不變的信息──十字架的信息
哥林多前書一章17至24節
17基督差遣我，原不是為施洗，乃是為傳福音，並不用智慧的言語，免得基督的十字架落了空。
18因為十字架的道理，在那滅亡的人為愚拙；在我們得救的人，卻為神的大能。
19就如經上所記：我要滅絕智慧人的智慧，廢棄聰明人的聰明。
20智慧人在哪裡？文士在哪裡？這世上的辯士在哪裡？神豈不是叫這世上的智慧變成愚拙嗎？
21世人憑自己的智慧，既不認識神，神就樂意用人所當作愚拙的道理，拯救那些信的人；這就是神的智慧了。
22猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧，
23我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督，在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；
24但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人、希臘人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。
信息分享
基督的十字架，乃是福音的核心信息。我們所傳的信息，必須包括基督的受死和復活。基督的十字架，亦是神用以處理人類問題的核心方式。當我們求取救恩的時候，聖靈會引領我們走到十字架的面前。當我們渴求過得勝生活的時候，聖靈亦會引領我們走到十字架的面前。而且，聖靈又會主動引領我們去瞻仰十字架，為的是讓我們再次默念神的大愛。
保羅在這裡對哥林多信徒說：「你們自此至終最需要認識的信息，乃是十字架的信息。它已經是完整的信息，不用再加添甚麼或刪減甚麼。」
猶太人所求的是神蹟(22節)，所以，這信息不能取悅他們。今天同樣有不少人祈求肉眼看得見的神蹟，他們會說：「你說有神，就證明給我看吧！」然而，神卻另設了信心之途：「只要你相信十字架的故事，且接受我的兒子為你罪犧牲，那麼，我就會向你證明我是真實存在。」
猶太人渴望看見神蹟。甚至連撒但，也提議基督用神蹟來吸引人信祂。基督的弟弟也作出過類似的建議。我們經常聽見今天的人說：「讓我經歷到神的真實，我就會相信。」但神卻提議人說：「你相信我，接著就會經歷到我的同在。」
保羅說：「希臘人尋求智慧。」希臘人試圖用自己的方式來尋求神。他們拒絕接受十字架這個簡單的信息。他們說：「我們會用自己的方法來尋求神。」但神卻指出，人只可藉著十字架的道路來尋見祂。這個方式未必人人喜愛；有些人認為它太簡單或太愚昧。然而，神卻堅持它是唯一的道路。
相信這信息的人，會在生活中經歷它的能力。可是，拒絕它的人，當將來發現它是唯一的得救之途時，便只有懊悔為時太晚。
THE CROSS-OUR UNCHANGING MESSAGE
1 Corinthians 1:17-24
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written:“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Message
The cross of Christ is the central point of the Gospel. Our message must always include both Christ's death and his resurrection. The cross is also the central point of God's dealings with us. When we ask for salvation, the Holy Spirit leads us to the cross. When we realise the need for victory, the Holy Spirit leads us to the cross. When we need to be reminded of the love of God, the Holy Spirit tells us to look again at the cross.
This is what Paul is saying to the Corinthians, 'The message you needed was the cross. You still need the same message. Don't add anything to it. Don't take anything from it. Let it stand alone.'
That message did not please the Jews, however. They asked for signs (v.22). A sign is something we can see. Many people still ask for the same proof today. 'How can you say there is a God? Show him to me', they say. But God says that is not the way of faith. God says, 'You believe the story of the cross and accept that my Son died for you, then I will prove myself to you'.
When the Jews asked for a sign, they usually wanted to see a miracle. Satan even suggested this to Christ. His brothers also gave the same advice. People today often say, 'Give me an experience and I will believe'. God says, 'You believe and experience will follow'.
Paul said, 'the Greeks search for wisdom'. They were men who tried to work out for themselves how they could find God. They rejected the simple message of the cross and said 'we will find our own way to approach God'. God says the only way to come is by way of the cross. Men may not like it.They may think it is too simple or even silly. God says it is the only way.
Those who believe in this message find out its power in their lives. Those who reject it discover too late that it was the only way they could be saved from sin for all eternity.