0420. Paul's First Message–The Cross

Paul’s First Message–The Cross

"Paul * * reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered" (Act_17:2-3).

The necessity of the Cross, this was the message that Paul proclaimed.

Of course, Paul did not preach that Christ "must needs have suffered" because he was a helpless martyr to a holy cause. The "must needs" had to do with the only way in which "God could be just and the justifier of them who believe."

Paul preached that salvation was wholly dependent upon the death of Christ. Salvation was of grace, apart from works.

1. Paul preached that the death of Christ was all-sufficient. He did not preach the Cross plus anything else at all. He knew nothing of the doctrine of the inner spark of Divinity that lies dormant in the hearts of the unsaved, and that needs no more than fanning to produce effulgent glory of Divine life.

Paul knew that if salvation was by the works of the flesh, then Christ died in vain.

Paul knew that if salvation was by the works of the flesh, in whole or in part, then man would have whereof to glory, and that Christ would therefore be robbed of the praises of His grace.

Paul knew that if salvation was by the works of the flesh then grace was no more grace.

2. Paul preached that the death of Christ was deficient to none. When Christ died, He tasted death for every man, He opened the door through which all who would, might enter in and be saved.

The Cross did three things for the whole race.

(1) It settled the Adamic sin for every man. The infant, the child, the adult are in no case lost because of inherited sin. Christ took away the sin of the world.

(2) It gave to every man the promise of a physical resurrection. "As in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive, but every one in his own order." We know but little of the resurrection body of the wicked dead, we do know that they will be raised, small and great, and made to stand before the Great White Throne.

(3) It gave to every man an opportunity to be saved from his own sins. With the Adamic sin settled, the remaining need is the question of one’s own transgression. Provision for this is all made in the Cross of Christ, "The grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto the many." Who are the many, unto whom the gift of grace abounds? It is unto those, and those alone, who receive it. "For if by the offence of one, death reigned by the one, much more they who receive the abundance of the grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life, through the one, Jesus Christ."

3. Paul preached that the death of Christ was efficient only to those who believe.

Christ died, the "whosoever call" was made, but only those who believe are saved. Those who reject the "gift of grace" their sin remaineth upon them. "He that believeth not shall be damned."

Christ’s atoning death reaches unto all men, but all men do not receive and all men do not believe. Thus it is that all men are not saved. "He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life, but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR