Philosophy and Oratory Are Powerless to Pay for Sin: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 4

This is our fourth session on 1 This is our fourth session on 1 Corinthians Corinthians Corinthians 118 to 25. And we simply 118 to 25. And we simply 118 to 25. And we simply look at verse 25 as it relates to what look at verse 25 as it relates to what look at verse 25 as it relates to what went before. But let's put the whole went before. But let's put the whole went before. But let's put the whole thing before us. for the word of the thing before us. for the word of the thing before us. for the word of the cross. cross. cross. We'll come back to that because that's We'll come back to that because that's We'll come back to that because that's what is meant here by we preach Christ what is meant here by we preach Christ what is meant here by we preach Christ crucified. This word and this preaching crucified. This word and this preaching crucified. This word and this preaching are the same. are the same. are the same. The word of the cross is folly The word of the cross is folly The word of the cross is folly to those who are being destroyed. to those who are being destroyed. to those who are being destroyed. But to us who are being saved, it is the But to us who are being saved, it is the But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. And that's going to relate power of God. And that's going to relate power of God. And that's going to relate right here to God. The weakness of God right here to God. The weakness of God right here to God. The weakness of God is stronger than men. Or Christ is the is stronger than men. Or Christ is the is stronger than men. Or Christ is the power of God. power of God. power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the For it is written, I will destroy the For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment wisdom of the wise, and the discernment wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.

of the discerning I will thwart. of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is wise? Where is Where is the one who is wise? Where is Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where's the debater of this the scribe? Where's the debater of this the scribe? Where's the debater of this age? All these wise people, where are age? All these wise people, where are age? All these wise people, where are they? They're not among those who are they? They're not among those who are they? They're not among those who are being saved because has not God made being saved because has not God made being saved because has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world. Yes, he foolish the wisdom of the world. Yes, he foolish the wisdom of the world. Yes, he has. has. has. It hasn't succeeded in saving. Why? It hasn't succeeded in saving. Why? It hasn't succeeded in saving. Why? Because since in the wisdom of God, this Because since in the wisdom of God, this Because since in the wisdom of God, this was a decree of God's wisdom, the world was a decree of God's wisdom, the world was a decree of God's wisdom, the world did not know, would not ever know God did not know, would not ever know God did not know, would not ever know God savingly savingly savingly through wisdom. through wisdom. through wisdom. That's how he made foolish the wisdom of That's how he made foolish the wisdom of That's how he made foolish the wisdom of the world. He decreed that it would not the world. He decreed that it would not the world. He decreed that it would not save. Well, then how does in the wisdom of God Well, then how does in the wisdom of God salvation happened? It pleased God. God salvation happened? It pleased God. God salvation happened? It pleased God. God was delighted through the folly of what was delighted through the folly of what was delighted through the folly of what we preach, we preach, we preach, namely Christ crucified, the cross, the namely Christ crucified, the cross, the namely Christ crucified, the cross, the folly of what we preach to save those folly of what we preach to save those folly of what we preach to save those who believe. So over against all this who believe. So over against all this who believe. So over against all this wisdom of the world, has not God made wisdom of the world, has not God made wisdom of the world, has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Over foolish the wisdom of the world? Over foolish the wisdom of the world? Over against that comes belief.

against that comes belief. against that comes belief. belief in folly, belief in folly, belief in folly, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, and then he traces it back to the and then he traces it back to the and then he traces it back to the sovereign calling of God. How that sovereign calling of God. How that sovereign calling of God. How that belief comes about for Jews demand signs belief comes about for Jews demand signs belief comes about for Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Christ crucified. A stumbling block to Jews, yes, folly to Gentiles, yes. But Jews, yes, folly to Gentiles, yes. But Jews, yes, folly to Gentiles, yes. But to those who are called, which is what to those who are called, which is what to those who are called, which is what we looked at last time, to those who are we looked at last time, to those who are we looked at last time, to those who are called with an effectual divine called with an effectual divine called with an effectual divine supernatural supernatural supernatural enabling to see, to those who are enabling to see, to those who are enabling to see, to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, what they called, both Jews and Greeks, what they called, both Jews and Greeks, what they see when they see Christ, when they see see when they see Christ, when they see see when they see Christ, when they see Christ crucified, Christ crucified, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, Christ crucified, Christ, what they see is power and Christ, what they see is power and Christ, what they see is power and wisdom. wisdom. wisdom. They don't see foolishness. They don't see foolishness. They don't see foolishness. They don't see weakness. They see power.

