But God - Week 3

The Importance of the Cross (vs. 18)

The world views the cross as folly (a ridiculous thought - a wildly mistaken or unfounded opinion)

The church views the cross as power (the controlling influence)

NOTICE: Paul calls the church “us who are being saved...”

PRES / PASS / PARTICIPLE / PL / Dative / Masc

The Strategy of the Cross (20-24)

Paul launches into four rhetorical questions, the first three each have the same answer, “nowhere.”

Question 1 - Where is the one who is wise? NOWHERE

Lexham Theological Wordbook σοφός

σοφός (sophos). adj. wise, skillful. Describes one who is experienced or practiced in a particular skill or possesses knowledge or education.

Question 2 - Where is the scribe? NOWHERE

Lexham Theological Wordbook γραμματεύς

γραμματεύς (grammateus). n. masc. scribe, teacher of the law

Question 3 - Where is the debater of this age? NOWHERE

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5186 συζητητής

skilled rhetorician; philosopher

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The First Letter to the Corinthians a. The Cross Divides the Human Race Absolutely, 1:18–21

the first three questions in v. 20 are more derisive than taunting in tone. They are not invitations for “all comers” to enter the fray, but cries of the victor after the battle has been fought and won. The wise, the teacher of the law, and the philosopher of this age are nowhere to be found, for their wisdom has been destroyed and their intelligence frustrated (1:19). They have been outsmarted and upstaged. They have nothing more to offer. They have slunk away in defeat.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5186 συζητητής

συζητητής (syzētētēs), οῦ (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ Str 4804; TDNT 7.748—LN 33.441 debater, skilled rhetorician; philosopher

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The First Letter to the Corinthians a. The Cross Divides the Human Race Absolutely, 1:18–21

the first three questions in v. 20 are more derisive than taunting in tone. They are not invitations for “all comers” to enter the fray, but cries of the victor after the battle has been fought and won. The wise, the teacher of the law, and the philosopher of this age are nowhere to be found, for their wisdom has been destroyed and their intelligence frustrated (1:19). They have been outsmarted and upstaged. They have nothing more to offer. They have slunk away in defeat.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The First Letter to the Corinthians a. The Cross Divides the Human Race Absolutely, 1:18–21

Paul’s language reminds us that Christian members of the cultural elite (counselors, lawyers, philosophers, and the like) must be vigilant concerning the danger of unthinkingly adopting the dominant paradigms for their work (in terms of why they do what they do, what ends it might serve, etc.). The wisdom of the cross judges the values of the world, and Christians in all walks of life must live in ways that are consistent with it.

Question 4 - Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ABSOLUTELY

Lexham Theological Wordbook σοφός

σοφός (sophos). adj. wise, skillful. Describes one who is experienced or practiced in a particular skill or possesses knowledge or education.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 5186 συζητητής

skilled rhetorician; philosopher

A Greek-English Lexicon μωραίνω

to be silly, foolish

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 3180 κόσμος

world system, godless world standards

How has God turned the wisdom of our world into silliness or foolishness?

God designed a plan where people get to Him without using their own wisdom.

“For since the world did not know God through wisdom...”

The Message: “Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God...”

God has cancelled out all human enlightenment when it comes to the subject of salvation or redemption.

“it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”

“the folly of what we preach” - According to vs. 18 we preach the cross

Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God,

God is pleased or content to use the preaching of the cross to save those who believe.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

IMPORTANT: notice the contrast in vs. 21. The world seeks to achieve their way to God by using reason, philosophy and thinking. Instead, God only saves those who believe.

Paul continues his line of thought by highlighting the cultural characteristics of the Jews and the rest of the world, both of which view the cross of Christ as foolishness.

“Jews demand signs” - or miracles, so that they can confirm that God is at work

“Greeks seek wisdom” - human rationality or opinions. The goal is not so much genuine enlightenment as much as they seek the influence, honor and power that accompanies a vetted and sought after Greek philosopher.

“BUT we preach Christ crucified...”

The crucifixion of Jesus is NOT the sign / miracle that the Jews demand

The crucifixion of Jesus is NOT the wisdom / philosophy that the Greeks seek

The cross stands in opposition to the sign & wisdom than mankind longs for

And this is the strategy of the cross - an identifier.

That is why Paul finishes the verse by saying, “we preach Christ crucified, which is a stumbling block to the Jew that is looking for a sign and it is moronic to the Greek looking for wisdom that will bring social clout.

So we’ve clearly seen how the cross identifies those who look negatively upon it. What about those who accept the cross of Christ? Those who according to verse 21, who are saved by believing in the message of the cross.

“But to those who are called...”

Who are these that are called? Clearly they are Christians, because they have responded positively to the cross of Christ

What does it mean that God has called them?

κλητός - denoting someone whose participation or presence has been officially requested; especially a request to which refusal is not an option.

This is not teaching that God picks who will be saved and that those are the people that calls. Remember vs. 21 we’ve already established that God in His wisdom is pleased to SAVE THOSE WHO BELIEVE what they have heard through the preaching of the cross.

It should be understood that God calls all men to be saved. God summons every man, woman, boy or girl to kneel in submission to the cross of Christ. However, His call or summons is only effective for those who respond by believing.

