Mar 17, 2026

THE CROSS IS GOD’S POWER TO SAVE

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Key verse: 18

NIV

chapter 1

18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

20. Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

22. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

23. but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24. but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are,

29. so that no one may boast before him.

30. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Jesus, the Son of God, was nailed to a cross and died for our sins. Then God raised Jesus from the dead. This gospel message, rooted in what Jesus did on the cross, is foolishness to those who are perishing. So-called wise people of the world cannot accept that God would send his Son to be crucified, let alone be resurrected.
The same was true in Paul’s time. Jews demanded signs to see and prove God’s power. Jesus’ death on the cross looked like weakness, not power. Greeks and Gentiles looked for wisdom that would explain the world and all of life. Jesus’ death on the cross seemed to be foolishness and a waste.
In fact, Jesus Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Christ’s death and resurrection is God’s power over sin and death. It is also God’s wisdom, not human wisdom, for only in Christ can we have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Without God’s gift of faith, we cannot see the power of God nor the wisdom of the cross. But to those who believe, Jesus is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. We have no power nor wisdom to save ourselves. Therefore, any boasting should only be in what Jesus has done for us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing your power and wisdom in Jesus’ cross. Help me to boast all the more about what you have done for sinners.

One Word: Christ – the power and wisdom of God

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