PREACHING THE LOGOS
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
I love John 1:1! – What is the significance of a word? Words without proper definitions are just so much useless babble. It is not the word itself that carries power, but rather the meaning of that word. God conveyed Himself to us through the Word, Jesus Christ–The Logos.
“Logos” – means the essence, meaning, power of statement. It is not so much that we are preaching about the cross, per se. The message we bring is the meaning of the cross…the definition of what happened on the cross… we preach The “Logos” of the cross.
The significance of the cross is manifold. It signifies the holiness of the One who suffered there. But it also signifies the vileness of the sin for which He suffered. The holiness of God and the sinfulness of man met in a great conflict on the cross. The logos of the cross is the statement of just how wicked man can be and just how gracious God can be. The Logos of the cross is this…God’s holiness is victorious and the power of sin has been defeated.
We are not to just preach “about” the Cross but rather “of” the Cross. The “Cross” is much more than upright timbers that were set on Golgotha. The “Cross” IS the Bible and the Bible is the Cross. All doctrines must flow THROUGH and FROM the Cross!
Calvary was never meant to be an option for Jesus Christ. [see Heb. 9:15-16]. There was no other hope of saving man but by the sacrifice of the cross of Calvary. John described Jesus as the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The cross stands as an eternal testimony to the love of God. John 3:16. Eph. 5:2 – I Jn. 4:10.
The message of the cross seems as foolishness to those…… who reject the deity of Jesus Christ,… who refuse to acknowledge man’s need for a Savior… who trust in themselves and their own righteousness (which is as fillthy rags in His sight!).
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.”
In an age where entertainment, sensationalism and carnal enthusiasm are popular approaches to preaching, let us remember our scriptural obligation to teach/preach/live the Word–the Logos–Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 2:15
Jesus said, “You will know (ginosko – experientially know and obey it) the truth and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31,32) Too many preachers think they should teach for oida (pure knowledge or acquisition of facts). May God enable us to preach with a breadth, length, height and depth of experiencing the Lord and His wonderful truths and attributes.
Jeremiah said, “Let not a wise man boast in His wisdom, let not a mighty man boast in His might. But let him who boast, boast of this that he understands and knows me.” (Jer 9:23,24)
……… a boy whose father was away from home. As the little boy was looking at his dad’s picture on the wall, he said to his mother, “Mother, I wish father would come out of that frame and be here for real.”
We need to keep preaching till Jesus comes out of the frame (the printer’s ink on the page) and becomes a reality in our preaching.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
I think that one must consider the several unique perspectives of Calvary in order to get a full orbed view of the Divine Work of God.
From God’s perspective Calvary has always been a “finished” work. “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Calvary in the Logos was predetermined, prearranged, premeditated and preemptive in the Mind of God. It was another one of those actions that only God can speak of as “things that are not (as to time) as though they were (already done in the plan of God as to His Will).”
From man’s perspective it was an unfolding drama of the Work of God. The past, present and future all had their play in the events. Man, as he is propelled along by time, was either touched by Calvary as to history or as to reality or as to a future event. The arms of the cross reach into all tenses. “In the fullness of time” is from man’s perspective. The Acts 2:38 message is the only way whereby Calvary becomes a living reality.
Therefore the Cross is and always has been a “done deal” but was also a prophetic event of the future while it was also a “current event” and it was also a “historical” event. Calvary though historical is still contemporary because it IS; Calvary is an ever flowing power that keeps pace with every generation and never diminishes nor wanes. It is a living force brought about by the death of a Sinless Sacrifice. Calvary lives because death cannot relegate it to the pages of history only; Calvary defies time because it is eternal.
Calvary, is-was-and shall be; it is an event before its time and of its time and without time. It is the stellar miracle of eternity. No wonder the preaching of the cross IS the power of God!
— jlg —