First Impressions. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 There are three important phrases at the start of this chapter that are essential for understanding the significance of knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They are “the testimony of God,” “the demonstration of the Spirit,” and “the power of God.” God has revealed Himself to the world through our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who preach the Gospel cannot expect to share what they haven’t learned. Grasping the subject and knowing how to present it in a way that’s suitable for the audience and reflects the message's importance takes time.
We need to focus on the purpose of the message and how to make its contents easily understood. Let the truth we intend to teach others first influence our hearts and minds, and then deliver the message guided by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit working in both the preacher and the listener, the eloquence, intelligence, speaking ability, passion, and zeal of the speaker will have no real impact. While truths that provide evidence should be presented, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that makes people willing to accept what is said for themselves.
When the Spirit of God led the apostle Paul to Corinth, where he stayed for over a year and a half, He didn't just guide him to the place but also was his Guide while he was there. Paul was well-educated. He had studied at one of the top schools of learning at that time. His natural intelligence was very sharp, and he could think quickly and clearly. In this large city not far from Athens, where education and intelligence were highly valued, people would be impressed when someone new arrived teaching a new philosophy or offering some special insight. First impressions are usually shaped by how a speaker or teacher presents themselves publicly.
Look at how well he is dressed! My, what a sense of self-confidence that man has! He must really know what he is talking about! Does he ever have a good command of words! He can say so much in so many different ways! How cool, calm, and collected that speaker is!
Such kinds of comments would have been typical of the philosophers and wise men the Corinthians were accustomed to listening to. Then, another man of great intellect and ability, trained in the school of Gamaliel, comes into their city. Surely, he will surpass all they have heard in both eloquence and depth of thought.
He is so... so ordinary! Why, I can speak better than that! His speech is pathetic! He looks so tiny! He seems fragile and weak!
Corinthians were used to, and expected, a person who had something important to say to speak with flair—either to have some real class or a gimmick to make what he said seem important. The practices of the Corinthians are still used today by those who claim to speak for God. They surround themselves with all kinds of attractions to ensure people know that if they believe what the speaker says, they are in with a successful crowd.
See our surroundings! Listen to our music! Look at our presentations! Success is clear to see in this place! Did you ever see such a crowd listening to the Gospel where you go?
God sent His ambassador Paul into such a setting, not with clever words or fancy speeches. He understood what the jaded people expected, and a comparison would be made between the personalities of those who spoke rather than those who lived out what they taught. As Paul began to deliver the Gospel message to these worldly-minded people, he wisely relied on the Holy Spirit's guidance to speak in a way that kept the message at the forefront. What Paul had to say was the "testimony of God." It is important to know the scriptures well enough to base everything spoken in a Gospel message on God's testimony. That is why preparing one's own soul and spirit is far more important than the clothes one wears or outward appearance. The clear message presented in Corinth was "Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
Paul arrived, and everyone could see he genuinely knew the God he preached about. The truth he openly shared was about the God he knew personally and acknowledged for His power. There were no complicated words in his message that the crowd couldn’t understand; no hidden meanings to confuse anyone. What he said was true, straight from God. God’s testimony through His servant was that there is power in the blood of Him who was crucified. Apart from Jesus Christ alone, there is no other way for sins to be atoned.
He arrived in their town filled with fear, weakness, and trembling, but when he spoke the truth, there was never any pretending. Results were clear, shown by the Holy Spirit. The power was spoken plainly with heavenly wisdom. The faith that grew when people heard the Word was obvious as he preached that Jesus is Lord. He didn’t use a smooth-talking message to flatter the ears of the listeners. Truth straight from God brought repentance and fear, and lives were changed when they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sinful people living in the sinful city of Corinth were saved through Paul’s preaching.
But he didn’t stop there; the mission is greater. The message from God takes a person much farther to the place where they see they are part of a work that began at salvation. It goes further to help men and women understand they are part of the Church. The walls have come down between Jews and Greeks. The world’s wisdom knows nothing about this. If they had known, they never would’ve crucified Christ. We know in whom we’ve believed, and now we understand where we stand. Our position in Christ is part of God's hidden wisdom plan. It is revealed when the Spirit of God opens the mind to receive the hidden truths He chooses to unveil.
When we accept Christ, we are sealed by the Spirit until the day of redemption; moreover, the Holy Ghost teaches us and reveals to us the extent of salvation. We are placed in a Body with Christ as the Head. Through the Spirit of God and God’s Word, we are nourished with spiritual food that sustains our souls. By understanding that we are made part of the Body of Christ into which we have been incorporated, we can find complete guidance for living from the revealed mind of Christ.
The convicting power of the Holy Spirit persuades people that they have an unmet need. He convicts individuals of their sin against God and their guilt as sinners, which is evident in their unrighteousness. He also makes clear that judgment awaits sinners who continue to live and die in their sins. Furthermore, He reveals future events to warn people to prepare to meet God. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit reveals our Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of sinners.
