1194. The Place of the Cross in Paul's Ministry

The Place of the Cross in Paul's Ministry

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling-block, and unto Gentiles foolishness (1Co_1:23, A. S. V.).

Paul said, "We preach Christ crucified." Paul preached this Gospel because he knew it was "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believed." He preached it because he knew that there was no other name given under Heaven and among men whereby we could be saved.

Paul preached the Cross because he realized that the Cross was true to the testimony of God. He knew it was the only message upon which the Spirit and the power of God could rest.

We heard of a certain church in the Hast which had engraved on the cornerstone, "We preach Christ crucified." As the years passed by the walls of the ancient church became covered with ivy and part of the cornerstone inscription was hid to view, and the only words which could be seen were the words, "We preach." It is needless to say that there was no necessity for their trimming the vines; for, all that was done in that pulpit was expressed by "we preach." The same words might well be said of many a pulpit to-day. They preach but they do not preach Christ crucified.

People to-day are preaching on everything else excepting Christ. They preach sociology and reform and eugenics and civic righteousness, but they never preach the Cross. They preach on dogs and hats and shoes and victuals, but they never preach Calvary. When the pulpit gives an open ear to every call for pulpit presentation they will have no time left for the old-time Gospel.

Who can imagine the Apostle Paul sidestepping the Cross, the resurrection and the Lord's return, and delivering a political harangue, an exposition of the latest novel or any other world-appealing message? Paul preached Christ.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR