The Cross Stands Alone

The Cross Stands Alone.

1st Corinthians 1 - 2

Key Verse:

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (NIV)

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [1]

· Paul is writing because there are problems that need to be addressed in the church of Corinth.

· The church of Corinth was surrounded by citizens who were pagans with lax morals.

· Paul addresses first the division within the church

1. The body of Christ must be unified in mind and thought (1 Corinthians 1:10)

a. On who Christ is

b. On the work of Christ

2. The body must be careful of the wisdom it seeks

a. There is a difference between wisdom of the world and spiritual wisdom

b. Those who consider themselves wise will not know what true wisdom is unless they forget what they know. A retraining of sorts must take place.

c. Those who are in the world will believe they are in the light. They will not know true light when they see it. However, those who recognize that they are in darkness can see the light of Christ clearly. It is these people who God draws to him.

3. The body must understand that God seeks full glory and not our own. The cross stands alone.

a. A person who has emptied him/herself (those who recognize they are in darkness) will credit the Lord when delivered primarily because he/she couldn’t do it on his/her own.

b. Our deliverance comes from the cross, and the message of Christ’s sacrifice. This stands alone. This is the wisdom of God.

c. Paul provides himself as an example in chapter 2 verse 1 - 5

4. The body must understand where the source of wisdom comes from

a. The Holy Spirit; wisdom of the Spirit.

b. Our eyes are open and our hearts are prepared only because God allowed us to see.

c. God’s wisdom is not for everybody; verses 9 and 10 & 14

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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.