The Way We Divide ( 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

As Americans, we like our categories. If something isn't divided into categories or groups, we don't feel it is complete until it has a label and fits into a box. It's like a compulsion to determine whether someone is a sure way or not.

We have Alabama fans and Auburn fans. Some are pineapple on pizza, some like crunchy peanut butter, and some are coffee drinkers. Among the coffee drinkers, we have people who do sugar and cream, cane sugar, specialty creams, and those who like it black: some drink Diet Coke, others Pepsi. People speak differently, calling all soda drinks coke or pop or soda. We have morning people and night owls, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok. People like different music, vacations at different places (mountains vs. beach), different Hobbies, and methods of installing toilet paper. If there is a way for us to divide into groups, we will find it.

Once we get in our groups, what do we do? We like to compare ourselves to others. We like to talk about how great our group is and how much better it is than the other groups. We tend to look down on people who aren't like us. The conversation rarely revolves around our similarities.

God's Categories

When we come to 1 Cor 1:18, we learn that God has two categories.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) — 18 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.

The two categories are this simple. Some are perishing, and those who are being saved. That's it. Some are perishing, meaning their lives are destined for destruction and suffering. Others are being saved, meaning God offers a lifeline through mercy and grace. If they will accept the lifeline, they can find relief. Unfortunately, we create all kinds of distinctions based on things that don't matter. We focus our time and effort on deciding who is better than who based on arbitrary reference points.

But God cuts through all that and tells us that two sides matter. Two groups that we associate ourselves with, whether we want to or not. One is a group that thinks the word of the cross is foolish. The other believes that the word of the cross is the power of God to save mankind from death and destruction.

Why The Cross?

What does this phrase, "The word of the cross," mean? Isn't this an odd way to describe the gospel? But Paul wants to focus on the cross because it has a polarizing effect. Those who hear that Jesus died on the cross would feel saddened or upset. The cross is a punishment for criminals, so the idea that an innocent man would suffer on it willingly is disturbing. We have to decide what we are going to do with that information. We can either disregard it as foolishness or seek to understand why.

When we read the rest of what Paul says, we learn that the cross was chosen intentionally. God had something that he wanted to accomplish, and the cross was the only way to do it.

1 Corinthians 1:19 (ESV) — 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

What is God's grand purpose? He wants to destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning. This verse reveals God's greatest issue with man: his pride. Pride is a huge issue. The word of the cross will weed out those too proud to listen. If you hear the word of the cross and think, "That's stupid." We don't say that in our house, but if you are proud enough to say or think that, it has accomplished what God expected it to accomplish. The proud fail to find God's salvation. Salvation is foolishness to them.

1 Corinthians 1:20–21 (ESV) — 20 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? 21 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.‌

Those most wise and prominent miss the truth of God's salvation. They pursue righteousness and eternal life through their accomplishments and their wisdom. He says, "God made foolish the wisdom of the world." Men, in their wisdom, crucified Jesus. They did not see all of the prophecies about Christ being killed by God's people and suffering for the sins of all mankind. They refused to see it because it did not align with their beliefs. So they labeled him a blasphemer and put him to death in the most excruciating way imaginable. They tortured an innocent man in their wisdom.

He showed us that our wisdom is flawed. We cannot see or understand what God is like or what he is doing on our own. We can't discern right or wrong because we justify evil and ignore what is good. God needs to show us this by contrasting our failure with his success. That's the cross. It's the ultimate contrast.

Missing The Point

1 Corinthians 1:22–23 (ESV) — 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,‌

The Jews and Gentiles are hung up on things that don't matter. They are looking for signs or something that sounds good. They care about external appearances, not the truth. When they hear the cross, it sounds ridiculous.

To understand this better, we have to think about what is being said in the word of the cross. Torture devices aren't something we talk about very much. For instance, we don't think positive thoughts about waterboarding. If we heard that a man died while waterboarding, we would probably think, "That's sad, but so what? He's probably a criminal." Or we would think, "That's so sad and barbaric. Why do people torture other people?" But we would never think, "Why would an innocent man willingly suffer waterboarding?" That would be wild. Would we believe that someone went through that so that we could be forgiven of our sins? Be honest. It sounds ridiculous.

