First Corinthians 1 Part 6 Lift High The Cross of Christ! Preach The Word In Plain Terms.

God's wisdom contrasted with human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

In this lesson Paul is going to teach us about wisdom by distinguishing between secular wisdom and the wisdom of God.

Paul's family was wealthy and gave him a good secular education before they sent him to be a disciple of the renowned rabbi named Gamaliel.

Anything less than knowing Jesus Christ is "dung."

Philippians 3:7-8  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

When writing to the Philippians, Paul thought about all of his religious and secular education. 

He considered all of the advantages he had from man's perspective. 

Even though the apostle was well educated from a religious and secular perspective, Paul never emphasized his knowledge. 

In fact, Paul said that he counted all things as a loss rather than a benefit. Anything that impeded him from knowing and following Christ was a major detriment. 

Then, Paul said he considered anything less than the most excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ to be dung.

"Dung" is a word that refers to animal excrement that must be removed from a barn. It refers to worthless things like rubbish piles, or debris that is swept up and discarded.

In a moral sense "dung" refers to that which is morally worthless and detestable.

What God is saying to us through Paul, is that we should hold the same view as the apostle did. 

Academic credentials, advanced degrees, technical skills or professional achievements are worthless if we do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Many people build a life centered around academic or professional achievement but such a life without God at the center lacks purpose and clarity.

Plain, accurate gospel preaching is what God requires.

1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

Thus, Paul begins by telling us that nothing must interfere with preaching the gospel of Christ as plainly and clearly as possible. 

Using a vast vocabulary to demonstrate one's depth of knowledge interferes with gospel preaching. 

Trying to speak like an eloquent orator can interfere with gospel preaching. Anything self promoting or self exalting interferes with the message of the gospel.

Using such things as described by Paul will make the preaching of the cross of no effect. 

Using the "Wisdom of words" indicates relying on human reason, a mode of rhetorical speech so highly valued among the Greeks. 

Paul was sent not to be the most dynamic preacher, but was to simply announce the truth and proclaim Christ crucified for the sins of the world. 

The apostle was to do this in the plainest and simplest manner possible. Nothing must interfere with gospel preaching.

All those who were converted to Christ were a demonstration of the Spirit of God ministering the Word of God in human hearts. 

Paul did not want the glory and power of Christ's cross to be diminished or overlooked.

Moses had speech issues but was used of God to teach the people.

Exodus 4:10-14  And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11)  And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12)  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13)  And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14)  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 

It is worthy to point out that when God had commanded His law to be taught, He chose Moses as His instrument. 

Moses said that he was not an eloquent or accomplished public speaker. Moreover, he said that he was "slow of speech and of a slow tongue."  

This indicates that Moses suffered from some type of speech impediment. Therefore, Jehovah designated Aaron his brother to be Moses' spokesman to Pharaoh.

Preaching the cross is the highest priority. 

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

Paul speaks to the glory and power of the cross of Christ. When a Christian hears preaching of the cross of Christ, he or she is reminded that the cross is the power of God unto salvation.

The doctrine of the cross is that which that proclaims salvation to a lost world through the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

When an unsaved person hears preaching of the cross, they may respond by mocking, or viewing it as foolish nonsense. 

Man's wisdom is nothing in the sight of Holy God. 

1 Corinthians 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 

Paul refers to a prophecy of Isaiah to make his point. God will destroy the wisdom of man because it is the product of corrupt minds and wicked imaginations. 

All the valued learning of this world was confounded, baffled, and eclipsed, by the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glorious triumph of the cross. 

Greek politicians and philosophers, Jewish rabbis and curious searchers into the secrets of nature, were all confounded by divine revelation from God. 

In spite of all the Greeks and Jews wisdom, ignorance still prevailed and iniquity still abounded. Men were puffed up by their imaginary knowledge and were further alienated from God.

1 Corinthians 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

The wisest man on earth cannot stand before the eternal omniscient God. He cannot offer any counsel or guidance to the God who knows all things. 

Jewish scribes made the law of God of no effect because they elevated the traditions of rabbis over the authority of inspired scripture (See Mark 7:1-13). 

The disputer of this world are those who mount sophisticated speculations against the gospel of Christ. Paul encountered them often (See Acts 17:1-9; 13; 16-21; Acts 18:1-17).

Gospel preaching exposes the sin of man, elevates God's sole provision for sinners, Christ Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 

Thus, the gospel upends the world's wisdom and exposes the foolishness of mankind. 

God's wisdom is perfect, and purposeful.

Isaiah 40:12-15  Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13)  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14)  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? 15)  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 

God is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. His Word dictates the movements of the sun, moon, stars and planets. 

He measured out the waters, mountains and hills on earth in His scales. He knows the length, breadth, depth, height and weight of all created things.

Our Father knows how many hairs are on our heads and when a sparrow dies. 

Isaiah posed some rhetorical questions when require and answer of "No one!" 

Who could possibly offer instruction to God?

Who directed the Holy Spirit of God and taught Him about the deep things of God? 

With whom did God consult to gain knowledge, understanding and judgment?

No one! This is how infinite God is and why we can trust Him to save us from sin when we repent and turn to Christ. 

God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. 

No one can instruct God about anything and this is the point Paul is making about preaching the gospel of Christ. 

The world offers no wisdom that compares to God's wisdom. 

Jeremiah 8:9  The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 

Jeremiah describes the wise sages of the world. What God has decreed will come to pass exactly as He said.

Jesus Christ will come to rule and reign one day. Then, all the world's wisdom will be revealed as utter foolishness. 

James 3:15-16  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16)  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Then, wise men will be ashamed and seek to hide themselves from Christ when He comes as king and Judge.

What wisdom is in the wise men of the world? That which is sensual, man centered and appealing to fleshly lusts. Man's wisdom causes confusion and leads to evil deeds. 

James 3:17-18  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18)  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

The wisdom of God is pure, and it leads to having peace with God through reconciliation, by faith in Christ. 

It is a wisdom filled with the grace and mercy of God whereby God is ready to save all who repent. His Spirit is ready to regenerate our soul, and to give us a new heart and a new spirit.

Let us seek to share the gospel in plain, understandable terms.

Let us ask the Lord to help us when we share the gospel.

Let us make much of the gospel and live for the glory of God.

May our lights shine brightly and may our salt hinder the spread of sin in the world.

Bob