"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV - Does this mean that we wear gold crosses around our necks? Does this mean that we go to the tattoo parlor and ask for a cross to be etched/cut into our skin.......which is against the law by the way ->
"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:28 KJV
No, I don't believe we're supposed to wear crosses. Leviticus 26:1, nowhere does it say wear a cross, as jewelry. However it does say not to make idols.
Recently I thought, if a person had a friend that was killed by gunshot & had a miraculous recovery. How would he feel, if when he returned to his friends & family, they had an image of the gun or bullet around their neck, to honor him. I would think it would be upsetting to say the least. Wouldn't he say, "your missing the main point." isn't it the life lived?Jesus himself being the example of a loving life, helping others in need? & the hope & promise of resurrection. John 5:21-29, 1Corinthians 15:42-58, John 11:25, Ecclesiastes 5:15, 1Timothy 6:7,
Bare your cross: Luke 14, looking at context, whole chapter Jesus in doing the better thing by healing, suffered rejection, hate, wrongful judgement.
A cross is painful, it's obvious, on view for everyone to see, not something we can hide in our pocket. It causes ridicule & even division. Luke 14:11, Luke 14:12-14, Luke 14:17-20,24, Luke 14:26,27, also Matthew 10, note Matthew 10:36, Matthew 10:17,18, Matthew 10:21, Matthew 10:22, please read in context Matthew 10, Matthew 10:32-42, & Luke 9:22-26, also Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:29-38, Mark 10:14-52,
If I examine this verse, I notice a vast difference if I contrast that. One person hears the gospel and says "Yea, I heard it. It doesn't make sense and it's foolish." But to another person, the power of God will come upon them and save them through the foolishness of preaching.
Also, 1 Corinthians 1:17 is a tremendous verse. Paul says, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:"
And then he gives us insight and he opens up the whole rest of the book to us by saying that when I preach the gospel, it's not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
In Chapter 2, Paul is going to tell us about his method. What's Paul's method? Number one, by the inspiration of God's Spirit, and number two, he says I'm not going to preach anything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified! He says I know nothing amongst you except Christ and Him crucified.
Why? Because as he develops the thought through the rest of the book, he says that is God's designed plan, because to man it is foolish. So to preach Jesus Christ crucified for your sins, he's going to say that the world thinks that's foolish.
He said that it's God's designed plan, so I'm going to preach Christ, and Him crucified, and the person that has a heart for the Lord is going to respond, and the people that don't have a heart for the Lord, they're going to reject it.
Paul didn't compromise the gospel message in order to get people to receive it. He says it's got to be either the power of the Spirit of God through the simple message of the gospel that convicts people of their need of Christ, or Paul says I won't do it any other way.
So Paul says if I try the maneuverings and the persuasiveness with human wisdom to get people to believe, it makes the cross of Christ empty. The power of the cross is then released of its power when I'm trying to persuade people with human wisdom!
I'm sorry if my response did not answer your question. Please allow a second shot at it.
You asked two questions. First question was if 1 Corinthians 1:18 means that we wear gold crosses around our necks?
My answer to that would be no.
Your second question: does 1 Corinthians 1:18 mean that we go to the tattoo parlor and ask for a cross to be etched/cut into our skin.
My answer to that would also be no. I gave you my understanding of what that verse means.
Again, your question is "Are we supposed to wear crosses on our necks?"
I do not know of any scripture that forbids it. There is scripture that speaks against idols and worship of idols. I suppose if a person does not worship or idolize a piece of jewelry or any other material possessions, that person would be okay.
Also, Luke 14:27 does not address your question. "Whosoever does not bear his cross" doesn't mean whosoever does not wear a cross around his neck.
What does it mean to bear ones cross?
Here in our culture, basically people understand it to mean whatever hardships I have to go through today, I'm just bearing my cross for Jesus. Except that whether you are a Christian or not, you are going to go through difficulties. It is not what it means.
When Jesus died on the cross, He died my death.In reference, you can read Romans 6:1-14, and Galatians 2:20.
What does it mean to take up your cross?
You see, when I received the life of Jesus Christ, I also received His death. That's why Paul can say in Philippians, "Oh that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings."
Power to live and power to suffer go hand in hand. But they are not my sufferings. They are the sufferings of Christ. But when He died on the cross, He died my death. He died in my place therefore I have died. But my biggest struggle in life is that every day, my flesh is trying to get down off that cross.
