1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - The Gospel Is Foolishness... Or It Is Power (crucified, doctrine)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Paul had begun taking about divisiveness, and he mentioned the preaching of the gospel in the previous verse. So he continues on about the gospel for a little bit, and he makes a point to separate believers from unbelievers using the cross and the gospel. When you talk about divisiveness in a church setting, part of that divisiveness may be from people who regularly attend, but do not believe in the gospel. There will always be a spiritual rift and a potential for discord between believers and unbelievers.
A couple of points to add...
First, one's view of the cross indicates the current status (not the final status) of their eternal destiny (v.18). If the cross is foolishness to you, you are perishing. If the cross represents the power of God to you, then you will be saved from the coming wrath of God. There is no in between - it's either one or the other. This is the dividing line of Christianity, which results in receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Second, people are saved through the preaching of the message, and, by believing the gospel (v. 22) - and to many this is foolishness and weakness. You don't have to do anything or earn anything - simply believing the message is all that is necessary. Those who do not believe simply can not comprehend, on their own, the content of the gospel when it is explained properly. Christ crucified to the unbelieving world is foolishness. Christ crucified to those who believe is the power of God.
If the gospel of Christ is foolishness then there would be no power of the grace of Christ in the spirit ...... and if there is no power then the religion you got would be a form of godliness , but lacks power , where you got the wrong doctrine of the gospel and missed the mark Jesus set for all of us ...........so what is this power of Christ? ..It is the power to overcome the world where you will be saved in this life and the life to come , and you could have prosperity of the riches of Christ , and good health and live all your days in the world , you would have favor with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the calling of Jesus on your life..... See this power of Christ, people if they keep cleansed of the spirits of this world then illness like cancer would never happen in your life , as that is the power of the miracles of God
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Paul had begun taking about divisiveness, and he mentioned the preaching of the gospel in the previous verse. So he continues on about the gospel for a little bit, and he makes a point to separate believers from unbelievers using the cross and the gospel. When you talk about divisiveness in a church setting, part of that divisiveness may be from people who regularly attend, but do not believe in the gospel. There will always be a spiritual rift and a potential for discord between believers and unbelievers.
A couple of points to add...
First, one's view of the cross indicates the current status (not the final status) of their eternal destiny (v.18). If the cross is foolishness to you, you are perishing. If the cross represents the power of God to you, then you will be saved from the coming wrath of God. There is no in between - it's either one or the other. This is the dividing line of Christianity, which results in receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Second, people are saved through the preaching of the message, and, by believing the gospel (v. 22) - and to many this is foolishness and weakness. You don't have to do anything or earn anything - simply believing the message is all that is necessary. Those who do not believe simply can not comprehend, on their own, the content of the gospel when it is explained properly. Christ crucified to the unbelieving world is foolishness. Christ crucified to those who believe is the power of God.
Foolishness is foolishness, Biblical or otherwise. There is a lot in the Bible which is just plain crazy and should be treated as such, imo. Making excuses for it is STUPID
First, one's view of the cross indicates the current status (not the final status) of their eternal destiny (v.18). If the cross is foolishness to you, you are perishing. If the cross represents the power of God to you, then you will be saved from the coming wrath of God. There is no in between - it's either one or the other. This is the dividing line of Christianity, which results in receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I believe (lol) the dividing line is actually righteousness - mine or Christ's.
Paul also said this:
Quote:
I am not ashamed of the gospel - for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes... (Romans 1:16)
Unbelievers see their performance as the measure of God's acceptance or refusal - believers see Christ as their replacement in every facet of life - their righteousness, favor, healing, strength, etc.
I believe (lol) the dividing line is actually righteousness - mine or Christ's.
Paul also said this:
Unbelievers see their performance as the measure of God's acceptance or refusal - believers see Christ as their replacement in every facet of life - their righteousness, favor, healing, strength, etc.
That's the wall of separation, imo.
For a person to have Christ's righteousness applied to their life, one must possess Christ. How does that happen? Through faith in the gospel of Christ.
For believers to have the proper vision of Christ, Christ has to be in them.
Even after people possess Christ, they can revert back to measure their performance like an unbeliever. But as long as Christ, who is faithful even when we are faithless, is in a person - that person will not perish.
I believe (lol) the dividing line is actually righteousness - mine or Christ's.
Paul also said this:
Unbelievers see their performance as the measure of God's acceptance or refusal - believers see Christ as their replacement in every facet of life - their righteousness, favor, healing, strength, etc.
That's the wall of separation, imo.
True. When we stand before God, those will be our only two choices.
True. When we stand before God, those will be our only two choices.
When you stand before "God," you'll be facing a spiritual/psychic mirror, showing the real you.
Think you're prepared for that?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
