The Message About the Cross

Cicero was a Roman writer. He died about 50 years before Jesus was born. Cicero wrote about the cross. Most Roman people didn’t need to worry about dying on a cross. The cross was a punishment for slaves, the worst criminals, and the enemies of Rome. So, Cicero told the Roman people not to bother to think about it. Cicero’s words show us that the cross was a symbol of shame for the Romans. They hated the cross.

Compare Cicero’s words with Paul’s. Paul wrote: “The message about the cross shows us God’s power to save us” ( 1 Corinthians 1:18 📖 , EASY). For Paul, the Cross was God’s answer to the sin problem. God accepted sinners because of the Cross ( Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20 📖 ). Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross ( Colossians 2:14 📖 ).

The Cross is Paul’s answer to the problems in Corinth. This week, we will look at the powerful message about the Cross. We will learn how the Cross is the answer to separation and other problems in the church, both in Paul’s day and in ours.