"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:28 KJV
No, I don't believe we're supposed to wear crosses. Leviticus 26:1, nowhere does it say wear a cross, as jewelry. However it does say not to make idols.
Recently I thought, if a person had a friend that was killed by gunshot & had a miraculous recovery. How would he feel, if when he returned to his friends & family, they had an image of the gun or bullet around their neck, to honor him. I would think it would be upsetting to say the least. Wouldn't he say, "your missing the main point." isn't it the life lived?Jesus himself being the example of a loving life, helping others in need? & the hope & promise of resurrection. John 5:21-29, 1Corinthians 15:42-58, John 11:25, Ecclesiastes 5:15, 1Timothy 6:7,
Bare your cross: Luke 14, looking at context, whole chapter Jesus in doing the better thing by healing, suffered rejection, hate, wrongful judgement.
A cross is painful, it's obvious, on view for everyone to see, not something we can hide in our pocket. It causes ridicule & even division. Luke 14:11, Luke 14:12-14, Luke 14:17-20,24, Luke 14:26,27, also Matthew 10, note Matthew 10:36, Matthew 10:17,18, Matthew 10:21, Matthew 10:22, please read in context Matthew 10, Matthew 10:32-42, & Luke 9:22-26, also Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:29-38, Mark 10:14-52,
Philippians 2:1-15, Colossians 1:10-29 ,
Matthew 25:31-46, James 1:5,
Hopefully these are helpful
Here is what I take away from 1 Corinthians 1:18.
If I examine this verse, I notice a vast difference if I contrast that. One person hears the gospel and says "Yea, I heard it. It doesn't make sense and it's foolish." But to another person, the power of God will come upon them and save them through the foolishness of preaching.
Also, 1 Corinthians 1:17 is a tremendous verse. Paul says, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:"
And then he gives us insight and he opens up the whole rest of the book to us by saying that when I preach the gospel, it's not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
In Chapter 2, Paul is going to tell us about his method. What's Paul's method? Number one, by the inspiration of God's Spirit, and number two, he says I'm not going to preach anything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified! He says I know nothing amongst you except Christ and Him crucified.
Why? Because as he develops the thought through the rest of the book, he says that is God's designed plan, because to man it is foolish. So to preach Jesus Christ crucified for your sins, he's going to say that the world thinks that's foolish.
He said that it's God's designed plan, so I'm going to preach Christ, and Him crucified, and the person that has a heart for the Lord is going to respond, and the people that don't have a heart for the Lord, they're going to reject it.
Paul didn't compromise the gospel message in order to get people to receive it. He says it's got to be either the power of the Spirit of God through the simple message of the gospel that convicts people of their need of Christ, or Paul says I won't do it any other way.
So Paul says if I try the maneuverings and the persuasiveness with human wisdom to get people to believe, it makes the cross of Christ empty. The power of the cross is then released of its power when I'm trying to persuade people with human wisdom!
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27 KJV
I'm sorry if my response did not answer your question. Please allow a second shot at it.
You asked two questions. First question was if 1 Corinthians 1:18 means that we wear gold crosses around our necks?
My answer to that would be no.
Your second question: does 1 Corinthians 1:18 mean that we go to the tattoo parlor and ask for a cross to be etched/cut into our skin.
My answer to that would also be no. I gave you my understanding of what that verse means.
Again, your question is "Are we supposed to wear crosses on our necks?"
I do not know of any scripture that forbids it. There is scripture that speaks against idols and worship of idols. I suppose if a person does not worship or idolize a piece of jewelry or any other material possessions, that person would be okay.
Also, Luke 14:27 does not address your question. "Whosoever does not bear his cross" doesn't mean whosoever does not wear a cross around his neck.
What does it mean to bear ones cross?
Here in our culture, basically people understand it to mean whatever hardships I have to go through today, I'm just bearing my cross for Jesus. Except that whether you are a Christian or not, you are going to go through difficulties. It is not what it means.
When Jesus died on the cross, He died my death.In reference, you can read Romans 6:1-14, and Galatians 2:20.
What does it mean to take up your cross?
You see, when I received the life of Jesus Christ, I also received His death. That's why Paul can say in Philippians, "Oh that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings."
Power to live and power to suffer go hand in hand. But they are not my sufferings. They are the sufferings of Christ. But when He died on the cross, He died my death. He died in my place therefore I have died. But my biggest struggle in life is that every day, my flesh is trying to get down off that cross.
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