We must ensure that the focus of our work and words is on the Lord Jesus Christ whenever and wherever we preach. Some may have heard the Gospel all their lives but still need to hear again and again about Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Others we speak to might be idolaters of some kind, but they must hear about Jesus Christ and “Him crucified.” People from cults or false Christianity have been misled, and they also need to hear of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. To those seeking something new, remember, we are not here in the world to make comparisons like those who teach "Comparative Religion" in a university. The message of the Gospel centers on the Person and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Such commitment to the message allows this preaching to be accompanied by the "demonstration," the legal proof, provided by the Holy Spirit. Behind that is the power needed to make faith in Christ grow and bear fruit.
The purpose of Gospel preaching is for people to come to know God and Jesus Christ, so they might accept the gift of eternal life that God offers. That doesn't mean we should be careless or casual in how we present the Gospel. It certainly doesn't mean we should neglect our preparation or the use of materials. However, to be "God's messenger in God's message," we must recognize that we are simply tools in the hand of the Spirit of God. Our duty is to stay sharpened and ready for use.
We are called to present God's truth in the Gospel. We must tell people about Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We need to understand and be able to explain the significance of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Our role is to lead people to Him who saves them - not to save them ourselves or claim they are saved. Only God can save, and He does save those who come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation is not achieved by human wisdom but by God's power.
God’s power was shown in Corinth by those Corinthians who accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and proved their faith through changes in their lives. Their attitude changed. Their actions changed. Their speech changed. God’s power was also shown through the spiritual gifts He gave to the new believers and the supernatural display of His power that was beyond what people could do.
It is not up to us to ever tell a person they are saved. The spokesperson for God should let God speak through them to the anxious soul seeking salvation. Allow God to speak. Have the seeking individuals read the scriptures aloud that relate to their needs. Let them hear not only what God says about their needs but also about the salvation He has provided for the sin problem. Show them from the scriptures they read aloud themselves the result that comes when one receives Christ. Let people hear in their own ears what God has to say, and leave the work of salvation—both saving and assuring—to the Word of God and the Spirit of God Himself. Conceal yourself behind the message you deliver so the focus remains on the message, not on your wisdom, presentation, or skill. It’s probably best when people forget your name or appearance because they are impressed by "the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God." That way, they focus on the Savior, Jesus Christ, and what He has done for sinners.
It isn't easy to hide oneself in plain sight when preaching the Gospel, but when the Spirit of God is working, it is not only possible but also true. Those who are convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit are ready and willing to hear of the One who died for them, regardless of who is speaking. It is the servant of God, speaking for God, who will make the necessary point when guided by God. It is the message, not just the messenger, that the Spirit anoints to be the spoken "word in season." It only has power when it is delivered by someone who understands he speaks for the God of heaven.
May I remember, and learn if I haven't already, that it is only through the Word and Spirit of God that new life in a person is sparked by God's Spirit. The message needs to be clear for it to be understood, and to truly know the scriptures, the Word must be daily nourishment for the messenger. I know well that only what is within can come out. People will remain unmoved if all I do is shout words and use vigorous hand gestures. Divine power must be added to all the weak words I speak. If that is the case, then a word or phrase may stay in the hearer's heart.
When the time is right to bear fruit, which is only known by God, then according to His will, the servant He uses to water the Word must be ready to give understanding. The preaching of the Word can go even further in producing conviction and then illuminating spiritual darkness so hearers believe. When they do, they call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and God is glorified when they receive the Savior.
Paul came to Corinth, and to everyone who heard him speak, there was no doubt he personally knew God. The truth He declared plainly and publicly was about the God he knew, and in His power, he spoke with authority. He didn’t use fancy words they couldn’t understand, nor were there hidden meanings that frustrated listeners. What he did speak was true, directly from God. God’s testimony is that there is power in the blood of Him who was crucified for our sins, Jesus Christ alone, and there is no other way our sins could be atoned for.
He came to Corinth in fear, weakness, and trembling, and when he spoke the truth, there was never any dissembling. The results were a demonstration of the Spirit, showing that the power was present along with heavenly wisdom. The faith that resulted when the people heard the Word was genuine and evident because he proclaimed Jesus is Lord. There was no smooth-talking message meant to tickle the ear. Truth spoken straight from God brought repentance and fear, and lives were changed when sinful people in Corinth believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved through Paul’s preaching.
He didn’t stop there because the commission is greater, and the message from God takes a person much farther. They are brought to the point where they see they are part of God’s work in a community. That began at salvation and goes further to help believing men and women understand they are part of the Church. The walls come down between Jews and Greeks. The world’s wisdom knows nothing about this. If they had known, they never would’ve crucified Christ. We who believe now realize that our position in Christ is part of the plan.
The wisdom of God is hidden from people by nature, but it becomes known when the Spirit of God opens their minds to receive hidden truths He reveals to us. When we accept Christ by faith, we’re sealed by the Spirit. Beyond that, the Holy Ghost teaches us previously hidden truths. From Him, we learn how far salvation extends. We are placed in a Body with Christ as the Head, and through the Spirit of God and God’s Word, we are nourished. In the Scriptures, we find the truth that we have been placed in His Body, where we can find full instructions from the revealed mind of Christ.