“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians1:18
Dear Ones:
One of the central themes of the gospel is the teaching concerning POWER. It is more than a concept and a truth. It is the very expression of the intervention of God in and through the life. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received power, a measured, sufficient strength and enablement, to rise above all hindrances within, and all opposition without, to BE and to DO what was the will of God. God had chosen the time and the place to manifest His power in the hearts of the believers, so much so that they would declare: “…the wonderful works of God.” The result of the manifestation of such power through these disciples, and the subsequent preaching of Peter, that thousands of people would believe in Christ. What then is Paul talking about with regard to knowing this power, as it relates to the cross?
When the Son of God died on the cross, a good many things occurred. But one thing that must be noted is that the Lord Jesus demonstrated the sufficient and overwhelming power of God to overcome every obstacle to glorify God. The expression of that power was the result of a perfect faith, a perfect appropriation of the Father, by the Spirit. Can we appropriate perfectly the power of God upon this earth? No, but we can know and see the effects of it more and more, as we learn the Lord’s ways and abide by them.
In the first two chapters of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he writes concerning the issue of preaching the Gospel. Paul learned HOW to preach the gospel “…in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:5) How is it, that the apostle would resemble the Lord Jesus in preaching and speaking with authority, and power? It is because of a concept that was common to both.
When Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the waters of the Jordan, a man who was “crucified” in heart, having embraced the reality of the cross that was to occur three years later. Paul would come to grasp the necessity of understanding God’s way of giving His power, and it too would be in relation to the cross. Paul was a very gifted, and energetic man. He possessed a great intellect, and much knowledge. He would declare in Philippians 3, in light of his gifts and natural energy, he might have confidence IN THE FLESH…possessing a great capacity to TRUST IN THE FLESH. (v.4) In 1 Corinthians 1:17, he writes that he was sent by Christ to preach the gospel, “…not with the wisdom of words, lest the CROSS of Christ should be made of none effect.” The cross put to death the very object of all “natural” trust, and reliance. He goes on to say that the preaching of the cross…is the power of God. How so? God does not give His power for man to gloat in, for He does not share His glory. It does not belong to man, only to God for it is ALL of Him. It is only as man truly, and wholly trusts in Christ for all things, that the power of God is given. Jesus lived ONLY by the Father, the Father being the entire object of his trust. The cross of Christ provides man a way by which he no longer trusts in anything of himself, to accomplish the will and purpose of God. Even in the matter of preaching, Paul would say: “I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” Christ was the sole object of his trust. Paul’s natural wisdom and knowledge, nor his natural ability to speak, were objects of his trust. “My speech and my preaching was NOT with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Cor. 2:5) Why did he say this? So that the faith of the Corinthian believers “…should NOT stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (v.5)
Father, teach us Thy ways, so that Your power and the blessedness of Your life should be manifested and revealed in and through us. Enable us to trust Thee wholly, having the Lord Jesus ever set before us, believing and receiving, that we might have that which we can give of eternal value and worth to others. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad