The GOSPEL Which Was About Jesus Christ Crucified

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 
(1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

Unlike the travelling philosophers who lectured publically in Corinth, Paul refused to make any claim about himself. His only concern was that the Lord Jesus Christ should be overwhelmingly more important than anybody else. The Apostle did not want to exalt himself, or the church or its leaders: his message was about Jesus alone. It was Paul's clear decision, although he had been a leading Rabbi with good intellect and education; he refused to confuse the message about Jesus, the Son of God who came to die on a cross so that sinners could be saved.

Paul was not seeking a personal following, but wanted people to leave their old ways of life to follow Jesus exclusively. So the Apostle was determined not to impress the crowds with clever oratory (although he was able to argue brilliantly), nor did he offer people a more comfortable life. His message about Jesus and the cross caused much opposition (Acts 18:1-13) and he was afraid; but God told him to keep speaking about Jesus so that many would be saved (Acts 18:9-10).

Without the message of the cross there is no route to salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18). 

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18). 

Paul could have just preached about the prayer life of Jesus, or His miracles or His humble lifestyle; but without the message of the cross nobody would know that their sins could be totally forgiven, they would have no assurance of salvation and no church could withstand persecution.

But in many places the church has stopped telling that crucial message. They are happy to be community centres, charity distribution points, clubs of likeminded people or traditional liturgists. None of these functions of church is wrong but without the message of the cross the church cannot do its primary job. It is easy to be popular by addressing people's needs, offering prosperity, education and health, but without the message of the cross people will not know how to be saved. Of course, that message is still as offensive as when Paul was in Corinth; but it is still the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). 

Pray for that cross-centred message to be central in your life and in the ministries of those you know, and share it with others.

 The Two-Fold Work of the Cross

“Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps”             (I Peter 2:21).

If we were to ask a Christian, “Have you accepted the work of the Cross?” Many of them would say yes. If you ask them what the work of the Cross is, they would respond by saying that the work of the Cross is the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus for the sins of the world.
While this is true enough, it can be misleading. A better question to ask is, “Have you accepted the two-fold work of the Cross?” Try this out on a few Christians and you will probably get a puzzled reply along the lines of, “What is the two-fold work of the Cross?” 

That is because most people are only familiar with one side of the Cross, not both sides.
For many years I was only taught one aspect of the Cross – that is, the cross on which Jesus died for me. That is all I knew, and so that is all I taught. On this cross He was crucified as my substitute. He laid down His life for me. His precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of my sins. Not only that, but the Bible says that God laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. 

John the Baptist calls Him, “The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the whole world.”

By identifying with His sacrificial death, He becomes our Substitute. We enter into His finished work. We are made one with Him there on the Cross. Thank God we do not have to pay this debt, for it has been paid for us. We do not have to go to the Cross and be crucified for our sins.

I would suggest that almost every Christian is familiar with this aspect of the Cross. It is the foundation of evangelicalism, the basis of millions of sermons to millions of believers. It is the truth, and we thank God for the truth whenever it is proclaimed.

There is another side to this Cross, another dimension of the same truth, which is not as well-known, and is hardly preached at all. As a result, many believers are content to embrace the “Sinner’s Cross”; that is, they have confessed Jesus as Savior, and they understand and accept Him as their Substitute. It is certainly true that Jesus is our Substitute, and that He died on the Cross for us. But as we have said, there is a two-fold work of the Cross.

Peter alludes to this two-fold work when he writes, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” Christ suffered FOR us; that is the first aspect. But He left us an EXAMPLE; that is the second aspect.

So the work of the Cross is two-fold. First, Jesus is our Substitute. Secondly, He is our Example. In the first case, He took up the Cross. In the second case, I take up the Cross.

The first work of the Cross is for the Sinner; the second work of the Cross is for the Disciple.

