Good Friday
Determined to Know Nothing Except Christ and Him Crucified
1 Corinthians 2:2 says:
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Paul's determination is essential for a day like Good Friday. There is nothing more important to know than Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Valuing the Gospel message leads to a higher quality of life—a life that stands firm, hopeful, and satisfied in Christ, even through crises, conflict, trials, temptations, or well-being. Even when things are going right, we often take our eyes off the Gospel.
The word "determined" (Greek propeirmai, as John Calvin noted, akin to choosing something as most precious) means Paul chose nothing among them as more valuable than the Gospel—Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. This attitude makes the Gospel the most valuable in our personal lives, church community, and society. Good things remain good, but the Gospel takes priority.
The Corinthian Church's Problems: Devaluing the Gospel
The Corinthian church faced significant issues, all stemming from devaluing the Gospel and elevating other things. We can categorize their problems into three areas and relate them to our lives today.
1. Valuing Good Things Above the Gospel
They elevated baptism, Lord's Supper, spiritual gifts, and marriage above the Gospel. Paul said in chapter 1, Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel. They divided into sects based on who baptized them—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. Baptism is good, a sacrament, but valuing it above the Gospel creates division.
Problems in the church or our lives trace back to devaluing the Gospel. Conflicts can be corrected by valuing Christ and Him crucified above all. They overvalued feasts at the Lord's Supper, getting drunk and desecrating communion. Spiritual gifts caused self-promotion. Marriage issues arose because they valued it above the Gospel, leading Paul in chapter 7 to advise singleness for some, unlike the celebratory tone of Ephesians 5. Their emphasis on immorality made marriage more about lust prevention.
2. Valuing Questionable Things Above the Gospel
They elevated alcohol and food sacrificed to idols—questionable liberties. Paul urged valuing the Gospel above personal freedom. Galatians 5:13 says:
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
"Serve" here means "enslave" yourself through love. Freedom from sin and law leads to restricting personal freedom for others' sake, prioritizing Gospel advancement over "I'm free in Christ."
3. Valuing Sin Above the Gospel
They embraced blatant immorality worse than pagans. In chapter 10:13, Paul rebukes:
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man.
Temptations are not supernatural or overpowering if the Gospel is valued. All Corinthian problems arose from devaluing Christ and Him crucified.
Asking the Right Questions
Problems in our lives, church, or society prompt questions: Am I valuing good things, questionable things, or sin above the Gospel? Am I more satisfied in sin than in Christ?
The Starting Point: Counting All as Loss
Philippians 3:8 says:
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.
Make a conscious effort to love Christ and His work more than anything else. "Rubbish" means dung—the lowest state. Fix your eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Cling to the greatest truth for the highest quality of life in knowing Christ crucified.
The Gospel breaks addictions—alcohol, sexual sin—because our God is that powerful. For believers and unbelievers, Christ was crucified for your sins at Calvary. Accepting this truth is faith. It's already yours; recognize it through spiritual birth.
Living It Out: Practical Steps
With the Gospel as ours:
- Be on alert: Proactively value the Gospel daily. Jesus said, "Take up your cross daily and follow Me." Preach the Gospel to yourself every day.
- Be firmly committed: Maintain conviction that the Gospel is most valuable.
- Value it cheerfully: Be strong and courageous (Joshua), unashamed (Romans 1:16):
- Be strengthened by it: Rely on others; don't bear burdens alone.
- Let it motivate love: 1 Corinthians 13's agape love flows from Gospel saturation—sacrificial, overflowing from Christ. It dominates actions in church, marriage, and relationships.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
If problems dominate—grumbling or sin—it's because Christ crucified isn't your greatest satisfaction. Value Him most, and though life won't get easier, Christ becomes most enjoyable, glorifying God.
