1 Corinthians 1:22-24 “The Gospel is Not Seeker Sensitive ” By Bob DeWaay

In these verses, Paul explains that God does not give people what they demand or seek, but rather what offends everyone but those who will believe. The message of a crucified Jewish Messiah is deemed a “foolish scandal.” The signs that Jews demanded would not convert, but deceive. Jesus said that only one sign would be given, which was His own death, burial and resurrection. Since conversion is not man getting God to do things how fallen humans want, but God converting sinners through clear and forthright gospel preaching, there is no reason to do surveys of sinners to find out what they want to hear. Paul refers to “the called.” Who they are is not known to preachers until after God does a supernatural work through the gospel. We cite passages in Acts that show how the gospel did go from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth as Jesus commanded. In the process Jews and Gentiles were converted. But most rejected the “foolish scandal” as they saw it.