Cornerstone Church November 5, 2006
THE CROSS – OUR STATUS SYMBOL
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
“There is a moving story of Steinberg and a gypsy girl. Struck with her beauty, Steinberg took her to his studio and frequently had her sit for him. At that time he was working on his masterpiece ‘Christ on the Cross.’ The girl used to watch him work on this painting. One day she said to him, ‘He must have been a very wicked man to be nailed to a cross like that.’ ‘No,’ said the painter. ‘On the contrary, he was a very good man. The best man that ever lived. He died for others.’ The little girl looked up at him and asked, ‘Did He die for you?’ Steinberg was not a Christian, but the gypsy girl’s question touched his heart and awakened his conscience, and he became a believer in Him whose dying passion he had so well portrayed. Years afterward a young Count chanced to go into the gallery at Dresden where Steinberg’s painting of ‘Christ on the Cross’ was on exhibition. The painting spoke so powerfully to him that it changed the whole tenor of his life. He was Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf, founder of the Moravian Brethren.”
– Clarence Macartney, Preaching without Notes
Are you still awed by the Cross of Christ?
Do you find hope in the simplicity and power of it’s message?
Do you love the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross to redeem you?
Do you believe that the message of the Cross is the true answer to mankind’s greatest need?
WHY WOULD I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS?
The message of the Cross of Christ alone has the power to transform lives.
Not human wisdom.
Not human strength.
Not human resources.
Christ!
“A status symbol is something, usually an expensive
or rare object, that indicates a high social status
for its owner.”
Wikipedia
We live in a world of Status Seekers and Status Symbols.
Status Symbols of Western Society
The trophy wife
A large, expensive house
Expensive luxury cars, yachts, or aircraft
Fine clothes
A marketable degree from a prestigious university, especially the Ivy League (USA)
Expensive jewelry
Expensive gadgets
Vacation homes
Vineyards
We look up to the popular and powerful.
Celebrities
Sports Figures
Models
Singers
Breakups, babies and betrayals monopolized the headlines nearly eclipsing the careers of actors such as Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie (who, in a future twist of tabloid fate, tie for 35th on our annual list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Celebrities.) But generating headlines isn’t enough to solidify your standing in Hollywood. A fat paycheck won’t do it, either. Only a combination of earnings and sizzle will land a celebrity a coveted spot on our Celebrity 100. To generate the list, we used a combination of factors including income, Web references, press clips, TV/radio mentions and the number of times a celebrity’s face has appeared on the cover of 26 major consumer magazines.
Celebrity 100
The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities
Edited by Lea Goldman and Kiri Blakeley 06.16.06, 6:00 PM ET
Forbes.com
Sadly, we allow these individuals and objects to set our values or establish our happiness and joy in this world.
As Christians our being enamored with the world is clouding our vision of the church. This is led us to accept false views of “Success.”
Example: Today Size Matters
Spiritual Health use to be gauged by: changed lives or how many people came to prayer meeting.
The Corinthians believers were loosing their focus on the cross.
They had forgotten the message of the Cross.
The had forgotten the grace they had received from God.
The wisdom of the world was affecting their fellowship. Just as the society around them was divided up into various sects (at least fifty different philosophical views at that time) so was the church beginning to follow in the same manner.
1 Cor. 1:12 NIV What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Worldly wisdom seems to have captivated their attention.
Their quest for status with the world created divisions, factions and schisms.
James 4:1-5 speaks of this same issue. Quarrels and fighting come from our own lust and want for more: more money, more popularity, more power, more...more and still more.
Today we would call this Modernism:
Modernism is where we try to synthesis or conform traditional beliefs with modern and contemporary philosophy, culture, ideas and practices.
An easy illustration might be the rise of the “user-friendly” church in America. It should go without saying that we should not be a deliberate offense to an unbeliever. They might be offend by the message preached but should not be offend by us looking down on them. There is a difference!
