Summary: What God did for People through Jesus 4<br> What God did for People through Jesus 4 – <a href="https://www.httpsbible.com/noa/B46C001.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 Corinthians 1:18</a>-31 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”<br> What God did for People through Jesus 4 – an enormous transition from idol worshippers to following Jesus Christ.<br> This is the fourth part of what God did for us in Jesus’ death and resurrection. In the three previous lessons, we have noted:<br> <br> * God through Jesus provided us a new way to Him.<br> * God through Jesus demonstrated His love for us.<br> <br> * God through Jesus made it possible for unholy humanity to associate with the living God.Tonight we want to stress the enormous chasm God bridged to allow us to come to him. Most if not all of Paul’s writings were to Gentile Christians. I do not think many of us realize what an enormous transition it was for idol worshippers to begin following Jesus Christ. First, they lived in a world dominated by the presence of idols and the influence of idolatry. Worship of the gods was everywhere! Idols were visible everywhere! Temples dedicated to idol worship were extremely common. Idolatry was more than religious expression in the world of the first century. It was an important part of politics. It was an important part of the workplace. It was an important part of agriculture (and their age was an agricultural age). It commonly was a part of the home routine. In the first century, in everyday life, it was impossible to escape the presence and influence of idolatry.Second, to make the transition from idolatry to following Jesus Christ was an enormous personal transition. It involved changing one’s personal concept of deity. It involved changing one’s concept of worship (Jesus was the sacrifice, and was already offered). It involved changing religious habits that were a part of your life. It involved changing your concept of godly behavior. It often involved changing your daily life in fundamental behavior.<br> What God did for People through Jesus 4 – The Patron<br> <br> * Let me illustrate how deep the change was by looking at the context of 1 Corinthians 1.<br> <br> * Paul began this letter in the manner he began a number of his letters.<br> <br> * He gave his common salutation, which was typical of the way many letters started.<br>
