“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”1 Corinthians 1:18
The message of the cross is the power of God, it is foolishness to those looking for signs and worldly wisdom. It is why the gospel was revealed in a mystery, hidden in God from the beginning, so that it destroys the wisdom and prudence of the world, that our boasting would be in God alone. The sign of the cross is unto salvation, like the serpent in the wilderness Jesus was lifted up so all those who look upon Him will be saved. Such is not dependent upon whether I go to seminary school or not, it is not concerned with any test of my intelligence, no, the power of the cross is unto salvatin to all who believe.
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”1 Corinthians 1:20-21
God gave wisdom to Solomon, to Israel, but their hearts turned from God to the things of this world. The message of the cross destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent. The cross makes the wise, prudent, disputers of the age, these who put confidence in the flesh, of no value, “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” Christ crucified is the power of God and wisdom of God to those called according to His purpose. Spiritual blessings from the riches of His grace, like redemption, these are foolishness to those who put trust in works. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” 1 Corinthians 1:24
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:28
Do we see that grace is from the wisdom of God? a salvation by grace so that we do not boast. It is a spiritual blessing given to us by His good pleasure, “according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Those who like to boast in things other than Christ, these do not understand the power of the cross to those being saved. Not many noble and mighty are called, it is not a career path, not a following in my father's foot steps, no, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”1 Corinthians 1:27 From the lowly depths God calls, therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
“that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”1 Corinthians 2:5
The message of the cross is not spoken in pervasive words of human wisdom, so that men put faith in the power of men, no, but in the power of God so that men put faith in God, not in other men. It is not about the ministry of so and so, but about the ministry of Jesus Christ, His Church. Here we see teachings of authority that “lord” over men, teaching others to trust in them, their wisdom, their teachings, their doctrines and traditions of men. These are known by their lack of love for the least of these His brethren, not concerned with how they cause little children to stumble, nor whether they build up others in faith. They base wisdom on nobility, positions of authority, university degrees... thus their authority and wisdom is like that of the world, not servants but lords.
“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men.”1 Corinthians 3:19
The message is spoken in a mystery, the things God prepared beforehand for those who love Him, revealed to them through the Spirit which searches all things of God, which guides unto all truth. He who lays a foundation on teachings of men, principles, prudence, and wisdom of the world, builds his house upon the sand, it will not stand the test of fire. The Spirit of God knows all things and freely gives them to us, if we but ask and seek. It is the Spirit of God that reveals the message, it is why God chose in His wisdom for it to be a mystery. It brings to nothing the wisdom of the world, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”1 Corinthians 3:18
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:1
We see the importance of transformation by the renewal of the mind. A child has a carnal mind and as Paul writes it is hostile toward God and can not submit to the laws of God. We see the difference between earthly wisdom that boasts in the flesh and that from God. One says beat sin out of the child, the other states that grace reigns through righteousness. A child in faith can't receive the spiritual things of God, he must be nurtured into a young person. We see leadership is being a servant of all, receiving little children, guiding them to Christ, not a dictator but a facilitator. Paul writes there are those who plant and those who water, all will receive the same reward. What is the seed? The word. What is the water? The Spirit of God. One lays a foundation, another builds upon it, one nurtures a child, another builds upon it. Men do not make disciples but facilitate, not domineering over as if they are lord. “But let each take heed how he builds on it” 1 Corinthians 3:10 Are you building or tearing down, are they walking in Christ, or are you a cause for stumbling? Woe to those who are a cause for stumbling.
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
We are warned by Jesus of false prophets, these would lay another foundation. It is clearly seen in their earthly focus, not on the more important spiritual blessings. One sign is that they love money. “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 If a foundation is laid on silver and gold, though it is called foundational things of God like tithing or financial stewardship... such will be revealed by fire, whatever has been built. “Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” Jesus is the refiners fire, we pray as He did, sanctify in truth those who believe.
