrick’s Day
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (John 12:27-33)
A. What we are going to read about this morning is THE most foolish thing that ever happened in the history of mankind
1. People think the most foolish thing that ever happened was when Donald Trump was elected president
2. You may believe it was when the British people chose to leave the EU
3. Nope.
4. What we are going to read about DROVE a young man named Patrick to return to the very people of Ireland that had brutally enslaved him for 6 long years back in 400 AD
5. It drove a young married fisherman named Peter to leave his job and his boat and his nation to go preach to anyone who would listen about what happened on the cross!
6. It transformed a murderous Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus into probably the greatest Christian ever
B. What was THE most foolish and yet most successful thing that ever happened in the history of mankind?
C. It was the crucifixion – the cross (John 12:27-33)
1. These are the words of Jesus Himself
2. The Cross is Glorious – amazing – it is marvellous (John 12:23-28)
a. Looks horrific
b. But in a way that only God could do, it was stunning
3. It was Necessary (John 12:24)
4. It is the Opposite of What We Would Want to Believe (1:25,26)
5. It was the Most Impossible Thing Attempted (1:27-33)
a. Most condemning judgment – because of sin
b. Most painful execution
c. Most awful separation – of the Son of God from God the Father
d. Most public event ever held – the entire world knows about it or at least needs to know about it – more than knowing any other news item
e. Most effective news ever told – it can draw, pull, lift all men and women everywhere to God!
D. And Paul here in 1Cor 1 draws the line between two kinds of people in the world
1. Those that are humbled and changed by the crucifixion of Jesus
2. And those that ignore it and think it boring
3. And Paul warns that how you react to the cross of Christ actually will determine your eternity – nothing else matters!
II. Message
A. What Happened on the Cross is Foolishness (1Cor 1:18-25)
1. It is absolutely crazy what happened on the cross 2,000 years ago
a. When an unwanted Saviour
b. Died a horrible death at the hands of God 2,000 years ago for an ungrateful world
c. Being buried in another man’s tomb, and sealed inside with a 1 ton cover stone
2. It was no accident – not a wrongful death
a. It was no unfortunate tragedy
b. It was PLANNED and expected from before the world was ever Created
c. That’s crazy
3. It is the exact opposite of what we want God to do to help us
a. We want good times to come our way, money, love, to be liked and healthy
b. We want a fortune cookie god
c. We want all the attention to be on US and our needs and troubles
d. But all of history, led to and focuses all attention on one crazy event
e. No one would want God to come down and die like a man
f. We would want to work out some sort of agreement, prove ourselves worthy, show off our good works, be able to point to our own righteousnesses
g. We would want God to appreciate how much we try to be good
4. But the cross only shows us for what we really are – at our BEST
a. Remember, gathered around that cross, with Jesus dying on it were all the people Jesus had loved and healed and touched and fed and served
b. The best politicians were gathered, and decided Jesus should die
c. And the best theologians and most holy-living of religious zealots cried out for Jesus to be tortured and executed like a criminal on the cross
d. So, the best of us are
1) Bible rejecters
2) God haters
3) Jesus trashers
4) Sinners who don’t want God
e. There is nothing about US to be proud of – we killed the Son of God
1) Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
2) Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
3) Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
B. The Gospel is ONLY About the Cross (1Corinthians 1:10-15,22,23)
1. NOT about…
a. Baptism
b. Or theological opinions
c. Good works and best efforts
d. Nor about following and venerating Paul or Peter, or Mary, or Patrick
2. But about two rough pieces of wood, that held the only perfect man to ever live, until He died! (FORGET ABOUT THE MODERN IDEA OF A SMOOTH “PRETTY” CROSS)
a. Invented by the Greeks
b. Perfected by the Romans
c. Used for the worst of criminals
d. The public example of man’s justice being carried out for the worst of offenders – the execution of hardened, repeat offenders who just never change
e. The entire process of crucifixion took days, and the criminal was not only whipped to the point of death, but mocked and spit upon and tortured by series of beatings he would be forced to endure even before he was made to carry his own cross to the place of public execution
f. That long final walk, carrying 200 lbs of wood beams on their lacerated backs, often took hours due to the weakness of the criminal after being beaten so severely
g. And then, the criminal was laid down upon the frame of that rugged cross, and then nailed to that cross, in anguishing pain!
h. And then the cross frame was raised up and into a 2 foot deep hole in the ground, where it was dropped into place, and the guilty criminal screamed as the nails tore through the most sensitive nerves and tendons in the entire body
C. The Cross Proves We Are in Serious Trouble with God
1. There is some bad news for everyone on this planet
a. Worse than the bad news of getting cancer
b. Worse than finding out about financial ruin
c. Worse than being abandoned by your parents, your wife or your husband
d. Worse than losing your eyesight or hearing or your ability to walk
e. The bad news is that we are all in trouble before God
f. You can laugh it off all you want, but it’s the truth!
