Connecting the Dots......1 Cor. 1:18

1 Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are 2 distant statements presented here both referring the ‘message of the cross’.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
For the message of the cross to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

What is the message of the cross?

The message of the cross is the ‘the power of God’ to those who are being saved
- The message of the cross is able to save and cleanse and redeem; and make holy.
- Salvation is not by human might, human reason, or human effort but only by the power of God, by "Christ crucified."

The message of the cross is the ‘wisdom of God’ to those who are being saved

- It isn't human wisdom or philosophy that is able to save.
- Souls are saved only by the cross of Jesus, by Christ crucified.
- The cross means the doctrine that Christ died for sinner upon the cross
- Christ died as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of people

The message of the cross is a ‘traumatizing message’

- A brutal, awful death on that cross and one of absolute torture.
- Scourged, Beaten, Spit upon, Beard Plucked, Mocked, Nailed to the Cross

The message of the cross is a ‘simple message’

- The Bible tells us that the way to be saved is for the sinner to accept by faith
- It is not about you quitting your sins! It is about you coming to Jesus by faith!
- It's not about turning over a new leaf, but placing your faith in Jesus and Him alone

The message of the cross is missing in many Churches today:

- The modern church has tried to attach too many conditions to salvation.
- Whole denominations, are moving away from the message of salvation through the blood of Jesus, toward a message of salvation through good works.
- Instead of hearing the life changing news that men are sinners, people hear a message that tells them, "I'm OK”

The message of the cross offers eternal life with God.

Heb 10:26,27 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Hebrews reminds us that "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"

The message of the cross is a love story

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
- Gen. 3 we see where Adam & Eve sinned against God
- Man down through history has sinned and are sinners

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- We cannot save ourselves, we need someone to save us

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

- Gods sent Jesus (God , sinless to pay for our sin)

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

1 Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

It is not intellect that causes the problem; it is sin. People have a sin problem with the Gospel.

foolishness -<>
moria mo-ree'- silliness, absurdity:

The manner of preaching the gospel was foolishness
It is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness.

The Jewish think that it is incredible for a person who ended his life on a cross could possibly be the Anointed Messiah

The Greeks loved human wisdom, and developed many systems of philosophy.
The people held to the various systems, causing many factions of philosophy in Corinth.
- They laughed at the story of a crucified Savior.
- They sought for wisdom and men educated an arts and sciences.
- The plain doctrine of the cross did not suit their taste or arouse their curiosity.

The word philosophy simply means "man's wisdom, the word literally means "the love of wisdom" (sophia and phileo="to love wisdom")

People who hold to worldly wisdom think the cross is moronic.
But we who are saved know it to be the power of God.
You don't need human wisdom or human philosophy. If you know the word of God and you understand the word of God, you know the reason for everything.
The world wonders how such a death could have any influence on the salvation of man

Perishing -
apollumi ap-ol'-loo-mee literally or figuratively: - destroy fully, die, lose, mar, perish.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Luke 13:3 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
2 Cor. 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

Satan's Strategy with Unbelievers

A. He lies and deceives. Gen. 3:13. He led Adam and Eve to rebel against God

B. If an unbeliever desires to be ‘religious’ Satan will transform himself into an angel of light 2 Cor 11:14
Then he is lead to a church or religion a gospel of salvation by works.

C. Satan deceives unbelievers by making them think that living in sin is fun.
That's why our world thrives on pleasure and entertainment.

D. Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers
2 Cor. 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
He blinds the minds lest they might be saved
Satan also blinds the eyes of sinners who are seeking God. (blunt their mental discernment or to darken the mind.)
Mankind has been so blinded by Satan that the world scoffs at Christ's claims and the free offer of salvation

E. Satan binds or enslaves unbelievers
Luke 13:15,16 The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound––think of it––for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
People are enslaved to drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, gambling and other sinful habits.

The god of this age is

John 12:31, he is called “the prince of this world.”
Eph. 2:2, he is called “the prince of the power of the air.”
Eph. 6:12, is referred to under the names of “principalities, and powers,” “the rulers of the darkness of this world,” and “spiritual wickedness in high places.”

