The Power of the Cross

The Power of the Cross

Date: Mar. 16, 2021

Passage

1 Corinthians 1:1-17 (ESV)

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:17

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS

Corinth was the chief commercial city of Greece, with a population of about 650,000 (including 400,000 slaves) in Paul's time. It was located on a narrow isthmus connecting the Greek mainland with the Peloponnesian Peninsula. The religion of the Corinthians focused on Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Religious prostitution was practiced, and sexual immorality was so common that 'to Corinthianize' meant to practice sexual immorality. In 1:26-31, and again in 6:9-11, Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians of their humble origins and sinful past.

Paul pioneered the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18). He spent about a year and a half there, working as a tentmaker with Priscilla and Aquila. Later, on his third journey, he wrote the epistle to the Romans from Corinth.

Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus to respond to a letter from the Corinthians. He was their shepherd and he knew them well. In this letter he applied the gospel to practical problems such as divisions in the church, marriage, lawsuits, differences in opinion about eating and worship, etc. He rebuked them in love. Chapter 13 is a description of Jesus' love, which is the best gift and the most excellent way to live. Chapter 15 calls us to practical belief and hope in the resurrection of Jesus, for the resurrection is the heart of the gospel. No one can be a Christian without resurrection faith.

Paul's thankful prayer (1-9)

Paul was very thankful for the Corinthian Christians. He was so thankful, he 'always thank(ed) God' for them. How could Paul be so thankful for the people of Corinth despite their sinfulness? There were many sins Paul brought to light in this letter. But Paul was thankful because of the grace of Jesus Christ, given to them. The grace of Christ enriched the Corinthian Christians in many ways. His grace brought them many spiritual gifts, and kept them strong in their faith.

Many divisions (10-17)

One sin Paul heard about divisiveness within the church. The Corinthian Christians were rightly proud of their Bible teachers. Nothing is wrong with that-except when it gets in the way of the gospel work. Their pride led to quarrels about whose faction they belonged to. They were divided. But Christ is not divided! Paul was not sent to baptize in his name or be the leader of a rival fellowship. He was sent by the Risen Jesus to preach the gospel, not with fancy words to persuade people, but by relying on the power of the cross itself.

Prayer: Father, help us not to be divided, but to preach the gospel with the power of the cross.

One Word: The cross of Christ has power!

“he Has Risen!”

Mark 16:1-20

Key Verse: 16:6

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Today's Question

See answer and references

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT