1. PAUL’S DECLARATION
He came declaring the mystery of God. The word testimony means mystery. Now, what does he mean by a mystery? We will see this word again in this letter. A mystery means “something that had not been revealed before.”
The mystery of God which Paul preached was that Jesus Christ had been crucified on the cross at Calvary, buried in a borrowed tomb, and rose again to life on Sunday. That had not been preached before but now had been revealed. In the OT the crucifixion of Christ was revealed in type and in prophecy only. The actual event was something new, something not previously revealed. Notice it again in:
1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
A. The Way of Paul’s Declaration
Paul did not declare the wisdom of the world! The Greeks were all about hearing some new human idea or new human philosophy or human wisdom. ILLUST. Flat earth society! Some people think the world is flat. Can you believe that?
Paul’s declaration, his way of preaching, was nothing like that!
Paul did not get into philosophical discussions that promoted arguing and contention. He simply declared, he preached the Cross of Jesus Christ. He preached a crucified Savior, One who had died for the sins of the world. Paul preached a Savior Who was buried in Joseph’s tomb, but He rose victoriously on Resurrection Sunday! And I can tell you that we need a whole lot more of that kind of preaching ministry today!
Paul lets us see his heart in this passage. He makes it clear that while he was with the Corinthians, he was greatly troubled. He was “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” Is it any wonder why he might say in chapter 1 that God had chosen the weak things of this world? Paul had no exalted idea of himself that he was some great mind! Although Paul had a great mind and he was a great intellect and a great man in many ways. But Paul never thought of himself as great. In fact, look at what he says about himself in 1 Timothy:
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Paul saw himself as the worst of the worst! He was a sinner and yet Jesus had saved him! And, the truth is, that is way each one of us should see ourselves! Look at the next verse:
1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Jesus saved Paul to show the world that Paul was God’s pattern for mercy, longsuffering, and grace! Paul is great proof that God can and will save anybody who repents and believes in Jesus Christ.
Folks, the answer to the world’s problems today is Jesus Christ and Him crucified! If Vladimir Putin would accept the declaration of the Cross of Jesus Christ, he wouldn’t be invading Ukraine! If Joe Biden would accept the declaration of the Cross, he would have a lot better advisor than that of Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer.
B. The Wisdom of Paul’s Declaration
The way Paul preached was that he declared the cross of Jesus Christ! It was not in the wisdom of this world with its flowery talk, feel good notions, or human philosophy.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;
Consequently, God wants us to know His wisdom through His word! Notice Paul’s instruction to the Colosse believers:
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
2. PAUL’S DETERMINATION
I want you to notice Paul’s determination. Look at verse 2:
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
A. Paul’s Experience
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
Why is this so important? Why does Paul say he that he was “determined” to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? Well, I want you to notice what happened to Paul:
Acts 9:1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
So, Paul is blinded by the light of God from heaven, but God certainly has Saul’s attention. But aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t leave us in the dark? You may have questions about life in general. You may wonder about your purpose in life. You may, like Saul, stand guilty in your trespasses and sins. But God didn’t leave him in the dark! God opened his eyes…both his spiritual eyes and his physical ones! Look at:
Acts 9:10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
That day on the road to Damascus forever changed Saul! By the way, the name Saul means “asked for or inquired of God.” I believe this has reference to Israel asking God for a king. Rather than following God alone, God gave them what they asked for, King Saul. King Saul disobeyed the commandment of God and lost his kingdom, his children and his own life.
It is likely that Paul was named after Saul. However, God changed his name to Paul. Paul means little or humble. All his life, from the Damascus Road experience until the end of his life, Paul humbly and powerfully preached the cross of Jesus!
B. Paul’s Exception
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
The exception about Paul’s boasting was that if there was any bragging going on, it was going to be about the cross of Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
Paul is saying, I have nothing to brag about. I come to you in weakness and fear. Notice his words in a letter to the church at Philippi:
Philippians 3:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
3. PAUL’S DEMONSTRATION
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
A. Not Convincing Words
The preaching of the cross is not just that Paul was a better debater than the Greek philosophers of his day. His words were not just convincing rhetoric. Not at all!
Charles Spurgeon said: “The power that is in the Gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher, otherwise men would be the converters of souls, nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning, otherwise it would consist in the wisdom of men. We might preach until our tongues rotted, till we would exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit be with the Word of God to give it the power to convert the soul.
John MacArthur wrote, “If the Corinthians had come to have faith in the wisdom of men, even in Paul’s wisdom, they might have changed intellectually, but they would not have changed spiritually. They would still have been spiritually dead, and Paul would not have been able to write to them as saints and brothers. He had not come with his own message but had come simply as a channel of God’s message. Only the message of God brings with it the power of God. The church should not have divisions based on philosophy any more than it should have divisions based on individuals. We are to be united around God’s wisdom, not human wisdom. We are one in Jesus Christ and should be one in His Word and power, and in the fellowship of those who are His.”
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1984). 1 Corinthians (p. 57). Moody Press.
B. Convicting Words
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
There are two responses to the convicting words of the preaching of the cross of Jesus. Notice the first response to Peter’s words on the day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
1) The Response of Convicting Fear
And Stephen’s words were convicting words as well, however the crowds’ response was fury! Look at it in:
Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” 54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
2) The Response of Convicting Fury
The crowd that heard Stephen got so angry that they picked up rocks and through them at him until he died. Ladies and gentlemen, sometimes it costs to live for Jesus! The preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ cost Stephen his life and eventually Paul’s life too!
1 Cor. 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
