A major theme in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians is God’s powerful, elegant simplicity.  He makes earthshaking, epoch-defining restoration in the world we have ruined, through humble, simple principles, one individual at a time.  Although “the message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed to destruction, . . [it is actually the very] power of God.” 18  “God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom.”  He used His simple plan of salvation “to bring to nothing what the world considers important.” 21, 28

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This is the most important thing that will ever happen to anyone – “Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin.” 30  He restored His errant creation back to His original design.  He did it, since we could not do it ourselves.  Forgiveness and eternal life are easily obtained; it is ours for the asking.  But we must receive His gift with empty hands, having given up all hope of ever earning His acceptance through what we do for Him.  As he says in this chapter, this path to eternal life does not appeal to most people in our world today, who prefer to think of themselves as being a significant part of the solution for the mess they are in.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it isthe gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”             Ephesians 2:8-9

” . . being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:24