The Stumbling Block and the Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:23

It seems that the world has nothing but good things to say about the life and statements of Jesus. They frequently quote Him in everything from motivational books to Hollywood movies. His birth is celebrated the world over, and His life is viewed as a model of virtue and peace. The cross of Christ, however, has never enjoyed the universal appeal that is so often associated with the man, Christ Jesus. The finished work, where Jesus paid the sin debt for the world, is not only ignored, but is often in dispute as to whether or not it even happened.

Paul was unashamed to declare that he preached Christ as crucified. The emphasis placed on “crucified” shows us that there are more ways to preach Jesus. There is certainly nothing wrong with preaching of the birth, life or principles of Jesus, but it is His death that changed the world. His finished work brought peace between God and men, ending the war against sin that had waged for nearly four thousand years.

To the Jew, Paul called the cross a “stumbling block”; to the Gentile, “foolishness”. The Jews had received the Law at the hands of Moses and they felt that the keeping of that Law entitled them to eternal life. The Law demanded works, and the cross declared that the work was finished. Many Jews “stumbled” at the prospect of righteousness apart from works.

Gentiles then and now, often view that finished work as foolish. While the Jew stumbles at the cross because they feel righteous through the Law, the Gentile feels that they need no redeemer. Thus, the prospect of someone dying for them is a foolish one. I have actually had some say to me that they didn’t see the need for Jesus to die for them. Well, I’m glad He died for me!

Both Jew and Gentile share a common problem; both trust in their ability to save them. The Jew trusts the Law while the Gentile trusts their wisdom and intellect. Only when one comes to the saving knowledge of Christ do they see that the cross is the apex of power and wisdom. Paul says that, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

When you hear the cross of Christ preached, you are hearing the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is power to us, because we have had its effects at work in our heart. We know what we used to be, but the death of Christ brought death to our old nature, and a new start to our lives. Thanks be to God for that Old Rugged Cross!

See His finished work today as having been done on your behalf. He was cursed so that you could be blessed. He was rejected so that you would always be accepted. He finished it all, so that you could have it all. God bless.

How to Walk in Power

Galatians 3:5

Galatians 3 is a harsh rebuke by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia, and it is very telling about Paul’s attitude toward the gospel. The rebuke of “O foolish Galatians” which leads off the chapter does not come as the result of spiritual laziness or some sort of sin. Instead, Paul rebukes them for mixing the message of pure grace with that of works and law. He says, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

A misconception that is attached to the power of God is closely related to this attitude by the Galatian church. Many believe that when someone operates under the anointing in preaching or teaching or they have wonderful miracles come out of their ministry, that they must live a holier life or have some higher form of sanctification. This leads people to try to “pay the price” for power in their life and an increased emphasis on works is soon to follow.

Paul debunks this theory when he asks them about the power that rests on the preachers and miracle workers in their midst, “Doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) Is it the keeping of the law to a greater degree than his peers that causes this man to preach with authority or operate in the gifts of the Spirit? Paul’s answer is found in the last part of the question, “the hearing of faith”.

God does not “reward” the worker of the law with great anointing or signs, wonders and miracles. The more that the believer hears of Christ and His finished work and they learn to rest in that work, the more that they are used of the Spirit, for there is no dependency in their own heart on their performance. They do not fear being accepted of God and they know that they do not earn what Jesus has already paid for. The knowledge that they are loved and forgiven keeps them qualified in their minds to be used of God, and this hearing of the faith brings the power of the Holy Spirit out in them.

This was common knowledge among the disciples, but not so much among the laity. When Peter and John came into the temple in Jerusalem at the gate called Beautiful, they were met by a lame beggar, asking alms. Peter made the now famous statement, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man was healed instantly and the people looked on Peter and John, “greatly wondering” (Acts 3:11).

Peter senses that in the wondering of the people, they are convinced that they are looking at two great and mighty men. He says to them, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12). Note the phrase, “by our own power or holiness”. Peter knows that the people think that he and John are powerful and further, that they have paid some sort of “holiness” price to be used so mightily of God. This is the same attitude that Paul is confronting in Galatians 3, and it should be confronted again today!

When God uses someone, there has certainly been a price paid, but not one of works, otherwise God would owe that man or woman the power and the anointing (Romans 4:4). The price that has been paid is the hearing of faith. When you hear of what God thinks about you and you embrace it, you become usable by the Father.

Know what He thinks of you, and be prepared to watch God move in a mighty way.

Bewitched!

Galatians 3:1-3

Paul was not in the habit of calling his brothers and sisters names, but in Galatians chapter 3 he calls the church “foolish”. His frustration was not because they were committing sins or living immoral. If that were the case, he would have blistered the Corinthian church! His statement is aimed at their having removed themselves from the message of justification by faith alone and adding works into their salvation.

The Galatians were guilty of a very common problem in the church today; they believed that anyone could be saved by simple faith, but that it took works on the part of the believer in order to go on to perfection (Galatians 3:3). Most Christians have a firm belief that salvation comes by faith alone but they feel that in order to be a “better Christian” one must adhere to a set of rules and regulations and that the one who does them better will be greater than the rest.

