Opposition to the Gospel – Preaching
Preaching Outline I Corinthians 1:23 – “But we preach Christ crucified, who is a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.”
Topic: TWO TYPES OF OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL
Introduction to I Corinthians 1:23
Paul in this text shows what he preached, what gospel he preached, which was Christ Crucified. There were two types of opposition to the Gospel.
Development
When Paul said that he preached Christ crucified, he was saying that the son of God came in human form, flesh and blood, and that he died the death of the cross, for man’s sin, because he is the Lamb of God.
Paul preached Christ crucified, in other words, a change of life. The eternal Gospel. But there were two types of opposition to this Gospel that Paul preached.
Scandal for the Jews
Some Jews (Pharisees and scribes) didn’t accept that the Son of God would come as a simple man, to bring Grace and end the period of the Law. These men were spiritually blind, living a religious life.
When Jesus presented the Father’s plan, they saw it as a scandal. Why were they scandalized by Jesus? Because they wanted to remain blind and live by the Law. Jesus fulfilled the Law.
The first opposition is when the believer is scandalized by what is Pentecostal. When their eyes are blinded and they think that worship is just liturgy, when they don’t want to change their lives, but just have a religious life.
When you are scandalized by something because you don’t know the Word and sound doctrine. Many believers have not yet experienced the Third Hour of the Day, but see those who experience Pentecost as drunk. Only by living Christ crucified can we reach Pentecost.
“These men are not drunk, as you think, because it is the third hour of the day.” Acts 2:15
Madness for the Greeks
Many Greeks came from far away to meet Jesus, they were curious, and many were converted, we see the fruits described in the book of Acts. The Greeks’ big problem was their idolatrous culture, their intellect.
The second opposition is the madness of reason. Madness is anything outside of Reason. For many, the Gospel is only what lies within Reason. God does not work in the measures of Reason.
The eternal Gospel is a project carried out by the Holy Spirit. Many people want to serve God in any way they can, or think that their intellect can make them know God, have experiences with Him, but it cannot.
Many, because they live in Reason, only know Jesus as a teacher, but not Jesus as Lord.
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say it well, because I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
Conclusion of I Corinthians 1:23
Which gospel do you live and preach? Does the Gospel scandalize you? Is the Gospel foolishness to you? Or is it Christ Crucified?
There are these 2 oppositions to the eternal Gospel, which are still at work among many people today.
Preaching Outline I Corinthians 1:23 – “But we preach Christ crucified, who is a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.”
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