June 21, 2009—Father’s Day Pastor David KingPart 5—The Foolishness of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18-33First Corinthians…Sinners Yet Saints

The deepest thirst of the human soul is for God. To try to satisfy it with mere things or sensations is like trying to comfort the motherless child with a beautiful doll (The beautiful doll may divert the little one for awhile, but in the night you will hear her sobbing for her mother) The world is full of orphan souls that are crying in the night. In the face of it all, how utterly heart-sickening to witness the effort of some pulpits to offer sensational toys to attract and soothe dying men.

R. S. Tuttle

In this section Paul emphasizes that salvation is in Christ and not in the wisdom of men. Because Christ, the power and wisdom of God, is the source of men’s salvation, men have no basis for boasting.Six Triads in this passage:#1—Wise, Scribe, Disputer#2—Jews/sign, greek/wisdom, believe/Christ crucified#3—Jews/stumbling block-scandal, Greeks/foolishness, believe/wisdom & Power of God#4—not many wise/intellectual, mighty/political, noble/social#5—weak/slaves, base/slaves, non existent/below slaves#6—righteousness, sanctification, redemption

1 Corinthians 1:18-31, " 18For the message (λόγος) of the cross (σταυρός ) is foolishness (μωρία ) to those who are perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι, Present Tense), but to us who are being saved (σῴζω, Passive) it is the power (δύναμις ) of God. 19For it is written: (Isa. 29:14) “I will destroy (perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι)-- the wisdom(σοφία ) of the wise (σοφός), And bring to nothing the understanding (σύνεσις) of the prudent.” 20Where is the wise (Greek philosopher)? Where is the scribe (grammateus, “teacher of the law)? Where is the disputer (the man who wanted to dispcute every issue and solve it by human reason. Could fit both jews and Greeks) of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached (kerygma, the preached message) to save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified (estauromenon, the perfect tense form of the participle conveys the reality that the crucifixion of Christ although past has continuing effects!), to the

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Jews a stumbling block (scandalon, an offense, English-Scandal) and to the Greeks foolishness, 24but to those who are called (kletous), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise (Sophia, emphasis on the greek intellectual) according to the flesh, not many mighty (dunatoi, influential, politically powerful), not many noble (Eugeneis, noble birth), are called.(In these three terms Paul makes a clean sweep of what people count intellectually, politically and socially important) 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things (agene, “low born” slave class) of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things (ta exouthenemen, “the despised”, slave class) of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not (ta me onta, “the non-existent” those that are not even recognized by the world as being anything), to bring to nothing the things that are, 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”"

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS IS . . .

1) THE REBUTTAL TO HUMAN WISDOMTo the Greek mindset a person who dies a criminal’s death on a cross has no moral philosophical standard for providing salvation. In fact, death on the cross to a Greek and Roman was reserved for the lowest of criminals and it was foolishness to think that a crucified person could qualify as a Savior!

ILLUSTRATION: How do we battle the wisdom of this world? How do we battle the intellectual? The reality is this, we battle the wise of this world with the simple and true message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In this last presidential cycle one of the individuals running for office was criticized, mocked and made out to be ignorant because of her belief that the world was not millions of years old.

May I suggest that if you choose to preach Christ crucified you will come across many who are not called that will see your message as narrow-minded, unintelligent and foolish. You may remember Minnesota’s former governor, Jesse Ventura, and his comment that religion is a crutch for the weak minded!

The cross is foolishness to the unregenerated!

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2) THE STUMBLING BLOCK OF RELIGIOUS RITUALTo the Jews they were looking for a King who would overthrow Rome and rule.

Thus Jesus Christ’s reception by the masses during His triumphal entry. Thus the confusion of the disciples when Jesus died on a cross. Thus the rejection of Jesus’ followers after His death and resurrection. A King who is crucified is a stumbling block to the Jewish mind.

After 2,000 years some things have not changed at all. We are still living in a world that is trying to find peace with God through man-made effort and systems instead of simply accepting God at His Word. Are nation is full of people who try to make God into their own image instead of coming to God on His terms and understanding Him by his revelation of Himself.

The Cross is an offense to those who believe they have something good in themselves to offer a Holy God.

3) THE POWER OF GODRomans 1:16-17, " 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”"The Power to…Forgive SinReconcile MankindBring PeaceSecure AdoptionSecure Eternal InheritanceMake a completely wicked and corrupt human acceptable to a perfect and

Holy God.Ephesians 1:3-7, " 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace"

4) THE WISDOM OF GODMan’s Wisdom says that we should pay for our own sins through our own

righteousnessMan’s Wisdom says that we should pay for our own sins through acts of

serviceMan’s Wisdom says that we should pay for our own sins through religion

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Man’s Wisdom elevates Man’s Ability and does not acknowledge our human bankruptness.

God’s Wisdom says that mankind is morally bankrupt so God, himself, will Pay the Penalty for Sin So That He will be further glorified and mankind will be forever purified.

READ 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, “29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”"GOD’S GLORY IS THE CENTERPIECE OF SALVATION! YOU WERE CHOSEN TO SALVATION BECAUSE GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED. PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE AND INDESCRIBABLY GIFT OF SALVATION WHICH WAS PURCHASED THROUGH THE DEATH OF GOD THE SON!

5) THE ANSWER TO HUMAN NEEDMan’s greatest need is Christ!The Greeks were seeking after Wisdom and thus rejected the simplicity and glory of Jesus Christ crucified and risen againThe Jews were seeking after a military ruler and thus rejected the Lamb of God who gave His life as payment for sin.I do not know what you are seeking after this morning, but I can assure you that the only thing that will ever satisfy the human soul and its need is Jesus Christ.

