The Foolishness of the Cross

Sovereign Grace Family Church iconSovereign Grace Family Church

1 view

0 comments

00:23
Tonight, we're going to be looking at an important passage is one you may have come across in your studies and looked at and wondered maybe what it meant.
00:41
And it's one that I think is important for us as believers to understand, especially in the world that we live in today, there is a lot of animosity towards the cross.
00:58
There's a lot of animosity toward anyone who would say that Jesus Christ is essential for eternal life, that faith in him is absolutely necessary for salvation, that message is not well received by many.
01:20
And the Apostle Paul tells us that that's actually the way that it's going to be.
01:29
He says in First Corinthians chapter one and verse 18, the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing.
01:44
But to us who are being saved.
01:48
It is the power of God, Father in heaven, we thank you for this opportunity that we have, we thank you for these men who have come and led us in worship.
01:59
We thank you for your word.
02:02
We thank you for this opportunity that we now have to look at it together.
02:07
I know, Lord, that I am a fallible man and I am capable of preaching error, so I pray that you would keep me from that.
02:15
And I pray that you would open up the hearts of your people to the truth.
02:19
And I pray, Lord, if there's anyone here who has never heard the gospel or who has never understood the gospel.
02:25
And that they don't understand the reason for the cross or why it was necessary.
02:31
That tonight that would be made clear.
02:35
And that your Holy Spirit would use that in bringing people to faith.
02:44
We thank you, we praise you in Christ's name, Amen.
02:53
Among the earliest pictures that relate to Christian worship.
03:03
Is something that is called the Alexa Menos Graffito.
03:10
The Alexa Menos Graffito is a picture that is carved in plaster, it dates back to the early second century.
03:21
And on this picture, there is a man who is worshiping at the foot of a cross.
03:32
On the cross is drawn the figure of a man's body.
03:41
With a donkey's head, the earliest picture that we have, hand drawn picture, is a picture which denounces the cross.
04:00
Beloved, the implication is evident.
04:05
To worship Christ is to celebrate stupidity.
04:11
From the world's standpoint, to worship at the foot of the cross, it said on the on this plaque that it was drawn, it says Alexa Menos worships his God and his God.
04:32
Beloved, we're 2000 years removed from that.
04:38
And yet there is still mocking and the mocking has not subsided.
04:45
There is still very much a sense in the world that says to worship Christ is to celebrate stupidity.
04:58
Our passage tonight tells us that that really should not surprise us.
05:05
It tells us that the word of the cross is folly, that word folly in some of the translations is foolishness, which is why I titled tonight's message The Foolishness of the Cross.
05:21
If you look up that word in the Greek, it is the Greek word Moria.
05:27
And it's where we get the word moronic.
05:32
The word of the cross is moronic to those who are perishing.
05:40
The word of the cross is stupidity to those who are perishing.
05:46
The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.
05:55
So tonight I want to ask the question, why? Why is the cross foolishness to the parish? I want to share with you three reasons.
06:12
I don't necessarily want you to take notes tonight.
06:15
I'll give you mine if you need them.
06:17
I want you to listen.
06:18
I want you to focus.
06:20
I want your heart intent on what I'm saying.
06:24
But there are three things.
06:25
There are three reasons why the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.
06:30
The first reason is because the cross says to the world, it says to you that you are a sinner who is worthy of God's wrath.
06:45
That's what the cross says to you.
06:48
It's what it says to me.
06:49
It's what it says to us all.
06:51
It says that we are worthy of the wrath of God.
06:58
And beloved, the idea of God's wrath has gone out of vogue.
07:02
The idea of God even being the God of wrath has been replaced in the minds of many people.
07:08
They don't want a God who exercises judgment.
07:11
In fact, there has risen in the world a new type of idolatry.
07:16
The new idolatry says this, my God would never do that.
07:21
My God wouldn't punish sinners.
07:24
My God wouldn't make a hell.
07:26
My God wouldn't send people to hell eternally.
07:30
My God, my God, my God.
