The midland journal., 1946-11-22


Corinthians 1:22.25
MEMORY SELECTION - For other foun.
dation can no man lay than that Is laid,
which Is Jesus Christi Corinthians 3:11.
History repeats itself, in spiritual
things as well as in secular events.
The experiences of Paul at Athens
and Corinth are peculiarly applica-
BILE to our day, for here he encoun-
tered the very problems which face
(and have apparently stopped) the
churcn today.
The cities were not far apart in
miles, and they were both pagan, but
they differed widely in their cul-
tural and commercial development.
Athens was the home of goddess
culture. Corinth was a prosperous
commercial center known through
out the world for grossly licentious
living.
What did the gospel accomplish
in such cities? We shall soon see.
I. Goddess intellectually Meets
the Gospel (Acts 17:22-28a).
Paul was alone in Athens. He
had been separated from his COM
panions Silas and Timothy (Acts IT:
14), and was to await them at Ath-
ems. While he waited he looked the
city over and found it wholly given
to idolatry ". 16). This was no
idle observation of scientific mind,
for it caused Paul's spirit to stir
in him.
1t is a bad sign when a pro-
fessed Christian can live n the pres
ence of sin and false worship and
not be deeply moved by it.
Paul did something about it! He
went into the great daily gatherings
of philosophers and gave them some
solid Christian philosophy to work
on. They were curious to know
more, and when the opportunity
arose, Paul preached the sermon on
Mars Hill.
He found them superstitiously re-
ligious, but religion does not save.
They even feared lest they had for
gotten some god, so one altar was
"to the unknown God" ". 23). This
gave Paul his opportunity, for he
declared the one true God-unknown
to them-as the answer to their
question.
The intellectual felt superior and
had an idea that God needed him,
kind Of snobbery which is as cur
rent in 1916 as it was in Paul's day.
How effectively he disposed of that
attitude appears in verses "a and Is.
They needed God, and without him
they could not draw a breath!
Moreover, the pagan intellectual
then as now would swell with pride
as he thought of the race and people
to whom he belonged. They were
superior-a master race. Paul
declares Gods truth that all men
are of one blood, and that the ma
tions are in his hands ". 26).
What they had to do, and what
the goddess intellectuals of our day
need to do, is to seek God in humble
repentance and faith; then lives can
become fine and noble and useful
wv. 27, 32-34).
ii. Sophisticated immortality
Meets the Gospel (Acts 1914.
To Csrinth Paul came (evidently
still alone) without friends or funds.
Like all well-bred Jewish boys, he
knew a trade. He was a sail max
er and tent maker. Rather than
have the ungodly men of Corinth
hinder his preaching by the criti-
cism that he was doing it for mon
ey, he supported himself.
The minister who is eager for rich
financial return, and who is willing
to accept the gifts of the ungodly
that his work may prosper, has
closed the door for his testimony to
many who do not believe. In fact,
one wonders whether he has any
real testimony to give.
In this wicked city, given over to
vice and feshly pleasure, Paul
made his way to the synagogue and
began to preach Christ. He rea-
soned and persuaded and won some
| for the Lord as he continued with
them for a year and half (Acts
18:11).
PauIs letter to the Corinthians
reveals the struggle of the believers
at Corinth to maintain moral stand
ards and spiritual warmth in such a
city, but it also clearly indicates
that the gospel of Christ is "the
power of God unto salvation to ev-
eryone that believeth" (Rom. 1870,
even in the midst of sin and cor
ruption.
III. The Gospel Meets Sin-and Is
Victorious Il. Cor. 1:22-25).
The wisdom of this world-for
which Athens stood in a special way
becomes foolish in the eyes of
men, as it is already in the sight
of God, when it stands up against
the gospel (read Wv. 1920.
The preaching of the cross, which
looks foolish to the wording ". 23),
is the wisdom and the power of God,
and by it men are saved.
Whether Jew or Gentle, whether
seeking signs or wisdom, whether
"up-and-out" by way of pagan
intellectualism or "down-and-out"