A Foolish Message - 1:18-25

Introduction

Sometimes, things that seem small, insignificant, foolish even; are, in reality, very powerful.

I will never forget driving with a car on a trailer from where my folks live to just outside Cheyenne, WY.

We had several mishaps but nothing too serious.

Then for about the last hour we kept hearing this weird sound.

We stopped and checked everything several times but couldn’t figure out what the sound was.

We arrive and get the car all unloaded with no problems.

The next day as dad is driving he hears a loud thunk and looks in the rear view mirror to see the trailer waving all over the road.

He gets out, and discovers that the pin had fallen out of the rod that kept the trailer hitch attached to the car.

God protected us, because the trailer could have come off while the car was on it, but it didn’t.

That pin was small, and by itself seemed insignificant and even foolish.

Yet it was vital to everything with the trailer.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple.

You can present it to someone in very few words.

To some it may seem insignificant and foolish.

When we share it, at times we will be misunderstood, doubted, and questioned.

And yet.

We have been commanded by God to preach the gospel.

In this passage we are given three reasons to preach the gospel.

And so.

Today we will be equipped and motivated to share the gospel.

If we want to please God and see sinners saved we must preach the gospel.

Reason #1…

1. The Gospel Is The Power Of God vv. 18-19

In vv. 14-17 Paul discussed the exclusivity of the gospel through his emphasis on the Cross rather than on baptism.

Baptism is not part of the gospel. It is an important part of the Christian life, but it is not necessary for salvation.

Having made that point clear, Paul turns now to a discussion of the gospel and the centrality of the Cross.

It is possible for simple things to have great power.

Watch batteries are small, yet they power important devices for months or even years.

Words also have great power.

More than 11 years ago now I said “I do” to my bride. Those two words have had enormous power. They have changed my life.

The formation of our country was accomplished through words written on a page and names signed to those words.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing in the world.

And yet it is viewed by many as foolish.

The gospel is a foolish thing that has great power.

In these verses Paul reveals two effects of gospel power.

Effect #1. The gospel has the…

a. Power to convert v. 18

READ v. 18

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

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

When Paul speaks of “the message of the Cross” we must understand that he is talking about the gospel.

In v. 17 he mentions the Cross of Christ. “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel,not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”

This is what he is referencing.

What is the gospel?

I want to walk us through a simple gospel presentation using a bracelet that we have available for anyone who wants one.

Yellow - Heaven. Black - Sin. Red - Blood. White - Cleansing. Green - Growth. Blue - Baptism.

That is the gospel and the Christian life in a nutshell.

Christ died on the Cross to take away our sin.

Paul refers to this truth as a message.

Here’s the important part.

If a message is never shared, it is useless.

Paul said in v. 17 that if we make the gospel about anything other than Christ, we make the Cross useless.

In the same way, if we never share the gospel, we make the Cross useless.

A message that is never delivered is hardly a message at all.

We have been tasked with the responsibility of proclaiming this message.

As we do we need to understand how people will respond to the gospel message.

There two groups mentioned here and they couldn’t be more different.

Those who are being saved, and those who are perishing.

Paul first mentions the perishing.

Perishing – ἀπόλλυμαι (apollymai) destroy; perish; lose. to perish (spiritually) v. — to be or become without spiritual life under the condemnation of God.

Perishing – ἀπόλλυμαι (apollymai)

This is present tense, either middle or passive. The idea is that they are perishing right now in the present through either their own action or inaction.

This is not a statement declaring that they will be eternally lost. It is simply a recognition that those who are currently lost view the message of Christ crucified on the Cross as foolishness.

Those perishing are doing so through their own inactivity. By not placing their faith in Christ, by believing that the message of the Cross is foolish, they are causing themselves to perish.

They perish because of what they are not doing. They are not placing their faith in Christ.

In contrast, those who believe the message of the Cross are saved. Not by our own activity, but by the activity of Christ.

Paul says we are “being” saved.

Being saved – σῴζω (sōzō) save; deliver. To be or become delivered or rescued from sin (and consequential judgment).

Being saved – σῴζω (sōzō)

This word is a present passive participle.

We are being saved, not because salvation is a process but because we are not responsible for our own salvation.

Ultimately we are saved by Christ and our faith in Him. We are not saving ourselves. We are saved by Christ.

