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1 corinthians 1:18-31
18 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. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 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 the world? 21 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. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 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. 27 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. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
The cross of Calvary. The most influential, controversial and monumental moment in history of mankind. Do you not feel that way? Do you think that those of us who believe are foolish, simple and weak? If that's you, then of course you would, because to you the cross is foolishness you cannot understand it. How do I know? Well, not that this would persuade you but here goes, the reason you do not understand the Cross is because the Bible says so (1 Cor. 2:14).
You see, I believe there is an inner tipping point within a person when it comes to the gospel. A point in one's life where the gospel turns from a contemplative idea to just plain absurdity. The way I see it, if the person is still entertaining the idea of a saving savior, still hasn’t shut the door completely on the Gospel message, then there is still has hope. In other words, they cannot be officially labeled as “perishing”.
Everyone who is saved, at one point, was unsaved. That is, they did not understand the gospel. I guess what I'm trying to say is God knows who will be saved and who will deny Him in advance. Therefore, those who are “perishing” are those who have completely negated and denied the gospel. They no longer even entertain the thought of the gospel and are unable to hear the good news. Whereas one, who will at a later date be saved, according to God's foreknowledge, will, at the very least, they still entertain the idea of a saving gospel and thus they are not officially perishing.
This is important because if every unbeliever permanently could not understand the gospel or thought it to be foolishness, then no one would be saved, ever. But as it is God and His foreknowledge opens up our ears. That is why we rejoice in our Salvation not just for the eternal glory that awaits us but the fact that God, in his Mercy, opened our ears.
Thus, the second part of verse 18 applies. It is our power, it is our source of strength in this world, our source of salvation. I believe this concept is one of the reasons why Jesus instructed his disciples to move on from the town they were preaching in if the hearers would not even entertain the idea of salvation and a Savior.(Mt. 10:14) “Shake the dust off your feet” he commanded, “and move to the next town.” Why? Because Jesus, being God, foreknew that a gospel placed upon a deaf ear is fruitless. We too must discern through the Holy Spirit when our words are being received and when we are to turn away and be silent.
In keeping with the theme of man's wisdom verses God's wisdom, Paul continues. He brings up the various strengths and wisdom that mankind uses to govern their lives. With each one he debunks them by stacking them up against God's wisdom.
To the Jews he says, “Where is your salvation in your religion?” To the Gentiles and Greeks, “Where is your salvation in your philosophy?” And to the Romans, “Where o’ Roman is your salvation in your military strength?”
Everyone pitied poor David as he went up against the giant Goliath yet it was the Goliath who was to be pitied most of all. In amazement God dwindled Gideons army from 32,000 down to 300. God used the youngest and smallest in Joseph and the uneducated and simple in the apostles, to change the world. Or in a lowly manger and shameful cross for a Savior to be born and killed. On and on God uses what appears to mankind as foolish to show Himself strong.
Also it must be notated that Paul tells them that he preaches Christ crucified. Not Christ resurrected, not Christ ascended, but Christ crucified. Just as in the opening verse it is the message of the cross not the message of the death or the resurrection or the ascension, but the cross! The crucifixion! That’s what is preached. Why? That is a good question because to answer the question, “why the cross”, we must understand what the cross meant.
The Roman crucifixion was the worst death one could possibly endure the most degrading and lowly of deaths. Shameful and despicable. The logic or wisdom of man could easily say, “Even if this whole savior salvation thing is real no way God chooses a rugged old cross as the means of sacrificial atonement.”
Its as if God scanned the Earth looking for the most deplorable means of His Son dying and then chose the cross. Again why? Because the only way to the cross is through faith. Conventional man’s wisdom is an enemy of faith. Again, the message of the Cross is foolishness to those unwilling to exhibit faith.
Paul even says brothers and sisters think about what you were when you were called. You were not wise, you are not influential, you were dead. We must remember the heights from which we have fallen (pride) and also remember the depths from which we have risen.
