In Paul’s opening comments of I Corinthians, verses 1-17, he
declared his apostleship and emphasized the distinction between the believers’
position IN CHRIST (securely saved forever, from the moment of faith in Christ’s
finished work. Every believer has this same position, because it is the work of
Christ, not our work. We have been born into His family for all eternity) ….and
the believers’ walk (daily conduct). Our walk is a matter of individual
volition. We choose faithfulness or not, discipleship or not, doctrinal
training or not, fellowship with the saints or not, and Paul cautioned the
Corinthian saints to cultivate a unity of the faith, for their own personal
growth and for their witness in the world. All God’s children are not
necessarily obedient little soldiers. Some of us are stubborn and rebellious,
to our own detriment in this world and to our own eternal loss of reward. Just
like stubborn, rebellious human children. I was a stubborn, rebellious human
child. I never wanted to cease being my parents’ child, and I never questioned
their authority, but I often disobeyed it. That doesn’t make for cozy
relationships. The kid is the loser in these situations, as the carnal believer
is with his Christian experience.
I know some believers up close and personal who will tell
you in a heartbeat that they are saved forever by the blood of Jesus Christ,
and without Him they would have no hope. They are deeply grateful for that salvation
He provided for them and appreciate the existence of the Church, but they have
no sense of personal responsibility to the body of Christ and do not consider
themselves representatives of the Lord in the world, feeling no obligation or
sense of duty to contribute time or effort toward the edification of the
Church. These folks are spiritually stunted in that way, but you might be
surprised how much some of them truly love the Word of God and they have no doubt of
its inspiration.
The issue in I Corinthians 1, however, seemed to be a
squabble over which pastor-teacher was the best, and whose teaching they wanted
to follow. There was a “better baptism” competition, too, and Paul ridiculed
them for it. Since Paul’s own salvation, he was not impressed with ritual. He
presented the gospel message and mostly let others deal with the baptisms (vv.
12-17). “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not
with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
Actually, Paul WAS wise and eloquent, but that is not the power of the gospel.
THE CROSS is the power of the gospel.
“those who are perishing:” individuals in each
generation who reject the good news of eternal life through the finished work
of Christ on the cross. They are dying in their sins, needlessly, because of
their own arrogance. They think they are too smart to believe the gospel of
grace.
“us who are being saved” are daily being delivered
from the enslavement of Satan’s world system, by the ONLY means of salvation:
faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Way, The Truth and The Life.
All will have opportunity to hear and believe. Some will believe. They are being
saved.
I Corinthians 1:20-25
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? 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. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach
Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but
to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and
the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human
wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Intellectuals, debaters, philosophers of all cultures have
their standards of what they deem believable. Worldly wisdom cannot know
Christ, because He is known only by the Holy Spirit. The simple truth of God’s
One and Only Son, the Savior of mankind by His own bloody death makes no
sense to worldlings. No sense, because they do not want to believe. Only those
who know we are hopeless sinners and are willing to receive such salvation can
comprehend God’s wisdom. Paul, himself a Jew, knew the Jews wanted a “light
show,” and the Greeks wanted a many-faceted, complicated philosophy. They had
no comprehension of a crucified savior. They stumbled over that truth. They
considered it foolish. Unbelievers still do.
Ah, but to those whom God has elected to privilege, Christ
crucified is so clear, so simple, so powerful that once we see it, we feel it’s
been in our souls since eternity past. We have arrived at the life we were
always meant to live—in the wisdom and strength of God’s “foolishness.” A
blessed existence.
I Corinthians 1:26-31 Brothers and sisters, think of what
you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards;
not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the
world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the
strong. God chose the lowly
things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to
nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It
is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom
from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore,
as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Jesus came to bring salvation to mankind. The worldly wise
and arrogant despise and reject Him. God has chosen for His own a people who
are not high achievers by the world’s standards; not many aristocrats, but
mostly “low-born” whom the world rejects with contempt. These, by our testimony
of the cross, utterly confound those who feel superior. They do not get it.
They are offended by it. They stumble.
Our glory is in the Lord, through His atonement on the
cross. Too simple. Too authoritative. Too complete.
We simpletons are Royal Family of God. Now and forever.
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