August 17, 2003
Morning Worship
Text: I Corinthians 2:1-5
Subject: The Pure Gospel
Title: What You See Is What You Get
I went to school with a preacher’s son in Troy who was the radical leader in our school back in the late sixties. He was a charismatic sort who could talk his way into and out of any situation. He firmly believed in the radical social changes that were taking place back then and had convinced some of us to jump on his bandwagon. The way he did it was to just speak words of wisdom that to our young impressionable minds seemed to make perfect sense. It is very much like the car salesman who knows just the right words to say and the right technique to use in order to persuade someone to buy a car from him. By the time he is done talking, you would be a fool not to buy. There are people out there who just have a knack for speech.
Back in 1887, someone was convincing enough to persuade government officials to dig up Abraham Lincoln’s coffin. Though it had lain there for 22 years, they dug it up and pried it open and sure enough, the body of the former president was there. Even more amazing than that is the fact that 14 years later another rumor began to circulate that the body was not there. This rumor became so persuasive that as it swept the land the only way to stop it was to once again dig up the coffin and allow a handful of witnesses to view – yes, you guessed it – the body of a dead president.
Today we are going to look at the apostle Paul. He knew about the power of persuasive speech. He grew up in Tarsus. The philosopher Strabo preferred Tarsus to the Greek learning centers of Athens or Alexandria. Paul’s secular upbringing, then, was in a place where he would know how to use words to get his point across. He even quotes Greek poets in his writings. (Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12, 1 Corinthians 15:33). Most of these Greek philosophers though were like today’s scientists. They had theories and used as much persuasive communication as they could to convince others to believe them.
Paul was a learned man, both in the secular and religious worlds. For him to cast aside the best of both worlds and go out preaching the gospel indicates to us just how real he considered the truth of Christ to be. Yet, he chose not to use philosophic or religious words to convince.
Today we will see that Paul had motive behind the way he spoke.
First, he spoke to impress. Second, he sought to regress. Third, he reached the height of progress.
I. Speaking to impress. (verse 1)
A. Paul was just an awesome guy. As I said before, he grew up learning philosophy. To the Greek/Roman society education meant everything, and being able to speak properly and convincingly was a great tool. Yet he tells the church in Corinth, “I did not come with excellence of speech”. Immediately before he had come to Corinth, Paul had seen great success. Wherever he went people were saved and opposition arose. Then we see in Acts 17:16-34 while in Athens, Paul came up against philosophers. Knowing that they were not religious, he began to speak to them logically in order to convince them to accept the One True God. This logic, mingled with the gospel truth, had little success in Athens. When he came to Corinth, he had made up his mind not to go there as a philosopher or a salesman but as a witness. Why would Paul need to speak eloquently? In Galatians 1:11-12 he says, “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received if from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
B. Paul didn’t come in wisdom. In 1:20-21 he asks, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” 2:6,7 “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.” Do you know what happens if you convince someone of the gospel using worldly wisdom? That same worldly wisdom can convince them that the gospel isn’t true. Jesus Himself said that false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect and Paul wrote to Timothy, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4) The things that look and sound good to the world is not godly wisdom.
C. Paul isn’t trying to impress anyone. His goal is to come and declare the “testimony of God”. In the original Greek, “declaring the testimony of God” would indicate that Paul desires to be a messenger of a more excellent or exceeding way that is beyond measure (declaring) showing evidence (testimony) of God. Paul doesn’t want to impress people. He wants to express God’s goodness through the foolishness of the cross. 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God.
II. Seeking to regress.
A. Go back to the cross. You know as Christians we study more and watch Christian broadcasting. We hear so much about how God wants to bless us. We hear preachers preaching about the end times that seem to be on our doorstep. Paul says that He specifically made an effort not to know anything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. There were people who followed in the shadow of Paul’s ministry – so-called evangelists – who were pretty high on themselves. Look at how Paul describes his ministry in comparison with those who called themselves “super apostles”. 2 Corinthians 9:12-18, “For we did not dare class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will to boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere, which God appointed us – a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment. But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” Paul was not commended by God because he was a great theologian – but he was. He wasn’t approved because he had a great healing ministry – but he did. He was approved because he preached the cross of Christ. All of our smooth talking will not save people – but the cross of Calvary paved the way for salvation. When we begin to think that we really have something here, instead of exulting in ourselves, let’s go back to the cross.