Jesus said that the way to Life is through a narrow Gate and a difficult Path. The Gate is only the beginning of the journey; it is not the destination. So we must have both the Gate and the Path. One is not complete without the other. Once we are through the Gate, there is a Path for us to walk. The Gate makes it possible for us to walk the Path, but the Gate is incomplete without the Path. The Life is at the end of the Path, not at the beginning.
This corresponds to the two-fold work of the Cross. The “Sinner’s Cross” is the Gate. Because Jesus is my Substitute, I can now walk the Path. The “Disciple’s Cross” is the Path. Now I am following His example. Can you see the difference?

Jesus says the way to Life is through a Narrow Gate and a Difficult Path. The Narrow Gate is Christ. It is Narrow because He is the Only Way. But why is the Path so difficult? Partly because it is much easier, much more appealing, to accept Jesus as a Substitute than to accept Him as an Example. Stated differently, it is much more appealing to accept Jesus as Savior than to accept Him as Lord. With a simple prayer I can acknowledge Him as my Substitute and Savior. But to make Him my Example and my Lord, to actually walk in His footsteps, is not so appealing.

Why? In the first case I simply embrace the “Sinner’s Cross” and everything is done for me. But in the second case I must take up the “Disciple’s Cross” and actually follow in the steps of the Master. It only takes a moment to pass through the Gate, but the Path takes a lifetime of walking.

Peter wrote of this two-fold work of the Cross, but we see in Matthew 16 that he did not always have this understanding. In Matthew 16 we see Jesus as our Substitute and our Example all in one chapter. First there is Jesus as the Substitute. He begins to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and raised the third day. For His sins? No, for our sins. So in this He is our Substitute.

Peter, taking offense over this, pulls Jesus aside and begins to rebuke Him. Imagine! Peter is rebuking the Lord Jesus over this issue of the Cross. It is, indeed, a difficult thing to comprehend. But Jesus turns and rebukes Peter. Yes, it will be so. I will go to Jerusalem and die for the sins of the world. I must complete My substitutionary work.

But the two-fold work of the Cross goes deeper than the physical death of Jesus. And so Jesus immediately begins to speak to them, not about HIS Cross, but about THEIR Cross:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it'” (Matthew 16:24,25).

Peter objected to the death of the Lord Jesus and wanted to prevent His crucifixion. The Lord Jesus responded that not only must the Master be crucified, but anyone who desired to follow after the Master would, of necessity, have to take up their Cross as well.

Peter eventually learned this lesson, and it is time we learned it as well. Jesus is both my Substitute and my Example. Jesus, is both my Savior and my Lord. Jesus is both the Narrow Gate and the Difficult Path.

If there is any doubt as to the reason for a lack of power, a lack of joy, a lack of faithfulness, a lack of Spirit-and-Truth today, we need only examine a person’s ultimate attitude towards the Cross. Is the Cross, to them, something that Jesus saved them FROM, or something that Jesus saved them FOR? The fruit, or the lack thereof, tells the whole story. For there never will be, and there never can be, any fruitfulness apart from embracing the two-fold work of the Cross.

The question will of course arise: can Jesus be Savior, but not be Lord? Can I accept the salvation but not the discipleship? Can I enter the Gate but not walk the Path? And the underlying concern is really this: can I pray the Sinner’s Prayer, live any way I please, and still go to heaven when I die?

The question itself is very revealing in the ones who ask it. Consider that it takes two beams to make a Cross; one beam is not enough. If we accept only half of the two-fold work of the Cross then we have not truly embraced the Cross. If we continue to preach an easy Gospel and bring sinners to an easy Jesus by having them pray an easy prayer then we are guilty of propagating another gospel, a false gospel, a Gate without a Path.

The Rich Young Ruler came to Jesus with the exact same concern: what must I do to inherit eternal life? His primary concern was going to heaven when he died. For many Christians that is the ultimate objective and the motivation behind everything they do. In actuality, Jesus said comparatively little about “going to heaven when you die.” But He had quite a bit to say about being obedient to the will of God and producing fruit while you’re still living here on earth.

