1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

Introduction

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Do you remember being a child and loving something. It may have been that stuffed animal, blanket, or toy. One of our neighbors from the seminary has two boys. The youngest boy has been caring one particular green spoon around with him everywhere for the last few months. He is three and he calls it his emotional support spoon. One day he is going to grow up and realize that he does not need that spoon anymore.

Saints, sometimes we feel that way about the simplicity of the gospel. When we begin our walk with the Lord Jesus, we love the gospel. Everything is about the gospel. We ask questions like, “What does the Bible say about this or that?” Then, as we grow in our walk with the Lord, we begin to treat the gospel as elementary. We need to learn about church history, apologetics, and the christian worldview. However, some people forget that these disciplines cannot be divorced from the reality and power of the gospel. Apologetics can become more about proving someone right or wrong, instead of the gospel. Church history can be more about knowledge than it is faithfulness to the gospel.

Need

This morning, we need to see that the gospel is something we can never outgrow. We can never get past the simplicity of the gospel. The gospel is the source of our power and boasting!

Referent

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

Organization

Earthly Foolishness (vs. 18-25)

Heavenly Power (vs. 25-2:5)

Heavenly Wisdom (vs. 6-16)

Sermon in a sentence:

I will boast in the power of the gospel.

Earthly Foolishness (vs. 18-25)

Context: Paul is writing to Corinth. Remember, this place is full of travelers. Story-telling and the Isthmian games leave the Greeks (Corinth) in a constant search for a good story, wisdom, philosophy, and intellect.

These people also thought the idea of a king dying was foolish and week. Cicero lived from about 100-40 BC. He was a famous Greek philosopher, statesmen, and wrote the famous book “On the Orator”. He once said that “The very word ‘cross’ should be far removed not only the person of a Roman citizen, but form his thoughts, his eyes, and his ears.” To preach the “cross of Christ” was repulsive, foolish, weak, and laughable.

The Jews in Corinth wanted some miracle like Moses, Elijah, or Elisha. They wanted to see the message in divine acts, glory, and power.

(v. 18) - those who are perishing and those being saved

Salvation is often seen as one moment in time. But the NT teaches us that it is more than just that.

Our justification (also called initial sanctification) is immediate. God makes us holy and calls us his own the very moment we call upon Jesus Christ! There is no more fear of hell, death, and the power of sin.

At the same time, salvation is more than just our justification. It is also our sanctification and glorification! Day by day and glory by glory we are being made into the image of God. And one day, we will be glorified with Jesus in heaven for eternity.

Saints, this distinction is important to make. The gospel is the means by which we are growing in our salvation. So many times, we think of the gospel as that thing that we agreed to at VBS, our the youth group, or at the revival service. Yes, it was the power of the gospel that changed your life. And it is still the power of the gospel that continues to give us our strength in the Christian life. We are truly living. Those that reject the gospel are dead men walking. Each day, is one more day closer to the second death. They are increasingly becoming more and more hardened to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul uses the word apolumi for “perishing”. The root for this word is luw which means to loose, release, or destroy. The apo prefix intensifies this. verse 19 uses the same word, “I will destroy “apolumi” the wisdom of the wise. Its like Paul is saying they are being destroyed. Day by day, those that reject the gospel are being destroyed! I

(vs. 20-23) The earthly approaches to the gospel are nothing but foolishness.

The Greek rational philosophical approach fails. It rejects the foundation of God. They argue about everything and nothing.

The scribes do the same thing. They miss the plain reading of the text for everything that is not there.

Heavenly Power (vs. 26-2:5)

(vs. 26-31) Paul reminds the Corinthians of their positions and of revelation history.

There were some gifted individuals in the Corinthian churches (Paul, Apollos, Priscilla and Aqilla, Crispus, Gaius). The power of God is not in these men, but in the power of the gospel.

(vs. 28) God chose (3x in vs 27-28) the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are.

God chose Abraham and Sarah to be the parents of Israel.

This couple had no children. Yet God called them, those that had no ability to have children, to bring about his purposes.

God used Ruth, the widow with no children, to be the great grandmother of David. This king would eventually be the line of the Messiah.

God used Hannah, Elkannah’s wife with no children, to bring about the prophet Samuel.

(vs. 2-5) Paul chooses to use the most powerful approach, the gospel.

By God’s grace, I have been able to go to seminary. I just finished the last seminar this past week. I have spent the last 8 years in theological education. I have tried to sharpen my thinking, grow my education, and improve my preaching. However, none of that is as powerful as the gospel. These things are beneficial! But they are not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I do not want the oratory skills of Cicero to be the driving force of Colgate’s attraction. I do not wan the programing to be why people like Colgate. I want the powerful proclamation of the gospel to be the attraction of this place!

Saints, God chose to use the gospel of Jesus Christ to bring about the salvation of all of those that believe. He chose to take a barren couple to bring about the Messiah. He chose 12 disciples, mostly blue collar fisherman, to turn the world upside down.

Saints, I believe that God has chosen to use Colgate for his glory. I see a building that used to be full of life. I know God can do it again brothers and sisters. I hope you hear me very carefully and with the love of a shepherd. If you do not believe that, I ask you to please step aside. Do not hinder those that still believe that God can do something amazing here. Maybe, you need to step down from a position that you hold. I want to say this very carefully! Maybe, you need to leave Colgate. It would be better for a person to go to another church where they are aligned not just theologically but also missionally.

Saints, I know that God is not done with Colgate Baptist Church! If you believe that, I am calling every single on of us to step up and live like that. If you do not believe that God can and will do amazing things here, as your shepherd that loves your soul, I humbly ask you to step aside for a season. Please do not hinder the progress that God is doing here!

Heavenly Wisdom (vs. 6-16)

(vs. 6-9) Paul stresses that this wisdom is not earthly. It was hidden from them in the heavenly realm.

This wisdom is not something you just pick up from looking at nature. It comes from God (v.7 “God decreed”)

(v. 9) is not about heaven directly. Yes, it is true that no one can fully fathom the beauty and glory of heaven! However, that is not what Paul is referencing here! Paul is saying that no human has been able to even imagine the beauty of the Spirit.

This wisdom, this heavenly wisdom, can be yours today. It is not something you have to wait until you get to heaven. If you are in Christ, you have a heavenly wisdom that the world could not even imagine.

(v. 12 and 16) God wants to freely give us the Spirit so that we can have the mind of Christ.

James 1:5 “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

This should be our goal saints. 2 Peter 3:18 “18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Conclusion

As new believers, all we can do is share the gospel. We can’t help but tell our coworkers, friends, neighbors, and relatives. After a few months, we grow up. We are more self conscious. Saints, this week we need to recalibrate our thinking. We need to regain our ability to boast in the power of the gospel. This week we need to boast in Jesus.

Application

Turn to Christ for Salvation!

Boast in the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation!