Devotions

The Cross is the Power of God

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We often hear about Paul and his missionary journeys and he was active in planting churches and they grew. But we find here that Paul is admonishing them in 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing … and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose. This admonition is not just so they will be kind to one another, Paul’s purpose is that they fulfill the mission of the Lord, “of “glorifying God’s name among the nations” (Mal. 1:11)”1. And they will do this, not with the wisdom of the world, but with, in 1 Corinthians 2:4 “a demonstration of the Spirit and power”, that, in 1 Corinthians 2:5 “your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.

The Thirty Seven Mighty Men of David

2 Samuel 23:24–39

Count the People

2 Samuel 24:1–12

Let Us Fall Into the Hand of Yahweh

2 Samuel 24:13–25

To the Church of God

1 Corinthians 1:1–3

God is Faithful

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 

Be Made Complete

1 Corinthians 1:10–17
There have been reports to Paul of “quarrels among you” in 1 Corinthians 1:11 and Paul says, “there should not be divisions among you” in 1 Corinthians 1:10. But Paul is not interested in the cause of their division and quarrels, it doesn’t matter who baptized them or who they are now following. Paul has one message for them in

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing … and that you be made complete in the same mind and with the same purpose.

Here is the message: Follow after Jesus Christ. Say the same thing. Be made complete in the same mind. Be made complete in the same purpose.

But it is more than just agreeing together, “Paul is seeking to redefine the Corinthians’ identity1 … To achieve this goal of “glorifying God’s name among the nations” (Mal. 1:11)”2. 

The Cross is the Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18–25
There is natural knowledge, a “wisdom of the world” in 1 Corinthians 1:20. There is a “wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent” in 1 Corinthians 1:19 but in 1 Corinthians 1:21 “the world through its wisdom did not know God”. And, in our day, there is simply more of the “wisdom of the world”.

Now, Paul says, there are three things people will seek, two of them are in

1 Corinthians 1:22 For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom

The third is in 1 Corinthians 1:23 “Christ crucified” and Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “to us who are being saved it is the power of God”. To us, in 1 Corinthians 1:24 “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God”.

The Foolish Things of the World God Chose

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 

Jesus Christ and Him Crucified

1 Corinthians 2:1–5
Of all of the people of his time, Paul started his life with the strongest credentials, he “was among the most educated Jews in the first century. He was the star pupil of Gamaliel, the leading rabbi in Jerusalem … Not only was Saul learned and accomplished, he was highly passionate. He was a zealot. He described himself as “extremely zealous … for the traditions of my fathers” (Gal. 1:14b) and as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Phil. 3:5)”.3

But as he writes to the believers in Corinth, the church, he doesn’t depend on any of his past credentials or training. Instead, Paul says in

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Paul came with this message and this message only to bring, in 1 Corinthians 2:4 “a demonstration of the Spirit and power”. And this was in

1 Corinthians 2:5 in order that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • 2 Samuel 23:24-39
  • 2 Samuel 24:1-25
  • 1 Corinthians 1:1-31
  • 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

References

  • 1. Ciampa and Rosner, “1 Corinthians” and Hays, The Conversion of the Imagination.
  • 2. Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to the Corinthians (p. 74). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
  • 3. Sproul, R. C. (2010). What Does It Mean to be Born Again? (Vol. 6, pp. 39–40). Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing.