February 22, 2025 - 1 Corinthians 1:23 - The Offense of the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:23

"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;"

The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth addresses divisions and challenges within the congregation. In this particular verse, Paul emphasizes the contrasting reactions to the message of Christ: "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles."

Paul highlights the necessity of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus as essential to the faith revealed once and for all to all of God’s chosen children throughout time (Jude 1:3). To the Jews, the idea of a Messiah who would suffer and die was a stumbling block, as it did not align with their expectations of a triumphant, conquering King who would come to overthrow the Roman government and establish an earthly Jewish kingdom. To the Gentiles, who often viewed divine power and wisdom in terms of philosophical superiority, the notion of a crucified Savior seemed foolish. Yet, for those who believe, according to God's electing grace, the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus represents the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews (religious moral men). They presumed themselves to be the children of God based on their heritage—"we have Abraham as our father" (John 8:33-39). They thought themselves righteous based on their attempts at observing the law and, therefore, not in need of the work of Christ for them (Romans 10:1–2). However, the cross of Christ declares none righteous, NO, NOT ONE (Romans 3:10). Like the Jews of old, most people today see themselves as basically good and just in need of a little help, rather than totally depraved and condemned and in need of Christ’s effectual death alone to save them. Such would be our own natural conceit but for the grace of God.

Christ crucified was foolishness to the Greeks. There is nothing in the plain doctrine of the cross to suit natural men’s taste. They find it distasteful to trust in one who was condemned and crucified as a malefactor, a man of low birth and poor in life, and cut off by so vile and reproachful a death! Such is the pride of sinful human reason, and therefore, they find such a doctrine repulsive. But to those who are saved by His blood shed unto death and called, He is the wisdom of God and the power of God. By the Spirit of God, they rejoice in HIM, whose blood and righteousness alone are ALL their salvation!

There is a universal nature to Christ’s work on the cross set forth here by the apostle Paul, but not as false preachers declare that He died to save every single sinner. No! The cross represents the work of the Lord Jesus for a world of elect sinners, representing both Jews and Gentiles. However, therein lies the offense of the cross: the Lord Jesus did not die to save everybody, but rather those that the Father gave Him before time (John 17:1-3). The apostle Paul was calling believers to embrace a faith that might appear foolish to the world but is, in fact, the wisdom and power of God. The unbelief against the clear declaration of Scripture regarding the cross and Who died there reveals the depravity and hardness of men’s hearts. 1 Corinthians 1:18 declares, "To those who perish, the message of the cross is foolishness, but to those who are saved, it is the power of God." To the Jews, who thought themselves morally upright, and to the Greeks, who thought themselves wise, the cross is an offense.

Only the Holy Spirit can grant "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:21) and cause those sinners for whom He died to believe on Him and His finished work for all their salvation. Otherwise, they will continue in their rebellion and unbelief to their condemnation. They will continue to say that God is unfair in not having given every sinner a 'chance' at salvation. The problem is that salvation is not by chance, but rather the clear choice of God to save whom He wills, by the death of the LORD Jesus alone. Thank God there are those sinners that He has chosen to save and has saved by the death of His Son to the satisfaction of His law and justice, otherwise none would believe and would continue to trust in their works and attempts at salvation, rather than come to Christ and rest in Him alone.