What Does It Take?

For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

I Corinthians 1:22-24

What does it take to convince people of the truth of the gospel? Paul is introducing the subjects he intends to cover in his epistle to the Corinthians. Eventually he will pen a whole chapter on the resurrection, the definitive proof of the gospel. For the moment he lays the groundwork for what follows. He was proclaiming Christ in a multi-cultural society. Each of the groups to whom he was preaching seemed to want something different to convince them that the gospel is true. According to Paul, the Jews requested a sign of some miraculous action, to prove the gospel to them. The Greeks were philosophers. They wanted something that was intellectually satisfying. They spent their time in endless moral and ethical discussions. Paul would not bend to either of their demands. He insisted on preaching Christ crucified. This message was offensive to the Jews and the Gentiles, or Greeks as he refers to them. This is pressure that has not changed in the intervening centuries. The simple gospel message does not satisfy the individual who wants something more spectacular or intellectually satisfying. It takes the effectual call of the Holy Spirit to convince us of the truth of the gospel. To those who are thus called, ‘Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.’

God of Grace and Glory,
we rejoice that You have set before us the truth of Christ.
We praise You for the work of Your Holy Spirit
that draws us unto Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning