I Corinthians 1-2

God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notice that it is God who is faithful and has called us into fellowship with His Son. And if He has called us, then He will keep us! What blessed assurance that brings. Knowing that it is not up to me, but to my gracious heavenly Father!

The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
The Jews requested a sign and it became a stumbling block to them.
Greeks seek wisdom and instead the message is foolishness.

John MacArthur wrote a wonderful book on this topic called Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus. I'd highly recommend this book. What Jesus did was not some simple task. He was crucified in the most inhumane way imaginable. According to Cicero, respectable Greeks should not even mention the word. It was a horrific death! And yet Jesus died in that way for the joy set before Him and in obedience to the Father. Oh how I wish I had more obedience!

But back to the verses, it is foolishness to those who are perishing. Why would an innocent man suffer such a horrific death for mankind. After all to the average person, they are not that bad. In fact, they are pretty good. But not by God's standards! And because we are totally depraved, wicked, evil, lawbreakers and have committed high treason against the King of the Universe, He has every right to punish us eternally. But by His grace, He has chosen to provide a way of escape from the Judgment to Come. We will all face judgment. And how will you fare? Are you good enough to get into heaven? Will the Great, Holy, and Just God of the Universe overlook your overt and prolific transgressions of His law? Look into your heart and see what's there.

But we preach Christ crucified.

If Christ was not crucified, then we would have no hope! He died to pay the penalty for our sin. He is the propitiation (satisfaction of God's wrath) for our sin. You see, a wise and good judge can't just let lawbreakers go free. He must punish the guilty for their crimes. Otherwise, he would not be good. And because God knew that we could not pay the fine ourselves, He sent Jesus to pay our fine for us.

We can't come to God by human wisdom. It is all up to God. He opens our eyes to see.

And so there is nothing in us that makes us in our fallen state want to know God. He opens our eyes to see. And then gives us a choice. Will you repent and believe?

I Corinthians 2

Paul did not come with excellence of speech. His speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom.

This gives me hope as I share my faith. I don't have to be eloquent or perfect in knowing all the arguments I may face. I just do it by faith.

Faith should not be in wisdom of men but in power of God.

My faith is not in man's wisdom, but in the power of God, and there is no one that is more powerful!