Let Me direct your attention to where we started this morning in 1 Corinthians 1:18; This verse lays out two different people of which all of us identify this morning with one or the other. We are either perishing or being saved.

perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι)—Present Tense--destroy, ruin, cause destruction, cease to exist implying by violent means, to be lost in a spiritual sense. Cf. Luke 15:4, 8-lost sheep; lost coin; Mt. 10:39; Jn. 12:25—lose one’s life will gain it; Hebrews 1:11 “They will perish, but Your remain…”

being saved (σῴζω)—Present, Passive—This affirms that salvation is a continuing process and it also affirms that it is God’s work because it is passive.

What group do you identify with this morning?The bible plainly says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The bible clearly explains that no man comes to Father but through

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Jesus Christ. This morning if your eyes have been opened to your need for salvation, I urge you this morning to repent of your sins and be reconciled to God by placing your trust in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for your sins. Don’t leave here perishing, but rather, leave her being saved from your sins and eternal damnation.

Let me read for you a couple passages from the gospels in conclusion. John 4:10-14, "10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”"Matthew 13:44-46, " 44“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."What is the living water that Jesus offered?What is the treasure that is worth selling all to possess?What is the pearl of great price?The answer…SALVATION, ETERNAL LIFE! How does one attain to salvation and eternal life? Through faith believing the foolish message of the cross. The message that sinners must accept by faith that their sin is paid in full through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ who died in their place.

Paul had preached to Jews and Gentiles across the Roman world. He knew that the Jews looked for miraculous signs and the Greeks looked for philosophical wisdom. But God bypassed both ways to make salvation available through a crucified Christ. This message about a crucified Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews, whose idea of the Messiah was far different; it was foolishness to the Greeks because it seemed contrary to their philosophical systems. But Paul saw that this “foolish Gospel” was God’s power and wisdom to those Jews and Greeks who were called. Christ is our wisdom and power; He is all we need.

Warren Wiersbe

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1 Corinthians 1:18-31, " 18For the message (λόγος) of the cross (σταυρός ) is foolishness (μωρία ) to those who are perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι), but to us who are being saved (σῴζω) it is the power (δύναμις ) of God. 19For it is written: (Isa. 29:14) “I will destroy (perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι)-- the wisdom(σοφία ) of the wise (σοφός), And bring to nothing the understanding (σύνεσις) of the prudent.” 20Where is the wise (Greek philosopher)? Where is the scribe (grammateus, “teacher of the law)? Where is the disputer (the man who wanted to dispcute every issue and solve it by human reason. Could fit both jews and Greeks) of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached (kerygma, the preached message) to save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified (estauromenon, the perfect tense form of the participle conveys the reality that the crucifixion of Christ although past has continuing effects!), to the Jews a stumbling block (scandalon, an offense, English-Scandal) and to the Greeks foolishness, 24but to those who are called (kletous), both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise (Sophia, emphasis on the greek intellectual) according to the flesh, not many mighty (dunatoi, influential, politically powerful), not many noble (Eugeneis, noble birth), are called.(In these three terms Paul makes a clean sweep of what people count intellectually, politically and socially important) 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things (agene, “low born” slave class) of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things (ta exouthenemen, “the despised”, slave class) of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not (ta me onta, “the non-existent” those that are not even recognized by the world as being anything), to bring to nothing the things that are, 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”"

message (λόγος) cross (σταυρός )--foolishness (μωρία )—cf. 1 Cor. 1:18, 21, 23; 2:14; 3:19—moros; connected

with the English word moron and it is used 5 times in the Bible all by Paul in 1 Corinithians.

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perishing (ἀπόλλυμαι)—Present Tense--destroy, ruin, cause destruction, cease to exist implying by violent means, to be lost in a spiritual sense. Cf. Luke 15:4, 8-lost sheep; lost coin; Mt. 10:39; Jn. 12:25—lose one’s life will gain it; Hebrews 1:11 “They will perish, but Your remain…”622 ἀπόλλυμι [apollumi /ap·ol·loo·mee/] v. From 575 and the base of 3639; TDNT 1:394; TDNTA 67; GK 660; 92 occurrences; AV translates as “perish” 33 times, “destroy” 26 times, “lose” 22 times, “be lost” five times, “lost” four times, and translated miscellaneously twice. 1 to destroy. 1A to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin. 1B render useless. 1C to kill. 1D to declare that one must be put to death. 1E metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell. 1F to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed. 2 to destroy. 2A to lose.

being saved (σῴζω)—Present, Passive—This affirms that salvation is a continuing process and it also affirms that it is God’s work because it is passive.power (δύναμις )—power cf. Romans 1:18wisdom(σοφία )—wisdom, intellect; cf. Romans 1:14understanding (σύνεσις)—what is understood, insight, understanding. Cf. 2 Tim. 2:7; Mark 12:33

20. Scribe (γραμματεύς). Always in the New Testament in the Jewish sense, an interpreter of the law, except Acts 19:35, the town-clerk.

Disputer (συζητητὴς). Only here. Compare the kindred verb συζητέω to question with, Mark 1:27; Luke 22:23; Acts 6:9; and συζήτησις disputation, Acts 15:2, 7. Referring to Grecian sophistical reasoners, while scribe refers to rabbinical hair-splitters.

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