The Cross is Good News for Everyone!
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1Corinthians 1:18, AV)
We often think of the message of the cross as a message for the lost … for those without Christ. And certainly it is, if they will receive it!
But here we see that the message of the cross is the power of God for those who are saved, In other words, it’s a message for believing Christians. The cross is good news for everyone!
Have you ever wished that you had more power in your life? Power to overcome sin. Power to have victory in your personal life. Power to overcome the devil. Well, that power IS the message of the cross!
Maybe you are struggling in your Christian life … struggling with sin, guilt, condemnation. Maybe you are having difficulties believing that God will answer your prayers … or that He will use you in ministry. I want to encourage you, “Remember the cross!” It IS the power of God.
Because of the cross, you are forgiven, changed, and accepted as a child of God. When you put your life in His hands and remember what He did, He will do exceptional things in your life. You will have peace, access to God and all His promises. You do not need to approach God based on your righteousness. You have His gift of righteousness. Therefore, you do not need to live in guilt, condemnation, fear, and defeat. Remember the cross!
The Bible tells us that Christ suffered once for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18) He did it! It’s an accomplished work. He died for your sins and He rose again. Why did He do it? To bring us to God. Now, you can call God your Father. Now, you can live in His presence. Now, you can walk in His authority. Now, you can enjoy all that He has for you.
We often talk about all the benefits of following Jesus—eternal life in heaven, healing, deliverance, answered prayer, peace, joy, and victory, but every bit of it goes back to the cross. Without the cross, we are just outsiders, without hope and without God. But because of what Jesus did, all that has changed. We are accepted, forgiven, and changed. We are in the family, and we have all that goes with it.
But for the perishing it is different. The Good News of Christ’s substitution on the cross is foolishness to them. Why? Because their minds (thoughts, belief systems, and mental processes) are blinded. They have had their eyes gouged out by Satan and they cannot see!
They need someone to help open their eyes to the truth of the Word of God. Their conscience has not yet be awakened to their need for Jesus so that they can turn from sin and receive the benefit of the cross of Calvary. Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:17) God is not willing that ANY would perish, but that ALL would come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
The message of the cross is the center of everything that God is doing in the earth and in our lives. The cross is good news for everyone! Through the cross, we have life. So I encourage you. Remember the cross! Appropriate all the benefits of the cross in your life. And do all you can to let people know about God’s love and forgiveness through the cross.
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
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