07:32
Beloved, that is idolatry 101, because when you start creating a God in your own mind who does the way you think that he should do, that's idolatry.
07:46
You're establishing this is what my God will do.
07:49
And guess what? That God is a God in your own mind.
07:52
He does not exist.
07:54
You have created him.
07:56
You didn't take a chisel and a hammer and go to a stone and chisel out this God.
08:01
But you did that in your mind.
08:04
You chiseled out an image in your mind of a God who does not exist.
08:13
What's become even more unpopular today is not just that there is a God of wrath, but the idea that we actually deserve his wrath.
08:24
That's very unpopular.
08:27
Many people say, well, if God is a God who demonstrates wrath, certainly it must be reserved only for the worst of people.
08:38
Certainly it couldn't be reserved for me.
08:39
It's got to be reserved.
08:40
I mean, yeah, I mean, you've got your Osama bin Laden's.
08:43
You've got your your Ted Bundy's.
08:45
You've got your Adolf Hitler's.
08:47
Certainly those are guys who, at least in somebody's book, could come up with the idea that these are guys who.
08:58
But surely not me.
09:01
I don't deserve the wrath of God, I'm a good person.
09:06
God may have wrath, but it's not focused on me.
09:11
That's the modern mantra.
09:15
People say, well, I'm not perfect, but I'm not horrible.
09:21
You know what that is? You know what it is when somebody says, I'm not perfect, but I'm not horrible.
09:28
They're announcing to the world in their own mind that they don't really understand.
09:35
God's holiness and their wretchedness.
09:42
I used to use this illustration and I guess I can use it tonight to help.
09:46
I've already used the tape measure, but I'll use this illustration to simply make a point.
09:52
If Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden and anyone else you can think of just in your mind, Ted Bundy, anyone that you can think of as just the most horrible person were standing right here and Jesus were over here and the level was level of goodness.
10:10
It was this was the worst all the way to Christ.
10:16
Most people think they would be over here.
10:20
Well, I'm certainly not like them.
10:24
The love that we would be shoulder to shoulder with evil men.
10:30
We would not even be able to see Christ.
10:40
The first thing that makes the cross foolishness to people is because they don't believe that they're worthy of God's wrath.
10:48
They don't believe that their souls, their hearts are wicked.
10:55
Why did Jesus go to the cross? He went to the cross to to take the punishment that we deserve.
11:00
But if you don't deserve if you don't believe you deserve punishment, then the cross is foolishness to you.
11:06
It's ridiculous.
11:07
I don't deserve punishment.
11:08
Why would somebody be punished in my place? I didn't deserve any punishment to begin with.
11:12
Every single person who has ever been born, save Jesus Christ himself, has been born a sinner and deserves the wrath of God.
11:37
You see, we hear that, but I don't think we get it.
11:43
I don't think we understand it because it's so foreign to what we really think of ourselves.
11:52
And the cross makes us confront that truth.
11:56
It makes us confront the wickedness of the soul.
11:59
It makes us confront the reality of who we are.
12:04
Think of what the apostle Paul wrote.
12:05
He says, none is righteous.
12:07
No, not one.
12:08
There is none who understand.
12:09
There is none who seeks after God.
12:12
People tell me all the time, I know this person and she's seeking God.
12:16
No, she's not.
12:18
No one seeks for God.
12:19
Well, Pastor, I know four or five people.
12:22
They're all seeking God.
12:24
No one seeks for God.
12:27
You know what people do seek for? Blessings.
12:35
People want the blessing of God.
12:37
They don't want obedience.
12:42
When you start talking about obedience, people start looking for the back door.
12:46
Oh.
12:48
Their string is attached.
12:52
That's the problem.
12:53
No one seeks for God.
12:54
Together, they have become worthless.
12:57
No one does good.
12:58
Not even one.
13:00
Their throat is an open grave.
13:02
They use their tongues to deceive.
13:03
The venom of asps is under their lips.
13:06
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
13:08
Their feet are swift to shed blood and their paths are ruined in misery.
13:11
And the way of peace they have not known.
