That the death of Christ was necessary as an atonement for sin, and that salvation has been procured for us only through His death "is foolishness" to whom? To them that perish! Now mark it well, for it is to be feared that there are thousands of professing Christians to whom the cross of Christ in many of its bearings "is foolishness.”
The cross of Christ proclaims God's thoughts about sin; it declares with terrible power that all unrighteousness is sin. Many say, and by their lives affirm it, that this "is foolishness,"—that God is too good not to make allowances for human infirmities. Yet the cross of Christ declares with a trumpet-voice: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
The cross of Christ declares that man is totally destitute of righteousness. Many deny this. They affirm that there is something good in all men and that the death of Christ renders their own works meritorious. They protest that it is "foolishness" to say that God makes no allowance for good works or distinction regarding character.
But behold the cross of Christ! It stops every mouth and declares that the whole world has "become guilty before God." Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19). It has become guilty of sin, guilty of murder, guilty of the death of His dear Son Jesus.
By that death of Christ on the cross the world is condemned; but by that same death all who believe on Jesus are justified. For "by the deeds of the law" or any fancied human righteousness "shall no flesh be justified." And if we are not justified, we perish.
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
"Whom God hath sent forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;