Alesaggio
04-17-2007, 01:31 PM
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
John 1:1 - What is the significance of a word? Words without proper definitions are just so much useless babble. It is not the word itself that carries power, but rather the meaning of that word. God conveyed Himself to us through the Word, Jesus.
"Logos" - means the essence, meaning, power of statement. It is not so much that we are preaching about the cross, per se. The message we bring is the meaning of the cross...the definition of what happened on the cross... we preach the "logos" of the cross.
THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF BOTH HOLINESS AND SIN.
The significance of the cross is two-fold. It signifies the holiness of the One who suffered there. But it also signifies the vileness of the sin for which He suffered. The holiness of God and the sinfulness of man met in a great conflict on the cross. The logos of the cross is the statement of just how bad man can be and just how good God can be. The logos of the cross is this...God’s holiness is victorious and the power of sin has been defeated.
THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF BOTH LOVE AND SACRIFICE.
Calvary was never meant to be an option for Jesus Christ. [see Heb. 9:15-16]. There was no other hope of saving man but by the sacrifice of the cross. John described Jesus as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The cross stands as a testimony to the love of God. John 3:16. Eph. 5:2 - "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." I Jn. 4:10 - "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
THIS LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS MERE FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING.
It seemed as foolishness to the Jews that the supposed Messiah would allow Himself to suffer and die at the hands of sinners. It seemed as foolishness to the Gentiles that God would exhibit such love for the likes of mortal man. The message of the cross seems as foolishness to those...... who reject the deity of Jesus Christ,... who refuse to acknowledge man’s need for a Saviour who trust in themselves and their own fleshly works for redemption.
TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S FINAL WORD CONCERNING THE POWER OF SALVATION.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD." The death of Jesus is the power of God to save. It is the power of God to keep. It is the power of God to raise and glorify those who have believed. (Rom. 1:16) - "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."
In an age where entertainment, sensationalism and carnal enthusiasm are popular approaches to preaching, let us remember our scriptural obligation to teach the word. Good teachers need to adhere to certain guidelines that should characterize their teaching of the truth. To fail to do might inhibit our ability to fully trust and obey the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.
Paul wrote, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial) a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Jesus said, "You will know (ginosko - experientially know and obey it) the truth and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31,32) Too many preachers think they should teach for oida (pure knowledge or acquisition of facts). May God enable us to preach with a breadth, length, height and depth of experiencing the Lord and His wonderful truths and attributes.
Jeremiah said, "Let not a wise man boast in His wisdom, let not a mighty man boast in His might. But let him who boast, boast of this that he understands and knows me." (Jer 9:23,24)
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John 1:1 - What is the significance of a word? Words without proper definitions are just so much useless babble. It is not the word itself that carries power, but rather the meaning of that word. God conveyed Himself to us through the Word, Jesus.
"Logos" - means the essence, meaning, power of statement. It is not so much that we are preaching about the cross, per se. The message we bring is the meaning of the cross...the definition of what happened on the cross... we preach the "logos" of the cross.
THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF BOTH HOLINESS AND SIN.
The significance of the cross is two-fold. It signifies the holiness of the One who suffered there. But it also signifies the vileness of the sin for which He suffered. The holiness of God and the sinfulness of man met in a great conflict on the cross. The logos of the cross is the statement of just how bad man can be and just how good God can be. The logos of the cross is this...God’s holiness is victorious and the power of sin has been defeated.
THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S DEFINITION OF BOTH LOVE AND SACRIFICE.
Calvary was never meant to be an option for Jesus Christ. [see Heb. 9:15-16]. There was no other hope of saving man but by the sacrifice of the cross. John described Jesus as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The cross stands as a testimony to the love of God. John 3:16. Eph. 5:2 - "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." I Jn. 4:10 - "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
THIS LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS MERE FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING.
It seemed as foolishness to the Jews that the supposed Messiah would allow Himself to suffer and die at the hands of sinners. It seemed as foolishness to the Gentiles that God would exhibit such love for the likes of mortal man. The message of the cross seems as foolishness to those...... who reject the deity of Jesus Christ,... who refuse to acknowledge man’s need for a Saviour who trust in themselves and their own fleshly works for redemption.
TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE LOGOS OF THE CROSS IS GOD’S FINAL WORD CONCERNING THE POWER OF SALVATION.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD." The death of Jesus is the power of God to save. It is the power of God to keep. It is the power of God to raise and glorify those who have believed. (Rom. 1:16) - "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."
In an age where entertainment, sensationalism and carnal enthusiasm are popular approaches to preaching, let us remember our scriptural obligation to teach the word. Good teachers need to adhere to certain guidelines that should characterize their teaching of the truth. To fail to do might inhibit our ability to fully trust and obey the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.
Paul wrote, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial) a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Jesus said, "You will know (ginosko - experientially know and obey it) the truth and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31,32) Too many preachers think they should teach for oida (pure knowledge or acquisition of facts). May God enable us to preach with a breadth, length, height and depth of experiencing the Lord and His wonderful truths and attributes.
Jeremiah said, "Let not a wise man boast in His wisdom, let not a mighty man boast in His might. But let him who boast, boast of this that he understands and knows me." (Jer 9:23,24)
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