1 Corinthians 1:18-31

v18-25: The message of Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews because "they thought that their expected Messiah would be a great worldly ruler" and "would never acknowledge one who was so humble and poor and died such a cursed death."  The message of Christ crucified was also foolishness to the Greeks who sought human wisdom and found "the plain message of the cross to suit their taste, indulge their vanity, or satisfy their inquisitive fondness for a good argument."  But those who receive the gospel see in the message of the cross more of God's wisdom and power than all His other works.

v26-31: "We are foolishness—ignorant and blind in divine things, with all our boasted so-called knowledge, and he is made wisdom to us. We are guilty, exposed to his justice, and he is made righteousness, our great atonement and sacrifice. We are depraved and corrupt, and he is made our sanctification, the spring of our spiritual life; from him, the head, spiritual life is communicated to all the members of his mystical body by his Holy Spirit. We are in chains, and he is made our redemption, our Saviour and rescuer."