1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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John Long Story
John Long Story
We Live in a world that is perpetually Offended- Examples
In that world, we have been handed a message that by nature is offensive.
I 1 Corinthians- Paul is honest here about the offense of the message of the cross.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor
From the context of chapter 1, I think the “word of the cross” here is speaking of the preaching of the cross- the Gospel- the good news.
That is, the cross, as the one way to heaven. This is what Paul is referencing, but this message is not a message that will be palatable for everyone
And there are reasons for that.
When we preach the cross, if we are preaching it rightly, there are a few things that have to be communicated. And these things that are communicated are offensive. The Gospel is good news, but it is also an offensive message because of the ideas that are communicated in it.
In order for us to communicate the Gospel faithfully, we must preach:
Sin. We have to deal with our greatest problem- We have done wrong.
If there is one thing in my life I have struggled with, its whenever I’m told I am wrong. I don’t like that. No one does.
But if we are honest, the cross screams that you and I are wrong. We are sinners.
This is an offensive message- You have fallen short. You are not good enough, because of you.
Substitutionary Atonement. (Christ stood in your place and paid the payment that you and I owed).
This is also offensive: Essentially what we are saying is this: You cannot pay this debt your self. This is a debt that a part from the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.
Your work is useless.
You money is worthless.
You goodness is filthy.
In other words, You are going to have to recognize and have to come to the end of yourself and admit your need for a substitute.
You can’t do it on your on- That’s offensive.
The message is offensive because it is one of exclusivity.
The work of Christ is the only sufficient way of salvation.
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Your way- Other gods- other religions- they don’t work.
Its only through Christ- thats offensive to people.
This rejects the tolerance of pluralism that says there are many ways to heaven
The penalty of rejecting Christ (The Reality of Hell). Here is the big one.
if you don’t believe, submit, trust your life to Christ alone- you will suffer forever for your sin- This is why many conversation you have with an unbeliever that are actual gospel conversation normally produce this question from the unbeliever- “So you think I am going to hell?” We must be honest, even though it may offend. Why?
It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
For all these reasons and more, people are going to find our message offensive.
The message of the cross is so much more than that, but it is certainly not less than that and ever aspect of it will illicit two response from two groups of people.
And this message according to this message has two responses and two actions depending on one’s heart toward it.
Look again in verse 18.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Two groups- Two responses- Two results
Those who are perishing speaks of an active continuous perishing of a group of people.Who are these people? - The unsaved- The wicked- The condemned- The person in continuous rejection of God.
Their Response to the cross is they think that this message is foolish.
Why wouldn’t they?
It is a message of absolute surrender and submission. Remember what Jesus said:
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Why would anyone want to follow a message like that?
Consider for a moment what Jesus said there in .
Followers of Jesus must deny himself.
So my life is no longer about me?
Its not about what I want?
In fact, its the opposite of what I want. Denying myself means turning from me. And that is the reason why the unsaved find this incredibly foolish.
Why on earth would I want to give up myself?
But this is my life. These are my friends. This is my money. I’m not gonna give up my rights, my money, my weekend, my Sunday, or maybe even my life for Jesus. That’s stupid. I’ll do what I want. T
Thats the wisdom of the world. You do you. Get it while you can. Live your Best life. That’s what the world says.
What God says is completely different- The Gospel is a message of self denunciation in a world of self exaltation. To the world, it makes no sense that we would give up our lives for this. They find it foolish.
And sadly, the speaks to the reality that they are perishing.
Notice the wording here. It doesn’t say that they will perish or have perished. it says those who are perishing.
Their response to the cross is fruit of the condition of their heart and it is indicative of the destination of their souls.
They look at their sin and cling more tightly to it rather than running from it and to Christ.
At this point, its important for us to see something:
What seems like life (living it up) (living for one’s self) (a life of self infatuation and self pleasure) is actually one in the process of perishing according this passage. Some have even translated this. “On the way to one’s ruin.”
The is the reality of someone who continuously sees the message of the cross as foolish.
At this point, those who are believers have to be careful to avoid two temptations.
Envying those whose lives seem to be better because they are not following Christ.
Boy look at what they have- I could have that too if I didn’t have to tithe.
Boy look at them. They get to go off on the weekend. I could too, but I have to teach Sunday School.
I realize that is a real temptation, but connected to that is the second thing we must avoid.
We must avoid- Mistaking what seems like a “good life” for eternal life or to say it another way, mistaking temporary pleasure for joy.
We have to be careful for that. Cling to the message of the cross. It is the power of God. Look what he says.
Look at the other group mentioned in verse 18.
Those who are being saved.
Their response to this same message becomes for them the power of God.
They look at Christ in light of their sin and they cherish him.
They cherish that he has paid their debt.
They gladly give up their life, because they see Christ as the only worthy purpose of living.
For them, Its not foolish, its powerful! And because Christ’s cross is powerful, We cling to his death and resurrection for our lives.
For us, it would be foolish to seek their own will and way for our life for that would be a waste.
So again: Where the one who is perishing says “This is my life, my money, my time, my Sunday, my desire, and I’m gonna do what I want,” the one who is being saved says “This life is your life, your money, your time, your Sunday, and I’m going to do what you want.”
