The Wisdom of the Cross

 

(1 Corinthians Chapter 1)

 

By the cross is not meant the wooden stake or tree upon which Jesus died, but the death of Jesus on the cross for the sins of His people, and includes His burial and resurrection from the dead to complete the believer's hope of salvation and eternal life in heaven.

 

 

1. The preaching of the cross

 

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

The preaching of the cross is the preaching of the message of the cross, which is the gospel.

 

So, preaching the cross means preaching the gospel of Jesus, which is the Person and work of Jesus Christ to save them who believe. I could have said “to save the elect”, but it means the same thing. The work of Jesus includes everything that He did during His earthly ministry, but His work culminated with His death on the cross in which He suffered, bled, and died for all the sins of all His people who will ever believe in Him.

 

Jesus’s death on the cross was…

 

Sacrificial… Jesus died willingly as the sacrifice for sinners. He laid down His life. No man took it from Him. He was not a martyr but a sacrifice.

 

His death was substitutionary… it was in the room and stead of those for whom He died.

 

His death was redemptive… His death was the exact payment, or purchase price required by God to pay the sin debt of all His people.

 

His death was propitiary… Jesus’s death on the cross completely and fully satisfied God’s justice and wrath for all the sins of all His people for whom He died. God was pleased and satisfied with Jesus’s death on the cross for His people, and He accepted His sacrifice as the just payment for their sins.

 

His death was saving… 

Salvation and eternal life are received when we believe the message of the cross, which is the gospel.

 

Next, baptism is not salvation…

 

1 Corinthians 1:14-17 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

 

Baptism pictures salvation, but it is not salvation, nor does it have any saving virtue or merit. But it is a first act of obedience to Christ, and the way to serving the Lord in His Church.

 

Worldly wisdom is foolishness to God...

 

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

“The world by wisdom knew not God”. Man can't find, or know, or figure out God or the way of salvation and heaven by his own natural wisdom, though he has tried to do so ever since the fall. Man's wisdom at best is foolishness to God!

 

The cross is a stumblingblock to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles… 

 

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

 

The Jews stumbled at the stumblingblock, which Peter called a Rock of offense.

 

1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 

Jesus referred to the Stone, which the builders rejected (Read Matthew 21:42-46)…

 

The Jews rejected their Rock of salvation, their Messiah, Lord, and Saviour Jesus Christ. Because of their sinful pride they could not and would not receive Jesus as their promised Messiah and Saviour.

 

The Greeks, and Gentiles, who were wise in their own conceits, and their myriad of philosophies and vain idols, saw the gospel of Jesus as foolishness. It was no more to them than just another religious scheme to eternal happiness. The gospel was too simple, and didn't require any human wisdom or special ability to obtain it. They believed that only the elite in society could ever obtain unto spiritual perfection.

 

The cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God to all who are called...

 

1 Corinthians 1:24-25 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). It has power to save by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. And it is the highest, deepest, broadest wisdom that men can ever know. It began in eternity, and was a hidden mystery throughout the OT times, where it only appeared in types, shadows, and figures through the ceremonial law, and as it was revealed through obscure prophecy to those who were given spiritual understanding.

 

Then, in the fulness of times, it was revealed by Jesus Christ the Son of God when He came into the world, born of a virgin, to save His people from their sins. And this He did by His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead. And everyone who believes this message of the cross is eternally saved from all their sins.

 

 

2. Secondly, I want to see “the calling of the cross” …

 

1 Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:

 

God does call some worldly wise men, but only after they “become as fools” and denounce all their worldly wisdom as utter foolishness.

 

God does call some mighty men after the flesh, who are mighty in this world's power, but not until they are brought to see just how weak and helpless and miserable they are in God's eyes.

 

And God does call some noble people of high birth and high positions in society, but not until they are brought to see that they were born dead in trespasses and sins and were the children of wrath even as others!

 

But you see your calling…

 

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

 

God hath chosen the foolish things…

People who are unlearned and ignorant by this world's standards - you know, like People and most of the other apostles.

 

…and the weak things… 

People who have no strength to help themselves out of their circumstances of life, whether physically or spiritually.

 

…and the base things… 

People of common or poor birth. The “nobodies” in this life, without hope of advancement out of their lowly state.

 

…and the despised things…

People who are despised by the high and mighty of the world. People who are poor and diseased, and handicapped, and sinners, and considered to be the offscouring of the world.

 

…and the things which are not… 

Possibly the Gentiles, who the Jews considered to be nothing, especially concerning the things of God!

 

Yes, beloved, those who are “the called” see our calling! How that God called us by His marvelous grace. Those who were foolish, weak, base, despised, and worthless sinners, God has called to hear and believe the gospel of Jesus and be eternally saved!

 

 

3. Thirdly, and finally, we see the glory of the cross…

 

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

The reason why God chose to call and save those whom He did, is so that no flesh should glory in His presence!

 

But of Him are you in Christ Jesus… 

 

Salvation is all of God’s grace and not because of what we are, or what we can do to obtain it. Christ is made unto us everything we need for salvation complete… wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption!

 

To the intent that “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”!

 

 

Conclusion… 

 

So we've seen the preaching of the cross, which is the gospel message of Jesus and His death on the cross for sinners. Do you believe it?

 

We saw our calling as helpless needy sinners who have been brought to see our need for Jesus, and brought to believe in Him as our Lord and Saviour.

 

And finally we saw the glory of the cross. That we have nothing to glory, boast, or brag about except the cross of Jesus, who saved us from our sins with His own blood!

 

The apostle Paul was a wise man and a nobleman, a mighty man after the flesh, but God brought him down off his high horse to see just what he really was in the eyes of God! Notice what Paul had to say concerning his bragging rights…

 

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.