Foolishness Or Power?

Good News – April 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Foolishness Or Power?

The Bible says, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18 NKJV ). What does that mean?

The Cross
The cross refers to the crucifixion, the most common means of executing criminals in the Roman Empire. The condemned man had to carry his cross through the streets to let everyone know he would soon die.

When he reached the execution site he was nailed to the cross by spikes through his hands and feet. Then the cross was raised on end and dropped into a support hole. The force jolted the victim’s bones out of joint. Crucifixion was a torturous death. Today’s methods of execution – like hanging, the electric chair, lethal injection or poisonous gas – seem kind by comparison.

The Message
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is not a creature but the Creator! Isaiah 9:6 calls Him “Mighty God,” yet He became a man to die on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8). Why? It was because somebody had to die for our sins. In other words, Jesus became our Substitute.

The Bible says God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in

Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Hundreds of years earlier, Isaiah prophesied that He would be “wounded for our transgressions ... bruised for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5).

In view of this, shouldn’t we accept what the Bible says about this powerful work of salvation for us? “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). That is what the cross of Christ is all about: “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3).

Your Choice
Sadly, many people see Christ’s death on the cross as foolish. They say, “So what?” and go on living as if there were no hell and no eternal punishment for sins. The Bible has bad news for these people: it says they “are perishing.” But to those who accept the powerful message of the cross, the Word of God has good news: it says they “are being saved.”

Since Christ died on the cross, millions have repented of their sins and accepted Him as their Savior. In doing so, they have found forgiveness, peace, happiness and the promise of eternal life. For them the cross is really the “power of God.”

Do you want to experience the power of God in your life? The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). Will you do it now? We can tell you how.

This article is available as a gospel tract from Grace &Truth.

Come to the Savior, make no delay,
Here in His Word He’s shown us the way;
Here in our midst He’s standing today,
Tenderly saying, “Come!” —George F. Root (1820–1895)