"For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
1 Corinthians 1:18-21
Part 4
Yesterday: God is Making the World’s Wisdom, Foolish
“Where is the wise?”
“Where is the scribe?”
“Where is the disputer of this world?”
“Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
Today: God plans to Save Those Who Believe by the “Foolishness of Preaching.”
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
“For after that in the wisdom of God.”
“After That”
After what? It is “seeing that.” “Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (v. 20). “Seeing that,” God made the wisdom of this world foolishness.
“In the Wisdom of God”
“… in the wise arrangement of God”[1] (JFB).
God is all-wise and always operates with His perfect wisdom.
“The world by wisdom knew not God.”
The world, through its wisdom, this ungodly system fueled by the thinking of ungodly men and women, who think they run this planet are always keen to leave God out of the picture.
“The World by Wisdom”
“… by its wisdom,” or “its philosophy”[2] (JFB).
“In spite of the highly sophisticated discussion of natural theology by the Stoics and Epicureans on ‘the nature of the gods,’ that intellectual world did not know God”[3] (NBC).
Worldly wisdom and philosophy always reject the Creator.
“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not” (John 1:10).
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28).
At this point, being a reprobate, a person cannot think about God correctly.
“It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching.”
Paul is not saying that preaching is foolish. He is telling us what the lost man’s attitude is about the preaching of the Gospel.
“God’s purpose was achieved through what was regarded as foolish, …what Paul preached, so as to save those who put their trust in that message”[4] (NBC).
We should add that Paul nowhere condemns education. He is one of the most educated men in the Bible. He would tell us, though, that education without God’s wisdom is incomplete and cannot help a man to God. This is another reason why preaching the Gospel is so important. Mankind needs an accurate picture of God’s message for them. This can be accomplished through preaching. By preaching, he does not mean the action of a pastor standing up and talking. He is talking about the content of the message the speaker preaches. It is the content of the Gospel that must be understood and believed. It is vital for salvation.
“To save them that believe.”
This is where the wisdom of God leads us. Paul’s purpose of preaching the Cross is the salvation of those who believe in Jesus Christ and His message of the cross. Wiersbe points out common reactions to the preaching of the cross.
“Paul pointed out that there are three different attitudes toward the cross. [5]
Some stumble at the cross (v. 23a). This was the attitude of the Jews because their emphasis is on miraculous signs, and the cross appears to be weakness…
Some laugh at the cross (v. 23b). This was the response of the Greeks. To them, the cross was foolishness…
Some believe and experience the power and the wisdom of the cross (v. 24)” (Wiersbe).
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).
Which of these attitudes is yours? Are you stumbling over the cross? Are you laughing at the cross? Or, are you believing and resting your faith in the message of the cross for your salvation?
Quote:
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty Rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burden of the day.
Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place:
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of His face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss;
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross. [6]
[1] JFB, Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 264). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] JFB, ibid.
[3] NBC, Winter, B. (1994). 1 Corinthians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st-century edition (4th ed., pp. 1164–1165). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.
[4] NBC, ibid.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 570–571). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] “Beneath the Cross of Jesus,” by Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane (1868). Tune: ST. CHRISTOPHER (Maker). Copyright: Public Domain.