"Because We Are Forgiven"

1 Corinthians 1:18–20 ¹⁸For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

²⁰Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

          We live in a world that thinks it is wise and almost all knowing.  To our world studying the bible is folly.  To most Christians it has been a very long time that we care to think of the need to study together God's word.  And the Body of Christ asks, "Who do you say that I am?"  The problem might be even Christians do not know who the Church is or even who Christ is.

          It is a hard question Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  What makes it hard is even though Jesus' disciples walked with Him they still only saw the form of a man who talked a lot about His death to come.  And, though the disciples listened to His word they didn't understand what Jesus' death meant.  It would seem that the Messiah would have used wisdom to show He was the all powerful and could not be killed, but of course this is the wisdom of man.  Here's something to contemplate, even the disciples had to take it on faith that this was the Christ, the true Son of God.

          It is important to point out that there were others who appeared to do the same miracles that Jesus had.  Many came before Jesus and were killed and their followers scattered never to be heard of again. Acts 5:36-37.  We think that just because Jesus healed a few people and drove out demons that this would be enough to prove Jesus was the Christ.

          There was one thing that helped the true disciple believe, which was the prophecy word of the scriptures.  Again something to point out is Jesus knew all of the scriptures of the Old Testament, and taught them as well, at least since He was 12 years of age. Luke 2:46-47.  The faith of the disciples were based on hearing and learning the word of God. 

We wonder why at times we have a hard time with our faith, and even as Jesus gives us the answer to gain faith we ignore it and continue to doubt.  Romans 10:17.  The problem we have is we take most words at face value and play the game of semantics.  Hearing the word of God is not just listening with our ears, but to read and listen to what we study of God's word with our minds so that we get the complete word of God.      

          1 Corinthians 1:21–22 ²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. ²²For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

          When you stop to think of God's wisdom it confuses us because at times it is just the opposite of the wisdom of men and women.  Most of mankind would say if one sins then they should be punished to the letter of the law.  Our world demands someone is punished whether they are really guilty of the sin or not.  Most of mankind would also say unless it pertains to me!  We enjoy dishing out punishment to others, but when the tables are turned then it's just not fair.   So you would think that most people would jump on the Gospel wagon and sing for joy praises to Jesus Christ. 

In the wisdom of Christ He pardons us by taking on the punishment to the letter of God's law which is punishment by death and dies for our sins.  This does not make any sense when our world screams that the guilty should pay a penalty deserving of the crime committed.  And if you are the someone who should pay for the crime, it still doesn't make sense, but it is a good feeling knowing you are forgiven.

1 Corinthians 1:30–31 ³⁰He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

          Who do you say the Church is?  If we say we are the church then we risk boasting about ourselves.  We should be proud and joyful being members of this church, but our boasting should be that we were made members of the body of Christ because of Christ.  This is not a law but a privilege that Christ died to give us membership in the true Church.  Christ cloths us as members of His Body, making us holy and redeeming us into the love of God.  Who do you say we are as the Church?  We are part of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, everlasting life and eternal relationship active with Yahweh.  Because we are forgiven.  Amen.