1 Corinthians 1

The point: Unite hearts in prayer, confessing need to speak and hear aright, asking the Holy Spirit to bind darkness, drive blindness, dullness, and rebellion, and quicken to hear and do God's word.

Paul's answer to the objection 'it isn't right' that God should love one and not another is that mercy is not anyone's right; judgment is the only right we have.

So we looked at the key passages in the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 3, and then again in John 6, in Matthew 11, and we could have taken a study of John 17, but we didn't in the interest of time. And now we are studying those passages in the teaching of the inspired apostles, which clearly assert the sovereignty of God in the realm, we spent two evenings studying Romans chapter 9, which is in one sense the very bulwark of this teaching, in which the apostle makes some very strong assertions, and then he deals with some objections to those assertions, and then he answers those object...

3:49 - 5:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Unite hearts in prayer, confessing need to speak and hear aright, asking the Holy Spirit to bind darkness, drive blindness, dullness, and rebellion, and quicken to hear and do God's word.

Paul's answer to the objection 'it isn't fair' is that man, as a creature, must listen and learn when God, the Creator, speaks, rather than trying to reconcile divine truths within narrow human minds.

The only right you and I have is the right to judgment, and if any of the sons of men receive anything other than judgment, it'll be because God chooses to show mercy upon whom he will show mercy. And then in answering the objection, it isn't fair. If everything's determined by the will of God, how can God judge me as a responsible creature? And Paul answers that objection by saying, first of all, you just better remember who you are.

5:08 - 5:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Nay, O man, who art thou that replyest against God? Does the scripture reveal that God is sovereign and that man is responsible yes it does then it's not for us to seek to reconcile within the confines of our narrow huma…

Paul's preaching of the cross is described as not adorned with philosophical thought or oratorical tricks, but as a blunt message of hope, leading to a twofold reaction.

glory before God but of him are ye in Christ Jesus who was made unto us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord now thinking our way through this passage notice the statement of verse 18 and that's what we're going to do tonight in just hitting the high peaks as we try to think our way through this rich section of the word of God Paul declares in verse 18 that the declaration of the message of the cross standing before men and saying to men your eternal destiny hinges on what transpired when ...

9:41 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Verses 19-21 explain why the cross elicits these reactions: God ordained it to destroy human wisdom and save those who believe. Martin connects 'saved' with 'believers' as the…

Paul is asked why he preaches a message so offensive to the natural mind and unimpressive to the philosophical world, centering on a humble carpenter's death, to which he replies God ordained it to put human wisdom to naught.

It was the good pleasure of God to save through the foolishness of preaching. So if you were to ask Paul, Paul, why did your God commit to your trust a message that is so offensive to the natural mind and so unimpressive to the philosophical world? You tell us that the humble carpenter who came out of Nazareth and born in the obscurity and rising in obscurity and came like a comet on the scene and then died on a cross, you tell us that my destiny hinges on what he did upon a cross. Paul, can't you come with something that's a little more intellectually satisfying, a little bit more flattering ...

13:17 - 13:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: From man's perspective (verses 22-23), the message of the cross is foolishness because it offends the Jews' desire for signs and the Greeks' pursuit of human wisdom. It cuts…

The Jews' prejudice against a weak Messiah is illustrated by their demand for a sign from heaven and their rejection of Christ's death on a cross as a stumbling block.

The Jews seek for signs. You come to the Jew and tell him that his Messiah died in weakness upon a cross. He says, no, no, it cannot be. Remember, they came to the Lord.

15:49 - 15:59 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: From man's perspective (verses 22-23), the message of the cross is foolishness because it offends the Jews' desire for signs and the Greeks' pursuit of human wisdom. It cuts…

The Greeks' pride is illustrated by their desire for philosophical reasoning and flattery, finding the simple message of the cross an oversimplification.

That's why it's foolishness, because the Jews seek for a sign and this does not meet the prejudice of their heart. Well, what about the Greeks? Well, they seek after wisdom. Now, Paul, let's be real.

