1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Saturday, 9 July 2022
Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” -1 Corinthians 1:31
It’s interesting and amazing to see how God makes His various moves in the world. The worldly pattern of events has become so predictable that man fails to understand the mysterious ways of God.
All through the Biblical narrative, from the beginning of time, we read that when God begins to act, it is always beyond human reasoning. Whether it is building a boat people have never seen or even thought of, or applying the blood of the lamb as a marker on doors to protect families from death, or to walk around a fortified city to win a war—God’s moves always surprised His people! Why would He do such a thing? Well, He was clearly making a distinction between those who were His and those who did not belong to Him.
In this morning’s reading portion we once again see a marvellous act of God. Right through history we read about man’s deep thirst for knowledge and wisdom for greater spiritual understanding. It’s into this scene that God worked out salvation for man through the most gruelling, agonising, bloody work on the cross, not some formula or method. This was the message that needed to be preached. When Paul preached this message in the then known world it soon became clear that the hearers were divided into 2 groups – Verse 18: those who were perishing and those who were being saved. How did these 2 groups respond to this?— To the ones who were perishing this message was foolishness because in their own wisdom they could not understand “the wisdom nor the strength of God” Why? Because the cross in those days was a symbol of shame, powerlessness and rejection – something that was associated with a criminal.
If this is what the cross represented, where is the wisdom and the victory? “Only a weak God would die such a gruesome death” – This was the reasoning and conclusion of the worldly-wise!
The same message to the second group of people had a completely different impact – to the ones being saved it is the power of God – V.18. Why would they consider the same message so differently – because here was a group of people who understood that they had no strength to deliver themselves from the bondage of their sins – On the cross, they understood the powerful act of God – that God had sent His Son as a sacrifice for human sin.
What did Jesus accomplish for us?
As a sacrifice, Jesus solved the sin problem for good – 1 John 2:2 (The Msg)
He became our High Priest in the presence of the Father - 1 John 2:2 (The Msg)
By dying for us, Christ brought us over to God’s side and put our lives together, whole and holy in his presence – Col. 1:22 (The Msg)
Where is our contribution in this “Wonderful Act”? Nothing! We can only stand in awe of the Marvellous Move of God!
As that great message was and is being preached, we see this same reaction to this day. In Vs.26-29 we read the list of those whom God chose – people who opened their heart to receive this truth – the weak, the poor, the lowly, the despised and the foolish (according to the worldly standards). Why such a group? Well, the more we see our own nothingness, the more MAGNIFIED is JESUS’ WORK! So which camp do you belong to this morning? Is your heart boasting in the finished work of Christ or are you still resisting the message of the cross?
Remember that your choice will determine your eternal destiny!
Quote to Remember: Isaiah 55:8-9 [MSG]
“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.”
Listen: ‘I will boast in the LORD’
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