Subject: 1 Corinthians #004

Topic: God’s Glory and Man’s humility

Purpose:

Scripture:1 Cor 2: 1-5 (6-16)

Title: The Centerpiece of Christianity

Introduction:

We have been studying the church at Corinth for several weeks, founded by Paul, pastured by Paul for 18 months, blessed with every spiritual gift. Unfortunately, rather than having a positive impact on its community, the community was having an impact on the church. This church of God had been brought together by a common experience, their common Salvation, with one Lord, One Baptism, One Holy Spirit, and One Mission. However, worldly wisdom had crept in, Pride and personality raised their ugly heads, and the church divided…Paul, Cephas, Apollos…Paul warned them last week, as we saw the Sovereignty of God, that they were lucky to be there, that God had shown much grace even calling them o themselves, and that He is Sovereign in Salvation so that 1:29, No flesh should glory in His presence. Now Paul reminds them of his own demonstration of this by comparing his approach in their founding to the society of the day.

I. Determination of Humility

a. Background: Discussed previously that there was a large presence of Philosophers in this city.

b. Common practice in speaking to complement the crowd, the city, to use flattery, and flowery words to draw a crowd and to gain a following. This was for every type of issue of the day.

c. PAUL, when he came to Corinth, He was acutely aware of this practice, capable of doing the same, but intentionally determined to reject this type of Wisdom.

d. V.1-2, “and I” conjunction that links this thought to the one previous, which is that God’s wisdom is superior to man’s. For God’s glory to be the Centerpiece of their faith, Paul had to be secondary. Agreed with John the Baptist. Joh 3:30 "He must increase, but I [must] decrease.

e. Paul chose to declare the gospel “good news” and decline personal philosophy.

f. Look at the content of the message (v.2), Christ and Him crucified. This is the very thing that was rejected by the Jews who saw it as a stumbling block, and the Greeks who saw it as foolishness. (Consequently, he would not have had to bring it up unless the church also had a problem with the basics.) [It would make more sense to change the message for the times.

g. We live in an age today where Programs, Promotions, Methods, and Materials are the focus.

h. These things are means to an end, not the end. They are methods not the message.

i. I have met many Christians who were more interested in being Ind. Baptists than Christians.

j. The message should never change, BUT One of the fastest growing churches in America does not preach on the “Blood of Christ.” It is offensive to many, and misunderstood by most.

k. We live in an age where, biblical doctrine is discarded b/c it is not politically correct, where ecumenicalism is encouraged (meaning removal of doctrinal distinctives) and “how a person feels is the focus of ministry. (John Piper says that Many Pastors have forsaken their calling as proclaimers of the gospel to become people pleasers.) They take cues from the people not God.

l. Not Paul, he said “I determined to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified.” We need churches like that today.

II. Demonstration of Power

a. V.3-4, I was with you in weakness and fear. This statement might appear that Paul was meely mouthed with the gospel in the English translation. But not so. Paul was not a weak man. He did not set the course of his life so as to please others, but to please Christ. His weakness was in relationship to Christ, not toward man.

b. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

c. James 4:6 "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (James speaks of wisdom here- God gives to those who humbly submit to Him)

d. 2 Corinthians 12:10 …For when I am weak, then I am strong.

e. Paul’s strength and effectiveness were because of His weakness/humility before God.

f. Look at His instruction to Timothy at the end of his life. 2 Tim 4:1-7. (Not weakness)

g. Demonstration of Power is (GK- AP O DIKE SIS)- presentation of evidence so a jury can conclude guilt or innocence.

h. One thing to present some facts and tell the jury what to conclude, Another to present to facts and let them discern what to think.

i. Of Spirit (pneuma) and of power (dunamis)

j. V.4, not with human wisdom, (but with godly wisdom) v.6-8a.

k. V.10, the Spirit reveals the deep things of God and we (v.12) discern what has been freely given of God.

l. Paul did not say that He was ignorant, or refused to use his spiritual gifts, rather, he used them to speak the word…and let God the Holy Spirit apply the Word as He saw fit. (This is real power, setting aside self- and allowing God to be God).

m. True life changes only occur when God changes lives. No program, emphasis, or wisdom of man…only the power of God.

III. Declaration of Intentions

a. Why did Paul approach it this way…(v.5) b/c he wanted them to have faith in the power of God.

b. Paul set aside his pride, influence, and agenda…and focused on Jesus.

c. WHY? B/c when he is gone, all one has to rely on is God. He was not interested in preacher worship- but God worship. Put your faith in the power of God.

IV. Application

a. Here is a church that was supposed to do what all churches are charged to do. Be salt and light.

b. It was supposed to have an influence on its culture, but the culture was influencing it.

c. The church quit acting like an organism, and more like an organization.

d. Paul told them, it had not always been so. They had strayed from their roots. Does that happen today? YES. Churches today are often centered around the people’s will rather than God’s will. They create programs they like, they make decisions based on their wisdom, and never consult the will of God. They function practically as a democracy, when God’s people are a Theocracy.

e. Why? B/c of the wisdom of men. Examples:

f. The Episcopal church just elected an openly gay man to be a Bishop…splitting the denomination in the name of UNITY and inclusiveness.

g. In Canada, marriage is recognized legally between same sex couples.

h. In many states in US, Sodomites (God’s word, not mine) are actively campaigning for the same recognition.

i. 45% of Americans believe that sodomy should be socially and legally acceptable

j. 30% believe that Sodomite marriages should be performed by priests in a church.

k. 51% of Americans believe that basically good people will get to heaven.

l. 43% believe that Jesus was not sinless.

m. 51% of Christian church attenders say they are not absolutely committed to Jesus.

n. 45% of Born Again believers deny Satan’s existence.

o. Half of all marriages end in divorce. Same percentages in the church.

p. In 1970, 1mm people were living together, 1990, 11 mm,

q. Today 1 of 2-- 35-39 y/o have cohabitated or are.

r. Americans believe 3 to 1 that there is no objective truth, it is relative.

s. AND Worst of All…100% of children are watching and learning their values from those of us who are letting this go on.

t. All of these concepts are culturally/ politically correct, but Biblically wrong.

SO WHAT:

If we are to fulfill what God would have us to do, we must do what Paul did.

Determine to act with godly humility- This is not cow-tailing, but intentionally submitting to God and living under His truth, and under His Lordship.
Demonstrate to the world the power of God by letting Him work in us and through us to impact this world.