Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth that “Christ”
did not send him “to baptize, but to
preach the gospel”,
and he was not to do this with “wisdom
of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect”,
and in chapter one and verse eighteen of
First Corinthians, Paul the apostle declared how
“the preaching of the cross
is to them that perish foolishness”
where we read:
For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The
verse begins, “For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;”
Paul began
with the word, “For”
which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and
therefore” “the preaching”
or “the bringing, announcing and proclaiming” “of
the cross”
or “the crucifixion which Christ underwent” “of
Christ”
which refers to “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”
“is to them”
which refers to “is to the people whether male or female” “that
perish” or
“who are destroyed, put out of the way entirely, abolished, put to
an end to ruin, rendered useless and devoted or given over to eternal
misery in hell” “foolishness”
or “silliness and absurdity”. People who are on a pathway to
destruction eternally think the “preaching
of the cross”
is a “silly absurdity” and waste of time.
The
verse continues, “but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”.
Paul added
the word, “but” which
means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just
stated “unto us which are saved”
which means “'toward the people who are rescued and delivered from
the destruction and penalties of the Messianic judgment” “it
is the power”
or “the preaching of the gospel is the inherent power, residing by
virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exerts and puts
forth” “of God”
which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised
of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. People who
have received “Salvation” from judgment to come offered by Jesus
Christ see the “preaching of the
gospel” as
God's “power”
to eternally alter and change lives.
When
we consider these words from Paul, we see why he thought the
“preaching of the gospel” such an important role in his
life. The “gospel” or “good news” of Jesus Christ
coming to pay the penalty for our “sins” and offering
escape from eternal judgment with a promise of “eternal life”
changes the way people think and live. The “gospel” is
God's “power” to help people change their lives from
“sinful” ways to “righteous”, and when the “gospel”
is “preached”, it has its effect upon those who hear it.
Next
time Paul quotes God where He said, “I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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