FightForJoy.net
  • Home
  • About
  • Jesus
  • Blog
  • Sermons
  • Resources
  • Revelation Study
  • Transitional Pastor

Fight for Joy! Blog

Where Jesus Changes Everything

To Know Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

5/24/2006

 
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The greatest event in all of human history, second to none, was the two-fold event of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we would have no hope of any kind. It is no wonder then, that for Paul, like all the writers of the New Testament, the cross of Christ represented salvation itself. In his letter to the believers in Corinth, he recalled how he had preached Christ’s death: “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

Paul took great joy in proclaiming this message. He understood the secret of the cross. Earlier he wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). What makes this so amazing is that Paul did not always hold this position. He had once been opposed to Christ and His message. To put it plainly, Paul had been an insolent, self-righteous, religious bigot. He sought to destroy anyone who believed the message of the cross. However, all this changed one day as he journeyed to Damascus. The Bible tells us that on that journey he came into direct contact with the crucified and resurrected Jesus (see Acts 9:1-18 for the full story). This encounter forever changed Paul’s life and thinking. He was converted. The one who had sought to destroy the message of the cross and all associated with it, now sought to proclaim its message!

What did all this mean for Paul? For him, it was the beginning of a lifetime of suffering on behalf of the crucified and resurrected Jesus. However, like the other apostles, he rejoiced, “that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). Paul saw profound meaning in his own sufferings (see 2 Corinthians 6:4-5; 11:23-28). His own trials connected him to Christ who had suffered on the cross and who had been resurrected. He wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (3:10). He also understood that the suffering of Jesus on the cross is played out in the lives of all God’s people. In Philippians, he also wrote, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (1:29).

It is an ironic message, indeed. The gospel – the good news of eternal life and spiritual glory – is based on suffering and shame. However, the message of Jesus’ shameful death should inspire us to ever greater love for Him and His Church. We should desire nothing more than to preach, both by words and deeds, Jesus Christ and Him crucified. As the writer of Hebrews told believers of his day, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (12:2).

    Comments Policy

    You are welcome to leave comments and you don't have to necessarily agree with me. However, I expect a civil tone and charitable spirit. We can disagree with one another without being disagreeable. "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt." (Colossians 4:6)

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    May 2022
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    October 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    November 2006
    July 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    March 2005
    November 2004
    March 2004
    October 2001

    Categories

    All
    Bad Theology
    Bible
    Christlikeness
    Church Revitalization
    Culture
    Death
    Evil
    Faith
    False Religion
    Family
    Fight For Joy! Journal
    Finish Well
    General
    Gospel
    Grace
    Holy Living
    Hope
    Incarnation
    Israel
    Jesus
    Live The Word
    Love
    Make Disciples
    Meditation
    Obedience
    Persecution
    Photos
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Propehcy
    Prophecy
    Proverbs
    Replanting
    Romans
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Sin
    Spiritual Disciplines
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Stewardship
    Suffering
    Theology
    Treasure Christ
    Video Blog

    RSS Feed

    ​Recommended Reading:
    ​Click on the image to learn more



Striving to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus.
Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About
  • Jesus
  • Blog
  • Sermons
  • Resources
  • Revelation Study
  • Transitional Pastor