Consider these statements: “The gospel is to save unbelievers; then we need deeper teaching to grow in Christ.” “The gospel is for baby Christians to tell them of forgiveness, but mature believers have learned to move on from the gospel.” “The gospel is the milk of the Word; believers in Jesus need meat!”
Have you ever heard concepts like these? Or maybe you’ve said them yourself? Today’s teaching helps us to embrace the gospel as the message of wisdom and power for all! Let’s read it:
“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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 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. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NIV
There are two responses to the preaching of the message of the cross. One group believes it’s foolish, ridiculous, religious nonsense, or make-believe like Santa or the Easter bunny. The other receives and believes it, is saved, and experiences life-transforming power through it. When Jesus died on the cross, the two thieves crucified with Him were divided in their response to Jesus; in the same way, people still either reject the preaching of the cross as nonsense or receive it with power.
Question 1. According to 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 NIV, what does the preaching of the cross accomplish, and why?
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God has frustrated all the worldly wise, religious experts, philosophers, gurus, and self-help advocates! All of their human wisdom and religious dogma do not help one person know God. The wise have become fools; their “deep understanding” appears as shallow ignorance in light of the all-powerful, all glorious, beautiful message of the cross.
Question 2. According to 1 Corinthians 1:21-23 NIV, what word was used to describe the preaching of the cross?
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Paul uses the very words of his opponents who call the preaching of the cross "foolishness." It's as if he is saying, "Amazing! The 'foolishness of preaching the cross' saves everyone who believes it. Some stumble over it, but God’s people are saved by it.”
On the surface, we understand why those who are perishing see the message of the cross as foolishness. To hang a man on a tree, watch Him suffer and bleed out like a common criminal, and believe that message means salvation and life transformation? Victory through weakness? It sounds like so much nonsense.
And to go on to say that continuous viewing of that man hung up on the cross is the way to grow and mature in our faith? How can that be?
Question 3. According to 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 NIV, what two things does a believer experience in Jesus Christ as they view the cross?
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The world and its philosophers and religious instructors only have knowledge and info, but the message of the cross contains wisdom and power. Yes, God has wrapped up wisdom and power in the message of the cross! Wisdom to teach you how to know God and navigate life successfully, and power to set you free from sin’s damming effects and dreadful chains.
“For the foolishness of God (the message of the cross) is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God (God hanging on a cross) is stronger than human strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV
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