TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 2: 1-5
READING: PHILIPPIANS 3: 1-21
SUBJ: The certification of Paul that the Gospel delivered up in the power of God is the essential element of the faith and that it should never be moved from its central position in the Church.
AIM: That whatever the pressures or distractions that we should never be caught up in the Galatian error of looking to another Gospel which is, in fact, not another!
INTR: We are certainly familiar with some of the errors of Corinthians, and we will not rehearse them now but would rather to look to that which Paul certified to them at the beginning.
1. In chapter one the Apostle has expressed concern about divisions indicating a tendency to be moved away from that which is to be central with all the Lord's people.
2. His intent is to communicate the message and the mandate of 1 Corinthians 1:29
3. He would then be careful to subject himself to that same order with regard to his ministry among them even as an Apostle!
THESIS: A religion without the true Gospel and the power of God is idolatry at best and blasphemy at its worst in that the centrality of Christ is abandoned to the ideas of men.
I. That which is to be excluded (v. 1)
1. The objective clearly stated was the declaration of the testimony of God
1) The ideas of men may have their place in the realm of worldly activity but not as an adjunct to the word of God - it His testimony to which we look - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20
2) Such is to be the burden of all who come bearing the message which is the Gospel.
2. There are two things that are used to impress men.â€
1) Excellent speech - Remember Herod.
2) Excellent wisdom - Foolishness with God.
3. While Paul's knowledge seemed to be vast, he seemed to question his own oratory - that may have been after the manner of 1 Timothy 1:15.
II. That which is essential (v. 2)
1. A determination as to conviction of truth or that which is foundational and therefore essential.
2. An exclusive determination to be sure:
1) To know here is to be aware as of immediate experience so to be the point of focus
2) His use of the negative - not to know - is to the exclusion of all else
3. The all-inclusive Gospel statement:
1) Jesus Christ and Him crucified is presented in the past tense indicating that He is still crucified;
2) More especially that all that He did stands in all of its accomplishments.
3) He is presented in Revelation as the Lamb as it had been slain.
4) Compare Paul’s statement to the Galatians; “I am crucified with Christ...â€
III. That which is experienced (vv. 3-4)
1. The personal effect on Paul is noteworthy:
1) In weakness which refers to bodily or mental frailty or feebleness – again perhaps comparing human ability to that of the Spirit
2) Fear and trembling – which was certainly not of men but rather at the monumental task he undertook.
2. The second disclaimer as to his ability in not using the things to which men often use to obtain credibility.
1) It was rather in the demonstration of the Spirit and Power (dunamis).
2) Both from the testimony of others and personal experience there is identity to be had with what Paul is saying here; (Particularly Albert Martin’s Book Preaching in the Spirit) - There is an operation of the Spirit that cannot be creditably imitated nor self-initiated in preaching.
3. The narrative and the terms of the Gospel may be repeated by any, but only the Spirit can account for what Paul references here.
IV. That which is assured (v. 5)
1. That which men creates or offers stands or falls in the wisdom of men.
1) Consider: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
2) What a terrible deception to stand on the spurious ideas of men wherein the will of men, the wisdom of men and the abilities of men is exalted above that of God!
2. It is rather the Gospel that assures the ability (dunamis) of God to work in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure - It is that in which He had both declared and proven by the Cross of Christ that He has a vested interest!!
3. So it is that our faith stands!!!
