1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. 20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world —what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:18-

Pray

Last week, we spent some time talking about divisions.

I said something that I am not sure is true. I said that I was not aware of any divisions in the church.

I was speaking about things that large groups of people in our church might be divided over. I still believe this to be mostly true that I don’t think there are large groups of people in the church that are divided.

I would say that I am aware of divisions among church members. Meaning some church members who may have problems with other church members.

Now a group this size you are going to have problems right. My family is a family of six and sometimes we have problems and there are only six of us.

Division starts when our comforts are greater than our longing for Jesus.

With a group this size at some point someone will step in on your comforts.

I had the opportunity in preparing for today to think about some times in this ministry that I could have chose comforts over Jesus.

My mind mostly went to the late night or early morning phone calls that I rolled out of the bed and went to serve Jesus rather than stay in my comforts.

When we choose comforts over longing for Jesus this ultimately is self-centeredness.

1 Corinthians 1:17 HCSB

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

1 Corinthians

The hope of the world is through the cross. Peace, life, forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life all come through the cross of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:18 HCSB

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.

The Message of the Cross

The Gospel is that God became man in Jesus. Many no longer believe at the fact that Jesus was God in the flesh. Muslims would say not possible. Jehova’s witnesses say Jesus was one of God’s sons. Scripture tells us that Jesus was God in the flesh.

He was born of a virgin in a stable. He was arrested, stripped of his clothes, beaten, hung on a cross and his side pierced.

His death brought us life.

Those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness.

“The message of the Cross” is the message of self-renunciation, of obedience to God which may lead as it did in Jesus’ case to humiliation and death, but which ultimately leads not to self-destruction but to preservation () and exaltation (; ).

Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 509). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Matthew 16:24–25 HCSB

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.

Matthew 16:

This is more than just praying a prayer. This is so much more than choosing our own comforts.

The message of the cross is denying our self, taking up our cross and following Jesus.

We are a diverse group of people but we come back to the same goal. The person across the aisle or across the church is on your team.

The thing that brings the team together is the message of the cross. The message of the cross unites us together. The message of the cross calls us out of our comforts. The message of the cross frees us from divisions.

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

Those who are perishing believe you are foolish to believe this. Those who are perishing choose their current comforts verses uniting in the message of the cross.

It is God’s power to us who are being saved. Those who have experienced the message of the cross it is power. Think of the freedom this morning you have because of the Power of God to set you free.

1 Corinthians 1:19–21 HCSB

19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts. 20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.

The Gospel is not earned through great wisdom.

I love taking test. I would sleep through math class and wake up take the test and get bonus points on it. I just like test.

How many like to take test?

There may be a few more that like to take test.

I love this set of verses because it is not passing a test and having great wisdom that saves you. God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.

All of the philosophers in Corinth are setting around trying to impress others with their knowledge and wisdom. Paul says that God was pleased to save through the foolishness of the message preached.

God was pleased to save those who believe through the cross.

This gives us so much hope for our community.

Notice again that the message of the cross is not based upon the achievement of men. It is not based on your ability to pass the test or have great wisdom. The message of the cross is not centered on our ability but it is on Christ alone.

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 HCSB

22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 1:22-

Jews wanted to be delivered from their present day sufferings and for the Jews it made no sense that the Savior would die. They wanted someone who would be king and rule and deliver them from their present day sufferings.

Greeks honored the greatest thinkers of their time. They would look down on those who failed to appreciate their great thinkers. They were proud of their great thinkers and felt the Gospel had no place in their own great wisdom.

verse 23

We preach Christ crucified

Crucified is a perfect participle; not only was Christ once crucified, but he continues in the character of the crucified one. The crucifixion is permanent in its efficacy.

Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 51). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The Jews would have none of this. To the Jews a crucified messiah was a complete impossibility, a stumbling block.

The Gentiles considered the message of the cross as foolishness.

verse 24

Those who are called

Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom

verse 25

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

1 Corinthians 1:26–28 HCSB

26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world —what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something,

1 Corinthians 1:26-

1 Corinthians 1:

1 Corinthians 1:29–31 HCSB

29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

The Gospel is such that no one can boast in themselves or in their great wisdom. In the cross the self begins to fade and the Cross alone saves

Division does not stand a chance when we are fixated on the cross of Christ alone.

When I survey the wondrous cross Oh which the Prince of glory died My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood See from his dead, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Where the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small, Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my fire, my all.

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1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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