A Conflict of Worldviews (2)

A Conflict of Worldviews

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

I. Introduction

A. The election is over, and it doesn’t matter who wins because we just get further divided. We keep believing that if the right person gets elected, we will see better times, instead we only get more bitter towards one another. What is the answer? The gospel

B. Context: Paul has just addressed the quarreling in the church over whose group was true based on who they were baptized by. Paul says none of it matters because of the Cross that is our only hope

II. The power is in the cross (17)

A. Exegesis

1. There were divisions in the church based on who they were led to Christ and baptized by, as though some had a better gospel than others

2. Of Course, Paul was a great apostle and a brilliant man

3. At the same time, it was not the words that he used that mattered. What mattered was the gospel of Christ because the power to save was in Christ, not the evangelist

4. Paul was sent by Christ to simply preach the gospel (good news) and to trust in the power of the cross

5. The power of the gospel is in the truth that is behind it

a) That Christ fulfilled the law of Moses

b) That Christ was an atoning sacrifice for our sin

c) That Christ was a propitiation for our sin – He appeased God’s anger against us

d) That Christ defeated death through His resurrection

e) That Christ is creating a new Kingdom of His people that would finally bring peace

f) That Christ requires only our faith in His full and complete work to be saved

6. The problem is that in our sinful nature, we have a hard time letting go of our sins, admitting we are sinners, and allowing Christ’s righteousness to be enough (Not working our way to heaven)

7. It is power, not wisdom, as would be expected in this phrase - The power of the Cross is that Jesus is enough

B. Application

1. For the evangelist

a) Stop depending on yourself to convince people and let the Holy Spirit do it

b) It means that we preach Jesus and nothing else!

c) Anyone can be an evangelist because it is not about us but about Him

d) The power is not in use but in the cross of Christ

2. For the lost

a) We do not need some deep hidden message

b) We do not need great works

c) We need Jesus

3. The power of the message of the cross is greater than anything I could say in my wisdom

III. But the cross doesn’t make sense to the world (18)

A. Exegesis

1. For the word (logos) of the cross is foolishness (μορια) to those who are perishing

a) The message doesn’t get through to those who are perishing

b) Three different analogies for the difficulty of the lost to hear the message

(1) Slavery – John 8:31-34 – You will know the truth and the truth will set you free

(2) Blindness – 2 Corinthians 4:4 – blinded the minds of unbelievers

(3) Death – Ephesians 2:1 – and you were dead in your trespasses and sins

2. But to us who are being saved (passive) – In the work of Christ

3. It is the power of God

a) What is the power? The word of the cross

b) Why is it powerful?

(1) Because it frees them from the slavery of sin

(2) Because it gives sight to the spiritually blind

(3) because it raises people from the dead and gives them life

c) It changes their heart from turning toward sin and gives them the righteousness of Christ

4. Illustration - Kat Von D

B. Application

1. What you are seeing is spiritual warfare, not mental or philosophical warfare in evangelism

2. We are trying to offer them the spiritual antidote to spiritual slavery, blindness, and death

3. We need to share the gospel as a spiritual act

4. We need to understand that only the Spirit gives life – John 6:61-63

a) Jesus has just explained that they must eat of his flesh and drink his blood

b) This would be unthinkable to the Jew, but Jesus is speaking metaphorically about them receiving Christ

c) His disciples took offense at this

d) Therefore, Jesus replied with this passage

IV. The Wisdom of God doesn’t follow the world's rules (19-21)

A. Exegesis

1. Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14 to show God’s plan is not to use worldly wisdom to save people

2. Paul asks where is the wise, the scribe, and the debater – points to both Jewish and Gentile intellects

3. God has made them all foolish – they look wise to the world, but they cannot lead people to righteousness, goodness, bring peace and hope

a) People like Karl Marx and Hitler start off trying to bring about good for their people only to bring about more evil

4. In the wisdom of God – This is God’s plan that we do not find Him through the world

5. The world did not know God through wisdom

a) It would have made us arrogant

b) We would have depended on ourselves instead of God

c) Only the intellectuals who could grasp it would be saved rather than those who would simply trust Christ

6. God is pleased to bring the gospel through such a simple message (folly)

7. We simply put our faith in Christ and the Spirit makes that foolishness the wisdom of God

8. We had to see the gospel through spiritual eyes – Magic eye pictures

B. Application

1. We are not brought to Christ by sophistry but by faith

2. We do not have to make sense of the entire world having the hope of salvation through the public execution of a rejected Messiah – It only makes sense once we put our faith in Christ and His Holy Spirit brings life, takes off the blinders, frees us from the slavery of sin

V. So, we preach the truth (22-25)

A. Exegesis

1. Jews demand signs – Matthew 12:38-40

a) The Jews were always looking for a sign that the Messiah was here

b) But Jesus shows that the only sign would be through death

2. And Greeks seek wisdom

a) They took great pride in their intellectual philosophers – Aristotle, Plato, Socrates

b) It is what Paul confronted on Mars Hill

3. We preach Christ crucified!

a) A stumbling block to the Jews – Not what they are looking for in a savior

b) Folly to the Gentiles – Not what they are looking for in a philosophy

4. To all who are called the cross of Christ is everything – Power and wisdom!

a) Power in that it saves eternally

b) Wisdom in that it makes sense that Jesus paid the penalty of sinners that we could be forgiven

5. His power is stronger, and his wisdom is wiser than the world’s – Trust Him

B. Illustration – Imagine being in the first century and being told that a man executed by Roman Crucifixion was the Savior of the world. It would be hard to believe.

C. Application

1. The power of the gospel in the cross of Christ – Trust Him and His work

2. If you are trusting in the wisdom of the world you will never understand it

3. When the wisdom and strength of God take` over it makes perfect sense

4. Evangelist – You have all the power and wisdom that is necessary when you share the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ

VI. Conclusion

A. What are you looking for? Worldly wisdom or the cross of Jesus Christ – Max Lucado quote

B. Spiritual warfare in evangelism is beyond us, as is your salvation

C. It takes a work of the Spirit

D. Would you trust the Cross of Jesus Christ today

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring you to Spiritual life and take off the blinders

2. Trust the work of the Holy Spirit in your own hear

John 8:31–34

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

2 Corinthians 4:4

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:1

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

John 6:61–63

61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Isaiah 29:14

therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

Matthew 12:38–40

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Kat Von D

I'm on fire for Jesus, I don't see this dimming out. The more I learn the more I get excited for things and the more at ease I am about what's happening in this world.

I feel like I'm the best wife and the best mother I can be now because of the changes that I've had. I mean … it's like a deprogramming has taken place. Things that I used to find attractive are disgusting to me, you know? And it's like, I wish I could put into words like how amazing those changes are.

Max Lucado Calls Christ's Cross the Hinge of History

Author Max Lucado describes the pivotal nature of the cross in history and in each of our lives.

It rests on the time-line of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers. History has idolized and despised it, gold-plated and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything but ignore it. How could you ignore such a piece of lumber? Suspended on its beams is the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming to be God on earth. Divine. Eternal. The death-slayer. Never has timber been regarded so sacred. No wonder the apostle Paul called the cross event the core of the gospel. It's bottom line sobering: if the account is true, it is history's hinge. Period. If not, the cross is history's hoax.

Which is the cross for you, hinge or hoax? Or in the words of Jesus, "Who do you say that I am?"

Max Lucado, The Cross, (Multnomah, 1998), p. 5; submitted by Larry Trotter, Wake Forest, North Carolina