1 & 2 Corinthians| Lecture 3 : BC304-1&2 Cor-20260821

All right, the recording has started. Okay, good morning once again to those online, those in person. Thank you so much for joining for lecture number >> three. Yes, lecture number three. Okay. So, uh in lecture number three, we will cover 1 Corinthians chapter 1. uh we will finish chapter one and then in the le next lecture we'll do 1 Corinthians chapter 2 okay so the way I would like to do this is is I want all of us to open our Bibles and we will go verse by verse passage by passage and any notes just write it down and then later you can take the printed notes and study later okay for your personal study like uh in the class just uh focus on what we are reading and take notes And then later you can go home for your further study and read the notes and also ask questions if you have. Okay. Shall we pray? Yeah. Let's pray. Father, we just thank you for this lecture. We thank you Lord for the book of first Corinthians. I pray Lord as we read your scriptures Lord that your presence will be over over us. I pray Holy Spirit that you will be our teacher, a guide which leads us into all truth. I pray Lord that Jesus will be revealed through these scriptures and may we be built up established in your truth. We thank you once again for this lecture in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. Amen. All right. So 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18-2. So we're going to do two parts 18-2 and 19-31. Oh sorry 18 to 25 and 26-31. Okay. So 18 to25. So can someone read that for us that entire passage? 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 to 25. Anyone with the mic can unmute and read. Anyone want to read? Yeah. Go ahead. foolishness to those who are being for it is written I destroy the wisdom of the wisdom of the voice the intelligence of the intelligent id where is the wise person where is the teacher of the law where is the philosopher of this age has not made foolish the wisdom of the For since in this wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know it. God was pleased to do the strangess of what was preached to save those. Jesus demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom. But we preach Christ a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But he knows God has called both Jews and Greeks Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. So of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than >> than men. Amen. >> Lot of verses lot of foolishness wisdom lot of words are there. Okay. So want to understand this passage. Okay. So I want want you to pay attention and let's go verse by verse and really understand what is happening. So in this section 1 Corinthians chapter 1 18-2 Paul is writing about the cross of Jesus. So if you want an understanding of the cross one understanding there there are a lot of scriptures but one passage is this passage one aspect of the cross. So in verse 18 what does it say? The message of the cross. So he is starting out with saying the message of the cross. What is the message of the cross? What's the message of the cross? Jesus died on the cross for our sins for the whole world. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whoever believes will be saved but not be perished. Okay. So the message of the cross, what is the message of the cross? He says it is foolishness to those who are perishing. So who is perishing? Those who don't believe. So it is foolishness. So to those who are not believing in the message of the cross, it sounds foolish. Is the message of the cross foolish? No. But to those who are not able to hear, are not able to understand, they say, "Hey, how can God die on a cross and save us of our sins?" That sounds foolish. So to the world, to people who don't believe, to people who are perishing, the message of the cross sounds foolish, right? They they think, "How can a man die? How can a human being die on a cross for the whole world? Sounds foolish, right? But to us who are being saved, who is us? We who believe in this message, what does it say? It is the power to the message of the cross. To those of us who are believing, to those who put their faith, God's power is released. See, think people can think whatever they want. about this Jesus. But to those of us who put our faith, remember this that the power that the cross of Jesus, the message of the cross contains his power. If you want God's power to be released, believe in the cross of Jesus. If you want God's power to be upon your life, believe in what Jesus did for you and me on the cross. Keep preaching that regardless of what people think. They might think, "Hey, how can this Jesus die on a cross for the whole world, forgive our sins, and you're telling me I am perishing? You are saved." Like, it sounds foolish. But to us who believe, we have to hold on to it. We have to hold on to it dearly. The message of the cross should be so close to our heart, should be the central point of our faith. Everything starts from the cross. So he's saying the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. And then he continues in verse 19 and 20. Verse 19, for it is written. Now whenever the New Testament says these phrases, it is written, what does that mean? Meaning it has already been written in the Old Testament. