Christ Crucified is Paul’s name for the gospel he would not decorate.
We preach Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
but to those who are called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
The message is not a ladder.
It is a cross.
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
Corinth loved speech, status, and a wisdom that could be applauded. Paul came in weakness and much fear. His testimony was not clever talk lest the cross be emptied of its power. Christ crucified is the same Christ who is risen—he will preach the resurrection in chapter 15—but the cross is where the offense sits and where the power sits. Jews ask for signs. Greeks ask for wisdom. The church asks for a Lord who hangs under a charge and calls it victory. Wounded for our transgressions. Became a curse for us. Canceled the record of debt, nailing it to the cross. Disarmed the rulers and put them to open shame. The rulers of this age did not understand, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. To the called, that shame is power and wisdom. To the uncalled, it remains a scandal or a joke. Do not sand the wood so the room will clap. The supper proclaims His death until He comes. The mark of the apostle was not polish. It was a cross-shaped word that the Spirit used to give faith.
- Christ crucified is not Christ minus the resurrection. It is Christ minus our pride.
- Stumbling block and folly are predicted reactions, not failures of packaging.
- Emptied of its power is what happens when rhetoric replaces the wood.
- Know nothing except… is focus, not a ban on every other doctrine.
- Lord of glory crucified means they killed God-with-us and fulfilled a plan.
- Called is why some hear power where others hear only shame.
- Until He comes, the church still eats and drinks a death.
- The Message – Preached; not improved; not emptied.
- The Offense – Stumbling block; folly.
- The Called – Power of God; wisdom of God.
- The Manner – Weakness; fear; no lofty speech.
- The Work – Curse borne; debt nailed; powers shamed.
- The Table – Death proclaimed until He comes.
- The Glory – They crucified the Lord of glory—and God raised Him.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-24 – “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”… “Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 8 – “I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”… “None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:17 – Christ sent me to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
- Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
- Isaiah 53:5 – He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities.
- Colossians 2:14-15 – Canceling the record of debt that stood against us… He set it aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures… He was raised on the third day.
- 1 Corinthians 11:26 – As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
- Galatians 6:14 – Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 2:8 – He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
- Acts 2:23, 36 – This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed… God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.
- 1 Peter 2:24 – He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.
We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
They crucified the Lord of glory. He became a curse for us. He nailed the record to the cross.
You proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Far be it from me to boast except in the cross.
Do not polish the wood until no one stumbles. The offense is the door. The called hear power. Keep the death in the sermon and at the table. He is risen—and He is still the Crucified.
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