The Word Of The Cross

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. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1Corinthians 1:18-25

Man's Guilt Guilty of sin Romans 3:9-10,23-25

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:9-10 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. Romans 3:23-25

Man's Guilt Guilty of sin Jesus paid our penalty Hebrews 2:9 2Corinthians 5:15 Isaiah 53:5-6

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2Corinthians 5:14-15

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-- every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6

God's Righteousness Man left God Isaiah 59:1-2 Ezekiel 18:20 Romans 6:23

Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:20 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

God's Righteousness Man left God God wanted Man with Him Rom 3:24-26

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26

Man's Helplessness Lost in sin

Man's Helplessness Lost in sin God's Grace brings salvation Romans 3:20 Galatians 2:21; 3:21 Titus 2:11-14

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. Galatians 3:21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 2:21

God's Love Undeserved

God's Love Undeserved God made the way back John 3:16 Romans 5:6-8 1John 4:8-10

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1John 4:8-10

Man's Faith Obedient Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Man's Faith Obedient Jesus is our example Hebrews 5:8-9 Romans 5:1; 1:5; 16:25 1Peter 2: Peter 1:22

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1Peter 2:21-24

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Hebrews 5:8-9

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, Romans 1:5 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- Romans 16:26

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 1Peter 1:22

Man's Hope Is in Christ Romans 6:3 1John 5:11-13

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:3 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 1John 5:11-13

Man's Hope Is in Christ Assured by the Cross Titus 3:7 Galatians 6:14

so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

The Word Of The Cross but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1Corinthians 1:24 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1Corinthians 2:2