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. So when Paul writes, it is written, he is quoting from Isaiah 29:14. It's already written. What is it? What is written? I will destroy, God will destroy the wisdom of the wise. Meaning this problem was not something new. It's always been there. What what is the problem? That human beings they can think for themselves how to find God. Are we understanding? Human beings, we as humans, we think we are wise enough to find God. We think we can save ourselves through our wisdom, through our knowledge. Where is he writing? You remember first lecture to the Corinthians. They were full of they they they worshiped the god of Apollo, god of knowledge. So everything is in context. So the people in Corinth thought they had so much knowledge that we can go to God ourselves. But the gospel, the message of the cross is God revealing himself. It is not us. We don't have anything. So he's writing he's writing I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. Meaning what? Don't let your own wisdom dictate how you are saved. Are we understanding? And this word destroy doesn't mean that God is against our human intelligence. No, it does not mean that. It means if this wisdom is against God, if this wisdom leads us away from God, that wisdom he will destroy. Are we understanding? We understanding. Yeah. You need to follow along, okay? Because there are a lot of complex words and all that. But yeah, God will it it does not mean that God is against human intellect. God has given us our brain to think, to learn, to have knowledge. But all of this knowledge should point to God, not against him. Not say there is no God. Not say there is no Jesus who died on the cross. It should point to God the creator. Then he asked three questions. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Where is the wise? He's probably referring to a philosopher, someone who is educated. Where is the scribe? Scribe is someone who has trained in the scriptures, Old Testament scriptures. Someone who has learned in the temple. Where is the disputer of this age? Meaning someone who is very good at debate, who can debate on anything. So God is saying, where are all these people? All their wisdom cannot save them. Are you understanding? Right? You can be the most knowledgeable person. You can get all the information. In fact, we are living in that world with AI. We have all the wisdom. We have all the knowledge. Any question I can ask, how long is a giraffe tongue? I'll get it in 5 seconds. But all of this wisdom cannot save us. That is why the message of the cross cross seems foolish. Now are we understanding? So it's asking where are all these people? Who is the most intelligent? Who's the most trained in scriptures? Who is the best debater? Right? Can any of them in their own wisdom save themselves? No. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Your knowledge cannot save you. Your wisdom cannot save me. Only the message of the cross can save me. Are we understanding? Right? Because salvation is God revealing himself. It's not us figuring out. We only receive by grace through. We only receive. Okay. Verse 21. So, are we understanding so far? Yeah. Are we understanding? The message of the cross is foolishness. And then he's asking where is the wisdom of the world? Where are these three people? These three kinds of people. That's why in in the world today, people have a lot of knowledge. But are they saved? They've not yet because they think that the message of the cross is foolishness. Right? So you will find people when you minister to people, when you um when you talk to people, they will find this message foolishness. Don't be surprised. Paul has written that. Okay. Verse 21. Okay, let's go to verse 21. Verse 21. For since 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. What does this verse mean? The wisdom of the world cannot lead you closer to God. You can read all the books you want. like I said cannot lead you to the world. So God chose the preaching of the message of Jesus for you to be saved. God chose something so foolish. So how does someone get saved? When you preach the message of the cross and they believe they put their faith in this Jesus, they are saved. God chose that, not any other thing. God didn't say go to a mountain, go to one valley, go and spend uh seven years in church, sit under one pastor, read so many books. No, God chose something so foolish in our eyes, the message of the cross. So as what does this mean to us as as ministers, as as people who are in Bible college, always preach the message of the cross. Always preach Jesus and him crucified. No other message can save people. Wherever you go in your ministry, no matter how influential you are, no matter how far God takes you, always preach, always hold on to the gospel. You know, sometimes we think we need to help God. We think you know it's like uh when a father gets grocery grocery know heavy bags and then his daughter or son who is very small dad I'll help you can they pick it up no we we want to be like that Lord let me help you this message is too simple it's too foolish for people let me help you let me make it more creative all that is good but you don't need to help God has decided How people will be saved? How will they be saved? Through the cross. Through the message of the cross. Through the gospel. The good news. So in this passage you are understanding. What are we understanding? That our own wisdom, the world's wisdom does not save us. It is only the message of cross. And that is where they are. Corinth. Corinth was known as a city of knowledge. They had so much wisdom. That's why the church there they were encountering people like that. They had lot of knowledge. They all thought what you are believing is very simple too foolish. Paul is reminding them keep preaching the message of the cross. In that is the wisdom. Okay. So then he talks about the audiences. Verse 22- 24. Verse 22- 24. For Jews request a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom. So in Corinth there are two types of audiences. The Jews and the Greeks. What are the Jews looking for? A sign. What sign? Of the Messiah. They're looking for a Messiah. The entire Old Testament talks about a Messiah who will come. So they looking for a sign. Greeks, what are they looking for? Wisdom. Why? because they wanted knowledge. Okay. But we but what should we do? Verse 23. We preach Christ crucified. Regardless of the audience, we preach Christ crucified. No matter who is with us, whatever whatever they may need, whatever