In trying to become “relevant” the user-friendly church has sought to bring in the masses by preaching “How to” messages that lure the world into the church. Instead of the church being the place where people are set free from sin it is a place where you can be put back together through a mixture of the Bible and psychology.
Paul begins now to really get the Corinthians to focus on the problem. He wants to dismantle their false views to get them back on track. He starts a thought in:
1 Cor. 1:17 NIV For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
This thought continues with an explanation from: 1Cor. 1:18 – 1Cor. 2:5. The discussion is about the wisdom of God (which the world thinks is foolishness) as opposed to the wisdom of man.
OUTLINE:
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS IS WISER THAN MAN’S WISDOM (1 Cor. 1:18-25)
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS CALLS THE MOST UNLIKELY CANDIDATES (1 Cor. 1:26-29)
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS CALLS US TO BOAST IN THE LORD (1 Cor. 1:30-31)
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS IS WISER
THAN MAN’S WISDOM
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Cor. 1:18 NIV
“...the message of the cross...”
CROSS
Crosses have been glamorized through jewelry in our day and age. We must remember that they were an instrument of death. They were a means for capital punishment. So hideous was this means of death that Roman citizens were exempt from being put to death by crucifixion.
Perhaps this will help our understanding. An electric chair or maybe hangman’s noose in our day conjures up the same thoughts. Think about putting a miniature electric chair around your neck as jewelry. We could place an electric chair where our steeple is or up front here where the cross is hanging.
WHAT IS THE WORD OF THE CROSS?
The proclamation of the gospel. Our faith has historic authenticity. The Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ all occurred. They really happened. They can be verified by history and through similar methods which we apply to other historical figures.
1 Cor. 15:3-5 NIV For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
IN HEARING THAT MESSAGE THERE CAN BE ONLY TWO OUTCOMES:
“…the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing”
“…but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
There is no other outcome. Their is no other state. It is either Eternal Life or Eternal Death.
“…the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing”
Foolishness = moronic
The unbeliever is on a downward spiral towards eternal death and the very message that can save them they consider moronic! How sad!
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
1 Corinthians 1:19 NIV
GOD’S WAYS MAN’S WAYS
They seem foolish at times They seem wise at times
to the world but they are not. but are foolish.
Mankind has had this problem ever since the garden. Simple faith and trust in God’s way or the opposite trusting in man’s understanding.
CAIN AND ABEL
Cain – Man’s wisdom (offered his own choice to God)
Abel – God’s wisdom (offered what God wanted)
Gen. 4:3-5 NIV In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
MOSES AND AARON WITH PHARAOH
These peasant Hebrews walk into the court of one of the highest rulers in the ancient world and tell him to Let God’s people go. Next time they go with a rod/staff. Pharaoh with all his armies, chariots, spears and swords eventually lets them go.
BLOOD ON THE LINTEL AND THE TWO DOORPOSTS (Exodus 12)
The destroyer spared those who complied with God’s directions.
LIFTING UP THE SERPENT
Num. 21:8-9 NIV The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
WALLS OF JERICHO
Josh. 6:3-5 NIV March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.”
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
1 Cor. 1:19 NIV
This is a quote from Isaiah 29:14. It took place when Sennacherib king of Assyria surrounded Judah to overthrow the land. God silenced Sennacherib’s boasting by having an angel kill 185,000 of his army over night (Isaiah 37).
1 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scholar?
Where is the philosopher of this age?
this age (aion) – This age compared to the age to come
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
the world (kosmos) – this world compared to the world to come
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 NIV
It appears that the world wants to pack it’s own parachute when it comes to salvation.
We’ll find our own way, thank you!
Over the years those of the world have tried many ways to improve the world. We can even say that they are sincere in their desire.
Secularism Pundits
Relativism Politicians
Modernism Sociologists
Humanism Economists
Communism Politicians
Socialism The Media Elite
Are we any closer at eliminating: racism, poverty, crime, teenage pregnancy, divorce, alcoholism and drug addiction?