They don't see weakness. They see power. They don't see weakness. They see power. That's a miracle brought about by the That's a miracle brought about by the That's a miracle brought about by the divine call of God. divine call of God. divine call of God. And then he says, "Because And then he says, "Because And then he says, "Because the foolishness of God, which is Christ the foolishness of God, which is Christ the foolishness of God, which is Christ crucified, the word of the cross, crucified, the word of the cross, crucified, the word of the cross, is wiser than men, is wiser than men, is wiser than men, and the weakness of God, and the weakness of God, and the weakness of God, which is which is which is Christ crucified, Christ crucified, Christ crucified, the word of the cross, the word of the cross, the word of the cross, the word of the cross seen as the word of the cross seen as the word of the cross seen as foolishness by many the word of the foolishness by many the word of the foolishness by many the word of the cross seen as weakness by many cross seen as weakness by many cross seen as weakness by many that word of the cross which is God's that word of the cross which is God's that word of the cross which is God's wisdom and God's power is stronger than wisdom and God's power is stronger than wisdom and God's power is stronger than men wiser than men father as we ponder men wiser than men father as we ponder men wiser than men father as we ponder just a moment just a moment just a moment why that is and what sense it is why that is and what sense it is why that is and what sense it is cause your precious cause your precious cause your precious cross your word your preaching your cross your word your preaching your cross your word your preaching your Christ to be our treasure above all Christ to be our treasure above all Christ to be our treasure above all things. I ask in his name. Amen.

things. I ask in his name. Amen. things. I ask in his name. Amen. Here's the reason Here's the reason Here's the reason that God's foolishness in Christ that God's foolishness in Christ that God's foolishness in Christ crucified is wiser than men and crucified is wiser than men and crucified is wiser than men and God's weakness in Christ crucified is God's weakness in Christ crucified is God's weakness in Christ crucified is stronger than men. stronger than men. stronger than men. It's because It's because It's because these these wise men these wise men and these strong men, these philosophers and these strong men, these philosophers and these strong men, these philosophers with the wisdom of the world and these with the wisdom of the world and these with the wisdom of the world and these strong men with love of eloquence and strong men with love of eloquence and strong men with love of eloquence and oratory oratory oratory Greek Greek Greek surpassing others. in their speech. surpassing others. in their speech. surpassing others. in their speech. The reason those don't have any power The reason those don't have any power The reason those don't have any power and any wisdom is because they and any wisdom is because they and any wisdom is because they misunderstand the problem the problem or the plight What's what's the problem? They think What's what's the problem? They think the problem is something that oratory the problem is something that oratory the problem is something that oratory can solve, something that wisdom can can solve, something that wisdom can can solve, something that wisdom can solve, philosophy can solve. What's the solve, philosophy can solve. What's the solve, philosophy can solve. What's the problem? The problem is divine

problem? The problem is divine problem? The problem is divine condemnation. condemnation. condemnation. In the courtroom of heaven, we have been In the courtroom of heaven, we have been In the courtroom of heaven, we have been found guilty. found guilty. found guilty. Here's 1 Corinthians 11. If we judged Here's 1 Corinthians 11. If we judged Here's 1 Corinthians 11. If we judged ourselves truly when we came to the ourselves truly when we came to the ourselves truly when we came to the Lord's table, which is what the context Lord's table, which is what the context Lord's table, which is what the context is here, we would not be judged. is here, we would not be judged. is here, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, when But when we are judged by the Lord, when But when we are judged by the Lord, when he disciplines his people, we are he disciplines his people, we are he disciplines his people, we are disciplined so that we may not be disciplined so that we may not be disciplined so that we may not be condemned condemned condemned along with the world. This is the along with the world. This is the along with the world. This is the problem. This is the biggest problem in problem. This is the biggest problem in problem. This is the biggest problem in the world. the world. the world. crime, crime, crime, hunger, war, poverty, addiction, hunger, war, poverty, addiction, hunger, war, poverty, addiction, endless sexual sins. All the sins of the endless sexual sins. All the sins of the endless sexual sins. All the sins of the world pale in comparison to this world pale in comparison to this world pale in comparison to this everlasting everlasting everlasting judgment and condemnation under the holy judgment and condemnation under the holy judgment and condemnation under the holy judge of the universe. That's the judge of the universe. That's the judge of the universe. That's the problem to be solved. How are you going problem to be solved. How are you going problem to be solved. How are you going to think your way out of that?

to think your way out of that? to think your way out of that? How you going to sit in a cell of the How you going to sit in a cell of the How you going to sit in a cell of the universe awaiting execution under the universe awaiting execution under the universe awaiting execution under the omnipotent, all wise, all good, all omnipotent, all wise, all good, all omnipotent, all wise, all good, all just, all holy God and and use oratory just, all holy God and and use oratory just, all holy God and and use oratory to get yourself out of this problem? It to get yourself out of this problem? It to get yourself out of this problem? It isn't going to happen. What? Well, what isn't going to happen. What? Well, what isn't going to happen. What? Well, what what will do it? what will do it? what will do it? And this is probably the clearest And this is probably the clearest And this is probably the clearest statement of what will do it in all the statement of what will do it in all the statement of what will do it in all the New Testament. I mean in one simple New Testament. I mean in one simple New Testament. I mean in one simple phrase phrase phrase when you ask what is the word of the when you ask what is the word of the when you ask what is the word of the cross what is the preaching of Christ cross what is the preaching of Christ cross what is the preaching of Christ crucified what is it that you see in crucified what is it that you see in crucified what is it that you see in Christ here's the answer Christ here's the answer Christ here's the answer now I would remind you brothers of the now I would remind you brothers of the now I would remind you brothers of the gospel the word of the cross that I gospel the word of the cross that I gospel the word of the cross that I preach the preaching of Christ crucified preach the preaching of Christ crucified preach the preaching of Christ crucified to you which you received in which you to you which you received in which you to you which you received in which you stand by which you are being saved. stand by which you are being saved. stand by which you are being saved. Remember that phrase from those who are Remember that phrase from those who are Remember that phrase from those who are being saved. They see it as the power of being saved. They see it as the power of being saved. They see it as the power of God.