2. Mankind is in trouble with God
a. Mankind has not caused Climate Change – what an absolute joke teachers are feeding your young children
b. But mankind HAS dug our own grave before an all holy God, who will judge sin and will punish sinners who had no time for His laws and His ways (Prov 1)
c. God will judge the actions, the attitudes, the thoughts and the intentions of every man, woman and child
1) John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
2) Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness
d. And everyone knows it – we are all guilty
e. There is none righteous the Bible says, no not one
f. Solomon said there is none that doeth good and sinneth not
g. The wrath of God is coming – it will be poured out on this world, and when it happens, there will be countless billion who will wish they could die, but they won’t be able to escape it
3. We are messed up INSIDE – sin in every heart – no exceptions
a. You can clean up the outside all you want, and fool everyone around you
b. But INSIDE you and I are wicked, and dark, and sinful and in trouble for it
c. Do you ever notice what you spend a lot of time thinking about?
d. Do you ever worry about someone discovering what you dream about?
e. Do you ever struggle with dark thoughts and anger and lying
f. Do you really think that all the lusting and adultery in your heart is okay?
g. Do you really expect that God doesn’t see all the flirting and the playing with fire ladies that you do with the way you dress and talk to the “boys”?
h. Seriously, and one day you will wonder why your husband is cheating on you, and why your wife is angry all the time, and why your home is hell on earth, and why your kids have lost the plot, and why you are turning more and more to drink and drugs
i. BECAUSE we are all broken on the inside and can do nothing about it
4. As a matter of fact, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING we can do to fix things between us and God
a. We are doomed to die and spend an eternity separated from God and heaven in a place called hell and the lake of fire
b. No hope
c. That is the bad news folks – own up to it and accept it
d. Because THEN you can appreciate the GOOD NEWS!
D. The Cross is the Only Thing that Works (1Cor 1:18,21,30)
1. So, GOD had to do everything to save us
a. Since there is nothing you or I or anyone could ever do to make up for all our sins
b. God had to do pay for it!
c. By becoming the Perfect Person none of us could EVER be, and then laying down His only life in place of everyone who would ever be born
d. John 10:17,18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
e. Heb 10:11,12 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God
2. It alone has the power to save and restore a messed up, sinful soul
a. Not like a good luck charm
b. Or like a self-help programme
c. But like only God Almighty can reach down and swap our sinful record with Jesus Christ’s perfect one
d. THAT’S what happened on the cross!
e. While everyone was watching Jesus die, God was taking the sins of the whole world and placing every last one of them on HIM, so that anyone could just believe it and become free and forgiven and saved and whole!
f. Joh n1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
3. Only the Gospel has the power to save people from the inside out, through and through
a. Nothing else you have ever tried will work
b. Baptism makes you wet – doesn’t matter how many times you get baptized, or how many different ways you get baptized… YOU ONLY GET WET
c. The eucharist makes you thirsty – full stop!
d. Church membership only makes you A NAME on a piece of paper
e. Meditation makes you sleepy
f. Drugs make you addicted
g. Drink makes you drunk
h. But the cross can make you right with God!!!
4. Why?
5. Because it wasn’t the end of the story…
a. The very same Jesus that died, got back up alive, all by Himself three days later! (1Cor 15:1-4)
b. That’s the Gospel! It’s GOOD news!
c. And this one event is faithfully preached and Presented by foolish sounding, and imperfect messengers – Bible believing pastors and Christians across this globe
1) 1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
2) 1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
3) Act 17:2,3 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4) Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
6. And all anyone has to do is BELIEVE it
E. The Cross Wins (1Corinthians 1:30,31)
1. What was meant for death, and for the END of Jesus, actually brings eternal LIFE!
2. Whether we believe it, or accept it, or trust it, or not… it has won
a. Yes, The Crucifixion upsets most people
1) That something like that would be preached from pulpits, instead of Save the earth, and save the whales, and save the oceans
2) That God would think we were so messed up that we would even need a Saviour
b. But it affects some of the rest of us in the best way possible
1) Blows us away – it is powerful!