The world at large is under his control and direction. They obey his will and further his purposes..

They submit to his will in executing fraud, piracy, murder, adultery, lewdness; in wars and fighting; in amusements, dishonesty and falsehood.

The world pursues his plans; yields to his temptations; rejects the reign of God; and is full of cruelty.

Satan, will not oppose your plans of wealth, fashion and amusements; or schemes to climb the steps of ambition in this world; he will not oppose the theater, gambling casinos, taverns; dancing, but the moment someone desires the gospel he will make resistance, and then all his power will be concentrated.

Satan uses every means to steer the unbeliever away from the truth.
It is by the gospel only that people can be saved; and if he can prevent sinners from embracing that, he will secure their destruction, and most effectually show his hatred of God.

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
natural man or -unregenerate man - stands opposed to “spiritual.”
the man who is under the influence of carnal or human wisdom.

does not receive the things of the Spirit of God
- he rejects them as foolishness, with no desire to turn from his sin
- the doctrines can only be perceived by the aid of the Holy Spirit enlightening the mind and influencing the heart.

nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned
- doctrines are not discoverable by human wisdom, or by any skill which the natural man may have, but only to be learned by revelation..

Revelation 12:9 says that the Dragon or Satan has deceived the whole world.
But has the import of that really sunk in?

2 Cor. 4:3,4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing (lost), whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe...

if our gospel is veiled - or not understood.
It is not to any lack of clearness in the gospel itself, but to other causes.
It was not because God had purposely concealed its meaning.

Consider:
It is not the fault of the sun when people shut their eyes and will not see it.

it is veiled to those who are perishing (lost)
- if a man’s heart is veiled to the Gospel, it is a proof that he is among the lost
- This present world is based on a system that is at war with God.

whose minds the god of this age has blinded
The increasing diminishment of God.
- in past years there was a deeper respect for God
- See hostility to Christianity in government and education, and the elimination of "traditional" or "canon" learning from our institutions
Replace supernatural explanations of the world with natural ones.
- Men in a natural state are utterly ignorant of spiritual truths, Consider Nicodemus.
- One may automatically "screen out" possible supernatural explanations simply because they conflict with natural explanations
The inconsistency of world religions.
- Many denominations (with many differences)
- by practicing the outward form of Christianity

Incorrect Church Teaching
- Incorrect interpretation of Bible scripture
- No mention in the Bible that salvation is gained by membership
- The church does not save. Christ does that and only Christ.
- Acts 17:11 These were more fair–minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.



Lies of Evolution
-Evolution is just another name in the never ending war against God and His word.
It uses the most respected classes of people in our society, the 'scientist.'

-The Butler Act was a 1925 Tennessee law forbidding public school teachers from denying the Biblical account of man’s origin.

- In the "Monkey Trial" evolutionists pleaded that their view should be given equal time in the classroom along with creationism. The trial drew intense national publicity, with modernists pitted against traditionalists over the teaching of evolution in the schools and a Fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. The trial proved a critical turning point in the American creation-evolution controversy.

Human Wisdom
- Human Wisdom in the secular world, is dominated by naturalism and humanism, and the view which insists that "Jesus died for our sins" is rebuked.
- Human Wisdom in the materialistic world, which is dominated by materialism and desire for power and wealth, the idea that the death of One who would purposefully allow himself to be abused and lay down his life is outrageous.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world––the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life––is not of the Father but is of the world.
- Human Wisdom in the religious world, which is dominated by the notion that people can find their own ways to God, the idea that we are so sinful that we need salvation purchased by the death of God's Son is offensive.

Family Teaching & Tradition of man
- Many accept blindly what has been passed down through others; without verifing against scripture to see if true

Baptism
- The word "baptism" is from the Greek word "baptisma" The word means to dip, to dye, to immerse, or to change the identification of.
- Example is when a piece of white cloth was immersed "bapto". The word meaning is never associated solely with water, unless the context accompanies this meaning.
Good Deeds
- Eph. 2:8~9 not saved by good works or deeds
- Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"
- In other words, if you could earn heaven through your good works, then Jesus suffered that horrible death on the cross for nothing.

1 Cor. 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.