The Lord rescues His people Israel “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2) and makes His gracious covenant with them, defined by the Ten Commandments. Since He has become their God by His grace, they shall be His people, having “no other gods” before Him (Ex. 20:3). He is “jealous” for them as a husband for his wife and as a father for his children. He has named them with His Name and called them to rest in Him (Ex. 20:5–9). The incarnate Son, Christ Jesus, is likewise jealous for His Father’s house, because it is to be a place of divine grace and Sabbath rest for His people, and not a “house of trade” (John 2:16–17). His zeal consumes Him as He gives up “the temple of His body” to the destruction of the cross, but in three days He raises it up again to be the true temple forever (John 2:17–21). By His crucifixion He cleanses the entire household, and in His resurrection He is revealed as “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:24)
The Preaching of Christ Crucified Builds the Church
The church at Corinth had a problem with divisions. One cause was the belief that it was the wisdom of some preacher or the power of his personality that built the church. It’s easy to see that people might have their favorite preacher, their favorite music, their favorite “practical” wisdom, and if people think that it is their preacher, their music, or their wisdom that builds the church then they are eager to advance one or the other.
Paul tells us that all of those are wrong. The church is built by the power of the Holy Spirit working through one message – the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ. This message sets aside all wisdom and power and unites around one thing: Christ Crucified.
