The Message of the Cross

I Corinthians 1:18–25
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It is interesting to see how Paul approached this problem of division in the church. First, he pointed to the unity of Christ: there is one Savior and one body. Then he reminded them of their baptism, a picture of their spiritual baptism into Christ’s body (v. 17). The true condition of the Corinthian believers was that they were still engrossed with human, earthly wisdom. We can spend a lifetime accumulating human knowledge and still not learn how to have a personal relationship with God (vv. 18-19). You and I must come to the crucified and risen Christ to receive eternal life and the joy of a personal relationship with Him.

The content of Paul’s message in this letter was the good news of Jesus Christ, thought to be foolish because they were perpetually looking for some material sign (vv. 20-24). The Jews thought the Messiah would be a conquering king. Since Jesus was executed as a criminal, how could He be the Savior of the world. Many Greeks earnestly sought after wisdom through human knowledge that would appeal to the intellect. They too, thought that no reputable person would be crucified.

Paul illustrates his point by using an illustration from Isaiah 24:19. The great stress in these verses is upon the activity of God. The emphasis of the Apostle here is not upon the act of preaching but upon the content of preaching. The message of Christ’s death for sins sounds foolish to those who don’t believe. Death seems like the end of the road. However, Jesus did not stay dead. His resurrection demonstrated his power even over death. This sounds so simple that many people refuse to accept it.  However, the people who simply accept Christ are the wisest of all because they alone will live in eternity. Because the Jews were looking for power and great glory, they stumbled at the weakness of the cross. After all, the “weakness of God” (in the cross) is stronger than men (v. 25). 

Application

Paul declares that no amount of human knowledge can replace Christ’s work on the cross. Lord, help me to always trust in you and not in my own knowledge about you.