Chapters 1-4 Synopsis

• 1:1-9 - Introductory remarks
• 1:10-17 – Problem of Division Stated and Rebuked
• 1:18-31 – Power of the Cross vs. Human Wisdom
• Chapter 2 – The Revelation of God’s Wisdom
• Chapter 3 – Proper Estimation of Preachers
• Chapter 4 – Apostles as Faithful, Humble Stewards

Chapter 1 Divisions

• 1:1-3 Paul’s Apostolic Greeting
• 1:4-9 Spiritual Gifts At Corinth
• 1:10-17 Corinthians Became Sectarians
• 1:18-25 Man’s Wisdom Vs. God’s Wisdom
• 1:26-31 Glory Only In The Lord

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Spiritual Gifts At Corinth

1:4-9

He Praises Them For Their Spiritual Blessings

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• They Were Enriched
• They Had God’s Grace
• Christ was Confirmed In Them
• May Be Blameless In The Last Day
• They Had All Things In Christ
• They Were Saints
• They Had Fellowship With Christ

Corinthians Became Sectarians - A Sin

1:10-17

• Paul Established The Church
• Apollos Eloquent Speaker
• Cephus (Peter) Walked With Christ
• Christ Son Of God

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• Combative spirit
• Same Partisan Spirit As The Jews And Greeks
• Pharisees, Sadducees, Plato, Socrates, etc.

Do Not Be Divided

• Speak The Same Thing
• No Divisions Among You
• Perfectly Joined Together In The Same Mind And In The Same Judgment
• Is Christ Divided?
• Was Paul Crucified For You?
• Were You Baptized In The Name Of Paul?

Eph. 4:3-6 ^NKJV

one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God,

John 17:20-21 ^NKJV

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

1 Cor. 2:10-13 ^NKJV

but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?

Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

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Lk. 10:16 ^NKJV

“He that hears you hears me; and he that despises you despises me; and he that despises me despises him that sent me.”

1 Cor. 14:37 ^NKJV

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

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Gal. 3:26-27 ^NKJV

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

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Jn. 3:26 ^NKJV

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

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Jn. 4:2 ^NKJV

(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),

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Rom. 6:3-5 ^NKJV

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

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Man’s Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom

1:18-25

Man’s Wisdom:

• Gospel is foolish
• Will Perish
• God will destroy it
• God made it foolish
• Do not know God

God’s Wisdom:

• Gospel is power of God
• Saves those who believe
• Stumbling block to Jews
• Foolishness to Greeks
• Wiser/stronger than men

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Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

1:18-25

Human Wisdom:

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• Elects To Ignore God
• Intelligence Greater Than Faith
• Relies On Their Wisdom And Might
• Glory In Their Ability

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God’s Wisdom:

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• Will shame The Wise
• Faith Greater Than Intelligence
• God Will Destroy That Which Is
• Man Will Not Glory

Jer.10:23 ^NKJV

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Rom. 14:17 ^NKJV

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rom 1:19-25 ^NKJV

because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Jn. 12:37 ^NKJV

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

Glory Only In The Lord

1:26-31

Not Many Called

• Wise According To The Flesh
• Mighty
• Noble

God Has Chosen

• Foolish
• Weak
• Base
• Despised
• Things Which Are Not

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Glory Only In The Lord

1:26-31

Wise, Mighty And Noble Refuse The Gospel

The Gospel Is Foolishness To Them

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God Has Chosen:

• The Foolish, Weak, Base Things, The Despised, And The Things Considered As Nothing

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• To Shame The Wise, The Mighty, To Bring Down The Things That Are

Glory Only In The Lord

1:26-31

• No One Will Glory In Himself Before God
• We Are To Find Glory In God
• We Are His Workmanship
• Christ Became:
• Wisdom From God
• Righteousness
• Sanctification
• Redemption

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Matt. 11:11 ^NKJV

Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist

James 2:5 ^NKJV

“Hath not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith ...?”

Eph. 5:25-26 ^NKJV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Eph. 1:7 ^NKJV

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

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1 Cor. 6:19-20 ^NKJV

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

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Gal. 6:14 ^NKJV

But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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In Conclusion

• We have received every spiritual blessing in Christ
• Religious division (over doctrine, or men) destroys the body of Christ and is sinful.
• The world in all its wisdom cannot solve man kind’s problems.

In Conclusion (cont.)

• God’s design was before the creation and has the power to save the most vile sinner.
• God’s gospel wisdom is simple that anyone can understand it.
• God will destroy the glory of man and those who do not give him the glory.

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