The Power of the Cross

24 July 2012

Our BSF study for this week, Lesson 19, is on 1 Corinthians 1-7, The Power of the Cross.

In chapters 1-4 Paul pointed out major sins which the Corinthian Church had ignored, deep divisions over personalities caused by pride. Christ's Lordship and His Cross are central to how Paul handled the Corinthians' problems. The cause of the Corinthians' disunity was intellectual pride, not doctrine. Competing cliques used the names of Christian leaders to split the church, dishonouring Christ Himself. None of the leaders was crucified for them or gave them eternal life. The Corinthians depended on impressive words, talents and philosophy to win people to Christ. Paul made it clear that human wisdom without Christ is worthless. 

It is not your intellect, emotional appeals, attractive personality or gift of articulation that have power to produce a faith that stands to eternity. The only real power is found when you identify in attitude and life with the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Then the Holy Spirit is free to use your life and words as He pleases. 

Christ is the foundation. Only work done through Christ by the Holy Spirit's power and wisdom survives and receives God's reward. Though we do not deserve it, God graciously rewards us for what was accomplished only through Christ with no merit of our own (Jon 15:5b; Ephesians 2:8-10).

Been there and should have done that in IBC in 2004-05.