The Cross is the Power of God: The Foolishness of the Gospel to the World

Introduction

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In this verse, we are introduced to two pieces of information

I. The Christian message is foolishness to the world

II. If you are a Christian, the cross is life and wisdom

The rest of the passage explores these two in depth

I. The Christian message is foolishness to the world so expect the appropriate response.

There is a tension in this passage behind looking at the same event through two different sets of eyes.

Those who, as we read in Scripture, have eyes to see and ears to hear look at things one way and those who do not perceive something completely different.

Imagine a senario with me

Motorcycle/roller coaster illustration...

Message of the cross/Gospel

So expect to be seen as foolish

Don’t be surprised

Don’t back down

1 Corinthians 1:19–20 ESV

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

In reality, the ones who are fools are reversed.

The Christians message is wisdom and the world’s wisdom is foolishness

What does the world’s wisdom look like?

verse 22 tells us

1 Corinthians 1:22 ESV

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,

Next point...

II. If you are a Christian, the cross is life and wisdom so live like it.

1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

1 Corinthians 1:24 ESV

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

III. God’s choices reflect His exclusivity so boast in Him.