2) That GOD would become a Man named Jesus
3) And that Jesus would let wicked, religious men and politicians, who always think THEY can save us, throw Him against the wood of that cross and nail Him there to die
4) That Jesus would willingly do THAT for ME!
5) Lay His hands down and allow Roman soldiers to actually nail Him to those two boards of wood!
6) Humbles us, and shuts us up! How do you argue with THAT injustice!
7) It broke me, and pierced my unbelieving heart
8) It humbled me, and caused me to repent of my own stupidity and stubborn pride
9) And it then saved me, when I just finally agreed with God that HE is right, and I am wrong, and that I now trust His Son, Jesus to save a wretch like me!
10) Whew! Some of us enjoy hearing about it over and over and over again!
11) It is the power of God still to this day! In my life and in the lives of every real believer here!
c. Thankfully, it has won over all my objections and arguments
1) And over all the objections and arguments of a load of people in this room this morning
2) Because it is Wiser than the wisest man or woman who ever lived
3) Stronger than the strongest man or woman
4) It breaks down every argument, every obstacle
5) It humbles the proudest man or woman
6) It brings everything we value to zero!
3. But it Affected God most of all
a. Satisfied His righteousness and His expectations that none of us could live up to
b. Jesus satisfied every expectation so that He could allow such a wretch like you and like me into His heaven
c. And leaves only Jesus as all that we need to be right with God, and forgiven by God, and saved from the wrath to come!
d. There is no glorying, rejoicing, cheering because of your own good works, but in the Lord Jesus only!
e. Because HE wins throughout time!
4. The only question is, does He win in the end in YOUR life?
F. The Gospel is Calling (1Corinthians 1:17,18,21,23,24)
1. The Gospel is NOT something God just expects US to figure out on our own
2. It is NOT something you feel your way through
3. It is a passionate call, a summons, an invitation from God Himself to sinners who otherwise have no hope at all
4. It was NOT Patrick, or Peter, or Mary who calls to us saying
a. “Come unto ME” Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
b. “Look unto ME” Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
c. “Believe only on ME”
1) Joh 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
2) Joh 9:36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
3) Joh 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
d. “Trust ME” – not your priest, your pastor, your politician, your doctor, or yourself!
e. Follow ME Jn 10:27 My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me
f. It was Jesus who said all that!
5. Have you answered that calling yet? That pull in your heart?
a. Not many mighty, or strong, or smart, or wealthy will answer (1:26) – too busy, too worried about their popularity and income and “image”
b. But YOU can answer
III. Conclusion
A. There are only four reasons why you don’t get affected by the cross – that you don’t weep at the thought of what happened on it, and drop everything and follow Jesus like a fanatic
1. Because you are lost
a. That’s a Bible word
b. It means you are far away from God (2Cor 4:3,4)
c. You are not just mistaken, and confused – you are damned by your own sins
2. Because you are comfortable in your sin
a. You like the filth you watch and the attitudes you carry in you, and the slop you put into your lungs and liver
b. You like the friends you keep
c. And the language you use
d. Yep!
e. You are so comfortable that you will die in your sins and for all eternity regret being so blind to just how wrong YOU yes YOU are living
3. Because you believe you are not bad enough
a. You really think you are pretty God
b. And that God understands you and your “situations”
4. And because you are just plain stupid (2Thes 2:10-12)
a. I know you won’t hear anyone else talk to you that way, But “I” will because THAT is what everyone in this village needs to hear!
b. The TRUTH!
B. Dear friend, I wish you knew how much you need Jesus Christ - not as a picture or icon on your wall at home, but Jesus living and leading in your heart of hearts!
C. One day you will need Him, and it will probably be too late
D. But today is NOT too late
E. Today, I have lifted up and honoured Jesus, the Son of God
F. I have told you all about the Foolishness of the Power of the Crucifixion
G. But it is up to you to believe that He is your only hope to be saved from the coming wrath of God
H. Why the Cross Can Save Anybody
I. Three kinds of responses to what happened on the cross!
1. Upset at the bad news and never get beyond it
2. Thrilled at such good news
3. And those that couldn’t care less
J. Will you bow your heads, and imagine dying right now
1. From that moment, there will be no second chances, no time for prayer, not time for repenting and being sorry for all your sins
2. Your life, and every chance to get saved will be lost
3. Is THAT how you want death to come to you?
4. Or would you like to be ready?
5. By believing the news that God sent His only begotten Son to die in your place
6. And that by only believing, and crying out to God, you can HAVE the gift of eternal life, forgiveness, and real change from this moment on!