What Does 1 Corinthians 1:18 Mean?

For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God's power.

1 Corinthians 1:18(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

Philosophical wisdom in Paul's culture, was almost as highly prized as the pop stars and sportsmen and sportswomen of today, but the same saving gospel message of the Cross that Paul preached 2000 years ago, still has the same astonishing, antithetical effect in our own lives and cultures.

The message of the Cross is foolish folly to the unsaved masses in society today. To those who are lost and perishing, to those who have not trusted in the shed blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and God's free gift of eternal life, the message of the Cross is insane madness, stupid silliness, and illogical idiocy.

But the message of the Cross to us who have believed in Christ's sacrificial work 2000 years ago, is dynamic and powerful. The shed blood of Christ as the redemptive price for the forgiveness of sin and His glorious Resurrection from the dead with its promise of eternal life and our blessed hope in Christ's soon return, is our glorious hope and our sufficient strength, for it is the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD.

"Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" - but He chose to use the sacrificial death of His only begotten Son to be a means to display His infinite wisdom and exhibit His divine understanding.

To the Jews who are blind in part, the message of the Cross is a stumbling block. To the unsaved Gentiles who are dead in their trespasses and sins, the message of the Cross is utter foolishness. But to us who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and who continue to 'be being saved' through the wonderful, sanctification process of the indwelling Holy Spirit conforming us day by day into the likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord, the message of the Cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God - to Whom be all praise and glory for ever and ever amen.

My Prayer

Praise God for the message of the Cross. Praise You, Lord, that You loved the world so much that You gave Your only begotten Son to be our Saviour, to die on the Cross so that we might live with Him forever. Thank You that Jesus became a man and died on the Cross to be our substitute for sin, by means of His shed blood on Calvary's Cross. And all praise and glory be to You, that He broke the power of sin and death to all who believe on His name. Thank You, forever and ever, AMEN.

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