Pause for a moment, and it really is kind of a shocking idea. Consider what’s being said and you can’t help but think to yourself, “Really? How can that be?” Think of the centrality of its place within the Christian experience and you gotta wonder, “Can it really be emptied of its power?”

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

(1Corinthians 1:17 ESV)

Lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

Emptied of its power. Made of no effect (KJV, NASB). Voided. Rendered impotent. Trivialized. Emptied of its meaning.

Paul’s talking about the cross of Christ here. The finished work of the Lamb of God. The once for all and forever atoning sacrifice for our sins, “and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1Jn. 2:2). So think, what does it mean for the cross of Christ to be emptied of its power? Unthinkable!

But perhaps more astounding is to realize what could do such a thing? What could neutralize “the power of God” for salvation (1Cor. 1:18). What could void the very thing which mightily and miraculously justifies sinners making them saints?

Words.

Words of eloquent wisdom. Clever and eloquent speech (AMP). A lot of fancy rhetoric (MSG). Wanna turn off the power of the cross? It can happen. With words.

Amazing, isn’t it? The right thing proclaimed in the wrong way can empty that redeeming, reconciling, and regenerating thing of its power.

Not that those who preach the gospel shouldn’t prepare. Not that those who declare Christ shouldn’t engage in due consideration of what is said and how. Not that evangelists shouldn’t be engaging. But if our confidence in the cross’s power to bring life is placed in the ability and power of someone to “bring the message”, then we’ve swapped out Christ’s finished work for our polished words.

If only a “good sermon” is able to bring about a great salvation, then we void the very thing able to make a new creation new. If we think we need a TED Talk in order to deliver from the domain of darkness and transfer to the kingdom of light, then we’ve lost our way when it comes to the power of God for salvation. For then we rely not on the working of the Spirit to fuel the fire of faith but instead depend on the marketing of men to close the deal.

Words. Beware of putting too much weight on words of eloquent wisdom.

Lest the cross Christ be emptied of its power.

And we fail to realize how much, even in sharing the good news, we need His grace.

And we foolishly think that somehow, because of our gift of gab, we deserve some of the glory.