Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

Text:

I would like to attempt to answer two questions. 1) Why won’t all people be saved? 2) How does a person claim the work of Christ on the cross?

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 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.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-24)

The Scripture is very clear in verse 18. There are some who are perishing, and there are some who are being saved. What’s the difference between the two? Those who are perishing consider the word of the cross to be folly. Why won’t all people be saved? Some have outright rejected salvation by calling it nonsense. It’s like trying to plant corn in bad soil. The corn will reject the soil.

But why doesn’t God save them anyway? If He is a God of love, why would He allow anyone to experience Hell? But their salvation is exactly what He wants (Ezekiel 33:11a). Nevertheless, God is holy and will not allow sin to be in His presence. Those who are being saved consider the word of the cross to be the power of God.

What is the word of the cross? Paul contrasts it with “words of eloquent wisdom” (v. 17). When people debate philosophy, they abide by certain laws of logic. In order to have a sound argument, it must be formulated a certain way. Paul casts off logic as being his supreme authority in sharing the gospel. He does this for a few reasons. 1) Scripture is the greatest authority, so how can logic add anything to it? 2) Leading a person to Christ using logic may lead to a false conversion. 3) He wants God to get the glory. It’s like trying to cut your grass with a pair of scissors versus a riding lawn mower.

The word of the cross is not merely the message of the cross, but the way we tell it. In evangelism, our goal is not merely to relay facts about history. We are also to share our conviction regarding the truth of Scripture and its reliability. We are not convinced about the gospel because of humanly wisdom, but because of the truthfulness of God through Scripture. Scripture is our authority.

Paul wasn’t saying that baptizing was not a priority. The Great Commission commands it. He didn’t refuse to baptize. But his main priority was to preach the gospel.

We can attempt to persuade people using logic and philosophy. There are many worthy arguments from logic about the existence of God which aren’t based on Scripture. The Argument from Causation (picture an elaborate course of dominoes that tumbles one after the other. Someone must have knocked down the first one). The Argument from Design (picture a watch. Someone must have assembled all the parts in order for it to work). But God is the One who changes people, and He does this through the message of the cross. In a short phrase, Paul tells us what this message is: that Christ was crucified (v. 23).

How does a person claim the work of Christ on the cross? By simply believing that what Christ did on the cross was not foolishness. By trusting in that act as the power of God. We can’t save ourselves. God’s power must change us, and He does this through the message of the cross.