The Wisdom of the Cross Does Not Require Man's Devices
Our Blueprint for a New Testament Church • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
“John Harper was a Scottish baptist pastor aboard the Titanic. He was on his way to America with his 6 year old daughter and sister for an opportunity to preach at Moody Church in Chicago.
He pastored 2 churches but was well known for his open air preaching and ability to speak with hecklers. He was also, in my humble opinion, the bravest man on the ship at the time.
When the Titanic hit the iceberg and it became a reality that she was in fact a sinkable ship, Harper quickly got his 6 year old daughter and his sister safely onto a lifeboat. He could have gotten on the lifeboat himself since he was Annie's, his daughters only living parent but instead he refused. He stayed aboard to share the gospel with as many people as he could.
He was heard shouting 'Women, children and the unsaved onto the lifeboats!' And ran person to person declaring the good news of Christ as the water came aboard. One man refused to hear and said he was not interested in being saved so Harper gave him his own life jacket claiming 'you will need this more than me'.
Once she was taken under, he swam to as many people as he could in the ice cold water (28° on a moonless night at close to 2 a.m.) professing Christ, telling others if they would give themselves to the Lord they would indeed be saved that night.
One man clinging to debris from the wreckage denied his offer of salvation twice. It was then that John Harper succumbed to hypothermia and perished in the water. Not long after, a life boat rescued the last man John Harper had shared Christ with and later at a survivors gathering in Canada he professed he had indeed been saved and was John Harper's last convert.”
I will remind us by way of introduction that we are 1 Corinthians. We are studying this great book as a local church. We are doing it because God provides the blueprint by which are to pattern our church. It is a book that tells us what is right to do as a church as well as what is not right to do as a church.
Today, we are starting chapter 2. We just finished chapter 1. We finished that chapter understanding that we, as a local church, are to be united and not divided. We are to be united around this one thing - the preaching of the cross. Our simple job as a local church is to tell others about the way of the cross. It is a message that confounds this world. They see it as foolishness. They cannot comprehend why God would use such means like a local church and preaching. In fact, they often see local churches as a bunch of fanatics comprised of weak, uneducated members of society. To them, we are nothing. However, through the transforming power of the gospel message, we are the very people that God desires to use. Thus, God’s decision to use the base, the despised, and the nobodies of this world seems foolish. In chapter 2, the Holy Spirit turns our attention to the differences between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. You see, in His great wisdom, God uses things that man cannot understand to demonstrate the power and might of God.
We will begin by noting...
The Effectiveness of the Cross!
The Effectiveness of the Cross!
The message of the cross stands on its own. It needs not man’s wisdom or devices. In fact, the Holy Spirit notes that...
The Preaching of the Cross DOES NOT NEED Grand Speeches or The Highest Level of Education
The Preaching of the Cross DOES NOT NEED Grand Speeches or The Highest Level of Education
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
The Holy Spirit points out that Paul did not use “excellency of speech.” That phrase has the idea to speak with great self-importance and superiority on a matter.
The Holy Spirit also points out that Paul did not use “excellency…of wisdom.” Again, the idea is being a no-it-all who uses his own self gained wisdom knowledge about a matter.
The irony is that Paul was a highly educated man. Note what Scripture tells us about Paul.
He was a Pharisee
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
He was Religiously Trained
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
He even studied Philosophy
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
My point is that Paul was very educated man who had the ability to make grand speeches. Yet, the one thing Paul knew more intimately than anyone else was his rightful place before the Lord. That is why Paul often spoke of himself as a “servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.” In fact, Paul sums it up in...
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
You see the preaching of the gospel does not need man’s wisdom. It does not need a high level of education. It does not need eloquent speakers. None of those things are required. Every believer regardless of education or ability can be witnesses for Christ. In fact, as we learned last week, God loves to use those who are not mighty, not noble, and not wise. They are the ones that CONFOUND wise, noble, and mighty men.
However, there is a requirement is a must.
The Preaching of the Cross REQUIRES Christ & Christ Crucified as Its Message!
The Preaching of the Cross REQUIRES Christ & Christ Crucified as Its Message!
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Note that Holy Spirit brings it right back to Christ. One of the things that we must understand about the Holy Spirit is found in...
