I spent the week with hymns on the Cross. The Crucifixion is a focus in hymns and in Scripture. Paul determined to know nothing except "Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2). He defined the Gospel beginning with "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Cor 15:1-8). Failing to believe that "Christ died for our sins", according to Paul, means that you are not saved. It's that important.
The Cross, however, "is folly to those who are perishing" (1 Cor 1:18). "We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (1 Cor 1:23). Recently a rash of comments hit Christian bloggers ridiculing the notion that Christ died for our sins. Others, even calling themselves Christian (and some even "pastor"), reject Christ's payment for sin as nonsense. Why? Because "the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing."
Should we, then, ease up a little? Should we back off this whole "Crucifixion" thing? I mean, surely it's not something you should tell your kids, right? That's just way too gruesome. Look, let's just be smart and provide a message that the "Jews", the "Gentiles", and the "Christians" who find it all too offensive or foolish will accept. Wouldn't that be better? Why not just go with the Resurrection? It's Easter. Let's just go with that. It's a happy thing. All fuzzy and chocolatey and all. Why not go there instead?
I would advise against it. I would advise going with Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, on this. I would suggest that we present Christ and Him crucified. I would think that if Paul's gospel was "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures", that we should stick with that as well. Further, offering a rosy, "Jesus rose again" without explaining why He had to is pointless. Indeed, without the Crucifixion we have no payment for sin. Without the Crucifixion we have no taking on of our sin in our place.
We need the Crucifixion in all its gore and horror. If it doesn't make you squirm, you're not paying attention. If it doesn't bring you to tears, you're not getting it. Beyond that, however, if you find the Resurrection to be a bit ... bland ... you didn't get the Crucifixion. According to Paul, Christ crucified is the crux of the Gospel, and Christ resurrected is the only reliable offer of hope for us (1 Cor 15:17). You see, the Resurrection is only made more glorious by the Crucifixion. He died in our place, miserable and alone, taking on Himself our sin. He bore the rejection of the Father that we deserved. But that wasn't the end of the story. He rose again as "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor 15:20), demonstrating not only victory over sin on our behalf, but victory over death. Try to teach that without the Crucifixion, and you have very little to say. But couple the Crucifixion with the Resurrection and we can glory in the wonder of "'Death is swallowed up in victory. 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 15:54-57). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
3 comments:
I find it curious, to say the least, that death of Christ could be so troublesome to those who claim to believe. That He had to die in order for us to live, a trade, a purchase, an actual payment, is the whole point. It was foreshadowed by every animal sacrifice since God instituted those sacrifices as payments for sin themselves. Sin required death because sin IS death. Either the sinner died, as one might for the various sins for which the Law proscribed death as a penalty, or animal did. So to think that the death of Jesus was merely symbolic, rather than a necessity requires ignoring all that came before and what it all meant, not to mention the very words of Christ in stating His purpose. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." was more than rhetoric.
And now He is risen. Glory be to God.
I like the description of Christ crucified as the "crux" of the gospel. Excellent wordplay, Stan. Well done!
Yeah, I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
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