To the Rich Young Ruler who wanted to be saved, Jesus offered discipleship, not salvation:
“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'”             (Mark 10:21-23).

Not “how EASY for them to enter the Kingdom of God”, but “how HARD it is”. The two-fold work of the Cross is a hard saying for rich and for poor alike. Many turn away sad and sorrowful at the thought of taking up the Cross as a disciple. For that reason, only the first half of the two-fold work of the Cross is preached.

I suspect that the Rich Young Ruler would have eagerly accepted Jesus as his Substitute – because the subtle implication is that since Jesus died on the Cross, I won’t have to die! But like all the other suggestions of the adversary, this too is only a partial truth. For the whole truth is that the work of the Cross is two-fold, and we can embrace both, or neither, but we cannot keep one and discard the other.

You may be concerned that if we make salvation contingent on discipleship then fewer people would get saved. That’s exactly the point. This is precisely what Jesus meant when He said, “Few find it” (Matthew 7:14b).

So what are we do to? Should we continue to give false comfort to those who are unwilling to take up their Cross, deny Self, and follow Jesus? By no means. Instead, let us endeavor to show others, by example, that the only way to Life is through Death; the only way to reign with Him is to suffer with Him; not those who hear, but those who hear and put into practice, are His true disciples.

May the Lord Jesus Himself bear witness of these things, that they are true. Amen.

Today's Prayer:  

Lord God. Thank You that I am saved because somebody told me the message of the cross, and I believed it. Forgive me for allowing that essential message to be displaced by other more self-serving messages. Please help me to pray and minister so that the people around me where I work and worship have a clear understanding of Jesus Christ who was crucified to save all who believe in Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The Hidden Treasures

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(Colossians 2:2-3 KJV)

The Bible says in The Book of Proverbs,

"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments... if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures; then you will... find the knowledge of God."(Proverbs 2:1-5)

The Bible is likened to a treasure in this verse. When you think of treasures, you might think of things like Treasure Island and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Most times treasures are hidden or locked away. There are usually adventures attached to the acquisition of treasures.

Indiana Jones' perilous crusade consisted of narrow escapes from rats, fire, gunmen, and a ship's propeller. It is only by the skin of his teeth that Jones' finally uncovers the location of the Holy Grail.

Jones' is willing to risk his life to find this treasure. This may seem rather extreme, but that's the kind of fervor we should have for the Word of God. Yes, our Bible's are not locked away in a vault, and today, it is still #1 on the Best-seller's List, but the Bible is worth more than a hidden treasure.

If we approach the Word of God like a hidden treasure, we gain total access to the knowledge or riches of God.

Isaiah says,
"And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places..."    (Isaiah 45:3)

As Christians, we have direct access to the secret things of God. That's right -- God wants to share His secrets with us! Can you image this? Just picture God bowing near, cupping His hand, and whispering His secrets into your ear.

"Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth." (Ephesians 1:9-10)

God has made His secrets known to the world. Yet, not everyone will attune their ears. According to the verse above, the mystery of God is summed up in Christ.

Do you treasure Christ? Is your daily life an adventure to find only Him? Or are you trapped in an endless maze of self-discovery?

Jesus told His disciples to "sell all" for a treasure in the heavens. It often requires some sacrifice of self whether it be material possessions, job, relationship, etc... Your soul will never find true satisfaction until it rests solely in the riches of Christ.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Where Are Your Treasures?

The Treasure Principle Christ’s radical perspective on money, possessions, provision, and trust raises some practical questions. Do my long-term savings or retirement plans, my insurance policies, my beautiful house, car, or real estate holdings reduce my sense of dependence on God? Do they give me misplaced security? Considering what the money spent on these things would do if directly invested in the Kingdom of God, do I really believe the money is being used in the best way? Am I forfeiting treasures in Heaven by storing up treasures on earth? Am I setting myself up for worry by trusting in the things that cannot bear the weight of my trust?

