This sermon explores the divine wisdom in the cross, challenging believers to see it not as foolishness, but as God's power and wisdom for salvation.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to be with you today and have this sacred opportunity to share the Word of God with you. As we gather together in this space, we are reminded of the profound unity we share in Christ, a unity that transcends all earthly divisions and unites us in a bond of love and fellowship.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a passage of Scripture that invites us to consider the profound wisdom of God revealed in the cross. It’s a passage that challenges us, comforts us, and calls us to a deeper understanding of the divine mystery that is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Let us read together from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 1, verses 18 to 25: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
In this passage, we see a stark contrast drawn between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. We see the cross - an instrument of death - become a symbol of life and salvation.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher otherwise men would be converters of souls. Nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning; otherwise it could consists of the wisdom of men. We might preach till our tongues rotted, till we should exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless there were mysterious power going with it – the Holy Ghost changing the will of man. O Sirs! We might as well preach to stone walls as preach to humanity unless the Holy Ghost be with the word, to give it power to convert the soul."
As we reflect on these words and the truth of our Scripture passage today, let us approach the throne of grace in prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and minds, ready to receive your Word. We thank you for the wisdom of the cross, a wisdom that surpasses all human understanding. We ask that you would speak to us today, that you would illuminate our understanding and deepen our faith. Help us to see the cross not as foolishness, but as the power and wisdom of God. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Transition. So, beloved, are we ready to consider the wisdom of the cross? Are we prepared to see the world through the lens of God's wisdom, rather than our own? Let's embark on this sacred endeavor together, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide us and reveal to us the profound truths hidden in this divine mystery.
In the eyes of the world, the cross is a symbol of defeat, humiliation, and death. It's a tool of execution, used by the Romans to inflict the most brutal and public form of punishment. Yet, in the divine wisdom of God, this instrument of death becomes a symbol of life, victory, and salvation.
The cross is where God's love and justice meet. It's where the sin of humanity is confronted by the holiness of God. It's where the penalty of sin is paid and the power of sin is broken. It's where the love of God is demonstrated most profoundly and powerfully.
On the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, takes upon Himself the sins of the world. He bears our guilt and shame. He suffers the penalty of our sin, which is death. He endures the wrath of God, which is the just response to sin. And in doing so, He satisfies the justice of God and makes possible the forgiveness of our sins.
But the cross is also about the defeat of sin and death. On the cross, Jesus disarms the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross. He breaks the power of sin and death, setting us free from their tyranny. He conquers the grave, rising from the dead on the third day, and in doing so, He secures our victory over sin and death.
The cross is also where we see the humility of God. The Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, humbles Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. He stoops down to our level, taking the form of a servant, becoming obedient to death. He lays aside His glory, His power, His majesty, and He suffers in our place, for our sake. It's a humility that is beyond our comprehension, a humility that reveals the depth of God's love for us.
But the cross is not just about God's humility. It's also about our humility. It's where we come to the end of ourselves, where we realize our need for a Savior, where we acknowledge our sin and our inability to save ourselves. It's where we surrender our pride, our self-sufficiency, our self-righteousness, and we cast ourselves on the mercy of God. It's where we die to ourselves, to our old way of life, and we are born again to a new life in Christ.
Finally, the cross is where we see the power of God. It's where the weakness of God, as perceived by the world, becomes the power of God. It's a power that is made perfect in weakness, a power that is demonstrated in suffering, a power that is manifested in sacrifice, a power that is revealed in love.
But the cross is not just about God's power. It's also about our power. It's where we receive the power to become children of God, the power to live a new life, the power to overcome sin and temptation, the power to endure suffering and persecution, the power to love as Christ loved us. It's where we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us and to guide us.
Transition. In the cross, we see the wisdom of God in its most profound and powerful form. It's a wisdom that confounds the wisdom of the world, a wisdom that transcends human understanding, and a wisdom that empowers, a wisdom that loves. It's a wisdom that is found in the cross of Christ, a wisdom that is available to all who believe.
As we continue to examine the passage from 1 Corinthians, we are confronted with a seemingly paradoxical statement ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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