Jesus is the foundation in 1 Corinthians.
When everything else is shaky—when the people are divided, the culture is loud,
and the church is messy—Paul brings it all back to Jesus. Not just as a
name to mention, but as the solid ground beneath every part of Christian
life.
Corinth was a complicated church.
They were spiritual, but immature. Gifted, but divided. Called, but confused.
And Paul, with love and authority, corrects them—not by shouting them down, but
by calling them up to the standard of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the Wisdom and Power of God
Paul wastes no time pointing the church back to the Cross.
“Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach
Christ crucified...” (1 Corinthians 1:22–23)
Jesus—crucified—was foolishness to the world, but He is
the power and the wisdom of God.
Paul reminds them that it is not about eloquence, human
status, or big names.
It is about Jesus.
Jesus is not optional. He is not decorative.
He is the cornerstone—the center of our message and the model
for our lives.
Jesus, the Only Foundation
Later, Paul writes:
“No one can lay any foundation other than the one already
laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
This hits deep. Because so many of us try to build on
talent, reputation, gifting, or influence.
But Paul says: That is all sand.
The only foundation that will last is Jesus.
When the fire comes, when life shakes, when trials test what
we have built—only what is built on Jesus will survive.
That challenges me.
What am I building on?
Is my ministry built on Jesus?
Is my identity rooted in Jesus?
Is my value anchored in Jesus?
Jesus, the Model of Humility and Holiness
Paul confronts everything from sexual sin to lawsuits,
spiritual pride to communion disorder. And every time, the answer is the same: Look
to Jesus.
When they are puffed up with knowledge—Paul reminds them
Jesus humbled Himself.
When they are abusing grace—Paul reminds them they were bought with a price.
When they are mishandling worship—Paul reminds them that Jesus is present when
they gather.
Everything comes back to Jesus.
His body. His blood. His example. His love.
Jesus, the Victor Over Death
And then comes chapter 15—the crown of the letter.
Paul gives us the full picture of resurrection hope.
He anchors it all in the resurrection of Jesus:
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile…”
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…”
“Death has been swallowed up in victory…”
Jesus is not just the foundation for life.
He is the victory over death.
I do not have to fear the grave.
I do not have to be defeated by sin.
I do not have to wonder who wins in the end.
Jesus already won.
Jesus Is the Foundation. Build on Him. Live Through Him.
By the end of 1 Corinthians, I realized something.
Paul was not just correcting a church. He was re-centering them.
He was calling them to remember that Jesus is the beginning, the middle, and
the end of the Christian life.
We do not graduate from Jesus.
We grow deeper into Him.
Jesus is the Foundation.
For teaching. For correction. For unity. For love. For spiritual gifts. For
hope.
Build on Him.
Live through Him.
Return to Him—every time.