We Preach Christ Crucified

– First Corinthians One –

   Paul wrote his first letter to Corinth during his third missionary journey. (Acts 19:1-41) It was likely written in about 57 A.D. Corinth, the chief city of Achaia, was a city of wealth and extravagance. The church had been established in Corinth during Paul's second missionary journey. (Acts 18:1-18) Luke wrote, "...and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." (Acts 18:8)

   Different groups of people had brought confusion into the church. Bad news concerning the situation at Corinth had been brought to Paul by the household of Chloe (I Corinthians 1:11), and in a letter the brethren sent to him. (I Corinthians 7:1)

   The purpose for our learning the truth is so that we can be saved. We also learn the truth so that we might know how to lead others to Christ, as well as helping our brothers and sisters on this earth with the struggles of the flesh.  In this great epistle Paul deals with some of the difficulties facing the church of God at Corinth.

   The fellowship of the Son of God – I Corinthians 1:1-9: Paul was chosen by God to be an  apostle of  Christ Jesus.  God used  him to write several New Testament books. Sosthenes was a brother that also had a part in the writing of First Corinthians. We met Sosthenes in Acts 18:17 where the bible says, "Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things."

   This letter was written to God's church in Corinth. The church of God is people that have been set apart by calling on the name of the Lord in humble obedience. Paul's desire was that these brethren be blessed with God's grace and peace. God had enriched these people both to understand and to speak of salvation in Christ. The wisdom and knowledge to live the best life are placed within the word of God. Paul used the word of God as the final authority to solve the problems in the church at Corinth. We should follow His example.

   Those that wait for the second coming of Christ will not miss out on any blessing. At the second coming physical bodies will be raised and the righteous will become incorruptible. God will preserve you for His heavenly kingdom even if you are on life's other side. When you die your soul returns to God for His keeping. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7) It is essential that we become blameless in order to prepare for eternity.

   The unity of the Son of God – I Corinthians 1:10-17: God called on His people to be united. (Ephesians 4:4-6) If unity is to be achieved we must get back to the Bible and do things exactly God's way. Sadly there were "contentions" among Christians at Corinth. Paul loved these brethren and was heart broken over their divisions. Their divisions had to do with their favorite preachers. But Paul wanted it known for the ages that it is in Christ and He alone that salvation can be found.

   Paul did not want the church made into a denomination. He did not want them saying he baptized into his own name. He was thankful that he had only baptized a few at Corinth, "Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name." Paul never baptized in any name except that of the Lord Jesus. He did not have to have the honor of doing the physical baptizing himself. What mattered to Paul was not who did the baptizing but that the gospel was preached without using big words that would make the cross of Christ lose its power. He wanted people to be able to learn, believe and obey the truth.

   The preaching of the Son of God – I Corinthians 1:18-24: The message of the cross and redemption by blood seems foolish to many that are lost. Satan lost the battle and sin was defeated by the death of Christ. Jesus Christ paid the only price that could be paid to bring unto sinful man redemption and that price was His own blood. It may sound foolish to men but God said, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." This is a quote from Isaiah 29:14.

   God has shown us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness. How can you tell the wise from the foolish? True wisdom comes from God and His truth. God was wise and decided not to allow the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about Him through the gospel. Sadly the preaching of the cross is counted by many to be foolishness because of human wisdom.

   "Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise." Jesus gave the sign seekers only one sign. Jesus said, ..."there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:39-40) The sign was that Jesus was in the tomb for three days and at the end of those three days He arose. This is the gospel. Paul said, "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness." (I Corinthians 1:23) We preach Christ because He is both "the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

   The wisdom of the Son of God – I Corinthians 1:25-31: When you discuss the most foolish thing that God could ever think or do it is greater than man's best. The, "weakness of God is stronger than men." God in His wisdom set forth the plan of salvation through the blood of Jesus. This simple plan of blood redemption seems foolish to the world, but it in fact provides man's only hope. Common people with honest hearts gladly received the gospel. The mighty of the world often reject it. Jesus can use ordinary men and women that are committed to Him to accomplish great things.

   God has chosen the things that seem to be foolish to the world to confound those that think they are wise. It is hard for the worldly to accept salvation by a cross. It is difficult for the world to believe that such spiritual changes could be brought on by an amazingly simple message. God can take what the world considers worthless, useless and nothing at all and use it in a powerful way. He can use the small, insignificant and the weak. This keeps people from bragging to God about what they have done. Through Christ's righteousness we are redeemed to be part of the body of Christ. So therefore, "if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord."

   Will you appreciate Jesus enough that you will receive Him as your Lord and Savior NOW? To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (I Peter 3:21). After baptism use your life to spread the glorious gospel of Christ!