Christ,
the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (ESV)
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek
wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to
Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God and the wisdom of God.
An earlier look at the word “Christ” defined the root Greek
work to mean, “anointed.” Jesus Christ is the Anointed One, which means He
carries an anointing. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church explains the
purpose behind preaching.
Proclaiming of the Gospel (preaching) is not intended to be
a “sign” or “worldly wisdom,” but instead it should be “Christ crucified”!
Instead of the sign for which the Jews seek it becomes a stumbling block. For
the Gentiles (Greeks or non-Jews) it is seen as folly instead of wisdom.
However, when you enter the New Covenant with Christ you
immediately understand that the Gospel is the Power of God and the Wisdom of
God. It is in fact a sign because of the lives that are transformed by it. It
is wisdom because it shows us how to truly live. This is the difference between
that which is simply inspired and that which is anointed.
Christ, the Power of
God and Wisdom of God. He is The Word of God Made Flesh.
This is why the Bible is powerful. It contains The Word as inspired by the Holy
Spirit (anointed), not just the writings of humans (inspiration).
Paul understood that human reason has some power. It can
move people (sign) and confound even the wise (wisdom). But these things cannot
lead to salvation of the human spirit. It can transform the human soul, but the
human spirit requires a new birth. It requires the Spirit of God to come and
ignite a re-creation because though we live, we are literally dead men walking;
dead in the spiritual sense because of our separation from God due to sin.
But when we encounter the Anointed One, and His Anointing,
and we enter into the New Covenant made available to us by Christ and His
death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and seating at the right hand of the
Father, we are re-created in His image by the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent after
He ascended. We become new creations in Christ.
His Word then bears witness of the new life that Christ
brings, the zoe, or God-kind of life, by transforming our hearts and minds (our
soul) to reflect the image of Christ that has already been formed in our
spirit. This is the mystery! It is Christ in us, the hope of glory. (Colossians
1:27)
We are then commissioned as ambassadors of this new Kingdom
to which we are made citizens. We then “preach” the Good News to our world.
Preaching is not a vocation reserved only for “the clergy,” but is commanded
for everyone that believes. Preaching does not require a pulpit, vestments, or professional
oratory skill. It is simply telling the truth about Christ, the Power of God and Wisdom of God.
We are not called to produce a sign, or develop human
wisdom. We simply tell the Good News of how we encountered The Truth, and how THIS
truth has set us free to be the person God created us to be. There is no fear
in this type of preaching. There is no harm caused by this type of preaching.
There is no “us and them” in this type of preaching.
You may have never seen yourself as a preacher, but if you
are a Christian, one in Covenant with Christ, then you are a preacher. Paul
encourages us to proclaim Christ is everything that we do.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (ESV)
So, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to
Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything
I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)
… preach the word; be ready in season
and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and
teaching.
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
… but in your hearts honor Christ the
Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you
for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and
respect, …
Live your life as a testimony of the grace you have been
shown by God, and walk as a vessel that carries Christ, the Power of God and Wisdom of God.
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