The Cross and The Called

1
The Cross andThe Called

• 1 Corinthians 118-24
• Ryan Habbena
• Twin City Fellowship
• October 26, 2008

2
The Introduction to 1 Corinthians

• 1 Corinthians 117
• For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to
  preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech,
  so that the cross of Christ would not be made
  void.

3
Foolishness and Power

• 1 Corinthians 118-20
• For the word of the cross is foolishness to
  those who are perishing, but to us who are being
  saved it is the power of God.  For it is
  written "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
  AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET
  ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the
  scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not
  God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

4
Well Pleased to Save

• 1 Corinthians 121
• For since in the wisdom of God the world through
  its wisdom did not come to know God, God was
  well-pleased through the foolishness of the
  message preached to save those who believe.

5
To Those who are The Called

• 1 Corinthians 122-24
• For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search
  for wisdom but we preach Christ crucified, to
  Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles
  foolishness, but to those who are the called,
  both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and
  the wisdom of God.

6
The Crisis in the Church

• Perhaps there has never been a time when it has
  been more vital to present the Gospel message
  clearly and without apology . . . Someone has
  said, in leaning over to speak to the modern
  world, I fear we may have fallen in. If so,
  lets climb back out, open the Word, and
  powerfully proclaim it from the housetops.
• Gary Gilley
• This Little Church Stayed Home pgs 50-51

7
Implication 1 God is Still Well-Pleased to
Save Through The Message of the Cross

• Jude 3
• Beloved, while I was making every effort to
  write you about our common salvation, I felt the
  necessity to write to you appealing that you
  contend earnestly for the faith which was once
  for all handed down to the saints.

8
Implication 2 The Wisdom of the World Does Not
Produce Godliness

• 1 Corinthians 212-14
• Now we have received, not the spirit of the
  world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we
  may know the things freely given to us by God,
  which things we also speak, not in words taught
  by human wisdom, but in those taught by the
  Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with
  spiritual words. But a natural man does not
  accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they
  are foolishness to him and he cannot understand
  them, because they are spiritually appraised.

9
Implication 3The Cross is the Power of God to
Those Who are Being Saved

• Hebrews 1014
• For by one offering He has perfected for all
  time those who are sanctified.

10
Application 1 Preach the Cross to Those who
are Perishing

• Acts 236-40 "Therefore let all the house of
  Israel know for certain that God has made Him
  both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you
  crucified."  Now when they heard this, they were
  pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the
  rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we
  do?"  Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of
  you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
  the forgiveness of your sins and you will
  receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the
  promise is for you and your children and for all
  who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will
  call to Himself. And with many other words he
  solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them,
  saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"

11
Application 2 Preach the Cross to Each Other

• Colossians 31-3
• Therefore if you have been raised up with
  Christ, keep seeking the things above, where
  Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set
  your mind on the things above, not on the things
  that are on earth. For you have died and your
  life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,
  who is our life, is revealed, then you also will
  be revealed with Him in glory.

12
Application 3Anticipate Remembering the Cross
for All Eternity

• Luke 2436-40
• While they were telling these things, He Himself
  stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be
  to you."  But they were startled and frightened
  and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And
  He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why
  do doubts arise in your hearts? "See My hands and
  My feet, that it is I Myself touch Me and see,
  for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you
  see that I have." And when He had said this, He
  showed them His hands and His feet.