To those who seek first His Kingdom and sacrificially give of their assets to it, Christ’s promise is material provision (Matthew 6:32-33, Philippians 4:19). Trust Him and there is nothing to worry about. Trust anything else and you’ve got every reason to worry.

With every challenge my family and I have faced over the years, I have found myself thinking more and more about the treasures of Heaven. Every moment of our lives we are one step closer to the world to come, and one step further from this present world. Are we headed toward our eternal treasure or away from it? The choice is ours.

So what is your treasure? What does your heart long for?

Where do you hide your heart? 

What we most value is where we will find our heart. So it is an important question. You see, we can treasure riches, control, security, and relationships. Jesus reminds us that it is only by turning loose of the things that most of us keep as our treasures that we find what is truly treasure indeed.

Treasures in Darkness

I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name (Isaiah 45:3).

"I have never been in this place before. It is new ground for me and I find I am way out of my comfort zone. I am scared to death to trust Him at this level. I had to confess to the Lord I have not been able to accept or believe His love for me in this area." Those were the words I expressed to a friend when I was in a difficult place in my life. It was that day when I confessed those words that God led me to this passage of scripture.

What we perceive as dark periods in our lives are designed to be treasures from God. They are actually riches stored in secret places. We cannot see those times in this light because of the often-accompanying pain or fear that prevents us from accepting these times as treasures. They have a particular purpose from God's viewpoint; 

"so that you may know that I am the Lord who summons you by name."

You see, unless we are cast into times in which we are completely at the mercy of God for breakthroughs in our lives we will never experience the faithfulness of God in those areas. We will never know how personal He is or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants each of us to know that we are "summoned by name." Every hair of our head is numbered. Every activity we are involved in He knows. His love for you and me knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate this to you and me.

Has God brought you into a place of darkness? Trust Him today to allow Him to reveal that hidden treasure that can be found in this darkness. Let Him summon you by name.

Our Treasure in Jesus

In Matthew 26, ...
a woman poured extremely expensive perfume all over the feet of Jesus. She was met with indignation, even disgust, by Jesus’ disciples. They provocatively asked:

“Why this waste?”

It was a year’s worth of wages wrapped up in a bottle. This lavish act of love stirred criticism amongst the others as they considered a more noble use for her perfume. They said, “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” (Matthew 26:9)

What did this woman believe about Jesus to take such a precious commodity, and in a moment, spill it out over his feet?

When we love Jesus with all our hearts, nothing is too good for Him. And when we recognize the goodness that comes from Him — that He came to set us free from the bondage of sin and heal our brokenness, exchanging the ashes in our lives with the beauty and purity of His own — we can’t help but worship Him completely, even amidst scrutiny.

This woman knew that Jesus could offer her what the world could not: a new life with total forgiveness. Her treasure was in Jesus. Her heart was completely set upon Him.

Jesus stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. When we open this door to Him, nothing we offer to Him is a waste. A life lived in total surrender to God is the richest life one can ever live.

The Bible also says that those who find God as their sole treasure will be a treasure unto Him:

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels." (Malachi 3:17)

You can be a treasure. As you draw closer to God, you will find that you become more and more like Him. You are as good as the treasure you seek.

He will also protect you and set you apart in a treasure chest. Only the most beautiful and precious jewels are kept for Him.

You are worth far more than rubies. You are worth so much that One man gave His life up for you to acquire you. Your hero is Jesus Christ, and He is vehemently pursuing you even now.

So, don't dismay. He has not stuck you on a shelf to collect dust. Don't hide. If He has the key to your heart, than you are free to shine your jewels. Your life is a treasure that the Lord admires.

The Key to Unlocking Your Hidden Treasures is knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and having a deeper relationship with Him. He is calling you to begin the relationship.

Today's Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray that out of the riches of your grace, you may help me find my treasure in you and nothing else. Today, I want to offer you all that I am and have, so that my life will be lived for your glory. In the name of Jesus, my example and treasure I pray. Amen.