PROCLAMATION
“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.
For the preaching of the cross is to
them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are being saved it is the power
of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (KJV)
EXPLANATION
These words were
written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in
a letter to the believers in the church at Corinth. Paul begins by
introducing himself and Sosthenes, a believer who is with him. He Greets them with a formal salutation and
then tells them that he thanks God for them. (1 Corinthians 1:1-4) He says that they have been enriched in every
way. They do not lack for any spiritual
gift, and they eagerly await the coming of The Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:5-9) Then Paul says that he had heard that there
was disagreement and division between the believers in the church
at Corinth based upon which leader they were following. (1 Corinthian
1:10-12) His message to them was that they should on one accord. Christ was not divided, and His message was
clear. He told them that they should focus on the message of the
cross. He said that the world may think that the message of the cross is
foolishness, but those who are saved know that it is the love of Christ and the
power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:13-18) Then
he told them that God made foolishness of the wisdom of the world. The Jews wanted signs and the Greeks wanted
wisdom, but he preached Christ crucified; for the foolishness of God is wiser
than human wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:19-31)
APPLICATION
The cross symbolizes
the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It divides
mankind into two groups, believers who are saved and non-believers who are not
saved. The message of the cross should not divide saved people, it should
unite them. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.” (John 3:16) It was out of His love for us and His obedience to
God, The Father, that Christ stayed on the cross. (Matthew 26:42 and Luke
22:42) While suffering on the cross He showed His love by forgiving
those who crucified Him and those of us who made His crucifixion necessary.
(Luke 23:34) The fear and reverence of The Lord is the beginning of
wisdom. (Psalms 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10) Those of us, whom God has
called to believe, know that all power and wisdom come from God. (1 Corinthians
1:24-25
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