A POWERLESS Cross
The cross is the door through which every sinner must pass in order to experience the “new birth.” The cross is the portal through which every believer must go in order to unleash the life of Jesus Christ in them. The cross is the only place where mankind is both justified and sanctified. As a result of the forgiveness of sins, believers have a new nature that craves righteousness. But we soon discover that our carnal nature has not been removed nor improved by our salvation. It often comes as a great shock to realize that we still have a nature capable of every kind of sin.
Preaching the Cross, i.e., “Jesus Christ and Him crucified“(1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2), was the first priority in the agenda of the early church because the word of the Cross is the powerful means that God will use to redeem the lost, which is His plan. God is building the church on the sacrifice of Jesus.
The first chapter of 1 Corinthians introduces us to the unifying power of the cross (v. 10-17) because, in the words of Paul, there were divisions in the church that were wreaking havoc on the spiritual health of the church. But Paul also added that the cross is a dividing power (v. 18ff). For those who are “perishing” the cross is folly, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God, for the cross possesses saving power.
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY that God can fit us for His kingdom, welcome us into His family, and admit us to His heaven. He must re-make us, re-generate us, and re-birth us into the image of His perfect Son, the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. AND THERE IS ONLY ONE PLACE where you can go to experience such an incredible miracle, i.e., THE CROSS. At the cross I am united with Jesus Christ in death so that I can be raised to walk as a new creation in Christ Jesus. BUT YOU DON’T VISIT THE CROSS only once. You must learn to incorporate the cross into your whole life.
BUT FOR ALL the supernatural power that the cross possesses, apparently the cross can be emptied of its power (v. 17). We can render the cross void. Imagine that! The greatest sacrifice known to man can be made inoperable. The most compelling message imaginable can be made meaningless. That’s both sad and tragic.
The first chapter of the letter to the Corinthians outlines in part the ways that we can “empty the cross of its power.” Paul teaches that when church sacraments are prioritized over the cross its power is voided (many Christians love their liturgy more than they love Jesus). When charisma and or eloquence replaces the simplicity of the message, the cross is stripped of its power. When pride (in human wisdom) gets in the way, the cross is overshadowed. And finally, he says that unbelief will leave the cross ineffective.
Join me Sunday morning Church family when we study 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 together. Pray with me that the power of the cross will be fully operative in our worship together. See you at the 9AM or the 11AM (identical services).
By grace alone,
Pastor Deric
Hippocratic Hypocrisy
Dear church family:
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” (Psalm 119:16-17)
With the ever-expanding reasons for physician assisted suicide in Canada, here are a few reasons that I would not seek nor support such a choice.
- Human life bears the image of God. We devalue His image when we choose to terminate life on our terms. Reverence for God translates to honouring life, from conception to death, as a sacred trust.
- A commonly used argument for the “right to die” is that it’s “your life, your choice.” Christians are categorically agreed that “we are not our own, we have been bought with a price” and we are “members one of one another.” The choice to act independently with one’s life is an affront and assault on the spiritual oneness that we share in the body of Christ.
- Palliative care is a proven, superior means of dealing with one’s death. Taking one’s own life is much more complicated than you are being told. Doctor assisted suicide strips families of their need to compassionately care for one another till the end. Palliative care has been one of humanity’s redeeming qualities. Walking together through the valley of the shadow of death has elevated human beings from the animal kingdom.
- The reckless expanding powers of the government of Canada should scare us to death (pardon the pun). Do we really want politicians influencing our decisions in such far-reaching and complicated personal matters?
- MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) is a complete rejection of faith and the Divine Law. From the Ten Commandments to the Cross, faith is expressed in obedience to the Law of God up to and including the circumstances of one’s death. “You shall not commit murder” (Moses). “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Jesus, at the moment of His sovereignly determined death).
- It is God’s right alone to choose when and how you die. Read Psalm 68:20 and Job 1:20
Just so you know, I have no plans to die, because Jesus promised, “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” All my suffering will transform into eternal glory at the moment of my death. When my time comes to die, I want my conscience to bear me witness that I have been fully obedient to Jesus as the Lord of my life.
Be faithful unto death (even in death) church family,
Pastor Deric
