The Power of the Cross

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Power of the Cross

Date: Jun. 22, 2015

Passage

1 Corinthians 1:1-17 (ESV)

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

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Daily Bread

Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Key Verse: 1:17

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

First, God is faithful. (1-9) Paul considered the church in Corinth as holy and sanctified by Christ. To look at them alone, they had many weaknesses and divisions among them. But Paul was thankful for them, for they were called by God who is faithful. When Paul saw the Corinthian Christians, he saw those for whom Christ died, those who will be blameless and have eternal union with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Second, lest the cross be emptied of its power. (10-17) The Christians in Corinth were proud of their Bible teachers, but this created quarrels and divisions among them. Christ died on the cross that each of them may be perfectly united to each other and to him forever. Their divisions were the denial of the power of the gospel. They can serve the power of the cross when they set aside their disagreements and live in gospel unity.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to send Christ for me. Help me to serve in the power of the cross of Christ in all things.

One Word: The cross of Christ has power

Set Apart for God’s Work

Acts 12:25-13:12

Key Verse: 12:13:2

And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.

Today's Question

Is there more than one God?

See answer and references