When human wisdom is applied to spiritual issues, dangers await and problems arise. This is what...

When human wisdom is applied to When human wisdom is applied to spiritual issues, dangers await and spiritual issues, dangers await and problems arise. This is what problems arise. This is what happened in the church of Corinth. happened in the church of Corinth. Paul addressed the first problem in Paul addressed the first problem in Corinth by inviting his readers to Corinth by inviting his readers to think about the nature of wisdom. think about the nature of wisdom.

He pointed out that the wisdom of He pointed out that the wisdom of men did not bring them to a men did not bring them to a knowledge of God. The wisdom of knowledge of God. The wisdom of God, Jesus Christ and the message God, Jesus Christ and the message of the Cross, on the other hand of the Cross, on the other hand solved the problem of man’s solved the problem of man’s alienation from God.alienation from God.

The CrossThe Crossis a stumbling blockis a stumbling block

to the Jews.to the Jews.

1.1. The Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews.The Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews.1.1. The Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews.The Cross is a stumbling block to the Jews.

• The sign-seeking Jews were so The sign-seeking Jews were so accustomed to miracles that they accustomed to miracles that they became fascinated to the point of became fascinated to the point of demanding them.demanding them.

• The Jews were focused on signs that The Jews were focused on signs that the kingdom will be restored to the kingdom will be restored to Israel. Even the disciples did.Israel. Even the disciples did.


• The Jews looked for signs of The Jews looked for signs of Messianic strength, but Jesus’ signs Messianic strength, but Jesus’ signs point to weakness culminating in point to weakness culminating in crucifixion.crucifixion.

• The Jews, in their studies of the The Jews, in their studies of the Scriptures, missed the signs stated Scriptures, missed the signs stated about the Messiah about the Messiah (e.g., Psalm 22 and (e.g., Psalm 22 and

Isaiah 53)Isaiah 53)..


• The Jews did not like the fact that The Jews did not like the fact that the cross was pointing to the the cross was pointing to the deficiencies of the Mosaic Law and deficiencies of the Mosaic Law and its binding nature.its binding nature.

The CrossThe Crossis foolishnessis foolishness

to the Gentiles.to the Gentiles.

2.2. The Cross is foolishness to the Gentiles.The Cross is foolishness to the Gentiles.2.2. The Cross is foolishness to the Gentiles.The Cross is foolishness to the Gentiles.

• The Gentiles believed in many gods The Gentiles believed in many gods (Acts 17:16-24)(Acts 17:16-24). The message of the . The message of the Cross was too exclusive for them.Cross was too exclusive for them.

• The Cross runs contrary to the The Cross runs contrary to the atheistic materialist Epicureans who atheistic materialist Epicureans who pursued pleasure. The resurrection pursued pleasure. The resurrection from the dead presupposes the from the dead presupposes the vanity of the present life of vanity of the present life of materialism and pleasure.materialism and pleasure.


• The Cross was an affront to the The Cross was an affront to the Stoics who are pantheistic, fatalistic Stoics who are pantheistic, fatalistic and proud of being unmoved by and proud of being unmoved by external circumstances and external circumstances and changes. To them, the “stoic” changes. To them, the “stoic” attitude is the perfection of virtue.attitude is the perfection of virtue.


• To the Gentiles, the Cross disregards To the Gentiles, the Cross disregards human input and disarms human human input and disarms human efforts of reaching God.efforts of reaching God.

• The Cross corrects the errors that The Cross corrects the errors that the Greeks held to be true.the Greeks held to be true.

Errors Corrected in Acts 17:16-24Errors Corrected in Acts 17:16-24Errors Corrected in Acts 17:16-24Errors Corrected in Acts 17:16-24

GOD IS THE CREATOR of everything GOD IS THE CREATOR of everything (v. 24)(v. 24) and is not “like gold or silver or and is not “like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's stone--an image made by man's design and skill” design and skill” (v. 29)(v. 29)..

GOD IS UNSEEN SPIRIT so He cannot GOD IS UNSEEN SPIRIT so He cannot be designed to live in temples or be be designed to live in temples or be served as a material and physical served as a material and physical being being (vv. 24-25)(vv. 24-25)..


GOD HAS A PLAN FOR HISTORY. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR HISTORY. Having been designed and created by Having been designed and created by God to be like him, mankind exists God to be like him, mankind exists under God’s providential plan and under God’s providential plan and has been programmed to have a vital has been programmed to have a vital relationship with God relationship with God (vv. 26-28)(vv. 26-28). This . This runs counter to the Stoical Fate and runs counter to the Stoical Fate and Epicurean Chance.Epicurean Chance.


GOD DETESTS IDOLS AND IMAGES. GOD DETESTS IDOLS AND IMAGES. Bowing before man-made images or Bowing before man-made images or idols is a sin of ignorance which God idols is a sin of ignorance which God overlooked in the past but now He overlooked in the past but now He expects people to repent of such expects people to repent of such ignorance ignorance (vv. 29-30)(vv. 29-30). .

GOD HAS SET A DAY OF JUDGMENT GOD HAS SET A DAY OF JUDGMENT on the basis of the redemptive work on the basis of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ (v. 31)(v. 31)..

The CrossThe Crossis the poweris the power

and wisdom of God and wisdom of God to the Christians.to the Christians.

3.3. The Cross is the power and wisdom of God to the Christians.The Cross is the power and wisdom of God to the Christians.3.3. The Cross is the power and wisdom of God to the Christians.The Cross is the power and wisdom of God to the Christians.

• The cross of Christ Jesus “has The cross of Christ Jesus “has become for us wisdom from God – become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” and redemption” (v. 30)(v. 30)..

Three Tenses of SalvationThree Tenses of SalvationThree Tenses of SalvationThree Tenses of Salvation

1.1. We have been saved from the We have been saved from the penalty of sin (righteousness).penalty of sin (righteousness).

2.2. We are being saved from the We are being saved from the power of sin (sanctification).power of sin (sanctification).

3.3. We shall be saved from the We shall be saved from the presence of sin (redemption).presence of sin (redemption).

When human wisdom is applied to spiritual issues, dangers await and problems arise. This is what...

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