The responses to the gospel are as different as the two groups.

Those perishing view the message of the Cross as foolishness.

Foolishness – μωρία (mōria) Ridiculous thought. A wildly mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea.

Foolishness – μωρία (mōria)

To those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ, the gospel is ridiculous.

Why? We’ll get to that.

To those of us who have trusted in Jesus, the gospel is the power of God.

The message of the Cross is the power of God in our lives. He is saving us.

The power of the gospel message completely transforms the believer.

It moves us from darkness to light, from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Christ. It takes us from being Spiritually dead to being spiritually alive.

The gospel has the power to convert.

That is the first effect.

Secondly, the gospel has the…

b. Power to crush v. 19

READ v. 19

1 Corinthians 1:19 NKJV

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

This verse is about two things.

1 - Simplicity.

2 - Humility.

We would expect a message that brings salvation to all mankind to describe difficult tests and procedures by which we earn salvation.

That’s not what the gospel message is.

The gospel message is a simple message.

It’s very simplicity destroys the wisdom and understanding of this world.

This is one of they many ways we know the gospel message does not have human origins.

No human religion has ever said no activity is required to appease God.

All other religions have requirements of its followers. The only requirement for salvation in the Bible is faith in Jesus Christ.

This brings us to the second thing this verse is about. Humility.

The gospel message requires humility to accept.

It is a humbling thing to learn that human effort, wisdom, and understanding accomplish nothing in regards to salvation.

It is humbling to admit that we are sinners in need of a savior!

The gospel message crushes us.

It destroys our belief in our own wisdom. It nullifies our understanding.

The only requirement for salvation is simple faith.

Human wisdom and human understanding cannot bring saving faith!

Salvation cannot be purchased and it cannot be reasoned out.

Salvation is the gift of God.

The message of the Cross, the gospel of Jesus Christ, destroys human wisdom and it makes the understanding of man ineffective.

But. For those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, it is the power of God!

The gospel is the power of God!

It converts the believing sinner.

It crushes human wisdom, understanding and pride.

Three reasons to preach the gospel.

Reason #1. The gospel is the power of God.

Reason #2…

2. The Gospel Saves Lives vv. 20-21

If we have a message to proclaim, we need to know what will happen when we speak it.

Depending on your point of view, a message that is good news to some may be bad news to others.

It depends on if you receive it or reject it.

The gospel message is a message that must be received.

It is good news to all but on a personal level it is only good news to you if you receive it.

What the message of the gospel produces depends on whether or not we receive it.

When the gospel is received, it brings life.

For the gospel to save lives there are two things it must accomplish.

Accomplishment #1…

a. The gospel exposes foolishness v. 20

READ v. 20

1 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Here Paul lists for us the people who think they are wise and have understanding.

Those characterized by having wisdom have nothing if they reject Christ!

Considering what Paul says later he is likely referring to the Greek tendency to desire knowledge above all else.

A scribe was someone who focused on reading and writing and dedicated their lives to teaching what they learned from books.

Again, in context he probably has the Jewish scribes in mind.

All the learning in the world has no value apart from Christ!

The disputer was a professional debater. This is someone who could formulate arguments and persuade others to their point of view.

If the point of view you are persuading people to is false, the best debater in the world is merely wasting words.

God has made foolish the wisdom of this world.

Parents, hear me carefully. Education is important. It is good, valuable and necessary.

However, we must make it our priority to see that our children first, and foremost, are followers of Jesus!

All the education in the world is empty if they do not know Christ!

This is true in our personal lives as well. If we do not have Christ, our education is empty words.

Wisdom, learning, the ability to argue your point; these are meaningless if we lose our souls.

The wisdom that this world espouses is foolishness in the face of what Christ provides.

If our education or wisdom or debating ability takes us away from faith in Christ, what value did it provide?

Do those who mean the most to us know that the most important thing they could ever do would be to place their faith in Jesus Christ?

Are we sharing the message of the gospel?

The gospel message exposes how foolish it is to seek wisdom apart from Christ, to seek education apart from Christ, to be able to argue perfectly, yet not to have Christ.

In political times this is especially important. Arguing our particular perspective is not as important as reaching someone with the gospel.

If the sharing of my political opinions alienates people from Christ, I am sinning.

