The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-28
LESSON FOR JULY 80
.rHESWoRD OF THE CROSS"

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GOLDEN TxT-Far be 1. from mo to
E1cry, rave In the cross Of our Lord Jesus
cnriatoai. s:1l
Paul's letter to the church at Cor.
tnth was written from the city Of
Ephesus some four of Ave years after
Paul had left Corinth. We have seep
some Of the difficulties which sur.
rounded this church. It was a small
BODY Of believers In a great city Of
Your hundred thousand. 1t was sur
eounded by all kinds of liscentiousness
Ind excess 90 that to maintain Chris
Han moral ideal was difficult In the ex
tren1e. That Is why this first eplstls
has 90 much to do with church govern
ment and such questions as the mar.
Eage relation. the conduct of public
assemblies, spiritual gifts, the, resur
techon from the dead. different fac.
Hons, the love feasts of tho rich and
HE poor, eating meat offered to Idols
Jaw suits conducted before the heath.
sn, the Lords supper and church
nicipline are discussed. Paul did not
himself write the letter. Sosthenes
acted as bis amanuensis. In this let.
ter 10 the wonderful and immortal love
chapter (Ch. 13), and the magnificent
resurrection chnpter tCh. 10y.
The only unity desirable or possible
lslthat which Christ prayed for (John
a7:21). This is not unity of opinion
Or Of Organization, but unity Of pur
pose and power, the working together
ptsbeliyers In harmony to attain the
great purposes Of Christianity.
.. Tho Power and Wisdom Of God
wv. 1925. To sln.blinded mind the
preaching of the cross is foollshuess,
Even some professed Christians reject
Tie doctrine Of substitution which Ia
Found everywhere In the Bible. lisa.
b3:6; Gal, 3:13 =; I Cor. 5:2D. II the
hoctsine of the cross Is foollshness to
anyone nc Is to "them that perish"
The Jews require sign ". 22) but
The cross puts them to shame ". 27).
God Is made unto us wisdom, not the
wisdom Of men lat the wisdom OF the
Spirit Il Is such preaching as this
That 70 athe power Of God" 1t has
proven itself the power of God in our
Lives. twill destroy the wisdom Of
the WISE and bring to nothing the
understanding Of the prudent" Elsa.
p9;14 q. Jer. 8:e). God is constantly
making foolish the power and wisdom
Ipf this world. PhIlosophic research
nfter the unknowable "trles to make
> God Of Its own pattern but does
hot satisfy the longings of the human
heart and God through the foolish.
'pesa Of the thing preached is pleased
10 Save them which believe" The
performing Of miracle (Math. u 1857,
Ind the Greeks seeking after wisdom
pr philosophical reasoning, Is no match
kcr the Christ crucihed whom Paul
preached.
t.Ihe Preaching and Power Of Paul
(vy.2eto Oh. 2:2). Taking the Bible as
J whole, We see In 1t Gods plan and
purpose with regard to the goal Of
manhnd. The problem was by what
means this purpose could be per.
formed. The whole Of the Old Tesla.
ment 10 q story OF God working to this
'hnd. Then at the best time in all his.
Tory came Jesus, the son of God, into
HE world. and, by his death on the
eross and his resurrection, we are all
bound together In one, summed up In
lho cross as the power and the wisdom
pa God for salvation. The symbol Of
the cross Ia common sight, yet the
treat truth which 1t symbollzes is
bitten obscured by scholars, and falls
10 be lived by disciples. God chooses
those whom the world rejects, "the
fcclish,. and whom the world rejects
- "the weak" These are the ones
That were called even In Paul's day.
The purpose Of this call Is to confound
fcr toSput to shame) the wisdom Of
men. The most powerful motive In
'existence Is the motive Of the cross.
I'D The cross Is the highest proof and
fhe strongest expression Of the love
bf God for rnan. (2) the cross was
HE agent whereby atonement was
made for sin. t3) The cross shows us
he terrible evils of sin and the de.
ntand of such sacrifice as Gods son
IN order to save us from It. az 1t
blows us that God wants US to come
ohm and to be saved, and that there
10 Joy in heaven over every repentant
dinner. t5) 1t shows the supreme val.
he Of right and duty In that Christ
went to the cross ut the terrible cost
bf his life. t0 1t shows the value of
the human soul. ~ From the cross,
through the resurrection and the ever.
Living Saviour. God has given us the
eullness Of the Spirit to inspire and
sransform.
We are nothing In ourselves, and
God has made Christ unto us "wlsdom
Ind righteousness" that Is, Gods
ttghteousness is provided for us In
Christ Il Cor. 5:21; Rom. ST.; Phil,
P:e B. w; also sanctlacation and |
redemption. that is, we are separated
from the world unto God and in him
We are redeemed from sin and Its con. |
seuuences.
Therelis left no room for glorylng in
This was the preaching upon which