The Foolishness of the Cross!
Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Corinthians
1Corinthians 1:18-19… Perishing = Those who reject the Cross of Christ exist on this earth without the divine provision of God’s plan and purpose through Christ: Salvation (Romans 1:16-23).
The coming of God’s Son has been foretold since ancient times and revealed to us through the Holy Scriptures (Ephesians 1:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-4).
No wonder Paul proclaims (2Corinthians 9:15), “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!”
The Wisdom of this age is foolishness [moronic] to God (Colossians 2:8-10). Looking to human wisdom instead of the wisdom of God will lead one to corruption and destruction (2Peter 1:3-4).
Verses 20-21… Where are the wise teachers and debaters of this world? Do they really believe they are equipped to discern the ways and wonders of God?
In Isaiah 19 the Lord says to Egypt’s so-called wise men and experts, “tell Me then, what will God do to those who worship idols while proclaiming to be wise?”
Human wisdom cannot obtain the knowledge of God, nor can it bring acceptance, let alone salvation, from God; for God does not allow man to reach up and confer with Him, nor to comprehend the plan and purpose of God, through cognitive reasoning or human intellect.
Only through the message of the Cross can we, by faith, believe in Christ (John 1:12; Acts 4:12).
1Corinthians 1:22-25… Unbelieving Jews were always wanting one more miracle, even though they had been exposed repeatedly to the way, the works and the words of God’s Son (Matthew 12:38-42).
Jesus tells the self-righteous religious leaders of the Jews, that the evil pagan Ninevites who responded to God’s message through Jonah, will stand in condemnation of this generation of Jews who witnessed, yet rejected the Messiah, who is greater than Jonah, for He is God the Son, Creator and Judge over all (Colossians 1:15-20).
According to Matthew 12:42, the Queen of the South (Queen of Sheba) will stand in judgement of “this generation of Jews.” Joel said (3:8) of her country, it was “a distant nation,” Jeremiah (6:20), “a distant land.”
During the time of Solomon, this Gentile, a woman, an Arab, came to Solomon “from the ends of the earth” [1200 miles SE of Israel] to hear God’s wisdom through Solomon, and she gave him countless treasures (although Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man living at that time).
Jesus says, “Something greater than Solomon is here.” Jesus isn’t just bringing God’s Wisdom, He is bringing Salvation – forgiveness from sin and eternal life – and yet the Jews refused to believe His message or receive Him.
The Jews, the nation of Israel, God’s chosen and set apart covenant people, who had the patriarchs and the prophets, even God’s own presence dwelling with them in the Tabernacle of Meeting, in the Holy of Holies in the Temple; they had centuries of divine blessing, God’s protection and provision; and yet, when God fulfilled His Word and sent His own Son, the Messiah, to bring forgiveness and eternal life, they rejected Him.
One day these Jews will stand condemned, and at the time of their judgement, many Gentiles will be justified because of their faith in God’s One and Only Son.
God’s greatest sign was sending His own Son to live among us and then to die for our sins (John 1:1-5, 14, 18; 3:13-18); yet, the majority of the Jewish people did not believe it (Luke 16:31), “they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
Our Savior is alive, and the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection, when believed in the heart, saves your soul for eternity (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
Salvation is not acquired through heritage, good works, or religious ritual, but by believing in and submitting to God’s Son as Savior and Lord (1Corinthians 15:2-4; John 5:39-40).
It is all about Jesus, not miraculous signs, mystical experiences, new revelations, or new words of wisdom!
Where the Jews sought miracles, the Greeks wanted to prove or disprove Christ’s claims via human reasoning and debatable philosophy, through which they would intellectually determine whether Christ’s wisdom and power was supernatural or not.
But, it is the divine message and power of the Cross alone by which men are saved (1Corinthians 2:2). Only those who are “called” (1Corinthians 1:24, 9), i.e., only those who believe and receive Christ as Savior and Lord, confessing and repenting of their sins, are able to know and to apply the power and the wisdom of God to their life. What must you do? (See Acts 2:36-38)
Admit that you are a sinner, guilty (Romans 3:23).
Believe that Christ alone can save you, granting forgiveness (Romans 6:23).
Confess your sins to God, repent (Romans 10:9-10).
Demonstrate a changed life (2Corinthians 5:17).
Exemplify the character and nature of Jesus Christ, and
Follow His example (1John 2:3-6). Therefore,
Go into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20), “and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything [Christ] commanded you.” We are to proclaim the foolishness of the Message of the Cross, so that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved to spend eternity in
Heaven with Him (John 14:2-3, 6).
The message we must share with people is a message of hope, love and eternity. Why is this so necessary?
God is a Loving God, but He is also a Just God, and therefore, Sin must be punished if God is truly Just!
Do not lie…
Do not steal…
Do not murder (anger in your heart)…
Innocent, you say? Right!
Look, we are all guilty of Sin!
And so, we deserve punishment!
The Good News is – Jesus took our punishment and paid our penalty for sin, so that those who trust in Him are declared “not guilty” on Judgment Day!
Hebrews 9:27-28, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”
Hebrews 10:16-18, “’This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.”
Romans 8:1-2, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Hebrews 8:10, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
