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NASB | 1 Corinthians 1:18 ¶ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 1:18 ¶ For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God's grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. |
Subject: sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard |
Bible Note: Hi, Jesusman... On the other side of the spectrum, we don't want the language of the Word to be usurped and redefined by the world. For example, the psychiatric profession now diagnose children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). They define it as "an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures." As students of the Bible, we know that this is not a disorder, it is sin, deeply rooted in the heart of fallen humanity. I always teach that it is best to use the language of Scripture. God does a better job of providing labels than do we! If that takes more explaining, then let's shoulder the burden to explain. Calling the Bible a "manual" is fundamentally problematic. Last year, on the forum, I wrote to someone saying, "I'd advise caution not to fall into the habit of thinking that Scripture is a set of individual statements from which we pick and choose in order to refute those who disagree with us. While we have lots of people who regularly do that on the forum, I'd just like to remind you that the Bible is the revelation of Christ. Treating it as a kind of manual for life renders it into an entirely different book. It leaves people with the mistaken impression that they can pick out what they need and leave the rest. We look at the whole of Scripture to build our doctrine, and we live by every Word of God." In regard to the things said to you while witnessing: Such comments are easily answered by addressing each of these folks' presuppositions. However, people don't want to believe God. You can pile evidence upon evidence, and they still will not believe. "And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:30-31 ESV) Your credibility is not on the line -- God is working in your life, and that work cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Their incredulity in the face of all the things "clearly perceived" (Romans 1:20) is fundamentally a moral issue (John 3:19). Meanwhile, the gospel remains hidden from them by the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). So remember, "what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5a ESV). Pray for them, speak the truth to them, and God will deal with them as He sees fit. In Him, Doc |