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1 Corinthians 2:2
“I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Symbols play an important part in human communications. A well-known company does not need to put its name in every advertisement; if it includes its logo, the business will be recognized immediately. When we see a wedding ring on someone’s finger, we know right away that the person wearing it is married.
No area of life, it seems, exists without symbols. We find them even in the religions followed by human beings. Often the sword is associated with Islam. It appears today on the flag of Saudi Arabia beneath the central Muslim confession of faith, the shahada. This makes sense in light of the importance of conquest and submission in Islamic history. Christianity is typically symbolized by the cross. Crosses adorn church buildings, are incorporated into jewelry, and are used in many other places to represent the Christian faith.
The cross is an interesting symbol because it is a symbol of death, of execution. Jesus died on the cross. Few entities choose something that represents death and humiliation to represent themselves, but Christians do. Obviously, there must be something special about the cross for this choice to have been made.
Of course, we know the reason—the cross represents the central saving act of God in the history of mankind. When we see the cross, we are reminded of the death and resurrection of Jesus to save His people. The cross is the focal point of the gospel message, and the gospel is the power of salvation for all who believe (Rom. 1:16–17). So important is the cross that the Apostle Paul could say, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
Obviously, we should not read Paul’s statement as an absolute, as if it means that he never had anything to say about other topics. After all, his letters are filled with teaching on Christian behavior, church government, the gifts of the Spirit, and more. Paul clearly is engaging in some hyperbole here, exaggerating things to make an important point—namely, that it is on the cross, through the cross, and by the cross that the Lord has provided our salvation. Everything that we do or say as Christians must be in some way informed by the death of the Savior. If we are not trusting in Christ’s work on the cross and not taking up our cross daily in obedience to His example (see Matt. 16:24–28), then we have missed the significance of the gospel.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We never grow past our need of the cross, so we can never go too deep into the meaning and significance of the cross. Our churches must teach on the work of Christ on the cross, and they must help us pattern our lives after Christ and His willingness to obey His Father even unto death. Let us encourage our church leaders and teachers to remain focused on the cross.
For Further Study
- Galatians 6:14
- Hebrews 12:1–2