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”1 Corinthians 3:16
This verse is usually associated with immorality, of defiling your body which is the temple of God. But we see in context it has more to do with how we build up others in faith or cause them to stumble. What is the temple of God? it is the body, the Church, the children of God. The Spirit of God is in each child of God. If the child of God is the temple of God then how do I destroy the temple of God? what I do to the least of these His brethren I do to Him. If the temple of God is the child of God and you cause him to stumble then surely you are not building up the body, the temple of God. “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”1 Corinthians 1:20-21
God gave wisdom to Solomon, to Israel, but their hearts turned from God to the things of this world. The message of the cross destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent. The cross makes the wise, prudent, disputers of the age, these who put confidence in the flesh, of no value, “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” Christ crucified is the power of God and wisdom of God to those called according to His purpose. Spiritual blessings from the riches of His grace, like redemption, these are foolishness to those who put trust in works. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” 1 Corinthians 1:24
“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:28
Do we see that grace is from the wisdom of God? a salvation by grace so that we do not boast. It is a spiritual blessing given to us by His good pleasure, “according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Those who like to boast in things other than Christ, these do not understand the power of the cross to those being saved. Not many noble and mighty are called, it is not a career path, not a following in my father's foot steps, no, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”1 Corinthians 1:27 From the lowly depths God calls, therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
“that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”1 Corinthians 2:5
The message of the cross is not spoken in pervasive words of human wisdom, so that men put faith in the power of men, no, but in the power of God so that men put faith in God, not in other men. It is not about the ministry of so and so, but about the ministry of Jesus Christ, His Church. Here we see teachings of authority that “lord” over men, teaching others to trust in them, their wisdom, their teachings, their doctrines and traditions of men. These are known by their lack of love for the least of these His brethren, not concerned with how they cause little children to stumble, nor whether they build up others in faith. They base wisdom on nobility, positions of authority, university degrees... thus their authority and wisdom is like that of the world, not servants but lords.
“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men.”1 Corinthians 3:19
The message is spoken in a mystery, the things God prepared beforehand for those who love Him, revealed to them through the Spirit which searches all things of God, which guides unto all truth. He who lays a foundation on teachings of men, principles, prudence, and wisdom of the world, builds his house upon the sand, it will not stand the test of fire. The Spirit of God knows all things and freely gives them to us, if we but ask and seek. It is the Spirit of God that reveals the message, it is why God chose in His wisdom for it to be a mystery. It brings to nothing the wisdom of the world, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”1 Corinthians 3:18
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:1
We see the importance of transformation by the renewal of the mind. A child has a carnal mind and as Paul writes it is hostile toward God and can not submit to the laws of God. We see the difference between earthly wisdom that boasts in the flesh and that from God. One says beat sin out of the child, the other states that grace reigns through righteousness. A child in faith can't receive the spiritual things of God, he must be nurtured into a young person. We see leadership is being a servant of all, receiving little children, guiding them to Christ, not a dictator but a facilitator. Paul writes there are those who plant and those who water, all will receive the same reward. What is the seed? The word. What is the water? The Spirit of God. One lays a foundation, another builds upon it, one nurtures a child, another builds upon it. Men do not make disciples but facilitate, not domineering over as if they are lord. “But let each take heed how he builds on it” 1 Corinthians 3:10 Are you building or tearing down, are they walking in Christ, or are you a cause for stumbling? Woe to those who are a cause for stumbling.
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
We are warned by Jesus of false prophets, these would lay another foundation. It is clearly seen in their earthly focus, not on the more important spiritual blessings. One sign is that they love money. “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 If a foundation is laid on silver and gold, though it is called foundational things of God like tithing or financial stewardship... such will be revealed by fire, whatever has been built. “Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.” Jesus is the refiners fire, we pray as He did, sanctify in truth those who believe.
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”1 Corinthians 3:16
This verse is usually associated with immorality, of defiling your body which is the temple of God. But we see in context it has more to do with how we build up others in faith or cause them to stumble. What is the temple of God? it is the body, the Church, the children of God. The Spirit of God is in each child of God. If the child of God is the temple of God then how do I destroy the temple of God? what I do to the least of these His brethren I do to Him. If the temple of God is the child of God and you cause him to stumble then surely you are not building up the body, the temple of God. “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus