Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God

1 Corinthians 1:1-2:16

Key Verse 1:23, 24

In the case of Job, we learned that resurrection faith makes a difference in one’s life. 

In the passage we can learn resurrection faith (based on the power and wisdom of Jesus) that brings believers to a perfect unity in the Lord.

Read 1:1-9. What does this passage tell us about the purpose of God’s calling for the members of the church [in Corinth]? What did God provide for the church [then and also today] so that it could fulfill this purpose of calling? 

** To mold man into a Christ-like person so that fellowship with Him, resulting in union with Him, would occur. 

** All the means by which to fulfill God’s purpose of calling. In vs. 4-9 Paul says that the message about Jesus Christ contains the riches of His grace such as the knowledge of salvation, the spiritual gift found in the Lord, by which God who is faithful works in the life of a believer to attain to the purpose the Lord God has in calling each person. 

Read verses 10-12 and think about the appeal to “be perfectly united in mind and thought”. Paul appealed “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What does “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” indicate about the way in which different people can be united in mind and in thought? 

** The name refers to the identity. In the name of Jesus means by establishing oneness (becoming like Jesus Christ, in other words by identifying oneself with the Christ), one can be united with others. So it is in and through Jesus that one can build unity with others. [One can become perfectly one in mind and thought in Jesus. How beautiful it would be, if indeed this becomes a reality among “all” who are in the Lord!?] 

Read 13-19 and think about the meaning of the following expressions: a) lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power; and b) the message of the cross…is the power of God. In what respect is the cross of Jesus God’s “power”? How is this power related to the Apostle’s appeal to be united in the Lord? 

** Power of God who saves man from the power of sin and death. This is a lot of power, for no power is greater than the power of sin and death, and yet the power of the cross of Jesus is greater than the greatest power. 

** This power of God sets man free from the bondage to the power of sin. Sin causes division. See how the devil caused the first family to suffer from rifts among them, by first tempting the woman to sin against God. But Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil. 1Jo 3:8

Read 1:20-31. In verse 23 Paul says he preaches Christ crucified, for to him, Christ represents not only God’s power but also God’s wisdom. In verse 30 Paul says God’s wisdom (i.e., Jesus Christ) consists of: a) righteousness; b) holiness; and c) redemption. How are the three related to one another?

** Righteousness – a right relationship with God the Father via Jesus Christ; holiness – being like God in character; redemption – resulting in the restoration of what has been lost. 

So three are related to one another, but in a progressive order, so that without the first, the second is not going to be possible, without the second, the third is not going to be possible. 

 

Read 2:1-16. In this passage the word “Spirit: is repeated. What do the following expressions tell us about the work of the Spirit?: a) my message and my preaching were…with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power; b) God has revealed it (God’s secret wisdom) to us by his Spirit; c) no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God; d) the Spirit who is from God; e) we speak in words taught by the Spirit; and f) the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.

** The Spirit gives power to the message so that the message might fulfill the purpose it was intended to fulfill.

** The Spirit reveals God’s wisdom to man.

** The Spirit enables man to discern God’s thoughts (so man would be one with God), Wow, what a concept/vision?!

** The source of the Spirit is God.

** The Spirit is the good Bible teacher.

** The Spirit enables man to accept what the Spirit has in mind. 

The end 

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