494. 1CO 2:2. CHRIST CRUCIFIED

1Co_2:2. Christ Crucified

For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."’971Co_2:2.

This is Paul’s noble avowal to the church of Christ at Corinth. The occasion of it is to be found in the declining of that church from the purity and simplicity of the gospel. After Christianity had been established there for some time, they became ambitious of gifts and miraculous powers. In addition to this, they divided themselves into respective parties, and some said they were of Paul, others of Apollos, &c. In this way they became unsettled, and exhibited a most unhappy and unsightly appearance to the other churches of Christ. Paul endeavors in this epistle to show them the evil of such a course, and that Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, were only servants of the one Lord, Jesus Christ. And it was on this account that he thanked God he had baptized so few of them. See 1Co_1:14, &c. He also shows them that he never attempted to gain any improper influence over them; his sole design being to preach Christ, and him crucified, &c. So also in the text, "For I determined," &c.

I. The Subject of Paul’s Declaration.

"Christ and him crucified." Now this accords with what he affirmed to the Galatians, "God forbid," &c. Christ crucified is the great theme of the Christian ministry. Now this will be evident if you observe that,

1. This is the great end of all revelation The types and sacrifices of the ancient economy all referred to this. So did the prophecies; they testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, &c. Jesus declared the certainty and character of his death. "The Son of Man must be delivered," &c. "Thus it was written, and thus it behooved," &c. This is the sum of the gospel testimony, &c., that "Christ died for our sins," &c.

2. Here alone is exhibited the infinite love and mercy of God.

Here we see how much God hated sin, and yet loved the sinner, &c. "Greater love hath no man than this," &c. How great the gift!’97how vast the price! Who can compute it? Contrast heaven and earth,’97glory and infamy,’97the throne of the eternal, and the cross of Calvary.

3. Here only has the sinner life and salvation.

Where can the sinner go but to the cross? There is the sentence against sin. Sin punished. The surety dying. The blood of redemption flowing. There is the fountain opened for sin, &c. "See there my Lord upon the tree," &c. Before the cross we are humbled, made contrite, and drawn to love the Redeemer. "We love him," &c. Here then is the ground, the immoveable ground of our hope, &c. "As Moses lifted up," &c.

II. The Nature of his Declaration.

1. It intimated that nothing pertaining to himself should have the place of the cross.

The human mind is capable of being influenced by a variety of principles and feelings. But all the ordinary things so highly esteemed by men in general, the apostle sacrificed in preaching Christ crucified. Mental dignity had to be sacrificed. The Jews who had the oracles, stumbled at the cross. To the Greeks it was foolishness, and the preachers of the gospel were deemed fools by all. One said, "Much learning hath," &c. Well, says the apostle, be it so, call me idiot or madman, "For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we be sober, it is for your cause," &c. Nothing was so offensive to the learned as salvation by the crucifixion of a reputed malefactor. Yet, says Paul, "I am determined," &c. The approbation of friends, the associates of his youth, had to be sacrificed. His chosen friends. His own countrymen. Yes, to elevate the cross was to excite all their scorn their hatred, malevolence. His name would be ranked with apostates, and his character associated with the base, the refuse of the world. What a sacrifice! Yet in spite of all this, he resolved to know nothing, &c.

The ease and affluence of life had to be sacrificed. The cross exposed him to the loss of all earthly good. In preaching Christ, he had to endure hunger, and weariness, and pain; perils by land and by sea; the loss of all earthly riches, and the possession of all poverty; the loss of liberty; yea, and life itself was in jeopardy every hour. Nevertheless, he said, "he was determined," &c. He preferred Christ to all things, and was resolved to preach him, whatever might be the cost. His determination included,

2. To preach nothing that was contrary to Christ crucified.

Hence he had to denounce human merit, the ancient sacrifices, the works of the law, and all systems of religion then in existence. The cross knew of no compromising. No mixture. It was to overthrow all creeds and forms; and these, however ancient, popular, and powerfully patronized and supported. Paul knew this, yet he "was determined," &c.

3. To make Christ crucified the grand centre of all other truths which he might proclaim.

Such as the goodness of God,’97the truth of God,’97the holiness, and the mercy of God,’97the recovery of man from sin and ruin,’97the hope of man. All doctrines in reference to this,’97all duties,’97all blessings, and privileges in reference to this. All that Christ did, and taught, and wrought out. Incarnation,’97humiliation,’97preaching,’97miracles, &c.

4. To proclaim Christ crucified in all places, at all times, and to all persons.

This was his theme everywhere’97at Corinth, Athens, Rome; the theme by which he began his ministry, with which he carried it on, and which he manifested to its termination. To the rich and the poor; to the wise and the illiterate; to the young and the old; to every man he made known Christ and him crucified. Consider,

III. The Reasons by which this Declaration may be Justified.

1. This was the design of his office.

As Christ’s ambassador; Christ’s witness. It was his business. His great work. He was called, &c. to this. Not to acquire languages; to examine the productions of nature; or the effects of science. Not to visit ancient monuments,’97inquire after antiquities, &c. Not to collect manuscripts and visit the seats of learning. No, but to lift up the cross,’97to say everywhere,

"’Tis all my business here below,

To cry, Behold the Lamb."

2. This alone would prove saving to souls.

This to all believers is the power of God, and this the wisdom of God. Here is pardon, peace, and holiness for every sinner, and nowhere else.

3. This alone would glorify Christ.

"If I be lifted up," &c. He endured the pain and the curse &c. that he might see his seed, and witness the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. In this way Christ’s kingdom is to be extended, and the world to be subdued to his authority and will.

Application

1. This subject is the basis of hope to the sinner.

2. The ground of triumph to believers.

3. And the joy of heaven forever

Autor: JABEZ BURNS