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
What things will the Holy Ghost/Spirit always teach and bring into remembrance? “Whatsoever I have said unto you.” The primary responsibility of the Holy Spirit is always to teach and remind us of Christ and His message. And so, once again, in our text we are reminded that at the center of the way and the wisdom of the cross is Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
If you remember back to chapter 1, we read in verse 23 that...
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
It is a message that must not change. Everything that emanates from Calvary Baptist Church must have Christ and Him crucified as its heartbeat. It is only through Christ that person can be transformed. It is only through Christ that a person can escape eternal damnation. It is only through Christ that a person’s fellowship is restored with God. And it was Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection that sealed the deal.
You want to know TRUTH of God - then you must know Christ.
You want to know the WAY to God - then you must know Christ.
You want ETERNAL LIFE given by God - then you must know Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
It is Christ. It is Christ crucified. That is the message. That is the way. That is the wisdom of God.
The Holy Spirit continues to drive home the point that wisdom of the Cross must NEVER be coupled with the wisdom of man. He does so by continuing to use...
PAUL’S EXAMPLE
PAUL’S EXAMPLE
In verse 3-5, the Holy Spirit uses Paul as a personal example. Paul understood more than anyone just how much it was the Holy Spirit that worked through him. It had nothing to do with his own ability to persuade or convince anyone of the gospel. Note two things Paul reminds the Corinthians believers about his time with them.
His preaching was completely...
Devoid of Human Persuasion
Devoid of Human Persuasion
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Note the description of Paul’s preaching and teaching while he was in Corinth. He was with them in...
Weakness - physically weak, a complete lack of strength or vigor
Fear - an emption experienced as there is anticipation of some specific pain or danger
Trembling - the act of shaking (note that it was MUCH trembling - with a great degree or extent)
We know from studying Scripture that Paul lived with a physical infirmity. It was something that God personally gave to him. Paul testified of this...
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
No one truly knows the physical infirmity that he endured every day of his life. However, it would seem from our text it was something that caused considerable weakness, much shaking, and even a certain amount of anxiety. The Holy Spirit reminds the Corinthians that they were witness to these things when Paul came there. They saw with their own eyes the physical duress he was under. Yet, despite those things, Paul was “determined” to preach Christ to them. Thus, he was a living demonstration that the Gospel does not need human strength or even “enticing words” of man’s wisdom. It simply needs a willing vessel. Paul was just a simple servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit was able to use Paul.
His preaching then became a...
Demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s Power
Demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s Power
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Note the word “demonstration” in this verse. That word simply means to “point out.” Again, we see the emphasis being placed on the message and not the messenger or the delivery of the message. Paul’s preaching and its success had nothing to do with him. His speech and his preaching were nothing. God used it to “point out” the ability and power of the Holy Spirit in using someone for God’s glory. It was a DEMONSTRATION of the Spirit and His power.
In the end, as the Holy Spirit worked in Paul’s life, Paul knew that God...
Desired Only One Thing
Desired Only One Thing
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
This is a particularly important point. One that I hope I can accurately convey and pray that the Holy Spirit uses me in doing so. A person’s faith in Christ should never come because of a person’s eloquent speech or ability argue reasonably. If a person comes to Christ based on someone’s wonderful sermon or reasonable argument, then they have missed the entire point of salvation. Think about this verse in Ephesians.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Anytime a person bases their salvation or their faith on what a preacher with flowering words and clever arguments, then they are basing their faith on that preacher or whoever and not on God. You see a person’s faith should not stand upon man’s wisdom. Instead, a person’s faith must always stand upon the promises and power of God. That is why the Holy Spirit makes it clear in Ephesians that we are saved “by grace.” You see it is God that does the saving. It is God the Father that sent His Son to die for us. It is God the Son who willingly came and gave Himself for us. It is God the Spirit who draws all men to Christ and convicts them of their sin. Thus, it is God who has done it all.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Consequently, it is important that we place our faith in what God has done and not what man says. And, it is equally important, that we, as God’s messengers, demonstrate “point out” that is only the power of God to save.
Thus, the wisdom of the cross and its message is quite effective. It does need us. However, God has chosen to use us. In doing so, He chooses to use those who are not mighty, who are not noble, and who are not wise so that He might be glorified and His power demonstrated.
Now, real quick, before we close note...