Paul confronts this idea by asking a pointed question: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) He is questioning how people function under the anointing. When you hear someone preach under the power of the Holy Spirit and work miracles, do they do it because the keep the law better than everyone else or because they hear of the finished work of Christ?

Calling the Galatians, “foolish” is not Paul mocking them, but pointing out how easily they have been deceived into going back into the works from which they were set free. Two chapters later he will remind them to, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). It is necessary to “stand fast” in your liberty because there are many things in this world that will knock you off of the liberty of grace and onto the foundation of your own abilities and works. When you go back to your own ability to save yourself, you are going back under the yoke of bondage, “entangled again”.

The word “bewitched” is “baskaino” in Greek, and it means “hypnotized”. Paul had preached the sacrificial, finished work of Jesus in front of the Galatians with such emphasis, it was as if Jesus had been “crucified among you” (Galatians 3:1). He cannot imagine that they could then easily turn back to their own works. It was obviously the work of enchantment by the powers of darkness that would cause these believers to trust in the law to keep them from sinning.

When a believer trusts their ability to keep the law in order to achieve some form of higher sanctification, they place themselves back under the curse that Christ died to deliver them from. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). It is important to note that Paul does not say that he who sins is under the curse of the law, but rather, he who tries to keep the law is under the curse. By attempting to keep the law in order to be sinless, you actually go back under the curse that Jesus lifted (3:13). Do not be foolish today, but be free!

The Stumbling Block and the Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:23

It seems that the world has nothing but good things to say about the life and statements of Jesus. They frequently quote Him in everything from motivational books to Hollywood movies. His birth is celebrated the world over, and His life is viewed as a model of virtue and peace. The cross of Christ, however, has never enjoyed the universal appeal that is so often associated with the man, Christ Jesus. The finished work, where Jesus paid the sin debt for the world, is not only ignored, but is often in dispute as to whether or not it even happened.

Paul was unashamed to declare that he preached Christ as crucified. The emphasis placed on “crucified” shows us that there are more ways to preach Jesus. There is certainly nothing wrong with preaching of the birth, life or principles of Jesus, but it is His death that changed the world. His finished work brought peace between God and men, ending the war against sin that had waged for nearly four thousand years.

To the Jew, Paul called the cross a “stumbling block”; to the Gentile, “foolishness”. The Jews had received the Law at the hands of Moses and they felt that the keeping of that Law entitled them to eternal life. The Law demanded works, and the cross declared that the work was finished. Many Jews “stumbled” at the prospect of righteousness apart from works.

Gentiles then and now, often view that finished work as foolish. While the Jew stumbles at the cross because they feel righteous through the Law, the Gentile feels that they need no redeemer. Thus, the prospect of someone dying for them is a foolish one. I have actually had some say to me that they didn’t see the need for Jesus to die for them. Well, I’m glad He died for me!

Both Jew and Gentile share a common problem; both trust in their ability to save them. The Jew trusts the Law while the Gentile trusts their wisdom and intellect. Only when one comes to the saving knowledge of Christ do they see that the cross is the apex of power and wisdom. Paul says that, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

When you hear the cross of Christ preached, you are hearing the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is power to us, because we have had its effects at work in our heart. We know what we used to be, but the death of Christ brought death to our old nature, and a new start to our lives. Thanks be to God for that Old Rugged Cross!

See His finished work today as having been done on your behalf. He was cursed so that you could be blessed. He was rejected so that you would always be accepted. He finished it all, so that you could have it all. God bless.

How to Walk in Power

Galatians 3:5

Galatians 3 is a harsh rebuke by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia, and it is very telling about Paul’s attitude toward the gospel. The rebuke of “O foolish Galatians” which leads off the chapter does not come as the result of spiritual laziness or some sort of sin. Instead, Paul rebukes them for mixing the message of pure grace with that of works and law. He says, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

A misconception that is attached to the power of God is closely related to this attitude by the Galatian church. Many believe that when someone operates under the anointing in preaching or teaching or they have wonderful miracles come out of their ministry, that they must live a holier life or have some higher form of sanctification. This leads people to try to “pay the price” for power in their life and an increased emphasis on works is soon to follow.

Paul debunks this theory when he asks them about the power that rests on the preachers and miracle workers in their midst, “Doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) Is it the keeping of the law to a greater degree than his peers that causes this man to preach with authority or operate in the gifts of the Spirit? Paul’s answer is found in the last part of the question, “the hearing of faith”.

God does not “reward” the worker of the law with great anointing or signs, wonders and miracles. The more that the believer hears of Christ and His finished work and they learn to rest in that work, the more that they are used of the Spirit, for there is no dependency in their own heart on their performance. They do not fear being accepted of God and they know that they do not earn what Jesus has already paid for. The knowledge that they are loved and forgiven keeps them qualified in their minds to be used of God, and this hearing of the faith brings the power of the Holy Spirit out in them.

