THE WORD OF THE CROSS
I CORINTHIANS 1:17-25

IN THE ROMAN WORLD THE CROSS WAS THE WORST WAY TO DIE … 

OF THE CROSS, JOSEPHUS SAID, IT WAS “THE MOST WRETCHED OF DEATHS.”

CICERO, WANTED ROMAN CITIZENS SHELTERED FROM THE CROSS, HE SAID, “THE IDEA OF A CROSS SHOULD NEVER COME NEAR THE BODIES OF ROMANS … NEVER PASS THROUGH THEIR THOUGHTS, OR EYES, OR EARS.”

C.S. LEWIS, “THE CRUCIFIXION DID NOT BECOME COMMON IN ART UNTIL ALL WHO HAD SEEN A REAL ONE DIED OFF.”

WISDOM VS. FOOLISHNESS, Vv.17-18

   “FOOLISHNESS” OR MORONIC

      THE JEWS STUMBLE OVER IT …

      THE GREEKS SEE AS SCANDALOUS


PERISHING VS. POWER, Vv.18 

   WHAT IS THE WORD OF THE CROSS THAT PEOPLE DISMISS AS FOOLISHNESS?

      CHRIST WAS CONDEMNED TO DIE …

      CHRIST WAS WILLING TO DIE … 

   WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “PERISH”, AND WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN BY “BEING SAVED”?

      PERISHING … RUINED OR DESTROYED

      BEING SAVED … 3 TENSES;

         I AM SAVED – JUSTIFICATION

         I AM BEING SAVED – SANCTIFICATION

         I WILL BE SAVED – GLORIFICATION

APPLICATION, Vv.24

   IS GOD CALLING YOU TO HIMSELF?