1 Corinthians 1:20-31 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews astumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
This week Michael writes that the Apostle Paul, who wrote the passage above, was ordained of God with the ministry to the Gentiles. As he approached the end of his life, Paul said to his “son in the faith” Timothy, “be strong in the Lord and the power of his might – Ephesians 6:10. Also, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). When we divert our eyes from following Jesus Christ, we will be caught up in the affairs of this world.
Paul continued in 2 Timothy 1:8-10, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Then in Romans 1:16-17 Paul states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Continuing in 2 Timothy 1:13-14, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” Paul knew that he was approaching the end of his earthly life and ministry. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul passed “the light of truth” to his protege and son in the faith. As Timothy’s mentor and coach, Paul trained him up in God’s truth, to grow up into the man of God for the purpose God intended. Holding fast to the sound word that we have heard and witnessed in others, is secured in believing faith, activated by the love of Christ in us. Likewise, we need to pass it on.
Let's continue Michael's message on passing the Gospel on to others in the next post. In Christ, Brian
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