Paul concluded yesterday's portion by saying he doesn't teach the gospel with eloquent words and human wisdom. He doesn't want the message of the cross to be complicated or to depend on man's ability. The message of the cross is simple and it depends on Christ's ability.
Now he says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18) To those who have no interest in the gospel, and to those who think they are too intelligent and sophisticated for the gospel, it seems like foolishness. It was difficult for the Jews to wrap their heads around the concept of a Messiah who was executed. It was difficult for the Gentiles to accept a simple message where salvation depends not on the good works of man but on the saving work of Christ. But those who accept the gospel message realize how much power there is in it. It has the power to save the eternal soul and it has the power to give strength and comfort for daily life on earth.
"For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'" (1 Corinthians 1:19) Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 29:14) where the Lord is accusing the people of depending on human wisdom and not on His wisdom. We find a similar theme In Jeremiah 9 where the Lord considers worldly wisdom to be foolishness and says, "Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24) Paul stayed in some very sophisticated cities during his ministry. The people there valued education. They spent a lot of their time debating philosophical issues. Many of them probably laughed at the message of the cross. I don't think the Lord has anything against a good education, but I think it's possible to become so wise in our own eyes that we are actually foolish. We can become so philosophical that we think the simple message of the cross is beneath us.
"Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20) The world didn't expect a Savior born to a poor couple in a manger, or a Savior who was crucified. The world was looking for a Savior born in a wealthy king's palace, a Savior who was a mighty warrior, a Savior no one would reject or condemn. The wisdom of the world was that the Savior would be a mighty king, not a poor preacher who ended up on a cross.
"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:21-25) The Jews wanted Jesus to perform particular miracles upon their command and He would not. The Gentiles thought the gospel message was too simple. But those who come to Christ learn how much power there is in the gospel. It has the power to change lives and save souls.
"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things---and the things that are not---to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) It was mostly the common people who flocked to Jesus while he walked the earth. It was mostly the common people who accepted the gospel when they heard it preached by men like Paul. Human wisdom would assume that God would choose the wealthy and influential people for His kingdom, but the fact is that wealth and influence often cause a barrier between people and God. Wealth and influence can cause people to feel like they don't need God, that they are doing just fine on their own. This is not true of every wealthy or influential person, but we can see why the poor and needy might call on the name of God more often. God, in His wisdom, did not choose a complicated method of salvation. That way no one can boast that they got to heaven by their own works, or by their own strength, or by their own intelligence, or by their own status.
"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God---that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Here we find Paul quoting a verse from Jeremiah that we looked at earlier in today's lesson. When we get to heaven we will do no boasting in ourselves because we will have done nothing to earn our salvation. We will boast only in Christ and His saving work on the cross.
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