The Gospel Centers in the Death of Christ
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Cor 2:1-5 (NKJV)
I find that it is very important to understand Paul's petition, posture and purpose in presenting the Christian message to the Corinthian church. I hope to demonstrate by the Word of God that we cannot rely on ourselves and our own interpretation or wisdom of Scripture when presenting the message of Christ. Paul makes it very clear that he relied only on the power of God when presenting the Gospel of Christ. Paul understood that the message that he was to present was the message of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for sins on the cross. He also wanted to make a point that until someone understands and believes the Gospel, there is nothing more to say to them. The preaching of the cross was so dominant in the early church that believers were accused of worshiping a dead man.
Paul had to continuously remind the Corinthians of his petition, of his posture, and of his purpose towards the Gospel of Christ.
Paul's Petition of the presentation of the Gospel (vs 1-2)
As we read in verses one and two, Paul had not come to Corinth to glorify himself or to start a religious fan club. He had come to glorify God and God alone. Paul's approach of the presentation of the Gospel relied only on the power of God. Paul knew that human wisdom was not necessary and could not replace the wisdom of God when presenting the Gospel. God wisely established that man could not come to know him by human wisdom. That would exalt man, so God designed to save helpless sinners through the preaching of a message that was so simple the worldly wise deemed it nonsense.
As we see in the church today, preachers in the pulpit are relying on their own wisdom and philosophical understanding to present the Gospel. They are trying to use their own knowledge and eloquence to gain followers and build the church. Paul previously demonstrated that 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 (1 Corinthians 1:18). Paul did not depend on eloquent speech or clever arguments; he simply declared God's word in the power of the Spirit. He was an ambassador, not a Christian salesman.
As we see in many contemporary churches, preachers are using their own spectacular speech and philosophy to present the Gospel of Christ. Paul knew that if he had relied on his own speech and philosophy, he would have been exalting himself above God. Let us remember, that we are to exalt Christ above all things. The contemporary church has become a place of entertainment that the focus of Jesus Christ and the true gospel has been lost and put on the back burner. Preachers in the contemporary pulpit have relied on their own spectacular entertainment facilities to bring people into the church. It has become a church for marketing purposes for their own initiative instead of expansion of the kingdom of God, by putting Christ in the forefront of all things.
Too many preachers of the Word so magnified themselves and their guests that they fail to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ. Paul gloried in the cross of Christ and made it the center of his message (Galatians 6:14).
Paul's Posture of the presentation of the Gospel (vs 3-4)
Even though Paul was an apostle, he came to the Corinthians as a humble servant. He did not depend on himself; he became nothing that Christ might be everything. Let us remember that Paul came to Corinth after being beaten and imprisoned in Philippi, run out of Thessalonica and Berea, and scoffed at in Athens, so he may have been physically weak. But in that weakness, he was most powerful. There were no theatrics or techniques to manipulate people's response. His fear and shaking was because of the seriousness of his mission.
Paul solely depended on the power of the Holy Spirit. He understood that it was not his experience or ability that gave his ministry its power; it was the work of the Spirit of God. A major fault with the preachers in the church today is that they rely on their own ability and understanding of the Word when presenting the Gospel of Christ. Contemporary preachers seem to have an understanding that they must have more education, more knowledge, more charisma, and more wisdom than the church next door in order to keep their flock motivated to continue to return each Sunday. Please do not misunderstand me, a preacher needs to be thoroughly educated and knowledgeable of the Word of God. However, the Holy Spirit should be the first and foremost giver of any power in interpretation of the Word itself. When we start putting our own interpretation, knowledge, wisdom and education above that of the power of the Holy Spirit, we are exalting ourselves above our God.
Paul made it perfectly clear that his preaching was a demonstration, not a performance. The Holy Spirit, used Paul's preaching to change lives, and that was all the proof Paul needed that his message was from God. We must use the gifts that God gave us relying only on the power of the Holy Spirit to present the message of the Cross to people today. Please do not get it twisted, Paul was not telling preachers to deliberately preach poorly, or to avoid using the gifts that God gave them. He was simply teaching that we must rely solely on the Spirit of God to work in the hearts of the hearers by the words and demonstration of the preaching.
Those who minister the Word must prepare and use every gift God has given them, but they must not put their competence in themselves (2 Corinthians 3:5). Let us present the Gospel with the correct attitude by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone. We must not boast in ourselves on the things that we have accomplished as humans on this earth to present the Gospel according to our purpose. It is for the glorification of Christ alone!
Paul's Purpose of the presentation of the Gospel (vs 5)
Paul reminded the Corinthians, that they were to put their trust in God and not in the messenger that God had sent. As we have previously stated, if Paul had relied on his human wisdom, and his eloquence of speech, then the power of the message would be exalting himself and not that of God. Paul's focus was for everyone to see Christ through him and to exalt Christ above him because he knew that he was merely a sinner saved by the grace of God. Paul's purpose was to demonstrate the power of God in his life so that Christ would be recognized through all things in him. It was Paul's intention for everyone to see Christ working in their own lives and to change them by the power of the Holy Spirit not by the words that came from the messenger.
The contemporary church has become so involved in entertainment, eloquence, beauty, and all of the things of the world that the message of the cross has been compromised. People's faith in the congregation has become more towards the preacher than of the Holy Spirit. Preachers have relied on emotionalism and feelings to motivate and stir up the congregation. Each member's faith should be in God alone and not the preacher.
The message of the cross centers in the death of Christ. The message of the cross centers on the crucifixion of our Savior. The message of the cross centers solely on the Son of God. The message of the cross has nothing to do with the emotionalism, feelings or entertainment in the contemporary church. The message of the cross is a message of death to sin, atonement for sins, redemption of sins, and victory over sin by Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Conclusion
The approach, attitude, and aim of the presentation of the Gospel are only correct when Jesus Christ is exalted above all things. We must never put our own wisdom and knowledge above that of the wisdom of God. We are to glory only in the Lord, not in ourselves or of anything that man can give or do.
Let us never forget the true center of the Gospel; the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lean not on your own understanding or wisdom of the Gospel of Christ, but put all faith in Jesus Christ and rely solely on the power of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God to understand the true purpose of the Gospel. Stay focused in the Word of God and the understanding and knowledge of those words will be revealed to you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
May God bless you and strengthen you to endure and discern the messages that are being preached today.
In Christ,
Joe
