The Supremacy of Christ in the Work of the Gospel

How many of us are creatures of habit?

Has it ever occurred to you how many of our daily tasks and operations are done according to a pattern? Whether the pattern was inherited through observation of others, or whether it was learned independently by trial and error, even the most spontaneous person among us is, at heart, a creature of habit.

Sometimes a problem occurs when we attempt to apply one of our existing patterns or methods to solving a different problem. As a carpenter, I can say with certainty that it is exceedingly frustrating to have the wrong tool for the job. Improvising can only get you so far if you are not actually equipped or trained for the obstacle ahead of you; and applying an “old trick” to a new conundrum often leads to failure.

Following that logic, failure in applying the wrong tool to a job can lead to not just frustration, but feelings of inadequacy. While it may lead some to innovate and search for the solution, it can lead to many more failed attempts and eventually to defeat. Here I pose two common sayings against one another.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.”

vs.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.”

And while I’m sure your mind is now wandering and thinking of all the areas in life where you find yourself somewhere in that confusion, I have said all that to bring your attention to one of the paramount tasks of the Christian church, and the believer as an individual - and that is the work of the Gospel.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, there were a lot of “Old tricks” he had to contend with. There were those of sexual immorality, infidelity to the Truth of scripture, contention and rivalry over which christian leader to follow, and largely, all these failures he addressed found a commonality in one issue - there was an enormous cultural pressure to include the wisdom of the age even within the ministry of the church.

Corinth was strategically located as a major cosmopolitan center in the ancient world. It was situated on an isthmus, a strip of land, that connected southern Greece with the mainland. It was a center of trade and commerce. Going back to its ancient roots as the home of the Temple of Aphrodite, Corinth was a city of idolatry and immorality. In fact, it was so well known for its debased character that one who had fallen into these kinds of sin was said to have “Corinthianized.” Of the Corinthian church, the Scottish Missionary Robert Moffat said “The church was in the world, as it ought to be; but the world was in the church, as it ought not to be.”

In other Words, Paul had the clear and unwavering purpose in this epistle of bringing clarity to the questions of Christian living, and he starts at the foundational element - The nature of the Gospel itself.

The passage before us today is really a part of a literary section that begins in Chapter 1:18.

1 Corinthians 1:18–19 ESV

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. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Paul begins by clearly underscoring that while the Gospel of Christ is foolishness to those who are outside of it, it is the demonstration of the power of God to those who find themselves within it. He contrasts in multiple facets the wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God. He contrasts the strength of the world with the power of God. Most notably he concludes in Vs. 25 that

1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV

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

After this, he turns to the character and the nature of those who find themselves called of God into some capacity of Gospel work. He says of the people of Corinth, and by implication of us as well...

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

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. 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; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

In short, what Paul is saying is. “God has miraculously yet mysteriously chosen us, his people, in our relative weakness and foolishness, to put to shame all the strength and wisdom that the world has to offer.” Paul says that God has chosen this as a means to prevent our boasting, except as an opportunity to boast in the Lord.

If we were to stop there with that brief overview, I believe we could be adequately encouraged that God has a purpose for our existence as believers, even when we are at our weakest. He has purposed our weakness, our failure, and our inadequacy to be the backdrop of the vast and glorious wisdom of the Gospel. And while our “Old tricks” and patterns of problem solving learned from the world may be exactly what the world around us is looking for, the wisdom and philosophy of the world is not the means that God has chosen for the spread of the Gospel.

As we approach Chapter 2:1-5, what I believe we see is this.

God has called all his children to some capacity of Gospel work. In whatever He has called you, the sufficiency and supremacy of your effort must rest in Christ alone.

While in chapter 1 Paul is speaking in general terms of God’s work in and through believers, Chapter 2:1-5 shows us Paul’s summary and example of his own Gospel work, particularly his ministry to the Corinthians. We find here somewhat of a “What, How, and Why” template. Note that Paul does not give any specific tactical tips or the minutia of exactly how he went about each moment of his ministry, but rather we see the general principles that followed Paul (and I would dare say any Obedient minister of the Gospel).

Also note, that in each of these sections of What, How, and Why, Paul gives both a negative and a positive example to illustrate the Supremacy of Christ in the Work of the Gospel.

The “What” of Christ-Centered Ministry

The “What” of Christ-Centered Ministry - Vs. 1-2

After spending ample time reminding the Corinthian believers what their purpose is as God’s children, he brings out the personal illustration of His conduct when he brought the Gospel to Corinth.

