The Message of the Cross is indeed mere folly to those who are in the path to Ruin, but to us who are in the path of Salvation it is the very power of God.

If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

for not in word is the reign of God, but in power?

To deliver such a one to Satan for the ruin of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,

nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.

Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died!

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that withers away, but we run to win a prize that never fades.

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

But I keep on beating and bruising my body and making it my slave, so that I, after I have summoned others to the race, may not myself become unfit to run.

Therefore, my dearly loved ones, run away from idol worship.

then -- the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power --

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Why do we ourselves run such risks every hour?

I protest, by the boasting which I do about you, my brothers, through our union with Christ Jesus our Lord, I myself run the risk of dying every single day!

Make no mistake about this: 'bad company is the ruin of good character.'

And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption;

So, my dear brothers, continue to be firm, incapable of being moved, always letting the cup run over in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the service of the Lord is never thrown away.