their expectation is, we continue to preach Christ crucified, right? Whatever the expectation is. So, and and then when we preach Christ crucified to the Jews, it is a stumbling block, what does that mean? They can't get past it. It's a stumbling block. They can't understand. It's not good enough. Why? Because for them, the Messiah is some political leader, some king who will establish his throne. But Jesus was not that, right? So, they they could not accept Jesus as their Messiah. So that it became a stumbling block. So to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. So the Greeks thought man we have enough knowledge. This is too simple. Is are you telling me that this is the way to God like that's what they're thinking the Greeks is foolishness. Verse 24. But to those who are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. for those who believe in this message. God will reveal his power and his wisdom. So the message of the cross two things happen. God's power of power is released and God's wisdom is released. Are we understanding? So regardless of the audience, regardless of the village, town, country, city, all of them will have their expectation. People of other faith will have their expectation. People who are atheists will have expectation. People who are in school, college will have expectation. Whatever the audience is, we preach Christ crucified. Don't let the audience dictate how you preach. You pre you keep preaching Jesus. He's the only way. In John chapter 14, Jesus said, "I am the way. I'm the only way. No one comes to God except through me." exclusive. Are we understanding? So now we are understanding the context, right? Are we we're able to understand what Paul is trying to communicate to this church because they are living in a culture where there were these two audiences, the Jews and the Greeks. The Jews are looking for a messiah, but when they preach this message, it's a stumbling block. It's okay. Keep preaching. To the Greeks, they have knowledge. For them, it is foolishness. It's okay. Keep preaching. That's the only way to what Paul is saying is that's the only way to God. No other message we have. Nothing else we have. We only have this one message, Jesus and the cross. So the lesson for all of us here is don't rely on your own wisdom. You know, see the thing is all of you are in Bible college. This is third year, right? Yeah, third year. I only forgot. Okay. You're all in third year. In these three years, you would have learned a lot of things, which is good. God will increase your knowledge. He'll increase your wisdom. He will show you things nobody has seen. But at the core, at the heart, it has to be Jesus at the cross. Everything that you speak should revolve around that. Every message you preach, point people back to Christ. Okay? Nothing else can save people. If people need to experience God's wisdom and God's power in their life, they have to hear and accept this message. And God chose this as a way for salvation. No other way. Right? No other way. Only Christ and him crucified. Okay. The last verse in that section, verse 25. Verse 25. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. So he's saying this gospel is foolish. But this foolishness of God is wiser than any wisdom. This message seem fool. This message to us to human beings to us who have lot of knowledge. It seems foolish. But Paul is saying this foolishness is wiser than any wisdom. And the weakness. So what is the cross? Cross is actually a a place of weakness. You're vulnerable. It seems weak. Cross is where you are weak. Jesus was he was dying. He was wonderable. And he says the weakness of God is stronger than man. What we think is weak actually God used for his glory. Are we understand? Yeah. And we will see that in the next section. He will go deeper in that. So what do we understand in this section in this in this in these few verses the message of the cross it is foolishness but to those who believe they experience the power of God then we saw two audiences Jews and the Greeks so regardless of the audience to Corinth it was those who audience for us it'll be different in India it's different or around the globe I don't know where everyone's joining for you your audience is different they'll come with their own expectation they have knowledge, they will see, they want sign, they want a miracle, they want a healing, they want whatever. But we preach Christ crucified. And when we preach, when we for those who are called, they experience the power of God and the wisdom of God. And God used this foolish message to display his wisdom. God used the weakness of the cross to display his strength. That is why we sing that song. No. Let the weak say I am >> strong. Let the poor say I am rich. God God does that. Amen. >> Amen. >> Are you understanding? Yeah. Okay. Shall we go to the next section? Yeah. Let's go to the next section. Verse 26-31. Does anyone online want to read for us? Verse 26 to 31. anyone online or >> 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 good to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak Uh, sorry Juliana, we can't hear you. >> 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. >> Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Juliana. So 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 26-31, it talks about how God calls people. This section, so first section, what is it about? The message of the cross. This section is about how God calls people. The calling of God, how he usually works, how he calls people. Okay. So shall we go verse by verse? Yeah. Verse 26. For you see your calling, brethren. So he's talking about the Corinth Corinthian church, the believers there. See how God called them. He's saying, see how God called them. For you see, you're calling brethren that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. What is he saying? So in the church of Corinth, not many of them were wise