This was common knowledge among the disciples, but not so much among the laity. When Peter and John came into the temple in Jerusalem at the gate called Beautiful, they were met by a lame beggar, asking alms. Peter made the now famous statement, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man was healed instantly and the people looked on Peter and John, “greatly wondering” (Acts 3:11).

Peter senses that in the wondering of the people, they are convinced that they are looking at two great and mighty men. He says to them, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12). Note the phrase, “by our own power or holiness”. Peter knows that the people think that he and John are powerful and further, that they have paid some sort of “holiness” price to be used so mightily of God. This is the same attitude that Paul is confronting in Galatians 3, and it should be confronted again today!

When God uses someone, there has certainly been a price paid, but not one of works, otherwise God would owe that man or woman the power and the anointing (Romans 4:4). The price that has been paid is the hearing of faith. When you hear of what God thinks about you and you embrace it, you become usable by the Father.

Know what He thinks of you, and be prepared to watch God move in a mighty way.

Bewitched!

Galatians 3:1-3

Paul was not in the habit of calling his brothers and sisters names, but in Galatians chapter 3 he calls the church “foolish”. His frustration was not because they were committing sins or living immoral. If that were the case, he would have blistered the Corinthian church! His statement is aimed at their having removed themselves from the message of justification by faith alone and adding works into their salvation.

The Galatians were guilty of a very common problem in the church today; they believed that anyone could be saved by simple faith, but that it took works on the part of the believer in order to go on to perfection (Galatians 3:3). Most Christians have a firm belief that salvation comes by faith alone but they feel that in order to be a “better Christian” one must adhere to a set of rules and regulations and that the one who does them better will be greater than the rest.

Paul confronts this idea by asking a pointed question: “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) He is questioning how people function under the anointing. When you hear someone preach under the power of the Holy Spirit and work miracles, do they do it because the keep the law better than everyone else or because they hear of the finished work of Christ?

Calling the Galatians, “foolish” is not Paul mocking them, but pointing out how easily they have been deceived into going back into the works from which they were set free. Two chapters later he will remind them to, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). It is necessary to “stand fast” in your liberty because there are many things in this world that will knock you off of the liberty of grace and onto the foundation of your own abilities and works. When you go back to your own ability to save yourself, you are going back under the yoke of bondage, “entangled again”.

The word “bewitched” is “baskaino” in Greek, and it means “hypnotized”. Paul had preached the sacrificial, finished work of Jesus in front of the Galatians with such emphasis, it was as if Jesus had been “crucified among you” (Galatians 3:1). He cannot imagine that they could then easily turn back to their own works. It was obviously the work of enchantment by the powers of darkness that would cause these believers to trust in the law to keep them from sinning.

When a believer trusts their ability to keep the law in order to achieve some form of higher sanctification, they place themselves back under the curse that Christ died to deliver them from. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all the things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10). It is important to note that Paul does not say that he who sins is under the curse of the law, but rather, he who tries to keep the law is under the curse. By attempting to keep the law in order to be sinless, you actually go back under the curse that Jesus lifted (3:13). Do not be foolish today, but be free!

The Stumbling Block and the Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:23

It seems that the world has nothing but good things to say about the life and statements of Jesus. They frequently quote Him in everything from motivational books to Hollywood movies. His birth is celebrated the world over, and His life is viewed as a model of virtue and peace. The cross of Christ, however, has never enjoyed the universal appeal that is so often associated with the man, Christ Jesus. The finished work, where Jesus paid the sin debt for the world, is not only ignored, but is often in dispute as to whether or not it ever even happened.

Paul was unashamed to declare that he preached Christ, crucified. The emphasis placed on “crucified” shows us that there are more ways to preach Jesus. There is certainly nothing wrong with preaching of the birth, life or principles of Jesus, but it is His death that changed the world. His finished work brought peace between God and men, ending the war that had waged for nearly four thousand years.

To the Jew, Paul called the cross a “stumbling block”; to the Gentile, “foolishness”. The Jews had received the Law at the hands of Moses and they felt that the keeping of that Law entitled them to eternal life. The Law demanded works, and the cross declared that the work was finished. Many Jews “stumbled” at the prospect of righteousness apart from works.

Gentiles then and now, often view that finished work as foolish. While the Jew stumbles at the cross because they feel righteous through the Law, the Gentile feels that they need no redeemer. Thus, the prospect of someone dying for them is a foolish one. I have actually had some say to me that they didn’t see the need for Jesus to die for them. I’m glad He died for me!

Both Jew and Gentile share a common problem; both trust in their ability to save them. The Jew trusts the Law while the Gentile trusts their wisdom and intellect. Only when one comes to the saving knowledge of Christ do they see that the cross is the apex of power and wisdom. Paul says that, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

When you hear the cross of Christ preached, you are hearing the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). It is power to us, because we have had its effects at work in our heart. We know what we used to be, but the death of Christ brought death to our old nature, and a new start to our lives. Thanks be to God for that Old Rugged Cross!

See His finished work today as having been done on your behalf. He was cursed so that you could be blessed. He was rejected so that you would always be accepted. He finished it all, so that you could have it all. God bless.