13:13
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
13:18
Beloved, that is not talking about one small group of people.
13:22
That's talking about the human race.
13:24
There is no fear of God before our eyes.
13:27
It's why we live in sin.
13:29
It's why we behave the way we do.
13:30
It's because we do not fear God.
13:38
That's why the Apostle Paul goes on to say, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
13:47
That is no small thing.
13:49
But we treat it as such a small thing.
13:52
That is no small thing, but we treat it as flippantly.
13:56
You talk to anyone who's living in sin, and you tell them that you are living in opposition to the God who created you.
14:04
Well, hey, nobody's perfect pastor.
14:06
Get off of that.
14:12
I heard a preacher recently, a very famous preacher.
14:16
I won't name his name, but he preaches within a stadium.
14:23
We don't need to tell people they are sinners.
14:25
They already know.
14:29
We don't need to tell people they're sinners.
14:30
They already know.
14:32
No, they do not.
14:38
Because while they may admit, Yeah, I'm a sinner.
14:44
They do not understand the reality of what that means.
14:50
Because to say that you are a sinner, means that the wrath of God abides upon you.
14:59
No one would admit to that.
15:03
That's the part that's missing.
15:06
That's the part they don't understand.
15:08
That's what the cross confronts them with.
15:10
And that's why the cross is foolishness.
15:14
Because it tells them exactly who they are.
15:18
And they don't want to believe it.
15:21
So that's the first thing.
15:22
The cross is foolishness.
15:24
Because it says that we are sinners worthy of God's wrath.
15:27
And people think that's stupidity.
15:31
Number two.
15:33
The cross is foolishness.
15:36
Because it says you're a righteousness.
15:40
And that righteousness is not worthy of any reward.
15:44
You see, the cross is foolishness first.
15:46
Because it says that you're bad enough.
15:48
That you deserve to be punished.
15:50
That you're a sinner that deserves to be punished.
15:52
That's foolishness to the world.
15:53
But the second thing that it says.
15:55
Is it says that even your good.
15:59
Is not worthy of any reward.
16:06
Just ask anyone.
16:07
And I mentioned this last night.
16:08
But I have to mention it again.
16:09
Just ask anyone.
16:11
Do you believe that when you die, you will go there? What do they say? Of course I would go there.
16:24
Why? Because I'm a good person.
16:32
What is the natural extent of that statement? What is coming from their heart when they say that? That their goodness deserves God's reward.
16:52
The vast majority of people when asked.
16:55
Will proclaim their own goodness.
16:57
It says in Proverbs chapter 20 in verse 6.
16:59
Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness.
17:01
It's a little different than ESV.
17:03
It says many a man proclaims his own steadfast love.
17:07
The idea is.
17:08
He proclaims his goodness.
17:10
He proclaims how good he is.
17:13
The natural man sees his goodness.
17:15
As something worthy of God's reward.
17:18
It's not just that he's not worthy of judgment.
17:20
He's worthy of accolades.
17:25
And that again makes the cross foolishness to him.
17:27
Because the cross says number one.
17:29
We are so sinful.
17:30
That we need a savior.
17:32
But it also says that we so lack goodness.
17:34
That we're devoid of righteousness.
17:36
That we need the righteousness of someone else.
17:40
Because the cross is Christ.
17:42
Taking on himself our sin.
17:45
And giving us his righteousness.
17:47
Which means our righteousness isn't good enough.
17:50
Philippians chapter 3 in verse 9.
17:52
The apostle Paul said he wants to be found in him.
17:54
Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law.
17:58
But that which comes through faith in Christ.
18:00
The righteousness of God that depends on faith.
18:05
You see that's the point.
18:07
Our righteousness isn't good enough.
18:08
We need real true righteousness.
18:13
Ours is woefully lacking.
18:15
Isaiah 64 says that our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.
18:23
We need genuine righteousness.
18:25
And we don't have it.
18:30
Not in and of ourselves.
18:33
And the cross tells us that.
18:35
The cross tells us that we're worthy of wrath.
18:38
It tells us also that we're not worthy of reward.
