What do
YOU
think about
CHRIST?
The ministry of the Apostle Paul was characterised by the centrality of the message of Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Paul saw this subject as the essence and emphasis of the Gospel.
Liberals and Modernist baulk at the idea of a bloody sacrifice, they think like the Greeks, that it is foolishness (I Corinthians 1:23). They think it impossible and illogical that the death of a substitute could take away sin and reconcile us to God. Paul said of them in Romans 1:22 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
Modern Evangelicalism (So-called) like the Socinianism of the 16th century seems to recoil at the idea because they find such a story offensive preferring rather to focus on the moral influence of Christ, the moral example of the ‘historical Jesus.’ The fact of the substitutionary death of Christ is conspicuous only by its absence, focusing rather on a self-help, practical, non-specific, Christ-less Christianity. The focus of their theology is not what has Jesus Done, but what would Jesus do in this specific situation.
In I Corinthians 2:2 Paul makes the point very definitely that there is a particular aspect of Christ’s work that needs emphasised…his crucifixion. Paul said “I determined to know nothing among you but Christ…and him crucified.” He lays particular emphasis on that little phrase “and Him crucified.”
Now we must ask ourselves, why did Christ die and why does Paul mention this specifically? In I Corinthians 1:18ff Paul identifies the message of the cross as both the wisdom of God and the power of God. So convinced was Paul of this fact that in writing to the Corinthians he said “I determined to know nothing among you but Christ…and him crucified.”
First, Christ As Sacrifice “Christ…crucified” Paul uses the double name of Jesus Christ here, highlighting both his humanity and his divine mission. The word Christ means “anointed” the New Testament equivalent to the Old Testament “Messiah.”
The use of the word Christ identifies Jesus not merely as man but as God’s man and also the God-man, the promised and expected Messiah. The use of this term Christ highlights the uniqueness of this sacrifice on Calvary. This was not merely another Roman execution; Jesus is here identified as one who is distinct from the criminals hanging on either side of him. As Jesus hung on Calvary he was hanging as God’s anointed and appointed sacrifice for sin.
Prophesying 700 years previously Isaiah said (53:10)“It pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”
Paul said in Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Paul here speaking to a Gentile audience explains the use of the word tree by quoting the Old Testament reference; Deuteronomy 21:22-23 “And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” The use of this word, ‘tree’ identified Christ not merely as one who was executed by the Roman government, but one who was a sacrifice to bear the curse of the Law. He paid the penalty of a broken Law on our behalf.
Secondly, Christ As Substitute “Him crucified” Paul’s message to the Corinthians was not simply Christ as the promised and expected Christ. It was not simply the Jewish Messiah. Paul determined to declare “Christ as the one crucified.” It is Christ as he has accomplished and fulfilled something for his people. It is Christ as the substitutionary sacrifice, “Him Crucified.”
Notice this texts from the New Testament I Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.” I Thessalonians 5:10 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” I Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer called this “the great exchange;” my sin credited to Christ and his righteousness credited to me. II Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Third, Christ As Sufficient “I determined to know nothing…” When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and said “I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified” declared the sufficiency of Christ crucified not only as the substance of his preaching but also for the needs of the people to whom he preached.
The word used here for determined is the word for ‘judged.’ Paul judged the heart of the gospel and resolved to separate himself unto the preaching of that. He resolved to remain true to the message of Christ regardless of the outcome.
Paul is here writing to the Greeks at Corinth and he knows that they are “lovers of wisdom” - they are philosophers and he tells them that he is not coming with mans wisdom, he is not coming with eloquent speech but he has already determined to keep his focus on “Christ, the one who has been crucified.”
Why was Paul so adamant about the content of his message? Because he knew the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ to take away sin, deliver the sinner, renewing his heart and life, and give him an eternal hope.
A. Dunlop (pastor)
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