PREACHING OF THE CROSS

1. God revealed Himself in the WORD, “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD” [Jonh 1:1] And by the SPOKEN WORD brought forth the worlds, “DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, and I will do all my pleasure” [Isaiah 46:10] At the appointed time, the WORD was made FLESH in Jesus Christ to RECONCILE the world to God, “To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING the WORLD unto HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” [2 Corinthians 5:19] The channel of RECONCILIATION and SALVATION is GRACE through FAITH in the FINISHED WORK of Jesus Christ on the CROSS “For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God” [Ephesians 2:8] It pleased God in His infinite WISDOM to offer SALVATION by GRACE to men in equal measure by PREACHING OF THE CROSS; the rich and mighty having no advantage over the poor and lowly, “For after that in the WISDOM of God the world BY WISDOM KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased God by the FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING to SAVE them that BELIEVE” [1 Corinthians 1:21]

2. PREACHING OF THE CROSS is a MYSTERY made simple by GRACE, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have CRUCIFIED the Lord of glory” [1 Corinthians 2:7-8] Whereas we do not venerate the object or shape of the CROSS, our TESTIMONY is of God manifest in Jesus Christ  to SUFFER and DIE on the CROSS  ”… and thus it behoved Christ to SUFFER, and to RISE FROM THE DEAD the third day: And that REPENTANCE and REMISSION OF SINS should be PREACHED IN HIS NAME among all nations, …” [Luke 24:46-47] PREACHING OF THE CROSS is the GOOD NEWS of Christ’s VICTORY over SIN and DEATH on the CROSS, “For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL of Christ: for it is the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” [Romans 1:16] Every time we preach the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ we enforce POWER of God to turn the worst OFFENDER to RIGHTEOUSNESS of God, “For he hath MADE HIM TO BE SIN for us, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD in him” [2 John 5:21] Friend, GRACE is kindled by PREACHING OF THE CROSS as I have presented to you, be wise and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, “For the PREACHING OF THE CROSS is to them that PERISH FOOLISIHNESS; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER OF GOD” [1 Corinthians 1:18]

3. PREACHING OF THE CROSS is without respect of persons; if we PREACH the CROSS, let us also CONFORM to His DEATH, as it is written: “That I may KNOW HIM, and the POWER of his RESURRECTION, and the FELLOWSHIP of HIS SUFFERINGS, being made CONFORMABLE unto HIS DEATH” [Philippians 3:10]  Jesus Christ presented Himself a LIVING SACRIFICE on the CROSS till the FLESH be slain, the same is required of HIS Sheep and Shepherds alike, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” [Romans 12:1] Let us daily nail the FLESH to the CROSS, putting aside our WILL to become what Christ wants us to be. It means bringing to subjection ambitions and preferences emanating from SELF for Christ to reign supreme in us, “I am CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” [Galatians 2:20] If we PREACH the CROSS, let us also acknowledge there are no exemptions to the burden of the CROSS; we are all BRETHREN and Jesus Christ, the FIRSTBORN among many Brethren, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that he might be the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN” [Romans 8:29] If we have divisions and MASTERS in the fold, it is because we have not crucified the FLESH. Let us return to the CROSS, for without the CROSS we have no part in Jesus Christ, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS daily, and follow me” [Luke 9:23]

4. PREACHING OF THE CROSS is  the victory of ENDURANCE in the manner of Jesus Christ, “… who for the JOY that was SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” [Hebrews 12:2] We are called to ENDURE in a world configured to HATE the righteous and EXALT the wicked, “And ye shall be HATED OF ALL MEN for my name's sake: but he that ENDURETH TO THE END shall be SAVED” [Matthew 10:22] Beloved, it is not enough to ENDURE within, PAINS of constant battles to suppress fleshly passions and without, INSTABILITIES of a dying world; we must hold on to the end. The KEY to ENDURANCE is a MIND renewed by transformation from conformity with wisdom of this world to the WILL of God, “And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: but be ye TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, WILL OF GOD” [Romans 12:2] Our MINDS are renewed in PATIENCE, who trust in God to fulfil His PROMISE according to the AGENDA of our SALVATION in Jesus Christ. We are neither distressed nor distracted by crisis within and worsening confusion in the world; our HOPE is in the imminent appearance of Jesus Christ. I charge you, therefore, to be PATIENT “For YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE, that, after ye have DONE THE WILL OF GOD, ye might RECEIVE THE PROMISE” [Hebrews 10:36]