In the Cross, Be My Glory Ever

1 Corinthians 1: 18-31

Christ Crucified: A Stumbling Block to Human Wisdom

Saul was the first king of Israel. But he was disobedient to God’s instructions and that had saddened the heart of God. So, God instructed prophet Samuel to anoint young David as successor to Saul.

How was David anointed?

1 Samuel Chapter 16 recorded that God told prophet Samuel to go to Jesse’s home in Bethlehem, and anoint one of his sons to be the king of Israel, who would replace King Saul.

When Samuel saw Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, he thought that God would be pleased with him. But God said, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)

Jesse arranged all the other sons to meet up with Samuel, but God did not instruct Samuel to anoint any one of them. God’s intention is always beyond our imagination. During that time, Jesse’s youngest David, was tending his sheep in the field. He looked rather plain in the eyes of men. No one would look at him as God’s chosen king.

But Samuel insisted that David should return home. So, they called him to return home. Finally, God told Samuel to anoint David as king. God’s intention is always beyond what we can imagine, and it is exactly what we are told in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, that God chose the cross, and He chose those who were lowly as a demonstration of His power and a revelation of His wisdom!

Many people do not believe in the redemptive power of the cross because they think that it is a foolish saying. They do not know that the message that seems foolish to men is indeed the wisdom of God, and it brings salvation to those who put their trust in it. The cross becomes a stumbling block to those who reject its redemptive power.

Today we will examine the Theology of the Cross which is somewhat in-depth and paradoxical. We shall see from two angles:

The Message of the Cross is the Demonstration of God’s power (vv. 18-25)

The Apostle Paul had made it clear that, according to the prevailing Greco-Roman culture, it was absolutely nonsense for the Savior of the world to die on the cross in order to save mankind. This teaching is ridiculous and foolish!

The Greco-Roman world embraced many profound philosophical thoughts, like Stoic, Epicureanism, Scepticism, Sophists, and etc. They were very proud of their tradition of scholarly saying and studies.  

Hence, Paul said, “The message of the cross, the preaching or proclamation of the cross, sounds foolish to those who do not believe and are perishing. However, to us who are being saved it is the power of God!” (v.18)

We have to take the message of the cross seriously. In the first place, the preaching of the message of the cross is foremost, our priority, for it is the intention as well as the great commission of God. Paul testified that, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor 2:2)

Paul preached the message of the cross faithfully with the power and authority of God. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Rom1:16)

The world perceives itself to be very wise and understanding, but true wisdom only comes from God, because God is definitely the Wise. Paul recited the essence found in the message of Isaiah 29:14, and he said, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” (v.19)

The scripture in the Old Testament recorded God’s judgment against worldly wisdom. The wisdom and understanding of the world are only temporal, worldly and unspiritual, and in opposition to God’s. Hence, there is a contrast between God’s wisdom and men’s wisdom throughout centuries and ages. God will disrupt the wisdom of men.

Paul continued asking his questions, “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?” (v.20)

The apostle did not mean that there was no wisdom on earth, but he pointed out the fact that when God’s true wisdom, i.e. the cross of Jesus, was preached and made known, no worldly wisdom would be able to stand against it.

How does God display His power to save?

“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.” (1 Cor 1:21)

Now, people still seek God through all kinds of religious means and with their own approaches. But they can only find false gods, and they fail to meet the true God. It will be impossible for men to find God if God does not first reveal Himself. Hence, Christianity is best known as “a religion of revelation”.

Since the world does not know God, God is pleased to make use of the message of foolishness to be preached to them. The message includes God’s sending of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, where He became flesh and lived in the world for thirty-three years and was finally crucified on the cross!

We have to understand that the punishment of the cross was a brutal torture used to deal with the worst of the sinners (rebels) who had death sentences. Yet Jesus was crucified on a cross! It was something humiliating and foolish, but it was the demonstration of God’s wisdom and power!

It was on the cross that the righteousness of God (for the wages of sin is death) and the mercy of God (God is willing to save the world) were fulfilled!

Paul went further to explain that, the world by its own wisdom cannot understand God’s wisdom. Jews went all out to seek after signs, and they asked Jesus to give them a sign, but later refused to believe that Jesus indeed was resurrected. What the Greeks looked for was wisdom in philosophy, and they rejected God’s wisdom altogether (v.22)!

For this Paul emphasized that, “we preach Christ crucified.” (v.23). Jews stumbled over the message of Jesus. The pagans thought that they have their own philosophies and they rejected Jesus (v.24). Yet to those who are called and moved by God’s love, Jesus Christ is God’s power and wisdom.

Since then, we have come to realize that the wisdom exalted by those who belong to God is entirely different from the wisdom championed by the world. This is the counter culture element of Christianity.

But, this element of the gospel is indeed the core of evangelical faith. Let’s lift up the cross of Jesus, for the message of the cross is the demonstration of God’s power!

God’s Election is the Revelation of God’s Wisdom (vv.26-31)

The apostle Paul had made it clear in this passage that the purpose of God’s call and election is “so that no one may boast before him “and, hence it served as a means to reveal the wisdom of God.

In fact, we do not possess any wisdom and power, and we do not come by noble birth according to our original human standards and values. Yet God has called us and He has chosen us, the foolish and the weak, in order to shame those who think that they are wise and strong.

Nobody in the world have real wisdom, power and honor in the eyes of God or anywhere near to the standards of God. Only those who are in Christ Jesus, those who have been called and chosen by God, God had made Christ to become “our wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Cor 1:30)

As a conclusion, we should seek to glorify Christ. “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (v.31). We should boast in the Lord for whatever wisdom, power, wealth, talents that we have. It is because of the Lord that we possess all these. Therefore, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.

Thanks be to the Father, for the Cross represents God’s heart for us! His love, His call and His election of us are the demonstration of His power and the revelation of His wisdom!

Application

Paul in Romans Chapter 8 says: Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? What circumstances shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword, or pandemic Covid 19 or pan-depression?

Being in such circumstances mentioned above, is like “being crucified on the cross”, for the cross is the emblem of shame, which is deemed lowly, despised by people. In the cross, we could succumb to disappointment, disheartening, miserable, feeling defeated, doubtful of God’s preservation, or even doubtful of God’s existence.

However, Paul assured us, who are Christ’s followers, despite the negative scenario of the “crucifixion”, the reality is the opposite: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ”

After we fully grasp the Theology of Cross, we are able to see differently from an ordinary man’s vision. Let us get rid of the worldly vision, worldly values but embrace the divine vision from above.

Even in the situation of the “cross” – facing death all day long; as sheep to be slaughtered; we could see God’s saving power; God’s wisdom manifested’; Christ’s presence with us, that he still loves us and provide for our needs. In our weaknesses, Christ’s power is made perfect.  For grace of Christ is sufficient for us! Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

Today we can live daily and face the future without fear. In Christ we trust. We shall overcome the adversities and face a hopeful future.

As how Paul encourages us, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know that it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hunger, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”