THE GOSPEL OF THE CROSS

WRITTEN BY NATHAN BRISTOW

Paul’s Warning Against False Gospels

In two of his early Epistles, Paul warns about the rise of apostasy—coming from those who claim to believe in Jesus but follow a different gospel, a different Jesus, and a different spirit.

To the church in Corinth, he writes:

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”— 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

And to the church in Galatia:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”— Galatians 1:6-8

These letters were written between 48-56 AD—merely 30 years after the ascension of Christ—showing that even in the early church, the Gospel was being distorted. Paul urges the believers to hold fast to the Gospel he preached.

What Gospel Did Paul Preach?

Paul answers this question clearly:

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”— 1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Paul’s Gospel was the Gospel of the Cross. He references it approximately 15 times across his 13 epistles and directly preaches it around four times in the Book of Acts. His message is clear: there is simplicity in the Gospel of the Cross—but there are always those trying to remove it.

This has continued for 2,000 years through groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Latter-day Saints, Islam, and modern atheism. They deny the power of God through the atonement on the Cross. Some even deny the resurrection entirely—but Scripture makes it clear:

“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

Those who reject the Gospel cannot understand it, for their hearts remain stony. They are not born again.

The Cross and Being Born Again

Jesus Himself declared:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”— John 3:3 NASB

Nicodemus, a teacher of Israel, struggled to understand this concept:

“How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?”— John 3:4 NASB

Jesus responded:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.”— John 3:5-6 NASB

Jesus made it clear: man must be born physically (water) and spiritually (Spirit).

Yet, Nicodemus, despite being a teacher of Israel, did not understand. This reveals two key things:

1. Jesus was speaking of something that should have already been understood—prophesied in Ezekiel 36:26.

2. The religious leaders were blind to the identity and mission of the Messiah.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”— Ezekiel 36:26 NASB

Even the prophets spoke of the necessity of spiritual rebirth, which comes not by human effort but through the Messiah.

Moses lifting the Serpent in the Wilderness (Numbers 21)

The Foreshadowing of the Cross

Jesus continues by giving Nicodemus an example from Israel’s history:

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.”— John 3:14-15 NASB

Jesus refers to Numbers 21:4-9, where Israel was plagued by venomous serpents due to their sin.

God instructed Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, and all who looked upon it were healed.

This was a foreshadowing of the Cross.

Then comes one of the most well-known verses in Scripture:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”— John 3:16 NASB

A better translation would be: “In this way, God’s love for the world was shown—by sending His Son.”

The Simplicity of the Gospel

The same message Paul and Jesus preached remains true today: God has made a way for man to be saved.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”— Jonathan Edwards

Moses lifted up the bronze serpent to save Israel for a specific time, place, and people.God lifted up His Son on the Cross to save all people for all time.

The requirement? Belief.

• Not belief in a wooden stake.

• Not belief in the Garden of Gethsemane.

• Not belief in a denial of the death and resurrection.

Only belief in Jesus Christ crucified saves.

A Call to the Cross

If you have never considered the Cross, you can come to it today.

Do not be deceived by the serpent of old—do not be taken away from the simplicity in Christ. You do not need to work to gain salvation.

Paul says it plainly:

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”— 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

To believe on the Cross is to receive new life, eternal life, and the righteousness of God.

Amen.