“The Message of the Cross” – Part 2

1 Corinthians 2:1–16 CSB

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him. Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The conduct of the Corinthian believers in following specific men (1:12), revealed they DID NOT UNDERSTAND the TRUE NATURE of the GOSPEL!

That is the theme of (1:18 to 3:4). Last week we began looking at this issue in chapter 1, where we saw that:

I. The MESSAGE of the Cross is the OPPOSITE of ALL that MEN CONSIDER to be TRUE WISDOM! – (1:18-25)

II. The PEOPLE of the Cross (the CALLED) are not always the SHARPEST KNIVES in the DRAWER! – (1:26-31)

This morning we continue our study by looking at a third characteristic of the TRUE NATURE of the gospel:

III. The MESSENGER of the Cross is NEVER to be the FOCUS! – (2:1-5)

A. Paul reminded the Corinthians of his APPROACH – (vv.1-2)

The philosophers and teachers of Paul’s day relied on their wisdom and eloquence to gain followers…NOT PAUL—NOT with excellence of speech or of wisdom!

NOR did he attempt to impress them with his credentials, or knowledge – (v.2)

Paul was an AMBASSADOR, not a “Christian Salesman.”

A Certain church had a beautiful stained-glass window just behind the pulpit. It depicted Jesus Christ on the cross. One Sunday there was a guest minister who was much smaller than the regular pastor. A little girl listened for a time, then turned to her mother and asked, “Where is the man who usually stands there so we can’t see Jesus?”

B. Paul reminded them of his ATTITUDE – (vv.3-4)

If anyone had a reason to BOAST or be CONFIDENT of his position, or calling in Christ, it was PAUL!

Philippians 3:3–8 CSB

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ

(v.4) – “demonstration” – ‘legal proof presented in court.’

C. Paul reminded them of his AIM – (v.5)

He didn’t want them to trust in an explanation, but rather in a demonstration in the power of God!

The MESSENGER is NEVER to be the FOCUS!

IV. The WISDOM of the Cross is part of the FATHER’S ETERNAL PLAN! – (2:6-8)

Warren Wiersbe – “…the message of the Gospel is simple enough for an illiterate pagan to understand, believe, and be saved. But it is also so profound that the most brilliant theologian cannot fathom its depths.”

A. Wisdom is available to the MATURE in Christ – (v.6)

“mature” – from τελείοις – ‘complete, perfect, whole; full-grown, mature, adult.’ (13:10; 14:20)

B. This wisdom from God has been HIDDEN – (v.7a)

Ephesians 3:1–6 CSB

For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

C. This wisdom involves God’s ORDINATION – (v.7b)

Acts 2:22–23 CSB

“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through him, just as you yourselves know. Though he was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.

1 Peter 1:18–21 CSB

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

D. This wisdom results in the GLORY of God’s people – (v.7c)

E. This wisdom was hidden from the RULERS of their age – (v.8)

The question is, “Who are the rulers of this age?”

Two possibilities:

1) The men in charge of government when Jesus was crucified (Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, & the Sanhedrin).

2) The spiritual and demonic rulers of this present age!

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

I believe that this latter interpretation makes more sense. Satan and all his fallen angels did not understand God’s plan of redemption!

According to (Ephesians 3:10) the manifold wisdom of God was being made known (revealed) to them.

If the angels in heaven did not understand God’s plan, then why should we assume, that Satan would know it?

Satan thought Calvary was his greatest victory—when in fact, it was his worst defeat!

Colossians 2:15 CSB

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

Q: “How to you convey a ‘hidden’ message?”

V. The MESSAGE of the Cross is REVEALED by the HOLY SPIRIT! – (2:9-16)

The process by which the Holy Spirit discloses the Gospel is threefold:

A. REVELATION – (vv.9-12)

(v.9)– It is impossible for man to perceive the plans of God!

Kistemaker – “…knowledge of salvation does not originate with man when he opens his eyes to see or listens to what others tell him or formulates thoughts. Paul rules out all avenues of sense perception and leaves the reader to draw the conclusion that wisdom can emanate only from God. […] By mentioning the physical organs of eye, ear, and mind, Paul emphasizes the process of perception, analysis, and assimilation of facts. These organs by themselves cannot provide man with wisdom to understand God’s divine work of salvation” (p.85).

(v.10a)– They are disclosed or revealed to us by His Spirit!

(v.10b-11)– Through the Holy Spirit, each believer becomes a partaker of the very life of God!

(v.12) – God wants you to know His will and plan!

B. INSPIRATION – (v.13)

The gospel is shared or conveyed, not with the world’s words of wisdom, but with that which the Holy Spirit teaches!

John 16:8–15 CSB

When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

C. ILLUMINATION – (vv.14-16)

(vv.14-15) – The presence of the Spirit of God in the life of a believer enables him to make accurate judgments! However, the natural man lacks the capacity to understand GOD or BELIEVERS!

(v.16) – WOW! – You have the capacity to know the will of God in every circumstance in your life! That is GOOD NEWS!

It’s NOT the MESSENGER that gives power to the FOOLISH MESSAGE, but the HOLY SPIRIT!