Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Co 1:25) “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;….” add (1Co 1:23) “But we preach Christ crucified,….unto the Greeks foolishness;” It is foolishness because of a lack of Old Testament knowledge, for the Lord declared “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin”. It is seen throughout human history portrayed in blood sacrifices.

(1Co 1:24) “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  God calls all, but all will not hear or they choose not to respond: (Heb 3:7) “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,  (8)  Harden not your hearts,…”  

(1Co 1:22) “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;”  The Jews had received their sign, the sign of Scripture fulfilled. Jesus had performed miracles among them and even rose from the dead – all in fulfillment of Scripture. Even to that day they were being given a period of grace as God continued to demonstrate miraculous miracles through the Holy Spirit.

(Co 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”  Belief, not in a miracle, or  in intellectual presentation – but that God’s Word is true. Do you believe all of God’s Word? I find it amazing the number of people who say they believe it all but reject their own need to be born again.

 (1Co 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…”  God gave man wisdom, an understanding, the ability to think and reason. Man used that which God gave to corrupt themselves, to exalt what they thought over what God had said. It happens even among those professing to know Him.

(1Co 1:19) “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Their wisdom is revealed by the words, “I only believe in what I can see.” Like its author Satan, it is not true from the beginning (it’s foundation).

(1Co 1:18) “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”   To we who know we are saved, the cross is the power of the resurrection of our bodies as well as that of the Lord Jesus; the power to save our souls; the power to change us, making us new; the power to live for Him instead of self; the power to overcome this world and Satan himself.

(1Co 1:18) “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  To this day people who profess to know Him snicker at those who say, “You need to be born again.” Why? The idea of a supernatural work taking place is foolishness to them.

(1Co 1:14) “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;… (16) …the household of Stephanas:… (17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”  Of course words are used to communicate God’s Word. The point here is that the dependency is not upon self’s wisdom or abilities to bring about results. Only the Lord can truly reach the heart, the conscience, to bring about true repentance.

(1Co 1:14) “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;… (16) …the household of Stephanas:… (17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”   The gift of Everlasting Life is not a physical work, brought on by physical means (water baptism). It is a spiritual work of life being given first to the spirit of man (called regeneration) with the promise of a resurrection of our physical bodies. The word “baptize” meaning to immerse, is used for spiritually being put “in Christ”, immersed by the Holy Spirit (Romans 6).