And—The result is these people who find the cross to be the power of God are being saved.
That is, they are not on their way to ruin (though their lives may not be a bed of roses), they are on the way to salvation.
They are being saved. God is faithfully working through a foolish message to save them.
What a profound difference? in response and in outcome for two groups of people.
And really it hinges on one thing- Will you follow the wisdom of the world or will you trust in an all Wise God?
Paul illustrates this with an Old Testament Example.
He quotes which says,
Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
Isaiah in is referring to the reality that God’s plan will prosper for His people- though worldly wisdom would say otherwise.
Isaiah’s prophecy in is fulfilled in the story of the King of Assyria who came against Judah and had surrounded Jerusalem with at least 185,000 people in .
In that situation, there were two options for King Hezekiah King of Judah.
They could just surrender. (What Sennacharib the king of Assyria wanted). There are many reasons why this seems like the correct route.
They are outmatched. They have already lost every other city, and now Assyria has surrounded them with more than enough men to take Jerusalem out.
They are promised wealth and prosperity if Hezekiah will just surrender. (Better land, better wine, better accomodations)
Assyria even promises them horses as payment for the city.
World
If they surrender the Assyrians will leave them alone. If they don’t surrender, the Assyrians have an army of 200,000 that are in waiting to destroy Jerusalem.
Worldly Wisdom says surrender to the world and live in prosperity. Worldly wisdom shouts that it would be foolish for you to trust in God
The Second option is then is made pretty clear from the first.
Hezekiah- Stay put in Jerusalem and cry out to God for help.
Be still and know that he is God.
Trust in God
Here we see The Wisdom of the World vs The Wisdom of God
The obvious choice (According to WW) for Hez. would have been just to surrender. Take the money and run. To Assyria, it is foolish for Hez to trust in God. But what happens?
But here is the reality. God does not operate within the bounds of human wisdom.
The wisdom of God proves to shame the wisdom of the world. God saves Jerusalem by essentially destroying the entirety of the Assyrian Army in one night. They literally wake up and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are dead, and Assyria retreats. So For Hezekiah, Judah, and Jerusalem, obeying God, trusting in God proves to be better than what seems like the obvious choice according to worldly wisdom. it’s proven here and it will be proven over and over again
The King of Assyria (Sennacharib) sends messengers to Hezekiah- What is the confidence that you have- taunting Hezekiah.
It is a message of absolute surrender and submission. Remember what Jesus said:
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Why would anyone want to follow a message like that?
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Consider for a moment what Jesus said there in .
Followers of Jesus must deny himself.
So my life is no longer about me?
Its not about what I want?
In fact, its the opposite of what I want. Denying myself means turning from me. And that is the reason why the unsaved find this incredibly foolish.
Why on earth would I want to give up myself?
But this is my life. These are my friends. This is my money. I’m not gonna give up my rights, my money, my weekend, my Sunday, my life for Jesus. That’s stupid. I’ll do what I want. You do you. Thats the wisdom of the world.
The world looks at that and says unapologetically, “That is the dumbest thing that you could possibly do.”
It is a message of self denunciation in a world of self exaltation. To them, it makes no sense.
But here is the reality. God does not operate within the bounds of human wisdom.
God’s wisdom is much greater the worlds, more even to the point, his wisdom is the opposite. So much so that what the world would call wise, he would call foolish.
What the world would call foolish, God would call wise.
To give your life, your time, your money to God
The world looks at that and says unapologetically, “That is the dumbest thing that you could possibly do.”
But here is the reality. God does not operate within the bounds of human wisdom.
And what the world would call foolish IN A CRUCIFIED CHRIST, he, in his infinite wisdom would use to save all of us who are believers.
God’s wisdom is better.
Look what he says here in verse 20
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Three people he mentions here.
The wise man (According to the World)-Someone like the philosopher, the professor, the well educated man who is not a believer
The Scribe- The religious man who in his religion rejects Christ
The Debater of this age- The most skillful in speech who in his charisma finds no need for Christ
Essentially, I believe what Paul is saying here is this. What have these men done for you?
What can they do for the ongoing problem of sin in the world?
Man has tried to do things: in its programs, its governments, its focus on social justices to help. They all fail. What can they do ?
What knowledge can they provide that will lead you to ascertain the purpose of your life now?
Nothing- The people that the world calls wise today will tell you that there is no purpose to your life. You are simply here by chance. That gives us no purpose and it denies reality.
What can they do for you with regard to your death?
Perhaps the most pointed and unmistakable proof: All these people die and stay dead.
But God. Through what the world would call a foolish message, using a foolish method (Like preaching), delivered by foolish men(like me), would deal with all of that through and by his Spirit.
Your sin, your purpose, your death is dealt with at the cross of Jesus Christ, and He saves those who believe it.
Listen to the hope we have.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
The question for you this morning- Do you believe? Or do you think being here is foolish? Thats an important question for you according to verse 18.
1 Cor 1:20-
Are you proclaiming and living this message despite the reality that those who are perishing around you are calling you foolish?
We have to avoid our tendency to try and live according to worldly wisdom to please worldly people.
We have to avoid envying those living lives according to worldly wisdom.
We must base our lives and our practice on God’s message whether we are met by those who believe or those who are perishing.