Having examined the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I will at this time discuss its supreme importance. There is neither a doctrine nor a teaching within the Christian church as paramount as the teaching of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the foundation of the Christian faith. By destroying the teaching of the resurrection of Christ, one can destroy the gospel altogether.
The Preaching of the Cross
I am serious about the truth of Christ’s resurrection. I am a fool to the world, but God said it would be this way. Notice:
I Corinthians 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.”
Two truths are herein brought out.
ITS FOOLISHNESS TO THEM THAT PERISH
First, the apostle exposes the perception of the preaching of the cross by unbelievers. He tells us that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish. Every Christian needs to listen carefully. Our message to this world is the cross of Jesus Christ. When Paul refers to “the cross,” he is not making reference to the two cross beams that comprise the structure of Christ’s execution. When Paul speaks of “the cross,” he is not even speaking of merely Christ’s death. The message of “the cross” is not merely a message of death. The message of “the cross” is the gospel message, which is defined in I Corinthians 15:1, 3, 4 – “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” The message of the cross is the gospel message; that is, the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is what the apostle means by “the cross.” Yes, we preach Christ crucified, but we do not stop there. We preach Christ crucified, Christ buried, and Christ risen again. We preach that He died for the putting away of our sins; He was buried for the putting behind of our past; and He arose for the putting forth of our new, victorious life in Jesus Christ. Make no mistake about it – this message is foolishness to the lost. Our message to this world is ignorant foolishness to them. They laugh the gospel to scorn. They completely discredit the Bible as a collection of fairy tales. They despise the truth, they are most intolerant to the man who brings this message.
ITS POWER TO THEM THAT ARE SAVED
After showing the world’s perception of the preaching of the cross, Paul shows the Christian’s view of such a message – “…but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” The world may laugh in disbelief of the resurrection, but when the pure gospel is preached, it goes forth with power and undeniable evidence of its truth. The vilest among sinners hate this truth. I have witnessed men in deep sin be completely converted to the risen Saviour. My eyes have beheld drunkards cease their intake of alcohol immediately and altogether as a result of being introduced to the risen, living Christ. I have heard men offer prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, and instant physical healing was granted. A dead Saviour has no power. But the risen Saviour has power! Many an atheist has died in complete and utter torment! Many infidels are miserable, and rightly so! They have absolutely nothing for which to live. They eat and drink today, for tomorrow they die. But no Christian who has walked in fellowship with the Prince of Peace has ever crossed the chilly valley of death in such torment. There is no explanation for the saint of God dying in calmness and peace other than the fact that the risen Lord walks the vale beside the dying saint! I have obtained wisdom in situations at the spur of the moment. From where did I gain this wisdom? From attorneys? No way! From physicians? Not a chance! Such wisdom comes from Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who was dead and is alive for ever more!
What Will We Do with the Resurrection?
Seeing that the resurrection of Christ is to the world foolishness, what should we Christians do with such a doctrine? Some Christians are disregarding it. They completely ignore its truth to appease the skeptic. Other Christians are trying to make it appealing to the world. Hear me well. The preaching of the cross – the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ – WILL NEVER be appealing to the world. They will never approve of our message, as long as they are in their lost condition. I will not deny the resurrection. I will not disregard the resurrection. But neither will I doctor it up so that the world likes it.
So, what are we to do with the fact of the resurrection? Listen to what Paul did with it:
I Corinthians 1:23-25 – “But WE PREACH Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
WE PREACH Christ crucified! The world doesn’t approve of it, but we’re not asking them! What will do with this sublime truth – we will declare it to this lost and dying generation. They will mock, but their message of humanism has never set anyone free from anything. They will scorn, but their message of so-called tolerance has no power to change anyone. The world preaches that man must simply continue in his lost state. They proclaim that they are born with gross perversion and that there is no need for deliverance from these sins. But when you and I preach the gospel and it is grasped in faith, the cross delivers the soul from sin. Let the world mock my message. Let the scholars from the world’s universities snarl at my words. But the message I preach has power to give freedom to man in bondage of sin.
