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. 19 For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 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? 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. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (NASB, emphases added)
An unbelieving world sees little in the cross, apart from a form of jewelry, fraud, or weakness. Unregenerate hearts possess no life in the Spirit to grant light and understanding, so they reason darkly. Paul speaks to these natural inclinations of the unsaved in this passage; present then and present today.
In our age, segments of Christianity-so-called have deliberately removed the cross either physically from their presence, or verbally from their messaging. The rationale given is that the cross is too offensive and divisive. It hinders the invitational model within that denomination or fellowship network. Upbeat is better. The cross is a downer.
Paul states the cross is “…foolishness to those who are perishing...” (:18). I believe more are perishing in the Christendom world of entertainment, comfort and accommodation than those “religious” could ever fathom.
Those that truly receive “the Word of the Cross” will not respond by mere comfort or emotion, but by confrontation of undeniable Truth. The “Word of the Cross” is the content of the message concerning it: Christ’s substitutionary death for us, by crucifixion. While “other” meanings of the cross are imagined, true meaning is that which God gives to it.
Through the “…foolishness of the message preached…” (:21) that Truth is heard, and believed, and appropriated by faith. It should be plain that one cannot be saved without the entrance of this truth of God’s message concerning the Cross, in His Word. (Ps. 119:130; Ro. 10:8, 17; Eph. 1:13).
Let’s hear Paul describe this “message of the cross,” so we don’t miss the Truth:
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
The Cross is God’s central message, in Jesus Christ. Yup. It’s not the “golden rule,” or the 10 commandments, or simply “love.” It is The Cross. There, God’s Grace was extended to us, through judgment and punishment for our sin poured out on His Son. Where holiness and love met and God’s justice was satisfied. His holiness remained undiminished; all was accomplished through the sacrifice of Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states; He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
That’s a big “so that” in that verse—“…we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” I see it as a great explanation of 1 Cor. 1:18 (above) “…us who are being saved…”
The Cross provides us with God’s power (through the Holy Spirit given) to continue to “work out” (Phil. 2:12-13) our salvation while sojourning in this present world. The received Savior unleashes the power of God—the indwelling Holy Spirit in us—to give us wisdom and discernment (1 Cor. 1:24 above). The new birth continually transforms us, by the power of the Word of God through His Spirit. This sanctifying work yields new perspectives, priorities, outlooks, values, motivations and actions! He saved us then, now, and for all eternity. That is why we call Him Savior!
The Corinthians demonstrate both God’s transformative power (see 1 Cor. 6:9-11!) and the ongoing need for yieldedness to His Spirit (6:19)! This is no different for our lives today. What do others see when they encounter this body of believers? Is it man’s strength? Clever strategies? Worldly cleverness? Cultural appeal? Christ, or dead men and women walking?
May our testimony be as Paul’s in Galatians 6:14: But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Now that we’ve looked at the “Word of the Cross” (1 Cor. 1:18), what does the Cross mean to you? Is it “Foolishness?” Or, is it the power of God that saved, and is saving me, even now?
Blessings to you in this season of focus upon the Passion of our Savior, Jesus.
Cornerstone Community Church 