The Eternal Provision of the Cross
The Eternal Provision of the Cross
In the next 3 verses (verses 6-8), the Holy Spirit differentiates between two different people. There are those who readily accept the wisdom of the cross versus those who continue in the wisdom of this world. Note that wisdom of the cross is accepted by...
Those Who are “Perfect”
Those Who are “Perfect”
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
As we noted before the way of the cross is foolishness to the world. By the same token, the wisdom of God is senseless to the world as well. The Holy Spirit confirms that wisdom of the cross only make sense to those who “are perfect.”
It means those who are “spiritually mature.” Scripture teaches that there are three kinds of believers. There are...
New Believers - baby believers who are brand new in their faith.
Carnal Believers - believers who are trying to hold onto this world while simultaneously trying to live for Christ (Note: The Holy Spirit will give us much more insight about carnality and carnal believers in chapter 3.)
Mature Believers - believers who are desperately trying to overcome their old nature and live obediently before God.
Without a doubt, the local church of Corinth had its share of carnal Christians. However, there were still those in that church who were spiritually mature. They were the ones who appreciated the wisdom of God. They were the ones who embraced the fact that the message must always be about Christ and His crucifixion. They were the ones who were determined to know nothing than Christ and Him crucified. Thus, they were...
Those Who Accepted the Fact that “Wisdom (is) of God”
Those Who Accepted the Fact that “Wisdom (is) of God”
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Again, the Holy Spirit testifies that true wisdom only comes from God. Note the phrase “wisdom of God.” Those who are “perfect” are those who rely only “wisdom” that comes from God. They even accept what the world sees as the “mystery” of “hidden wisdom” that comes from God. The world cannot understand the grand salvation plan of God. A plan that was ordained even before the world was created. Even we, at times, have a hard grasping the concept of such an omnipotent and omniscient God. Yet, an amazing thing happens. When a person simply chooses to accept God’s grace and His gift of eternal life by simply having faith in what God has done even though it is hard to understand, God imparts His Spirit to them Who immediately begins to “illuminate” their minds. One of the great things about being a believer is each day studying God’s Word and learning new things about Him. However, it only comes when you open your heart to Him. It is then that the things of God which are “mystery” becomes “hidden wisdom” ready to be explored and understood through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately, too many people miss out on that wonderful experience because of their reliance upon...
Man’s Wisdom
Man’s Wisdom
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Here we see one of the great tragedies of Christ’s first advent. Men like Herod, Pontius Pilate, and other come to mind. They stood face to face with the God of the Universe. He was right there in front of them. Yet, their own pride, their own sense of self-worth, and their reliance upon their own foolish wisdom cost them dearly. Had they known the One Who stood before them, they would not have crucified Him instead they would have cried out for mercy.
In the end, they are the ones who rejected Christ and crucified Him. They did so because they were so self-focused and so full of themselves that they could not see Who stood before them. Thus, instead of receiving Him, they rejected Him. Instead of opening their hearts to Him they hardened their hearts against Him. In the end, they gave into the worldly mob before them that shouted “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” They then proceeded to beat Him, mock Him, and put Him to death by the cruelest of all deaths. Yet, had they known Him, had they accepted the wisdom of God, they would have done things quite differently.
Conclusion
Conclusion
That is all under the bridge, so to speak, now. What is done is done. What matters is right here, right now! The way and wisdom of the cross is the message of Scripture. A message that is to be shared with the world through the preaching of each local church. It is a message that goes beyond anything that man can understand. It is a message that must be accepted by faith. That is why the Holy Spirit so pointedly said our “faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.” There is not a person here this morning that can claim to know the mind of God. There is not a person here who can explain the depth of God’s love, mercy, and grace. However, there are people here this morning who have experienced the power of the gospel. They, through faith, have accepted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as true. They have repented of their sinfulness and have turned to the cross for salvation. They have personally been changed, made righteous, and sanctified by the message of the cross.
As I see it, there are still two types of people here this morning. There are those who have accepted the wisdom of the cross. And there are those who are still clinging to the wisdom of man. If you are still clinging to man’s wisdom (your own wisdom), may I plead with you this morning to let go and let God have His way in your heart.
You might ask how do I do that?
Begin by understanding your true condition before God - you are lost, without hope, bound by the bondage of sin
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Believe (have faith) in what Christ has already done - His death, burial, and resurrection
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Confess with your mouth
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
