“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18.

“The foolishness of the cross is the wisdom of God and the wisdom of God is powerful in its impact.” – Alistair Begg

The power and message of the cross of Jesus Christ is the central theme of the Gospel, the turning point of history, and the cornerstone of the Christian faith. In his sermon, The Power and Message of the Cross, Alistair Begg unpacks the profound truths found in 1 Corinthians 1:18, challenging us to consider the significance of the cross in our lives.

The Cross: Foolishness to the World

The apostle Paul writes that the message of the cross is “folly to those who are perishing.” Alistair Begg explains that the world, blinded by pride and self-reliance, views the cross as weak and irrelevant. To the unbelieving heart, the notion that salvation comes through the death of a crucified Savior is absurd. This is because the cross confronts human wisdom and exposes the depth of our sinfulness.

The wisdom of the world seeks power, status, and self-glorification. But the cross turns these values upside down. Begg reminds us that God deliberately chose what the world considers weak and foolish to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). This truth challenges us to abandon worldly thinking and embrace God’s wisdom revealed in Christ.

The Cross: The Power of God

To believers, the cross is the power of God for salvation. Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice,

• Sin is forgiven
• Guilt is removed
• Reconciliation with God is secured

Begg emphasizes that the cross is not merely a symbol; it is the place where God’s justice and mercy meet.

The message of the cross lies in its ability to transform lives. It delivers us from the penalty and power of sin, freeing us to live for God’s glory. This transformation is not something we achieve by human effort but is a result of God’s grace working in us.

The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Can Come

Transcript:

Without the preaching of the cross, without preaching the cross to ourselves all day and every day, we will very, very quickly revert to faith plus works as the ground of our salvation; so that, to go to the old Fort Lauderdale question—“If you were to die tonight and you were getting entry into heaven, what would you say?”—if you answer that, and if I answer it, in the first person, we’ve immediately gone wrong. “Because I…” “Because I believed. Because I have faith. Because I am this. Because I am continuing.” Loved ones, the only proper answer’s in the third person: “Because He…” “Because He…””

Think about the thief on the cross. What an immense… I can’t wait to find that fellow one day to ask him, “How did that shake out for you? Because you were cussing the guy out with your friend. You’d never been in a Bible study. You’d never got baptized. You didn’t know a thing about church membership. And yet—and yet, you made it! You made it! How did you make it?”

That’s what the angel must have said—you know, like, “What are you doing here?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“Well, ’cause I don’t know.”

“Well, you know… Excuse me. Let me get my supervisor.”

They go get the supervisor angel: “So, we’ve just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?”

The guy says, “I’ve never heard of it in my life.”

“And what about… Let’s just go to the doctrine of Scripture immediately.”

This guy’s just staring.

And eventually, in frustration, he says, “On what basis are you here?”

And he said, “The man on the middle cross said I can come.”

Now, that is the only answer. That is the only answer. And if I don’t preach the Gospel to myself all day and every day, then I will find myself beginning to trust myself, trust my experience, which is part of my fallenness as a man. If I take my eyes off the cross, I can then give only lip service to its efficacy while at the same time living as if my salvation depends upon me. And as soon as you go there, it will lead you either to abject despair or a horrible kind of arrogance. And it is only the cross of Christ that deals both with the dreadful depths of despair and the pretentious arrogance of the pride of man that says, “You know, I can figure this out, and I’m doing wonderfully well.” No.

Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.¹

That’s why Luther says most of your Christian life is outside of you, in this sense: that we know that we’re not saved by good works, we’re not saved as a result of our professions, but we’re saved as a result of what Christ has achieved.

Source: Truth for Life

The Centrality of the Cross in Preaching

Begg warns against diluting the message of the cross in an attempt to make it more palatable. The cross must remain at the heart of Christian preaching and teaching. Without the cross, there is no Gospel. It is the power of God to save and sanctify.

He also stresses that the cross compels us to live lives of humility and gratitude. Understanding the cost of our redemption should lead us to worship and obedience.

The Call of the Cross

The message of the cross demands a response. Will we cling to the wisdom of the world and reject the Savior, or will we embrace the cross as the power of God for salvation? Alistair Begg challenges his listeners to consider their standing before God. The cross is the dividing line between those who are perishing and those who are being saved.

Conclusion on the Message of the Cross

The message of the cross is a declaration of God’s love and power. It is the foundation of our faith and the hope of our salvation. Alistair Begg’s sermon calls us to treasure the cross, proclaim its truth, and live in its light.

As we meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:18, let us rejoice in the power of the cross and the redemption it brings. May we never lose sight of its centrality in our lives, and may we boldly share its message with a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Full sermon: The Power and Message of the Cross