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The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in 1 Corinthians

 

 

 

The Message of the Cross, I Corinthians 1:18-25, Part 2

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I Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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I.     What is the message of the cross?

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Luke 24:25-27 He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

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       A.   It is the central message of the person and life of Christ

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       B.   It is the central message of the New Testament

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       C.   It is consistent with the message of God from the beginning

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       D.   Jesus Christ, the Son of God, humbled Himself by becoming sin, weakness, death, pain, impoverished, rejected and judged so that we could become pure, strong, everlasting, joyful, rich, received and righteous in Christ.

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1. How do people respond to this message?

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I Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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I Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

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I Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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I Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

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      A.   Dismiss it as foolishness

       B.   Embrace it as the power of God to save

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1. Why do some reject this message?

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I Corinthians 1:22-23 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness

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          A.      It is a stumbling block

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Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

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Matthew 21:43-44 Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”

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Picture of outer wall of the temple mount.

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I Peter 2:6-8 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, aprecious corner stone, And he who believes inHim will not bedisappointed.”

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I Peter 2:7-8 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the buildersrejected, This became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

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Romans 9:32-33 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

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Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

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          B.      It is foolishness

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Acts 26:23-24 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.”

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Picture of the crucified donkey "Alex worships his God"

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There is no greater division between faith and unbelief than in the respective attitudes toward the cross. Where faith sees glory, unbelief sees disgrace. What is foolishness to some is nevertheless the wisdom of God. What remains a stumbling block for those who trust in themselves, proves to be the saving power of God . John Stott

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1. Why does God use the cross as His means of saving?

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I Corinthians 1:24-25 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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       A.   It shows the wisdom of God: foolishness becomes wisdom

       B.   It reflects the strength of God: weakness becomes strength

       C.   In short, in the cross God takes the foolish and weak to display His wisdom and strength

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