1 Corinthians 1 (5)

Pray Psalm 125.4, 5.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways,
The LORD shall lead them away
With the workers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel!

Sing Psalm 125.4, 5, 1.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
LORD, do good and care for those upright in heart.
Those who turn to evil shall from You depart.
Sinful men may increase on their way to hell!
Save Your people, let your peace abound in Israel!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

Read 1 Corinthians 1.1-25; meditate on verses 18-25.

Preparation
1. What was Paul’s basic message?

2. How does the world view that message?

Meditation
Here Paul addressed fallout from the divisive spirit that had invaded the churches in Corinth. Each of the conflicting groups (vv. 11, 12) doubtless regarded themselves as “wise” and the others as “fools” because of their “inferior” views. We can easily imagine that disputes were not uncommon between members of these churches, each contending for their group’s position.

Paul has shown that his own focus was not on what divides believers, but what alone can bring and keep them together: the cross of Jesus (vv. 14-17). Focusing on the cross taps into the power of God which binds believers together in His Spirit (v. 18; cf. Eph. 4.3). Anything beyond that must not be allowed to divide us. The unbelieving world stumbles at the message of the cross (vv. 22-24) and regards those who cling to that Good News as stumbling blocks or outright fools. Should believers consider one another in such terms? Shouldn’t we set aside our pride and hold fast to one another in Jesus and His cross?

Paul was adamant—as Apollos and Peter would have been—that his name or teaching not be used as a club to beat on other believers. “Cling to Jesus!” he insisted. Let the world dispute us, but let us not dispute with one another, lest we all, presuming to be wise, become fools in God’s eyes. Jesus—His life, death, resurrection, ascension, reign, and soon return—is the common denominator of “those who believe” (v. 21). Nothing must come between us as brethren in the Lord, for only in our clinging-to-Jesus foolishness will the wisdom of God shine in the world (v. 21), and many believe in Him (Jn. 17.21).

God is wiser than all, including the divisive Corinthians. Let us hold fast together to the foolishness of the cross that, as one Body, we may rise in the strength and wisdom of God (v. 25).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“…but we preach Christ crucified…” (1 Cor. 1.23).

Do you suppose the reason it seems foolish is because it is hard to fathom why anyone would ever willingly die for their enemies? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8). I must admit, I find that overwhelming too.

And who conquers death? Who dies and then summarily comes back to life three days later? Again, it is hard to believe that anyone would do that for their enemies.

And who loves unconditionally, fully, and chooses someone to love that doesn’t love them? “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” (Jn. 15.16).

Truth be told, it does seem foolish…and yet, we are the recipients of that foolishness—the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1.24).

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s…
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust” (Ps. 103.2-5, 11-14).

That kind of love, from a perfect God, is hard to comprehend.
And yet it is ours to accept. Incredible as it seems.

“Without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Heb. 11.6).

God’s mercy, grace, and love toward us is hard to believe. In fact, it takes faith to believe. It is so far beyond our human capacity to understand—so antithetical to our own sinful nature—that we cling only to the knowledge that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways (Is. 55.8, 9).

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1.25).

Our beloved and precious Christ, crucified for us: “Let us hold fast together to the foolishness of the cross that, as one Body, we may rise in the strength and wisdom of God.”

For reflection
1. What can you do to keep focused on the cross of Jesus throughout the day? Why should you do this?

2. Just because the world thinks the cross is foolishness does not mean we should keep it to ourselves. Explain.

3. Whom will you encourage today in the common denominator of our faith?

This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1.17-25

Pray Psalm 125.1-4.
Pray for yourself and the believers in your Personal Mission Field, that God will give you a renewed vision of Jesus Christ, exalted in glory, and that He will make you more like Himself each day.

Sing Psalm 125.1-4.
(St. Gertrude: Onward, Christian Soldiers)
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!
Like the hills surrounding safe Jerusalem,
Christ surrounds His Church and holds her in His mighty Hand!
Refrain, v. 1
All who trust in Jesus, strong as Zion stand!
Naught shall ever move them from their promised land!

Wickedness shall rest not on this holy land.
Sinfulness shall never come forth from their hand.
Trusting in the Savior, firm in His caress,
ever shall His favor on this holy city rest.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.