Scripture Reading(s)
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,
1:23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Reflections
The message of the Gospel is available to all who hear it. Not only is it available to all but the message itself is not one that can easily be accepted by all. It speaks to one sin, their selfish and fleshly desires, and goes completely agains what the world preaches about living for ones self.
This message is not like any other message that has ever been preached before. It takes the focus off yourself and onto a loving Savior that can meet every single desire that our hearts long for. It points to the fact that we are all sinners in need of a loving Savior. It preaches that we are hopeless and lost and without Jesus Christ, there is nothing in this world that will ever satisfy us nor save us from eternal punishment.
This goes against what other religions say about being a good person because our works cannot save us from sin. The Gospel is not about us or what we can do. It is about what Christ has done for us and only He was able to accomplish. This message is available to all who hear it. The response is up to those to choose to either accept or reject it.
The reality of the Gospel is that it causes to look to our hearts and see that we are worthless, that there is no other antidote to our sinful nature but to turn and ask God for forgiveness. It is a message that will only require a humble and submissive attitude, something that goes against every fiber of our human nature. Ultimately it is the only message that causes to admit that we are wrong and dead in our sin and our hope lies in the truth that Jesus Christ died for our sins, paid the penalty and is now alive living and breathing in us, giving us a new hope.
The crucifixion of Christ is one of the most pivotal point in all of history. Whether or not one believes He rose from the dead, all must admit that He was the most defining character in all history. Yet, many turn their nose up on the idea that Jesus the son of God. Many reject the idea of salvation through faith. How can Jesus be divine if He was crucified? How could He be God if He is no longer with us?
These types of thought are what Paul referred to as a stumbling block, but we have a faith based belief about Christ. We have faith that the biblical witnesses are true. We have faith that the gospel writers recorded accurate history. Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord (Hebrew 11:6). If we lean merely on our own wisdom we are going to miss the gift of grace that God gave to us.
[Featured image from Calvary Chapel Puerto Rico]