according to the word. Not many of them were mighty and not many of them were noble. What are these three things? Not many of them were wise. Meaning according to the world, they were not that wise. The Corinthian church, the believers. Then he says, "Not many are mighty." meaning not many of them had influence. Not many of them had influence. Then he says not many of noble um not many noble. Noble simply means they were not important. They were not of a high class society. They were not uh from respected families. So you see the believers in the Corinthian church not many meaning majority of them were like this. They were not wise. They were not mighty. They were not noble. Very ordinary, simple. Who people seem who who people call weak, who people call insignificant. But Paul is saying God has called you. God does not call people because of their worldly class, because of your background, because of your mother or your father, because of how much money you have in the bank. No, God calls your He sees your heart. He calls the simple things. So he's saying to the Corinthian church, not many of you are wise, not many of you are mighty. Not many of you are noble. But God called you. God does not need our money. God does not need our background. God does not need our respected families, our tradition. No, he does not need all that for his calling. Then look at look at the next passage. He will tell why. Why does God call people like this? Why? Verse 27 to 29. But God has chosen. So this is how God chooses. Verse 27. God has chosen the foolish things of the world. So I want you to underline certain things. Okay? Underline chosen the foolish things of the world. Okay? And then God has chosen again chosen the weak things of the world. Underline that. Weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. Verse 28. Verse 28. And the base things of the world. Underline that. Base things. And the things which are despised. Underline despised. God has chosen. And the things which are not to bring nothing the things that are that no flesh should glory in the present. Uh it should glory in his presence. Okay. Who I think we saw five things. Who is God ch? Who is God choosing? Foolish, weak, then >> face things, >> despised for things. This is who God calls. This is who God chooses. Who does God choose? Foolish, weak, base, despise. Foolish message of the cross. We just read it seems foolish. He chose that weak does not have any strength. You know who God first revealed the gospel? The angels went to the shepherds. They are weak in society. They're not considered influential. Yeah. God chose that. He chooses that. Then he chose the base things. Base simply means insignificant, insignificant, not important. Where was Jesus born? In Bethlehem. Where was his hometown? Nazareth. No significance. It's not Jerusalem. God chose to be born in some place insignificant in a manger. God chose that. That's base. And then despised. Despised simply means rejected by the world. Who did God choose as his 12 disciples? fishermen, tax collectors, they were rejected. They were despised. They were not seen as someone worthy. God chose them. This is how God calls people. Are we understanding? Foolish, weak, base things despised. So if anyone was to ask how God calls people, he will use people like this. Better to not be full, strong and all that. Be humble. Live a simple life. God will call you. Right? I'm not saying that God will not use wealthy people. He will. Yes. The point is his pattern. This is how God calls people. Think about Abraham. Okay. Okay. So, if you have to inherit a land, if you have to inherit a land, what do you need? You need money. You need an army. You need finances, resources. But God called one old man, Abraham, 75 years old. One man seemed weak, but God chose him. Think about the disciples, right? He did Jesus didn't choose the religious Pharisees. Jesus didn't chose someone in politics, Herod or someone. No, he chose Peter, James, and John, fishermen. That's how God works, right? God does not need the world's accolades. This brings so much hope to all of us. Sometimes you can look at your own life. You put your hands in front of you. God, what do I have? I have nobody. That is the exact criteria that God needs. You can say to yourself, Lord, I'm weak. I am nobody. I don't have anything. And God says, perfect. Are you ready for my call? So, you know, this brings so much hope to anybody, to the whole world. God does not need the world's definition of success or greatness. He doesn't need you to be a king. He doesn't need you to be successful in anything. He just needs your heart. He needs a yes. Most powerful word you can tell God. Yes, Lord. Here I am. Use me. So when Peter was fishing, Jesus said to Peter, "Follow me. I will make you fishers of men. You follow me, Peter. I will make you. I will make you great. I will take you somewhere. I have a plan. I have a destination." That is God's call. This is how God works. This is how the calling of God is. So this is so amazing. Four things we saw like it's it's he's encouraging the church. Why? Because they are in a society in a culture that celebrates wealth, celebrates money, celebrates status because lot of rich people because of trade, right? We are living in that kind of a city. Everyone has a car. Everyone has good dresses. Everyone has palaces, mansions. But God called simple ordinary people. So he's saying don't look at them. Look at my calling over your life. Look at the God who called me. Amen. This God of heaven calls people like this. Right? Now why does he do this? Why does God call people like this? Why does God call a shepherd boy like David? So you remember right in Uh God rejected Saul who was the first king. He told prophet Samuel go to the house of Jesse. In Jesse's house there are seven sons in the home. Samuel is going one by one. It's not you not you not you not you not you. Then Jesse remembers ah there is one son