We have more means to help people – but are not less selfish
We have high speed communications – but do not understand each other any better
We have more education and psychology – but still have crimes and war
We have grown so smart that we do not even know what “is” means any more!
“All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,
All our ignorance brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death, no nearer to God.
Where is the life we have lost in living?
T. S. Eliot, lines 11-14, From Choruses from The Rock, 1934
Try as they may the world cannot answer the following questions:
Why are we here?
What is the purpose of life?
Where does an individual go when they die?
The world’s wisdom can help me live longer (perhaps), run faster, jump father. Technology can even help our computers to run faster and better all the time (especially Mac owners).
“God’s creative ability is left all over His creation and in man who is made in His image. Man’s perverted mind and reasoning twists everything until God is no longer clearly seen.”
Man in his wisdom is found foolish because he misses God and life eternal. The ones who seem foolish, however, hear God’s call.
God was pleased through the foolishness
of what was preached to save those who believe.
1 Cor. 21b NIV
Look at 1 Corinthians 1:22 NIV
“Jews demand miraculous signs…”
These are the empirical group. They want to see a manifestation of God before they will believe. From the beginning God has furnished them with signs: Crossing the Red Sea, Manna in the Wilderness, the walls of Jericho, and other miraculous deliverances.
“…and Greeks look for wisdom;”
These are the Rationalists of the group. These want to reason their way to God. They can reason looking at creation that there must be a God but they cannot discover anything about Him through their reasoning process.
1 Corinthians 1:23 NIV
“…but we preach Christ crucified…”
“…a stumbling block to Jews”
stumbling block = scandalous – (something that trips people up) the trigger part of a trap where the bait is placed.
“…and foolishness to Gentiles”
“…but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness
of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God
is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:24-25 NIV
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS CALLS
THE MOST UNLIKELY CANDIDATES
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Paul now gets the Corinthians to think about the state they were in when they were called by God out of darkness into the light.
Brothers, think of what you were
when you were called.
CONSIDER (imperative/indicative) = Contemplate
“that it is somewhat obvious to the person who will pause long enough to look into the situation.”
CALLING = The effectual call of God that results in salvation.
“It speaks of the divine Greatness and force of the call and not the human acceptance or rejection.”
“The called ones are those who have received the Divine call having conformed to God’s saving purpose.”
LOOK WHO GOD CALLED:
…Not many of you were wise by human standards;
…not many were influential;
…not many were of noble birth.
PAUL GOES ON WITH HIS ARGUMENT:
But God chose the foolish things of the world
to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world
to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV
He chose the lowly things of this world
and the despised things
1 Cor. 1:28a NIV
Despised = “those considered as nothing” nobodies
“…and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
so that no one may boast before him.”
1 Cor. 1:28b-29
WHAT A GREAT GOD!!!
Paul’s teaching is consistent with what Jesus taught in a parable:
Luke 14:16-24 NIV Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”
GOD’S FOOLISHNESS CALLS
US TO BOAST IN THE LORD
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Jesus in the No-Spin Zone
“From conception to the grave the controversial Jesus scandalized people, and thinking human beings will continue to be affronted by His radical, divisive mission, which climaxed in His death on the cross… and which mandates from us a decision, whether of faith or cynicism. PC, anaesthetized readings of the Christmas story are just damnable, despicable distortions of God’s most significant intervention in human history.
This Christmas let us not insult the Christ child by attempting to tame Him for our causes, recruit Him for our campaigns, or use Him to promote a flaky PC agenda. Don’t get me wrong: the infant of the Nativity scene does indeed come as a message of love, peace and goodwill from God, but only on His terms, which subvert human logic and transcend political spin. I do not know about you, but I find the Nativity to be one of the most delightfully subversive, refreshingly offensive, and shockingly scandalous events in all of human history.”
Colin Nichol “The Nativity Is a Scandal and Should Remain One.” The Times, 24 December 2001
THE CROSS IS OUR STATUS SYMBOL!
The Church is Impotent without the Cross of Christ preached!
No amount of viagra will help us!
