To Know Only Christ, and Him Crucified?

What would it look like to determine to know only Christ, and him crucified?

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of Wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NASB)

Paul did this, he explained, because they were not mature believers (1 Corinthians 2:6), so he had to talk to them, not as he would to spiritual people, but as though they belonged to this world or were infants in the Christian life (1 Corinthians 3:1), ready only for milk, not solid food (1 Corinthians 3:2).

Look at who and what Paul decided to remember, and solely rely on to guide his message—and see what resulted:

Remembered:
Only Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified

Relied on:
Only the power of the Holy Spirit

Result:
People who would trust in the power of God, not in human wisdom

Paul’s Example

If we follow Paul’s example, how will we talk in those situations? Paul shared the details in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5:

I decided.… (1 Cor. 2:2 NLT).

Paul made a decision.

…that while I was with you… (1 Cor. 2:2 NLT)

The decision was specific to a certain situation of where, when and who.

I would forget… (1 Cor. 2:2 NLT)

To forget something equates to complete and utter disregard for it.

… everything… (1 Cor. 2:2 NLT)

All.

… except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. (1 Cor. 2:2 NLT)

All, except: Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

Paul shared more of what he did and did not do:

Did Not: I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. (1 Cor. 2:1 NLT)
Did: I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. (1 Cor. 2:3 NLT)
Did: And my message and my preaching were very plain. (1 Cor. 2:4 NLT)
Did Not: Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches… (1 Cor. 2:4 NLT)
Did: I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:4 NLT)

And Paul shared why:

I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. (1 Cor. 2:5 NLT)

What would it look like for us?

What would it look like to determine to know only Christ, and him crucified?

If I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit, what would come out of my mouth?

What would be the impact of those two decisions on the people around me?

Prayer:

God,

Let me find out.

Let us find out.

Image courtesy Matthew Kerslake on Unsplash.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

To Know Only Christ, and Him Crucified?

What would it look like to determine to know only Christ, and him crucified?

Paul’s Example

What would it look like for us?

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