God. God. If you hold it fast, hold fast the word If you hold it fast, hold fast the word If you hold it fast, hold fast the word I preached to you unless you believed in I preached to you unless you believed in I preached to you unless you believed in vain. And here it is. For I delivered to vain. And here it is. For I delivered to vain. And here it is. For I delivered to you as of first importance. Well, I you as of first importance. Well, I you as of first importance. Well, I guess because it's the biggest problem guess because it's the biggest problem guess because it's the biggest problem in the universe to be solved right now. in the universe to be solved right now. in the universe to be solved right now. As of first importance, what I also As of first importance, what I also As of first importance, what I also received that Christ received that Christ received that Christ died, died, died, was crucified, hung on a cross for our was crucified, hung on a cross for our was crucified, hung on a cross for our sins. sins. sins. That's just about the most important That's just about the most important That's just about the most important sentence in the Bible. So So that is the power of God. That is the that is the power of God. That is the that is the power of God. That is the wisdom of God. So here you have God in wisdom of God. So here you have God in wisdom of God. So here you have God in heaven, infinite in holiness, infinite heaven, infinite in holiness, infinite heaven, infinite in holiness, infinite in justice, infinite in wisdom, in justice, infinite in wisdom, in justice, infinite in wisdom, and he has decreed and he has decreed and he has decreed that sin will be condemned and sinners that sin will be condemned and sinners that sin will be condemned and sinners will perish forever under his just will perish forever under his just will perish forever under his just punishment.

punishment. punishment. Now think your way out of that. Reason Now think your way out of that. Reason Now think your way out of that. Reason your way out of that. Use oratory to get your way out of that. Use oratory to get your way out of that. Use oratory to get yourself out of that. It isn't going to yourself out of that. It isn't going to yourself out of that. It isn't going to happen. You get out of that one way. God That's the only way that our sins are That's the only way that our sins are not going to condemn us to hell. not going to condemn us to hell. not going to condemn us to hell. Another person bears Another person bears Another person bears my punishment. That's what that means. my punishment. That's what that means. my punishment. That's what that means. another person bears my punishment. another person bears my punishment. another person bears my punishment. Therefore, the reason Therefore, the reason Therefore, the reason these wise folks are so foolish and the these wise folks are so foolish and the these wise folks are so foolish and the reason these strong folks are so weak is reason these strong folks are so weak is reason these strong folks are so weak is they don't even get it. Namely, the they don't even get it. Namely, the they don't even get it. Namely, the problem to be solved. They have to be problem to be solved. They have to be problem to be solved. They have to be told the gospel has to be preached in told the gospel has to be preached in told the gospel has to be preached in its fullness. This preaching of Christ its fullness. This preaching of Christ its fullness. This preaching of Christ crucified is owing to the fact we need a crucified is owing to the fact we need a crucified is owing to the fact we need a substitute. The condemnation in the mind substitute. The condemnation in the mind substitute. The condemnation in the mind of God must be reversed into a of God must be reversed into a of God must be reversed into a justification. And that comes through justification. And that comes through justification. And that comes through the blood of Jesus. The cross of Jesus.

the blood of Jesus. The cross of Jesus. the blood of Jesus. The cross of Jesus. And that's why it is wiser. The And that's why it is wiser. The And that's why it is wiser. The foolishness of God is wiser. And the foolishness of God is wiser. And the foolishness of God is wiser. And the weakness of God is stronger because the weakness of God is stronger because the weakness of God is stronger because the God, the gospel actually does God, the gospel actually does God, the gospel actually does go into the very mind and heart of God go into the very mind and heart of God go into the very mind and heart of God and reverse condemnation and reverse condemnation and reverse condemnation into justification. into justification. into justification. So that there is now So that there is now So that there is now salvation salvation salvation for those who believe. There is for those who believe. There is for those who believe. There is salvation salvation salvation for those who are called. for those who are called. for those who are called. I think next time we'll step back and I think next time we'll step back and I think next time we'll step back and try to get this entire argument as it try to get this entire argument as it try to get this entire argument as it goes back to the division in the groups goes back to the division in the groups goes back to the division in the groups who say I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I who say I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I who say I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cphus. That's what he's been am of Cphus. That's what he's been am of Cphus. That's what he's been trying to do is provide repair for the trying to do is provide repair for the trying to do is provide repair for the disunityity in the church.