he's uh taking care of some sheep. Why did God call David shepherd boy? Answer is in verse uh 29. Verse 29. Why does God call people like this? Verse 29. So that no flesh should glory in his presence. Why? Why does God call? So that no person can boast in themselves. Uh look how like for example if God uses you, God calls these things because you don't need to boast of your background. You don't need to boast in your resources, your finances, your skills, your wisdom. You can only say I am nobody. God use me. He gets the glory. So why does God call this why does God call these kind of people? So that no flesh can glory in his presence. He gets all the glory. Are we understand? God gets all the glory. Everything points back to him. That is why God calls these kind of people so that no flesh. Yeah. Are we understanding? Yeah. So you know when when um when you are say starting out all of you have a dream right whenever God gives a dream it will always be not enough Lord I don't know which direction where to go I don't know what to do but God is an expert in using those kind of people you can say Lord it's too much it's too big. It's too big. And all the, you know, you see throughout the Bible, they all had questions to God. Moses said, "I have a stammering limb. I'm weak. I don't have speech." God said, "I'll use you." Are you understanding? Right? So, you know, in ministry, when you lead ministries, when you become a leader, when you start out, trust God, trust his calling, trust the vision that he has given you. Go walk with him step by step so that as he reveals, as he uses you, you will see. And when he uses you, don't glory in yourself. Give God the glory. Give God the full glory. Never take glory to yourself. Glory always has to be reflected. Are we understanding? Right. So, uh, verse 30, last verse. Sorry, two more verses. Two more verses and then we'll close. Verse 30. 30 and 31. Verse 30. But of him you are in Christ Jesus who became for us the wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Everything we have in God is because of Jesus. Everything we have in God is because of Jesus. Because in Jesus we have righteousness, [laughter] we have sanctification, we have redemption. Righteousness, what is righteousness? We are right in the sight of God. Sanctification, we are made perfect because Christ is perfect. We are perfect. Redemption, we are free from sin. We are redeemed from the curse of sin. Three things. Everything we receive from God is in Christ Jesus. In these three things, what are the three things? Righteousness. We are made right. We are sinners. But because I put my faith in Jesus who's perfect, he clothe me with righteousness. So when God sees me, he sees the blood of Jesus on me. Sanctification. I am made perfect and redemption. The curse of the law, the curse of sin is no longer on me. I am redeemed by God. Amen. >> Okay. So, because you are in Christ Jesus, everything we receive from God is because you are in Christ Jesus. If you want to receive something from God, be in Christ. Be in Jesus. Okay? And last verse verse 31 that as it is written he who glories let him glory in the >> lord he who glory so again as it is written whenever it tries as what is happening he is quoting from the old testament right so he's quoting from the old testament he who glories let him glory in the lord since Everything comes from him. Glory to him. Now he ends chapter one with this verse. What's the context? What did you just read last lecture? Some said I am of Paul. Some said I am of Apollos. They are putting their glory in men. So he's ending the chapter. Don't put your glory in men or in yourself. Put your glory in the Lord. see all of them. So he's concluding the chapter by pointing them to pointing them back to God. Don't point, oh I am of Apollos, I am of Paul, I am of Cas which is Peter. Don't do that. Don't don't boast in men or don't boast in people. They can be an inspiration. They can be an encouragement but that's all. Don't boast. Let glory alone go to God. >> So that's how he's ending. Since everything comes from him, salvation comes from him, calling comes from him, blessing comes from him, you give your glory to God. Right? So chapter one ends like that. So what did we read in this in this whole section just to summarize verse 18 to 25 the message of the cross and then 26 to 31 calling >> how God calls he uses four things >> foolish weak >> despise >> these things so go home and you know spend some time in in these like Okay, God, like this is how you're called. And maybe you recognize that you are part of that. You recognize that, oh yeah, God, I can relate to this, right? But God can use you. Be encouraged. The encouragement for today is God can use anybody. Amen. >> Yeah. Okay. So, let's pause here. Any questions, thoughts? Then I I can give you a long break. Uh first one quick question I have uh uh the video the lecture video two is not uploaded. >> Oh lecture video number two is it is not uploaded by >> I don't see it on Google. >> Oh uh one second. Sorry. Let me just check. >> Yeah it is uploaded. I can see it on my stream. I tried it earlier today, you know, I couldn't see it. >> Uh so all you have to do is just go to the stream page uh you know the the Google class stream. >> Yes. >> And uh it says APC admin has posted a new material lecture video two. You can just double check that and >> Okay, I'll double check again. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Reanita. Okay. Any other any other questions? Any other thoughts? Did you learn something? Did you learn something? >> Yes, we learned a lot about the message of the cross and how God calls. Right. Any but any specific questions? Any verse that you need some clarity? Everyone? Everyone okay? In person all okay? No questions. Shall we close? Okay. Okay. We'll close. We'll we'll be back for our next hour at 11 a.m. IST. We'll close lecture 3. Okay. God bless you. Thank you, sir.