First Corinthians 1 Part 7 Pursue Holiness And Be A Faithful Witness.

The power of the cross is something for believers to glory in.

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. 

Preaching the gospel of Christ and the cross is the power of God for all who repent and believe on Jesus. 

The culture as a whole ignores the gospel and mocks those who put their trust in Christ's saving work.

Some church leaders and certain denominations dismiss gospel preaching and make fun of the theology of the cross. 

The gospel is a line that separates those who are born again from those who remain in their sins.

Hedonists and philosophers will mock the gospel of Christ. 

Acts 17:18  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Here is an example of those who heard Paul preach and made fun of the gospel. They called Paul a "babbler" which refers to birds that swoop down on a newly planted fields trying to pick up the seeds. 

The Epicureans were hedonists who lived a life of comfort, and coveted luxury items. They sought comforts and pleasure in all that they did.

The Stoics are known for teaching that "virtue is only good" for human beings. 

External things, such as health, wealth, and pleasure, are not good or bad in themselves but have value as "material for virtue to act upon".

The Stoics identified the path to virtue for us by seeking wisdom, courage, temperance or moderation, and justice, and living in accordance with nature.

Both of these groups mocked the preaching of the cross and the resurrection of Christ (See Acts 17:32). 

Only the eternal counsel of God will stand. 

1 Corinthians 1:19-20  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 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 scribes of the Jews of that day were theologians, the ideal of dignified learning and orthodoxy.

The disputer referred to philosophical disputes the Greeks loved to engage in, because they viewed themselves as clever dialecticians. 

Thus, the Spirit of God guided Paul to describe the great contrast between the perfect wisdom of God and flawed wisdom promoted by the culture.

God has made the wisdom of the world into that which is foolish. All schemes, plans and plotting of men will come to nothing. All that God has declared will happen just as He said they would.

A Christ rejecting world views the gospel as foolish. 

1 Corinthians 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

What Paul is saying here is connected to several other texts such as Ephesians 2:1-5; 4:17-19. He gives us the state of fallen humanity such that the world at large chooses not to know God, and refuses to recognize Him.

Or, if they do acknowledge God at all, it is a twisted, perverted version that fits their own concept of a "god" made in their own image.  

Thus, this man made "god" will approve of sexual depravity and tolerate general immorality. 

God chose to use gospel preaching to save all those who hear and heed the gospel of Christ. 

The invisible things of creation clearly point to God. There is no excuse. 

Romans 1:18-21  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19)  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20)  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21)  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

God's wrath is against all those who twist the truth into a lie. He is against those who promote depravity and perversion. 

They are without excuse, for the creation itself bears strong witness to the God of Glory. The invisible things of creation are a vivid testimony to God as Creator and Sustainer of life.

The Bible tells us how everything got here and why man was created. The Bible tells us how man fell into sin and why we need a savior, Jesus Christ. 

The repetitions God built into creation to govern it is clear to any person. The elements of time, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and a year could not have randomly occurred.

The fact that the earth is spinning at 1100 MPH means that according to the laws of inertia, we should all be thrown off into the deep recesses of space. 

Yet, we remain firmly planted on the earth because of gravity. This could never have occurred randomly as the evolutionists believe. 

The earth is orbiting around the sun at 66,000 MPH through space, while the sun itself is orbiting through space at about 450,000 MPH. 

For the earth to have somehow randomly picked the right velocity to orbit the sun as it moves through space, is a statistical impossibility. 

The laws of physics, thermodynamics and motion govern all created things and they could not have somehow randomly occurred and be universally applied. 

The Bible tells us how God can do these things. Jesus Christ the Son of God upholds all things by the word of His power (See Hebrews 1:1-3).

The heavens declare the glory of God each day and night. 

Psalm 19:1-3  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2)  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3)  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 

God tells us that He put the sun, moon and stars into place. He gave them functions and purposes that benefit mankind (See Genesis 1:14-18).

The witness of creation is complete and vivid, such that God holds man accountable to know Him through His creation. This creation witness testifies of God each day and night through the orderliness of it all. 

Each plant and animal reproduces after their own kind. An oak tree will never produce a spruce tree. A goat will never produce a horse. Yet, this is the kind of thinking that permeates evolution. 

The gospel of Christ separates belief from unbelief. 

1 Corinthians 1:22-24  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

The Jews demanded by the most striking miracles, or they never would have received the gospel. They had a slowness of heart to believe and a fear of being deceived.  

This is why they required miracles to prove it came from God. Jesus called them a wicked and adulterous generation for continually seeking signs.

Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews because that truth meant that they had killed their own Messiah. 

Christianity is not about solving intellectual difficulties, but with satisfying the heart that longs for forgiveness. 

The refined Greeks sought for higher wisdom but it was always a man centered wisdom that dominated their minds. Thus, gospel preaching was to their minds, a foolish thing. 

God's Wisdom and Power is unsurpassed.

1 Corinthians 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

The meaning of these strong expressions is that all the things God has appointed which seem foolish to men, are infinitely beyond the highest degree of human wisdom. 

The salvation work of God that intellectual men think of as weak or contemptible, surpasses all human power. 

Trust the power of the gospel and share it with others.

1 Peter 3:13-16  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15)  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16)  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 

Peter reminds us that we are to be followers of that which is good, as described in the scriptures. 

Even if we encounter scoffers and those who mock when we share the gospel, we must continue to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

The world may revile us, may persecute us but our mission is the Great Commission. 

We must choose to live a life that honors God so that our witness and our walk with the Lord are aligned. 

We must always be ready to give an answer to those who inquire as to why we have hope in Christ.

Our light must shine brightly and our salt must be pure, so that the world may see Christ in us, the hope of glory.

At the end of this life, if we faithfully served God, we will have a clear conscience even if the world mocks, scorns or persecutes us.

Bob