“And I, when I came to you...” In other words, Paul is including himself in everything he just said about the Corinthian Christians. He is sure to make the point that what he has taught them applies to him also, even as an apostle. It would be easy for the struggling Corinthian believers (and you and I as well) to have an unrealistic view of the Apostles as being “Super Christians” with none of the tendencies that we have, but that is simply not the case.

It is important to note that a teacher or Orator’s first visit to a city was the visit that would either establish or discredit their reputation. It was common for these individuals to use competitive showmanship in order to compete for the applause and the ear of the audience. Some of the words Paul uses in these 5 verses such as, “Persuasive” and “demonstration” were actually technical worlds used to describe these teachers and orators’ skills. Note that Paul does compare himself, then, to these teachers, but only in the negative sense.

Negative Example - “What it is not”

“I did not come proclaiming… with lofty speech or wisdom” This hearkens back to Chapter 1:17

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Many have made a connection here to the Prophet Zechariah. No doubt, Paul as a Hebrew scholar would have been familiar with the text we have in Zechariah 4:6

Zechariah 4:6 ESV

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

When Paul says he did not come with “lofty Speech” or “excellency of speech” as some translations have it, he uses a word that is only used twice in the New Testament, and it refers to preeminence, or rising above. In other words, Paul says “It wasn’t my intention for my rhetorical skills and oration to be lofty and rise up above all the others in skill and presentation.”

Paul also said he did not come with “wisdom.” What could he mean there? Certainly there is an immense level of wisdom imparted to the student of Scripture. But it is clear from the context in chapter 1 that he is referring here to the world’s wisdom. The word for wisdom in the New Testament is sophia. And while it is used to refer to all types of wisdom, there was a known element of the population known as the sophists. These were the ones that presented themselves in a sort of competetive rhetoric.

In The Ithsmian Games, one of the sports festivals in ancient Greece, that took place from around 229 BC to 380 AD, there were actual rhetoric competitions where orators would compete for applause. They were seen mostly as entertainment, and would gain a following based on their ability to hold and sway a crowd. The rhetoricians would actually be called in to entertain diners between courses at banquets during the games.

Paul says “I didn’t come with a level of speech that was intended to compete with the noise in your city. I didn’t come to enter a popularity contest and win you over with my rhetorical skills and polished oration.” There were enough voices in Corinth, and in our culture today, competing for the ears of the hearers. Paul says, no, I’m not playing that Game.

Then what did he come with?

Positive Example - “What it is”

Well, primarily, and simply, he came “proclaiming the testimony of God.” Instantly Paul says that his message simply cannot be in competition with all the wisdom of the age, for his message is in a whole different ballpark. Every element of the human wisdom, even the loftiest and most profound ideas, fall humiliatingly short of reaching the Glory of the testimony of God. And that must be the case of every Gospel worker - their message must be nothing short of the testimony of God himself.

And Paul had already established the message of God as being infinitely superior to any other message in chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1:22–25 ESV

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The word for “proclaiming” is not a word restricted to the liturgical operation of preaching in a Sunday worship service, but of a weighty and solemn putting forth of some truth. It is to show forth publicly, so that all may see and hear what is being said. Whether this was on the street corner, in the open air, or from house to house in conversation with families and individuals, Paul’s business was proclaiming the testimony of God.

In verse 2, Paul further clarifies the “what” of this message.

1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

This was Paul’s intention, his aim for the spreading of the Gospel. He was not interested in duplicating himself in the lives of the Corinthians. He was not interested in making a reputation or gaining a following for his rhetorical skills. He was not interested in pushing an image of himself, but rather that of Jesus Christ.

In the life of the Gospel worker, there is no space for marketing yourself. There is no time for self-presentation. There is no aspect of Gospel ministry that is intended to build the prowess of the minister - it is all intended to point to Christ.

One commentator, David Garland, puts it this way.

The New American Commentary: 1 Corinthians (3) The Wisdom of God and Paul’s Ministry in Corinth (2:1–5)

The gospel always points beyond humans to God and Christ and becomes garbled whenever humans exploit it instead to headline themselves as its stars.

Ask yourself this question: when you read the scripture, what place do you imagine yourself in? Do you imagine yourself as David in the story of David and Goliath? Do you imagine yourself as Daniel being persecuted under Babylonian law? Do you see yourself as Gideon when his small army defeated the Midianites? The danger of placing ourselves always in the place of the victor, the star, the main character, is that we blur he place and image of the real star, the real victor, the real main character in all of scripture.