What would we want to happen to show us God's salvation? Wouldn't we want ten plagues against our enemies, as foretold by a Moses figure? Or wouldn't we want an all-wise person to outreason everyone around them and be accepted by everyone? The Jews and Gentiles are looking for someone who fits their mold, but Jesus doesn't, and the cross doesn't.

Understanding The Cross

But to some, the cross makes perfect sense. Those are the ones being saved. They look at what Jesus did and see God's strength and wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:24–25 (ESV) — 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.‌

In his wisdom, God has taken something men intended for evil and made it provide the greatest good. God has demonstrated his perfect power and wisdom through this one act. We understand that God has sacrificed himself and provided the redemption price for us to be saved. How did he do that? He let the most wise and "righteous" men do it for him. In his wisdom and power, he showed everyone exactly what they would do in the prophets, and then we see all those things happen. Jesus didn't do anything deserving of death, but they killed him. Jesus even pointed out that they were fulfilling the OT, and they didn't believe him. They did it anyway. God was wise and powerful enough to know this would happen and make it work together for our good.

I love the final phrase in this section. He says, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." God is infinitely wise, and it is ridiculous to think we would be more intelligent than he is. It's ridiculous to think of ourselves as having any level of true wisdom, considering the small amount of time and experience we have on earth. If we compare wisdom with one another, we might feel wise. But if we compare our wisdom with God's, it becomes apparent that we are entirely foolish. We have no fundamental understanding of ourselves except what God has given to us.

Pride Creates Division

So, why is Paul talking about man's foolishness and God's wisdom? How does that fit into our discussion of division? This is laying the groundwork for us. Our comparison of wisdom with each other is comical. God has shown us that, in reality, we are foolish. We overthink ourselves. The divisions in Corinth are occurring because men think they are wise. They have pride in their hearts, which is the root of all divisive behavior.

This discussion reveals that pride is the primary determining factor God uses in distinguishing between those who are being saved and those who are perishing. We cannot allow pride to infiltrate our hearts and destroy our relationships in the church.

Consider Your Calling

On the other hand, some see the cross and feel the weight of sadness in knowing that Jesus died on it for them. They have their eyes opened to the saving grace of God. They can see their sinful nature and understand his love for them is more significant than their sin. What type of person accepts this truth?

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (ESV) — 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”‌

Paul says that God chose the foolish in the world to shame the wise. Is that what we were expecting? Isn't it odd that God would choose the foolish? Then, he says he chose what is weak to shame the strong. God wasn't looking for the best of the best. He wasn't looking for those who had everything all figured out. Paul says, "Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth." He doesn't say, "Not any," but "Not many." It's not that God is entirely against the wise and powerful. He's not out to get the rich, but his message isn't attractive to them.

Those who are in Christ are not chosen for their greatness. If we were excellent in the eyes of men, we would have missed it. We would have been too busy boasting about our ability to pay attention to what God has to offer. Notice that salvation was not and is not based upon you and what you can do. Paul says, "Because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption." We were lowly, despised, and rejected in the world. We were a bunch of nobodies from nowhere. But Jesus gave us these beautiful blessings and made us children of God.

Application

How do you take the cross? Essentially, that question is at the heart of who we are. If we reject the cross, we are in a category of proud and blind people who are perishing. If we ignore or forget the cross, we lose what makes us wise, righteous, sanctified, and redeemed.

Understanding the cross' value and significance makes us grateful and gives us a heart of humility. We begin to live in the right state of mind where we do not boast about our abilities and strength. Instead, we boast about what Christ has done for us. There is no divisive attitude from someone in that state of mind. They value and love every soul that Christ died to save more than they value their glory.

Conclusion

Don't let the world talk you into thinking much of yourself. We are all nothing and nobodies on our own. But with Christ, we are chosen and precious children of God.