Be Blessed
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 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 the world? 21 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. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 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. 27 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. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 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. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
The cross of Calvary. The most influential, controversial and monumental moment in history of mankind. Do you not feel that way? Do you think that those of us who believe are foolish, simple and weak? If that's you, then of course you would, because to you the cross is foolishness you cannot understand it. How do I know? Well, not that this would persuade you but here goes, the reason you do not understand the Cross is because the Bible says so (1 Cor. 2:14).
You see, I believe there is an inner tipping point within a person when it comes to the gospel. A point in one's life where the gospel turns from a contemplative idea to just plain absurdity. The way I see it, if the person is still entertaining the idea of a saving savior, still hasn’t shut the door completely on the Gospel message, then there is still has hope. In other words, they cannot be officially labeled as “perishing”.
Everyone who is saved, at one point, was unsaved. That is, they did not understand the gospel. I guess what I'm trying to say is God knows who will be saved and who will deny Him in advance. Therefore, those who are “perishing” are those who have completely negated and denied the gospel. They no longer even entertain the thought of the gospel and are unable to hear the good news. Whereas one, who will at a later date be saved, according to God's foreknowledge, will, at the very least, they still entertain the idea of a saving gospel and thus they are not officially perishing.
This is important because if every unbeliever permanently could not understand the gospel or thought it to be foolishness, then no one would be saved, ever. But as it is God and His foreknowledge opens up our ears. That is why we rejoice in our Salvation not just for the eternal glory that awaits us but the fact that God, in his Mercy, opened our ears.
Thus, the second part of verse 18 applies. It is our power, it is our source of strength in this world, our source of salvation. I believe this concept is one of the reasons why Jesus instructed his disciples to move on from the town they were preaching in if the hearers would not even entertain the idea of salvation and a Savior.(Mt. 10:14) “Shake the dust off your feet” he commanded, “and move to the next town.” Why? Because Jesus, being God, foreknew that a gospel placed upon a deaf ear is fruitless. We too must discern through the Holy Spirit when our words are being received and when we are to turn away and be silent.
In keeping with the theme of man's wisdom verses God's wisdom, Paul continues. He brings up the various strengths and wisdom that mankind uses to govern their lives. With each one he debunks them by stacking them up against God's wisdom.
To the Jews he says, “Where is your salvation in your religion?” To the Gentiles and Greeks, “Where is your salvation in your philosophy?” And to the Romans, “Where o’ Roman is your salvation in your military strength?”
Everyone pitied poor David as he went up against the giant Goliath yet it was the Goliath who was to be pitied most of all. In amazement God dwindled Gideons army from 32,000 down to 300. God used the youngest and smallest in Joseph and the uneducated and simple in the apostles, to change the world. Or in a lowly manger and shameful cross for a Savior to be born and killed. On and on God uses what appears to mankind as foolish to show Himself strong.
Also it must be notated that Paul tells them that he preaches Christ crucified. Not Christ resurrected, not Christ ascended, but Christ crucified. Just as in the opening verse it is the message of the cross not the message of the death or the resurrection or the ascension, but the cross! The crucifixion! That’s what is preached. Why? That is a good question because to answer the question, “why the cross”, we must understand what the cross meant.
The Roman crucifixion was the worst death one could possibly endure the most degrading and lowly of deaths. Shameful and despicable. The logic or wisdom of man could easily say, “Even if this whole savior salvation thing is real no way God chooses a rugged old cross as the means of sacrificial atonement.”
Its as if God scanned the Earth looking for the most deplorable means of His Son dying and then chose the cross. Again why? Because the only way to the cross is through faith. Conventional man’s wisdom is an enemy of faith. Again, the message of the Cross is foolishness to those unwilling to exhibit faith.
Paul even says brothers and sisters think about what you were when you were called. You were not wise, you are not influential, you were dead. We must remember the heights from which we have fallen (pride) and also remember the depths from which we have risen.
Be Blessed
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