Cipher 58. The Word of the Cross is the Power of God (1 Cor 1:11-24)
1. WHO? (1:11) For it hath been signified unto me (Paul) concerning you (Corinthians)
2. WHY? (1:11) There are contentions among you. Division in the church.
3. HOW to fix? (1:17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
4. WHAT solution? (1:18) For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
5. WHEN? (1:19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
6. WHERE? (1:20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?
7. WHICH power? (1:21-24) Unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God.
Commentary: Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel with the Cross of Christ, not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void, for the word of the Cross is the power of God. In short, no cross, no power. The Power of God through the cross above is preceded by three steps. The cross illustrates Paul’s message of the power of God so one can see and perceive the message as well as just hear or read the words. Jesus’ Witness Cipher leads to a picture of the word of the Cross that illustrates the power of God 77 times. The power of God is revealed as a single author of the Bible when the Cross is the consistent destination of Seven Spirits of God that answer seven questions in divine order seventy-seven times, even though there were 40 different human writers of the Bible over 6,000 human years.