16:33 - 16:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It means that effectual persuasion of God, which not only summons men out of darkness into light, but actually brings them by the sovereign operation of God.

The word 'called' is tested against 'invited' to show that it means more than a mere invitation; it signifies an effectual persuasion by God.

Now, the word called we studied a few weeks ago. This means something more than simply invited. Let's put the word invited in here and see if it fits. But unto them that are invited to the gospel, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

19:35 - 19:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He elaborates on verses 25-26, showing how what the world deems 'foolishness of God' and 'weakness of God' is actually wiser and stronger than men, providing answers to sin…

The inability of philosophers, psychologists, or PhDs to answer the question of how sins can be forgiven highlights the unique wisdom of the cross.

How may my sins be forgiven? Take that question to the philosopher tonight and ask him. Take it to the psychologist and ask. Take it to the PhD.

21:44 - 21:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He elaborates on verses 25-26, showing how what the world deems 'foolishness of God' and 'weakness of God' is actually wiser and stronger than men, providing answers to sin…

The inability of academics to answer what happens after death underscores the unique wisdom and power found in Christ and the cross.

Take that question to the philosopher. Take it to all the PhDs in NYU and Columbia University. Now, say, look, look, I want some answers, Mac. I'm going to die someday.

22:22 - 22:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Sit down and look at yourselves, take account of what a 'motley crowd' God has gathered, recognizing that not many are wise, mighty, or noble by worldly standards.

Paul's instruction to 'behold your calling, brethren' is applied to the congregation, asking them to consider their own lack of worldly wisdom, might, or noble birth, illustrating God's choice of the 'foolish things'.

He says, just sit down and look at yourselves. See what a motley crowd God's got together there at Corinth.

24:40 - 24:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You see, God is so ordained both the method, the message of his grace, that when the full purpose of grace is accomplished, there won't be one little last joint of a pinky in heaven that can wiggle in favor of free will …

The image of 'not one little last joint of a pinky in heaven that can wiggle in favor of free will' vividly illustrates that all glory for salvation belongs to God alone.

And what's the great end of all of this? There it is in verse 29, that no flesh should glory before God. You see, God is so ordained both the method, the message of his grace, that when the full purpose of grace is accomplished, there won't be one little last joint of a pinky in heaven that can wiggle in favor of free will or what I did. No flesh, not even the last joint of a pinky, shall glory in his presence.

28:59 - 29:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your heart leap beyond the narrow confines of your head and worship God as the one who chose you for His glory, having nothing to glory in yourself.

Martin expresses weariness with testimonies that emphasize personal decision ('I decided for Christ') rather than God's sovereign intervention, highlighting the need to understand 1 Corinthians 1.

And beloved, I'm not trying to be funny, but I get weary when I hear testimony people, the people stand up and say, well, I'm so glad that three years ago I decided for Christ and it's I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I. Would to God we'd hear some people stand and say, I was nothing but a hopeless, helpless sinner. And if God hadn't intervened, that's still what I'd be. And not say it because they think it's spiritual to say it, but because they understand, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, that if they're called and if they believe and they're saved, it's because God was pleased to choose the foolish, to choo...

37:58 - 39:27 Read in full sermon

The point: For those who do not know heavenly wisdom, make them insatiably thirsty to seek it through Jesus Christ.

A hymn quote is used to express the truth that God's seeking precedes and enables human seeking, reinforcing the theme of sovereign grace.

We say with the hymn this tonight, I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew it was he who sought me seeking him. It was not so much as I on thee laid hold as thou, dear Lord, on me. Oh, we thank you for your mercy, your grace, sovereign grace, electing, distinguishing grace, and yet grace proclaimed freely in Jesus Christ to all who will come. O Father, grant that those tonight who do not know this heavenly wisdom, who may know many things, but who do not know that their guilt is removed, that their depravity has been touched by your grace, and that the bondage of the devil has not been release...

42:07 - 43:25 Read in full sermon