B. We need to remember our weaknesses. Paul said, “I was with you in weakness.” So much can be derived from this short statement. First, it is quite likely that after the intense spiritual battle he fought in Athens, right before he came to Corinth, he may have been emotionally weakened. After seeing success after success in his missionary journeys, he likely would have expected the same thing in Athens. But the city was given over to idols (Acts 17:16). The spiritual forces behind idols are demons so Paul certainly was facing demonic attacks there as well as opposition by the philosophers. Second, Paul knew that our human strength is limited. Paul prayed that his thorn in the flesh be removed but Jesus answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” He continues in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Third, when we remember our weaknesses we also remember that, greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.
C. I was with you in fear and much trembling. Paul did not preach to show off. Fear and trembling are the opposite of self-confidence. This fear may have been from the awesome responsibility and eternal consequences of the gospel message he was given to preach. It is the same call that goes out to all believers. Philippians 2:12,13, “Therefore beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” In other words, recognize your weaknesses and allow God’s strength to do what you cannot. If you do this you will never be lacking.
III. Paul reeked with success.
A. It wasn’t in the physical realm. “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom …” Paul preached a pure gospel. The cross of Christ and the resurrection were his main themes. He dealt with forgiveness of sin and eternal life. And the battles he fought were not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The battles were spiritual but the results were in the physical. Multitudes saved because Paul took the gospel to the gentile nations. Paul did use convincing words to teach the truth of the gospel. Yet, he did not persuade people. It was the Holy Spirit working alongside him.
B. It was the Holy Spirit power. “Demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” It was not Paul’s words that were changing people. It was the work of the Holy Spirit. It was God confirming His word with signs and wonders. It was the Spirit’s power at work in convicting people of sin. The Holy Spirit was and is bearing witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ. It is the power that transforms lives. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues and the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Nothing that Paul could do or say could ever take the place of the power of the Holy Spirit in His demonstration of power. Why is that?
C. So, we can have priority in our faith. If your faith is in your clean living, your denomination, your pastor, or your local church, then it is in the wisdom of men. Our faith must be in the power of God to save, keep, heal, provide, bless… If we put our faith in men, we will be disappointed. But if we place our trust in God’s power, we will never be disappointed. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
Let me share a story with you about placing trust in men. The Karankawa Indians, who used to inhabit the lower Gulf plains of Texas and Mexico, met their demise in the middle of the Texas Revolution in 1836. It seems that Captain Philip Dimmit, who owned a ranch north of present-day Corpus Christi, used to give the Karankawas beef whenever they were in the area. At the outbreak of the Revolution, however, Dimmit left his ranch to serve with the Texans. In Dimmit’s absence, the Indians rounded up a few cattle. As they ate the beef, a party of Mexican soldiers rode up and demanded to know what they were doing. "We are Captain Dimmit’s friends," the Karankawas replied. When the Mexicans heard this they attacked, killing many and causing the rest to flee. The remaining Karankawas later met a party of Texans. Fearing another assault, the Indians began shouting, "Viva Mexico!" Immediately the Texans attacked, and only a few of the hapless Karankawas escaped.
Today in the Word, August 30, 1992.
The questions arises today, “Are you right with God?” If you died today, do you feel certain that you would go to heaven or is that something you are working on? If you stood before God today and he asked, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would be your response. “I go to church when I can. I try to live by the golden rule. I don’t commit any big sins. I teach Sunday School.” Those are all pretty good answers but I want you to think about where your faith is. It is in “I” or human wisdom. It is not until you get rid of the I problem and replace it with total faith in the Power of God that you will receive that gift of eternal life. That power is the power that saw the Savior born in a manger, nailed to a cross, and raised from the dead. It is the power of God for those who believe. Forget about your own strength, your own wisdom and you own goodness. Give it all to God today.
