Unity Is Cross-Shaped (1:18-31)
Neal Pollard
Corinth’s problem was not baptism itself, but an apparent pride in who baptized them or nurtured them in their Christian walk. There seems to have been “camps” within the congregation, following their favorite preacher. Paul had established the church in Corinth (Acts 18). The eloquent orator Apollos also worked at Corinth (Acts 19:1). It is very possible, given Paul’s statements in 1 Corinthians 1:12, that Peter also spent time working with this church (Peter greets churches in five broad regions in 1 Peter 1:1, and Asia was just across the Aegean Sea from the eastern seaboard of Achaia where Corinth was situated; Also, Peter’s ministry appears to have gone other places than that specifically recorded by Luke: see Acts 12:17; 1 Pet. 5:13). The result of these allegiances was disunity and divisions. Division is perhaps more harmful to the cause of Christ than ignorance and amorality. People who ought to know better are acting contrary to the heart of Christ when they fail to unite under His leadership. What is the remedy? Paul points to Calvary.
IT IS THE WAY TO TRUE WISDOM
Paul uses the word “wisdom” eleven times in this paragraph, contrasting it with “foolishness” six times. In a paragraph full of contrasts, Paul points to the cross as the wisdom of God which destroys and makes foolish the wisdom of the worldly wise. God uses the cross to put to shame the wise according to the flesh. The wisdom of the cross leads to righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Ironically, the world is searching for wisdom, but they are looking in all the wrong places. They stumble at and find foolish the preaching of the cross. Paul appeals to Christians to not only understand this, but unite together to show the world the wisdom of God’s plan through the crucified Christ. What a testimony to the ability to understand the greatest thing man could ever know when believers in Christ stand together at the foot of the cross.
IT IS THE ACCESS TO TRUE POWER
Paul shows us the power of the cross. It saves those who believe (18,21). It is stronger than men’s power (24-25). It puts unbelievers to shame (27). It looks like weakness to the world and worldly, since an innocent Man submitted to it to act in the interest of others. That is seen as weakness to those who walk after the flesh. What happens when believers imitate the true power of God by living crucified lives in submission to the crucified Lord?
IT IS THE REASON TO BOAST
People who brag on themselves are a significant turn off. But we often see it in others while failing to see it in self. Paul points to the cross as the only reason for boasting. When we understand that the wisdom and power are from God, we will not be so audacious as to boast before the Lord (29) but will live, instead, by the inspired principle of Jeremiah 9:23-24: “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord” (31). The worldly boast in who they are, who they know, what they’ve done, how much they know, what they have, what they can do, where they have been, or where they are going. None of these things will bring souls to Christ and get them to heaven. What will? The preaching of the cross!
Cross-eyed people are the only ones who see clearly. Focus on the cross, deriving your wisdom, power, and glory from it, and you will be a source of unity rather than division. This is the broad foundation Paul lays before getting to the specific, individual issues Corinth struggled with. If you see a church that is divided or filled with allegiance to men rather than The Man, you will find just about any kind of problem you can imagine. It was that way with Corinth, and it will be that way with any congregation. Paul encourages us to unite by standing together at the foot of the cross. There’s always room there!
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