18:44
And to the world that's foolishness.
18:49
Finally.
18:51
The cross is foolishness.
18:54
Because it says that God's standard is perfection.
19:02
Jesus was a perfect person.
19:06
He never sinned in thought, word or deed.
19:11
Likewise, his every action was righteous before God.
19:15
Not only did he avoid sin.
19:17
But he also practiced righteousness.
19:22
And the reason why that's important.
19:24
Is because God's standard is perfection.
19:27
God is holy.
19:29
Which means that he is absolutely separate, perfect and pure.
19:33
Habakkuk 113 tells us.
19:35
That you who are of pure eyes than to see evil.
19:39
And cannot look at wrong.
19:41
That's the point.
19:42
God cannot even look at wrong.
19:46
With an approving eye.
19:48
It's not to say that he can't see our evil.
19:50
But he cannot look upon it.
19:52
And approve of it.
19:55
Jesus Christ is the only person who ever walked this earth.
19:59
Who met the standard of God's law.
20:01
You have not met the standard of God's law.
20:03
You have not even come close.
20:05
You have not scratched the surface of the standard of God's law.
20:12
You are woefully imperfect.
20:14
And you know what the natural man says to that? The natural person.
20:18
That's fine.
20:20
Nobody's perfect.
20:20
It doesn't matter.
20:23
Because if I say God's standard is perfection.
20:25
What is the result? The natural man, what is his response? Perfection is unrealistic and it's foolish.
20:32
The natural man would say that any God who demands perfection.
20:35
Is asking for the impossible.
20:38
And as such that is foolishness to him.
20:41
But what he doesn't understand.
20:42
Is that what God's righteousness demands.
20:46
Is perfection.
20:47
But what God provided in Christ.
20:49
Is that perfection? God will not allow one sin to go unpunished.
20:57
He is obligated by his holy nature to punish sin.
21:04
Every sin we commit.
21:05
Is an act of cosmic treason against God.
21:09
It is a breach of the law of the eternal God.
21:12
And it will not be overlooked.
21:19
God demands perfection.
21:21
And because we are woefully imperfect.
21:24
The natural man looks at that and says that's just foolishness.
21:28
That's just foolishness.
21:33
Now I want to make a point here.
21:34
And this is very important.
21:36
I am not saying that when you come to Christ.
21:41
That you become perfect in your behavior.
21:43
Or sinless in your daily life.
21:46
You do not.
21:47
Christians battle with sin every day.
21:50
What I am saying is that.
21:52
The perfection that God demands.
21:56
Cannot come from you.
21:58
The perfection that God demands.
22:01
You cannot achieve.
22:09
It has to come from outside of you.
22:11
It has to come from another source.
22:15
Christ's perfection becomes the possession of the believer.
22:22
We possess his perfect righteousness.
22:26
Which is how we are able to stand before God.
22:29
And not be punished.
22:31
But rather be rewarded.
22:38
I am not perfect in my flesh.
22:40
But God counts me as perfect.
22:42
Because I am in Christ.
22:45
This is what the apostle Paul says.
22:46
And be found in Him.
22:48
Not having the righteousness of my own that comes from the law.
22:51
To be found in Him.
22:52
Not having the righteousness that came from my obedience.
22:55
Found in Him.
22:56
Not by any good that I have done.
23:00
But to wholly and fully trust in the goodness of Christ.
23:08
That is my righteousness.
23:12
I gain the reward He deserved.
23:16
And He takes the guilt and the punishment I earned.
23:21
That is the great divine transaction of the atonement.
23:25
It is what we celebrate today.
23:26
Today is Good Friday.
23:28
We celebrate our sins being nailed to the tree in the person of Jesus Christ.
23:33
Him taking our punishment.
23:35
And giving us His righteousness.
23:40
God demands perfection.
23:42
Perfection does not come from within us.
23:43
Perfection comes from Christ.
23:46
You do not deserve to go to heaven.
23:48
You deserve to go to hell.
23:50
You do not meet God's standards.
23:53
Somebody says, well that hurts my self-esteem.