We can speak the truth, but we must do so in love.

If we are living for things other than Christ, we reveal that we are foolish.

Only Christ can save, all other pursuits of salvation are foolishness.

God has made foolish the wisdom of this world.

The simplicity of the gospel message exposes this foolishness. That is accomplishment #1.

Accomplishment #2…

b. The gospel embraces believers v. 21

READ v. 21

1 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

This verse presents us with a mystery.

Why did God choose the foolishness of preaching to bring the gospel message to the world?

Why did He make it to where the pursuit of human wisdom would bring people to Him?

The only answer we have to those questions are three words in this verse. “It pleased God.”

God is pleased to take people like you and me and use us to communicate the most important truth in existence.

God is pleased to bring salvation through the foolishness of preaching.

We are able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion because we have experienced its power to transform.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has made it impossible for human wisdom to attain the knowledge of Him.

What has He done instead?

He has made it the preaching of the message of the Cross that brings people to Himself.

Look with me at Romans 10:8-17.

Romans 10:8-17

Romans 10:8–17 NKJV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Paul covers everything here.

We must confess with our mouth and believe in our heart to be saved.

When we place our faith in Christ, we are not ashamed.

vv. 12-13 make it very clear that no one is excluded from the gospel message.

The Lord is rich to all who call on Him. WHOEVER calls on the name of the Lord is saved.

But. How can they call on Him if they don’t believe? How can they believe if they don’t hear? How can they hear if someone does not preach?

The answer is, they can’t!

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

It is through the foolishness of a message preached that those who believe are saved.

The gospel embraces believers.

All who believe are saved.

Paul is connecting us back to v. 18. The message of the cross is foolishness, yet through that foolishness proclaimed, people come to Christ.

This brings us to the final point we will consider this morning.

There are three reasons to preach the gospel.

Reason #1. The gospel is the power of God.

Reason #2. The gospel saves lives.

Reason #3…

3. The Gospel Must Be Preached vv. 22-25

Why do we preach the gospel? Because it must be preached!

The word preaching is a scary word for some people.

However, it simply means to proclaim.

We have been command by God to make public proclamations of the gospel.

This doesn’t mean that all of us are to be on the street corner with a megaphone.

It means we are to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ at every opportunity.

However, as has already been made clear, preaching the gospel is going to awaken different reactions.

In the next few verses we are going to learn two results of preaching.

Result #1…

a. Preaching creates conflict vv. 22-23

READ v. 22

1 Corinthians 1:22 NKJV

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

What we are confronted with here are conflicting desires.

The Jews want a sign, the Greeks want wisdom.

This is why preaching is such foolishness to those in the world.

There are three classifications of people in the world.

Jews, Gentiles, and believers.

Here Paul generalizes the two groups outside of Christ based on what they are looking for in regards to Spiritual things.

The word “sign” here would probably be better translated miracle.

The Jews want miracles.

The Greeks desire wisdom. They want to find salvation in the pursuit of philosophy.

These two classifications still exist.

There are so many people today wanting to see miracles. They tell God that if they could just see a miracle, they would believe.

Hear me carefully, God does do miracles. All the time. However, He does not do them out our command, and they are not always obvious.

In Matthew 12 when the religious leaders ask Jesus for a sign this is His response. Look at Matthew 12:39-40.

Matthew 12:39-40

Matthew 12:39–40 NKJV

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The only sign promised by Jesus was that of His resurrection.

When Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 Abraham tells the rich man that if his brothers wouldn’t listen to the prophets or the writing of Moses, they wouldn’t believe even if someone were to rise from the dead.

Miracles are not needed, faith is.

If people will not believe the Word of God, they will not believe the miracles of God.

Those seeking a sign are alive and well.

So are those seeking God through philosophy.

We still have those who try and reason their way to God. I don’t know if you have noticed, but they never quite make it.

Salvation requires faith. While reason may convince you of the existence of God, only faith in Jesus Christ can save.

That’s where Paul goes in the next verse.

READ v. 23

1 Corinthians 1:23 NKJV

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

Here we see conflict in our declaration of Christ.

To the Jews Christ crucified, the Messiah crucified, is a stumbling block.

Stumbling block – σκάνδαλον (skandalon) cause for stumbling. An offensive action that results in opposition. Noun (appositive), accusative, singular, neuter.

