“WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED” (Outline)
March 13, 2011 - Lent 1 - 1 CORINTHIANS 1:21-25
INTRO: The cross of Christ is central to Christianity. Sadly, today some arrogantly declare the cross of Christ to be “too controversial”. No cross means no sacrifice. No sacrifice for sins means no forgiveness. Without forgiveness there is no eternal life. How very, very sad this is in the religious freedom in our country. To take the cross out of the church is to take Christ out of Christianity. Once again we gather around the very rock of our faith – Jesus and his cross. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (HEBREWS 12:2). The words of Paul in our text serve as our theme:
“WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED”:
I. The wisdom of God. II. The power of God.
I. “WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED” = THE WISDOM OF GOD
A. Verse 21. There is to be no mistake about the wisdom or intelligence of mankind.
1. Man’s wisdom does not save. Man’s wisdom cannot save. Man’s wisdom often changes.
a. Earth as center of universe changed. b. Sun as center changed. c. Man is now the “center”.
2. The mind of mortal man cannot fully comprehend divine immortality without God’s Spirit.
B. Verses 22b, 23. “Christ crucified” is the simple, profound truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1. “Christ crucified” is the wisdom of God that the unbelieving world needs to hear.
2. Verse 23. God’s message of wisdom seems to be foolishness to unbelievers (Greeks, Gentiles).
C. Verse 24. “Christ crucified” is the wisdom of God for everyone called out of darkness into light.
1. Again, there is to be no mistake. Where the wisdom of man fails, God’s wisdom endures.
2. Verse 25. God’s “foolishness” is wiser than all the wisdom of mankind. God’s wisdom saves.
D. What foolishness we endure when we place too much confidence in our own wisdom. Contrary to the popular teaching of today man does not have all the answers. The more we examine the intricate details of the wonders of life the more we realize how little we understand. Then there is faith. Who can completely explain God’s gift of faith? When does faith begin? "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (JOHN 3:8). Like the wind where does faith begin? The Scriptures declared that faith is firmly planted in hearts at baptism. By the washing of water with God’s word the unbeliever is snatched from Satan’s grasp by the grace of God. What a wondrous miracle to be blessed with faith.
E. An age-old question to consider is why some and not others? Many wonder why all of mankind is not saved? God does want all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Eternal salvation is so very important that God places all the responsibility of saving souls squarely on his shoulders. Eternal damnation is the only thing that is man’s responsibility. From the beginning man makes the wrong choice. Adam and Eve chose to eat and sin. They disobeyed God’s desire. From that time forward mankind makes the wrong choices. "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (EPHESIANS 4:18).
F. It is only by God’s free gift of grace that we are saved. In his wisdom God did not destroy the perfect world after Adam and Eve contaminated it with sin. The world might think this is foolishness. Even at the flood God spared eight believers from destruction. Mankind would have destroyed everything and everyone out of vengeance. God’s wisdom provided a new beginning. The world was once again populated only by believers. "Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them" (HOSEA 14:9). This verse sums up God’s love for the penitent. Believers value God’s forgiveness. The world sees repentance as foolish. It means admitting wrongdoing. Believers see sin, repent, are forgiven.
“WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED”.
The cross of Christ is the very wisdom of God for our world.
II. “WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED” = THE POWER OF GOD
A. The apostle Paul first made his appeal to the wisdom of the people in Corinth.
1. Corinth was filled with those who valued wisdom and considered themselves to be wise.
2. Paul wanted their attention. They would now hear about the power of this wise God.
B. Verse 21b. The “foolishness of preaching” now takes on a much deeper meaning.
1. Verses 22a, 23a. Jews wanted those signs that would prove Jesus to be the Son of God.
2. Jesus miracles were the signs that proved his divinity. These signs also caused problems.
3. The church leaders condemned Jesus because of the many miraculous signs he did.
C. Verse 23. Jesus became a stumbling block to some of the Jews. They wanted to do their sacrifices.
1. This stumbling block was not a small stone. It was a big block that could and would crush.
2. Verse 25. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate strength of God in paying for sins.
D. The cross of Christ is the means which God used to pay for our sins. On our own and by ourselves we cannot never, ever pay for even one single sin. There is not enough money. There are not enough good works or prayers to make amends for all the sinful thoughts, words, and deeds that scar our daily lives. Truly, we are absolutely powerless to save ourselves. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly" (ROMANS 5:6). “We preach Christ crucified.” Yes, we are the ungodly. Our acts of wickedness, rebellion, and sin are defiant deeds of unbelief. Christ forgives.
E. Can there really be strength in weakness? People look at the cross of Christ and see an instrument of torture and death. Death seems to be the weakest moment in any person’s life. It would seem no different in the life of Jesus, God’s Son. How weak is such a Savior who cannot even avoid death? In that seeming moment of weakness the very strength of God is fully revealed. The voice of God in glory is heard in the words of Jesus on the cross: “It is finished.” The priced has been paid once and for all. The sins of the world are forgiven. "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spec-tacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (COLOSSIANS 2:15). Even the centurion confessed at the foot of the cross. Jesus nailed the law and its effects to the cross. Jesus death becomes our eternal life.
F. Still today one sees and hears the strength and power of God in those things the world calls weak. Small children believe. A child-like faith is faith that completely trusts and believes with question. Jesus quotes the following verse to remind believers that faith begins very early on in life. Theirs is a saving, powerful faith. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger"(PSALM 8:2). Before being able to read small children sing with faith, “Jesus, loves me this I know…” The devil is silenced. Hearing God’s word small children proclaim the birth of Christ with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest…” Satan falls silent.
CONC: Man’s arrogance is trying to remove the cross from places of worship. How absurd. It is that very cross of Christ that is to be the only foundation of a true Christian church. The cross of Christ is the very heart and soul of each and every true believer. Without the cross of Christ we would be lost and condemned creatures forever. On the cross Christ died. After the cross Jesus rose again. "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (GALATIANS 6:14). “WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED” This is the wisdom of God for us and for our salvation. This is the power of God for us and our salvation. The cross of Christ is the wise and powerful message for us for our world -- forever! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
LENT 1 rdgs.:
GEN. 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:1-7;
ROMANS 5:12-19;
MATTHEW 4:1-11;
(PSALM 130)
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