Christ is the preeminent one. He is the main point of the story. He is the happy ending, the victory, the culmination, the solution.

Colossians 1:15–18 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

And Paul’s message focused not just on any Christ, any Messiah, but the Crucified Messiah. In any other context, to rejoice in the fact that your deliverer was taken up and crucified would be insane. There was an ancient graffiti, dated to around 200 AD, called the Alexamenos Graffito - it was a picture of a man worshipping a donkey headed figure hung on a cross - the inscription with the graffitit read “Alexamenos worships his God.” This is just one illustration of the lasting truth Paul started this section with -

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

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.

At this juncture, May I ask you - is the Crucified Christ a stumblingblock to you? Is the Crucified Christ foolishness to you? Does it seem utterly ridiculous to place this much emphasis on one who is made out to be a savior, yet was so unpopular and controversial that he wound up dying the death of the most despised criminal? If you find yourself feeling this way, know that you are not alone. You are the ones predicted by the Apostle Paul - but also know, that this foolishness, this ridiculousness, this insanity of a crucified savior is nothing short of the Power of God to salvation to all who will call on him.

And if you are a believer, is the “what” of your life the same “what” of Paul’s life? Can you say that you have no desire to promote your image, but rather to put forth the Gospel of Christ and his preeminence?

Paul then moves to the how.

The “How” of Christ-Centered Ministry - Vs. 3-4

When I was in Bible college, it was common for some young “preacher boys” as they called us to adopt certain methods, phrases, body language, inflection, etc. of a preacher or pastor they looked up to. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you can adopt all the right methods and public speaking tricks in the world, yet still be a failure at communication the testimony of God.

It is important to note that Paul is not giving a “Paul’s 5 basic steps to sharing the Gospel” lecture here. When we speak of the “how” of Paul’s ministry, what shines through is his mannerism. Not his character quirks, not his wittiness, but his humility.

Negative Example - “How it is not”

We will look at the negative example first, which we find in the beginning of vs 4. You will find that it echoes what Paul says in vs 1.

Paul says his words were not “plausible words of wisdom.” Another translation of that is “not with wise and persuasive words.” Again, Paul saw no need to enter the rat-race of competition with the World’s speakers. He dare not drag the Gospel of Christ down into the mire of competitive ideas.

He speaks of his “speech” and his “message”. Perhaps he uses these two terms to distinguish between the method of his discourse and the content of his discourse. Another option is that he is distinguishing between his private conversation and his public speaking. Either way, Paul says “all the things i say, all the things I preach about, they do not come with wise and persuasive words.” He is admitting his weakness, and placing himself the ranks of Moses, who told God he was not eloquent. Isaiah, who bemoaned the fact that he had unclean lips, and Jeremiah, who said he did not know how to speak for he was only a youth.

The idea of the “how it is not” here is that the Word of God consistently points away from the one preaching the message, and brings glory to the on the message is being preached about. Paul himself gives account of how others recalled him.

2 Corinthians 10:10 ESV

For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”

There was no glory for the person of Paul in his preaching, that was reserved for Christ. Which leads to the positive example.

Positive Example - “How it is”

In verse 3, Paul says he was with them in “weakness and in fear and much trembling.”

Weakness befits the messenger of the Gospel, because compared to the power of God’s Word, any messenger should and will appear as weak. Paul numbers himself with the “weak things of the world” that God uses to bring down those that are strong.

“fear and trembling.” What was Paul afraid of? Was he afraid of new crowds? Of the large city? Of the wickedness he would find there? Of his personal inadequacy?

While certainly Paul would have felt some measure of human apprehension at the task ahead of him, it is not likely that he was referring to his fear of mankind. After all, this is the same Paul who was able to write that in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ.

Perhaps we can see it this way - in the eyes of man, Paul’s weakness was on display. But before God, he served and ministered in fear and trembling - he was in awe of the Christ of the Gospel, and he served reverently and was in constant wonder over the mysteries of the Grace of God. He exhibited a level of vulnerability that removed any question of pride or self importance, both of which would have been the norm for Corinthian Sophists, the orators he would be compared to.

He goes on to say his speech and message were “in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power.”

This could also be translated as “in demonstration of the power of the Spirit.” In other words, the two are in unison. It is not some mysterious power that must be added to the indwelling Holy Spirit, but rather the power is derived from the Holy Spirit. Paul’s preaching was effective, not because of his own power, but because of the empowerment of the Spirit.