Think of it as a summons to court. The entire population of Erie County is summoned to appear in court. Some of us respond and we show up on our appointed day. Others think that this idea is stupid and that there is no reason for us to have to bend our schedule to Erie County. Who do they think they are trying to boss us around. We’re free. No one is in charge of me. Now what happens to those who fail to appear? A summons turns into what? A charge. And every charge receives a punishment. God has summonsed all to cross of Christ and those that respond in faith reap the benefits of Him calling them. Salvation is not a thing that we have found. It was something that He called us too and we simply answered. However, for those that ignore the summons, a charge is laid to their account and the punishment for the charge of unbelief is hell.

both Jews and Greeks, (we preach) Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

so, while the cross is foolishness to the world, to the church Christ is the power and wisdom of God.

We’ve already defined both of these terms in passage:

Power - a defining influence

Wisdom - a controlling philosophy or opinion

CHRIST, through His cross, SHOULD BE THE DEFINING INFLUENCE AND CONTROLLING OPINION OF EVERY BELIEVERS LIFE.

Notice: God never seeks to argue with those who argue with Him. All the false philosophies of the world and God never seeks to undermine their arguments or twist their intellect around. Rather, the best defense of the Cross of Christ are the lives of everyday people that are being transformed by His influence (power) and they have adopted His opinion (wisdom).

It’s important to realize that when the Bible talks about faith that saves, it always contains these two prongs: belief that Jesus accomplished what He came to do & a surrendering complete control of our lives to Jesus.

vs. 21 - God saves those who believe

vs. 24 - God called and we answer in faith, so Jesus is our new influence and opinion

This is why in Paul says, “ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016),

Then Paul summarizes the entire section by saying, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

The Reality of Being Human (26-31)

Paul has spent vs. 18-25 telling us that the message of the church is unimpressive to the world.

Now, he launches into a second argument, that the individual members of the church are unimpressive to the world.

Paul urges them to each think back to when they heard God’s call to salvation.

most of you were not what the world would call wise / well educated

most of you were not what the world would call powerful / influential

most of you were not what the world would call well-born / elite

BUT GOD

BUT GOD chose what the world thinks is foolish to shame what the world thinks is wise.

BUT GOD chose what the world thinks is weak to shame what the world thinks is strong.

BUT GOD chose what the world thinks is low and despised to shame what the world thinks is elite.

Here we see exactly what God is up to. Even though the world wants its enlightenment and the Jews want their miracles, God gives them the cross and says, “believe.”

Now when the world places a high emphasis on education, influence or silver spoons, God says, “I choose the uneducated, the insignificant even the poor.

God even chooses those who are not, those who have not arrived, those who don’t have it all together to bring to nothing (abolish or wipe out) those that are, that have arrived, that have every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted.

Big Idea: God and the world are complete opposites. The world loves what God despises and they despise what God loves.

If we are paying attention, we see these three contrasts in play everyday:

those that are perishing opposing those that are being saved

those that are independent of God’s plan opposing those that are dependent upon Him

those that are proud because they place a heavy emphasis on personal achievement opposing those who are humble because they realize all the ways that they have personally offended the Creator.

But here the Big Question: WHY DID GOD SET IT UP THIS WAY?

and make no mistake about it, God did set it up this way.

GOD CHOSE the foolish, weak, low, despised, those that have not

We don’t have time to dive into the “how” of Him choosing, but suffice it to say that God didn’t look down and say, “Oh she is so poor, I’ll pick her to be saved.” “Oh look at him, he can’t do anything right. I’ll pick him to be saved.” “That poor couple. Everyone just always looks them over and it’s like they are not even there. I’ll pick them to be saved.” No, it doesn’t work like that. God created a plan of salvation and the plan cuts against the pride of humanity.

When you are foolish, weak, low and despised by the world, it is much easier to lay your pride aside and fall on the mercy of a Savior than if you are someone who is cunning, influential or elite.

so why did God create the plan of Salvation this way? Why did He set it up to where He likes to use what the world, in all of her wisdom, throws away.?

BUT GOD chose the foolish. BUT GOD chose the weak. BUT GOD chose the low and despised.... WHY???

so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Here finally, is the method to God’s apparent madness. We are given a small glimpse into the motivation of God. Why does He channel such life, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, hope, compassion through a horrific instrument of death like the cross? Why does God take those that society deems foolish, weak, low and despised and He injects them with His Spirit and empowers them to work out His great will despite the opposition and even persecution from the wise, influential and elite?

The world is so completely opposed to God, that is brings Him great pleasure to use what the world thinks is useless. He loves to love what the world hates. He accepts what the world rejects and then uses those “rejects” in phenomenal ways.

So that, no one has any reason to boast. As one of the new songs we introduced here just a couple months ago says, “To God be the glory, great things He hath done!”

So that when NorthPoint Church has the largest weekend of her existence, no one can say, “Man that pastoral staff at that church, they get it. Man those guys are sharp. They know how to really get a church going.” NO! Everyone says, “How in the world does a Kentucky redneck move all his guns, ammo and camo up to New York and a church be birthed? That had to be God.”

Paul echoes these same thoughts in a second letter to the church at Corinth when he says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

English Standard Version Chapter 12

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here is the point of decision for us. This is the spot where all of the information that we have heard leads us to the proverbial fork in the road.

do I continue to live in a funk or even depression because the world views me negatively or do I realize that

1, 2 Corinthians (2) The Reason behind God’s Way of Calling (vv. 29–31)

If we “are not” (v. 28), then we “are” by being in Christ.