24:00
You know what? That is the biggest problem that we have today.
24:03
We are so concerned with self-esteem that we are no longer concerned.
24:09
With the reality of where our souls will end up.
24:15
At death.
24:16
We are so concerned with self-esteem.
24:20
We are so concerned with not hurting feelings.
24:24
Beloved, I want to say this out loud.
24:27
Sermons that encourage self-esteem are welcomed by the natural mind.
24:32
And by that prove that they are not based on the gospel or the cross.
24:36
Because the Bible says that the natural mind cannot receive the things of God.
24:40
Here is the thing.
24:41
If thousands and thousands of unbelieving people are happy with your preaching.
24:47
Then you are not preaching the cross.
24:49
You are not preaching the gospel.
24:51
Because the gospel and the cross are foolishness to them that are perishing.
25:01
The cross destroys self-esteem.
25:03
Because it tells you that you are not good enough.
25:06
The cross destroys self-esteem because it tells you that you are a sinful wretch.
25:11
Worthy of God's punishment.
25:14
And the whole world looks at that and says that is ridiculous.
25:17
That is moron.
25:19
That is moronic.
25:20
That is ridiculous.
25:24
That is what Paul said that the world would say.
25:28
And he was right.
25:31
But I want to tell you something.
25:32
And I am going to start to draw to a close.
25:37
If you leave this place tonight.
25:40
And you say to yourself.
25:41
Man that was foolishness.
25:44
Man that guy was saying some crazy things.
25:48
Then I want you to know the reason that you are thinking that.
25:50
Is because you are perishing.
25:58
The Bible says you are dead in your trespasses and sins.
26:01
And that you will never see the gospel as anything but foolishness.
26:04
Until God works a miracle of regeneration in your dead soul.
26:13
Now for some of you that might be tonight.
26:19
It could be that God is using this moment as an opportunity.
26:25
For a turning point for you.
26:29
And I don't care if you don't come to church much.
26:31
I don't care if you come to church every Sunday.
26:33
This may be the moment for you.
26:35
This may be the opportunity that God is using.
26:38
To open up your heart.
26:40
To regenerate your soul.
26:42
And to tell you that you need eternal life.
26:44
And that eternal life is in Christ alone.
26:46
I am not going to stand up here and ask you to bow your head.
26:48
I am not going to stand up here and ask you to put your hand in there.
26:50
I am not going to ask you to come forward and sign a card.
26:52
Because I am not going to manipulate you in any way.
26:55
I am going to leave this with you.
26:59
The reality is this.
27:01
The cross is not foolishness.
27:04
At all.
27:05
You know what real foolishness is? Foolishness would be to think that you are going to face a holy God at judgment.
27:15
And that you think that the wretched, filthy rags of your righteousness will be worthy of His reward.
27:24
That is foolishness.
27:26
That is real foolishness.
27:29
The cross is not foolishness.
27:31
The cross is truth.
27:34
But it is foolishness to the natural mind.
27:38
And if it is foolishness to you tonight.
27:40
I pray that the God of heaven would change your heart.
27:47
Let's pray.
27:50
Father thank you.
27:52
Thank you for this opportunity that you have given me to preach your gospel.
27:57
Thank you for the love that you share.
28:00
Through your word and through your cross.
28:03
Thank you for the ministry of the truth.
28:09
And thank you Father.
28:14
That you have opened the hearts of people to trust in Christ.
28:18
That though the world might say that the cross is foolishness.
28:25
That for those who are being saved.
28:28
It is the power of God and the salvation.
28:32
I pray for the congregation Lord.
28:34
I pray for believers.
28:36
I pray God that this has been encouraging to them.
28:39
And I pray that if there are those here who have never heard the gospel.
28:42
Or never heard it expressed this way.
28:44
That you might use it Lord.
28:46
To glorify yourself in bringing souls into the kingdom.
28:52
We praise you and trust you for all that you have done and are going to do.
28:56
In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.
29:03
Beloved stand.
29:05
We are going to sing.
29:06
And if you have a need for prayer please come.