He uses very similar language in his first letter to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 ESV

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

The word “demonstration” that Paul uses back in 1 Corinthians is a really interesting term - it is the only time that particular Greek word is used in the New Testament. It was a technical term for a proof given in a compelling speech. In other words, when the public speakers would give demonstration of their arguments, they would have to back their claims up with some relevant information or a proof from reality. When Paul gave demonstration, it was not a proof he had to conjure up from his personal repertoire of knowledge, it was the demonstration of the Spirit of God at work in the lives of those who heard the Word of God preached.

The conversion of a lost soul, the revival of a faith that had dwindled in a season of sin, the reunification of an individual to a family of believers after a time of wandering, the giving up of an old vice, or the strength to kick a habit, all these are “demonstrations” or proofs of the power of God’s word at work when it is preached. In other words, if you are a believer in Christ, the “proof” or “demonstration” of the reality of God’s Word is evident in your very being.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

To sum up the “How”, Paul is arguing that it is not lofty, complicated, well-articulated rhetoric backed up by cited evidence from the philosophical world, nor even is it signs and wonders that makes Gospel preaching effective - it is the power of God, which is evident in His work in the lives of those who believe.

And what is the purpose? Why is Paul so intent on preaching the Word of God, the Gospel of the Crucified Christ, and not resorting to human philosophies and wisdom?

The Why of Christ-Centered Ministry - Vs. 5

1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV

so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Negative Example - “Why it is not”

“so that your faith might no rest in the wisdom of men...”

The efforts of Gospel Ministry must never include the inclination to achieve human recognition or to attain to some height of evangelistic achievement. Whenever we begin to put quotas on the work of the Spirit in the preaching of the Gospel, we have moved away from God’s stated purposes and have proceeded with our own purposes.

A winsome personality can achieve a great following, but what does personality have in comparison to the Spirit of God?

It is said of the great Baptist minister Charles Spurgeon, that he was addressed one day on the street by a man who was clearly drunk, staggering, filthy, and well-known as a man who lived a debased life. He called out to Mr. Spurgeon, and said, “Mr. Spurgeon, do you remember me?” Spurgeon replied, “no, why should I?”

The man said, “well because I am one of your converts!”

Spurgeon retorted with, “well you may be one of mine, but are you one of the Lord’s?”

Undoubtedly, there have been many people won to the winsomeness or attractiveness of the person giving the Gospel, rather than being won by the Power of the Spirit of God.

Positive Example - “Why it is”

Paul says, “that you faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

And that is the contrast. You can sum up the entirety of human existence by those two categories. A person’s faith, their trust and purpose of living, is either resting in the wisdom of man (which could be a myriad of things), or in the power of God. There is no middle ground in this dilemma.

I believe that is why Paul gave such clear instruction to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4. In the beginning of the chapter he warns.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

Then, further in the chapter he gives Timothy these clear instructions as a preacher of the Word.

1 Timothy 4:13 ESV

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Pubic reading of scripture - that is quite clear.

exhortation - this is preaching, explanation of the words, declaring the truth within.

teaching - this is where we get the word doctrine - it is the application of what is derived from the scripture. It is the “rubber meets the road” truth that comes directly from God’s Word.

Read the text, explain the text, apply the text. This is the work of the Gospel Ministry summed up. Paul says to timothy, “stick to these three things!” Everything rests upon the Word of God. Any added wisdom of the world, or attractiveness of the preacher can lead the hearers to rest upon the man, or upon the wisdom that he imparts - but the Word of God declared boldly, explained clearly, and applied specifically, is used over and over again by the Holy Spirit to illuminate, to convict, to convince, to persuade, and to regenerate the dead souls of men and women everywhere.

God has called all his children to some capacity of Gospel work. In whatever He has called you, the sufficiency and supremacy of your effort must rest in Christ alone.

This requires the asking of two questions.

Are you God’s Child? Do you find that your faith rest firmly and soundly upon God and His Word? Is Christ, both crucified and risen, your Lord and your Savior? The Gospel message goes out to all who have ears to hear. Come to Christ, repent of your sin, follow Him, and live forever.

Are you consistently pointing others to Christ in the Word of God, in order that their faith might rest upon His power and not in man’s wisdom? When someone asks your advice, do you give them advice that is scriptural, godly wisdom, or do you give them the latest philosophical opinion? Does your worldview rest firmly upon God’s power and in His Word?