Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
May 15, 2002 Bobby Dockery
Nullifying the Cross
The central event in all of human history was the crucifixion of Jesus. At the cross, God interrupted the process of history to alter the hopeless condition of mankind enslaved in sin. "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5.6) It is the cross which makes salvation from sin a possibility. (Ephesians 1.7)
It is also the cross which reconciles us to God by providing the antidote for the enmity born of sin. (Ephesians 2.16) Furthermore, it is the cross which makes possible genuine spiritual peace in a guilt-ridden and doubt-torn world. (Colossians 1.20)
Paul proclaims the cross to be the instrument of God's Power. (1 Corinthians 1.18) But Paul also notes that in specific situations, the power of the cross can be nullified. "For Christ… (sent) me to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void." (1 Corinthians 1.17 The NIV has, "lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.") In effect, Paul says that the amazing power of the cross can be nullified by the blindness and unfaithfulness of men. Note some of the ways this is possible…
1. BY IGNORING IT.
The cross cannot save those who have never seen it. In Romans 10.14, Paul asks: "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?" When we remain silent about the cross we negate its power to save! How startling to hear of "churches" which have deliberately chosen to banish all mention of the cross from their pulpits! Some years back, Jewish Rabbi Abraham L. Feinberg was appointed "rabbi in residence" at Glide Memorial Methodist Church in San Francisco. He explained he could accept the post in good conscience because Jesus Christ and His cross were never discussed in the "church!" The cross was negated by silence!
2. BY DISTORTING IT.
Some rob the cross of its power by trying to make it mean what it does not. They seek to warp and reshape the cross to fit their own doctrinal systems. For example, the widely held doctrine of "Limited Atonement" holds that the power of the cross is available only for a favored few predestined from eternity to be saved. But the Bible says that "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men," and that Jesus "tasted death for every man." (Titus 2.11; Hebrews 2.9) A distorted cross can only produce a false gospel!
3. BY REJECTING IT.
Though Jesus "tasted death for every man," not all will be saved. Many will be lost eternally because they refuse to come to the cross in obedient faith. In Romans 6.3, Paul asks: "do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" Baptism gives us access to the benefits of the cross! When we are baptized we participate in Christ's death, we become the people for whom Christ died! When we refuse the "preaching of the cross" we place ourselves in the same position we would be in if Christ had never died! Rejection of the gospel robs the cross of its power in our lives.
The power of the cross is real. But its power is not absolute: Either the cross can nullify our sin; or our sin can nullify the cross in our lives. Which is it for you?
BOBBY DOCKERY
Fayetteville, Ark.