Stumbling block – σκάνδαλον (skandalon)

A crucified Messiah is a scandal to the Jews!

They trip over the reality of a crucified Messiah. Why? Because they wanted a conquering king not a suffering servant.

They wanted physical deliverance instead of Spiritual renewal.

Added to that is the belief that to be hung on a tree was to be cursed.

To the Greeks Christ crucified is foolishness.

Crucifixion was the ultimate form of degradation. It was a torture. It was degrading, and humbling, and humiliating.

If He was really a Savior He would’t let Himself be crucified.

How can a crucified man save anyone?

Our response to that is, He wasn’t just a man.

The ultimate reality here is that Our responsibility is to preach the gospel.

How people respond to the gospel is God’s business.

If we try to make the Cross less offensive, we minimize Christ.

If we attempt to make salvation more intellectual, then we glorify the wisdom of men.

We do one thing and one thing only, we preach Christ crucified.

When we preach Him to Jews we emphasize His miraculous resurrection.

When we preach Him to Gentiles we emphasize His message.

But we preach Christ.

Yes there will be conflict. Yes people will misunderstand.

Don’t let the conflict it creates stop you from preaching the gospel.

Preach Christ Crucified because only though Him can people be saved!

No matter the conflict, preach Christ.

Result #1. Preaching creates conflict.

Result #2…

b. Preaching creates contrast vv. 24-25

READ v. 24

1 Corinthians 1:24 NKJV

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

This is why we preach.

We preach the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power and wisdom of God!

Those called by God will place their faith in Christ and be transformed.

Power and wisdom are themes that run through this section.

It is Christ who is the power and wisdom of God.

True power is not seen in miracles, it is seen in Christ.

True wisdom is not found in philosophy, it is found in Christ!

Christ is the power and wisdom of God!

Jews and Gentiles are called into Christ and we become one!

Galatians 3:26-28.

Galatians 3:26-28

Galatians 3:26–28 NKJV

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Christ is the power and wisdom of God!

The gospel message has a different effect on those who are called and those who are not.

Those called trust in Christ and experience the power of Christ.

Those who are not, remain trapped, thinking of the gospel as foolishness.

READ v. 25

1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV

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

What in the world is Paul saying?

There are several key things that help us interpret this passage.

This verse begins with the word “because.” This word connects our verse to the rest of the paragraph.

The paragraph begins in v. 20.

Let’s read verses 20-25.

1 Corinthians 1:20–25 NKJV

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Paul references foolishness and weakness from a human perspective.

To those who have not placed their faith in Christ, the gospel seems foolish.

Yet that foolish message saves those who believe!

This perceived foolishness is wiser than men.

To save those who do not earn it seems weak to human reasoning.

And yet the gospel is the power of God, saving all who believe.

What men view as weak actually manifests the strength and power of God.

What is seen as foolishness and weakness is actually wisdom and strength.

God is greater! His ways seem foolish and yet they are wiser than anything men can conceive.

His plan of salvation seems weak to human reasoning and yet it is strong enough to save.

If God could be foolish, it would still be wiser. If God could be weak, it would still be stronger.

The preaching of Christ creates contrast between those who are saved and those who are not.

Christ is the power and wisdom of God.

Preach Christ because He alone saves.

Conclusion

We have been called by God to preach the gospel message. This is not an optional thing.

To some it is a foolish message.

That’s okay.

To us who are called into salvation it is the power of God.

God has made foolish the wisdom of this world.

God is pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.

The gospel saves lives.

We preach Christ crucified!

Yes, a crucified Messiah is scandalous.

Yes, a Savior who died is foolishness.

But we preach Him anyway.

Why?

Because to those who are called, whatever their nationality, whatever their origin, whatever their background, rich or poor, black or white, tall or short, male or female.

To those who are called, Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God!

And so, we preach Christ.

We preach Christ because He alone saves.

We preach Christ because He is the power of God.

We preach Christ because there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Brothers and sisters, foolish or not, we preach Christ.

Today I want all of us to have the same commitment.

In our personal lives, preach Christ.

In our friendships, preach Christ.

In and through our families, preach Christ.

In and through our marriages, preach Christ.

In every situation and in every circumstance; preach Christ.