The Foolishness of God Verses the Wisdom of Man
2000013
Subject: faith; attitudes
Introduction:
A. Our study in 1 Corinthians continues. Text of this lesson found in 1:17-31.
B. Text teaches that men may be saved through preaching of the cross of Christ. 1:17-18
1. message of gospel was considered as to be nothing more than “foolishness” or “just another philosophy” by society in Paul’s day.
2. Greek philosophers and religious teachers of the time worked as hard as possible to find:
a) ways to deliver a speech in a most convincing and moving manner.
b) Ways to manipulate the crowd.
3. The more moving & logical speech you had the more your belief was accepted.
C. Isn’t the same going on today? I assert that the same cultural situation exists in modern America.
1. Christianity regarded as foolishness by the modern scientific, educational, and political communities.
a) Regarded as intolerant, close-minded, unlearned, uncultured, by the elites in society.
b) Regarded as “just another religion” among the myriad of man-made religions – Buddhism, Islam, etc.
1) how can you say that your religion is the only acceptable one?
2) How can you say that your belief is better than mine?
2. Preachers seek to move themselves up to the spotlight & de-emphasize the Scriptures.
3. Some seek on the preach more on jokes & the wisdom of man – leaving God’s word out of the picture – until the Scriptures are not thought of as relevant in today’s society.
4. Many fall prey to smooth speech & lack of substance. Slowly move away from God.
D. Today’s lesson very simple in that it will take a look at the core message of Cross & then seek to explain why man regards it as foolishness.
1. The same problems that confronted Christianity in the first century also confront it today.
2. Hope the lesson will be of benefit to you.
I. What Was/is the Message of the Cross?
A. Jesus was our lamb of sacrifice on the cross.
1. 1 Cor. 1:18, 21 – the cross & salvation of sins inseparable.
a) Scriptures teach us that Jesus died on cross for our sins. 1 Cor. 15:1-8 – esp. 1-4.
b) Jhn. 1:29 – John the Baptist called Jesus the lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world.
3. Eph. 1:7-9 – redemption is fixed to the cross of Christ.
a) it was here His blood was shed.
b) To be saved: we must come in contact w/that blood – through baptism.
1) baptism = putting off old man of sin & beginning new life of serving God. It = the starting point for a child of God.
2) Rom. 6:4-6; Acts 22:16 – (Paul told to be baptized to wash away sin.)
c) thus when we come to obey gospel – we come to cross.
4. gospel is the message of the cross.
B. The Cross of Christ ended the old covenant.
1. This hard to understand for many. Some still seek to bind OT laws/ordinances that have long been released from our responsibilities.
2. cross of Christ = the exact place where old covenant ended.
a) Col. 2:14 – context talking to Jews. Look back at 11-13.
b) Gal. 3:19-24; Heb. 9:16-17 – two more clear passages. Law was to bring us to Christ so that we might be justified through faith.
3. From the cross onward – to now – and until Christ returns – we are subject to the new law found in the NT.
a) Heb. 1:1-2 – God speaks to us through His son.
b) We to take principles/commandments of NT & put them on our heart.
c) Words of the apostles = word of God = b/c they inspired of the HS.
4. Should not be too hard to understand that the new law b/g at cross of Christ.
C. The Lord’s church centers around the cross.
1. Acts 20:28 – Blood which Christ shed to save man is what purchased the church. Christ died so that His church could come into existence.
a) Thus – Eph. 1:22-23 – Christ is the head of the church.
b) This church still exists today. There is a church where Christ is the head & you can be a part of it. Christ’s church does not have:
1) the pope as head
2) not a convention/assembly as legislating body
3) not one religious leader as head….
c) to Christ we must be true if we wish to be part of His church.
d) Eph. 5:23 – those who b/c part of His body (members of His church) will be saved – b/c He is the Savior of the body.
II. Why way/is all of this considered foolishness? (1 Cor. 1:19-25)
A. Gospel of Christ is not based upon logic.
1. what logic is there between the commandment given and the results promised? Though the years – there could never seem much logic b/t the things which God commanded & the results to be had.
a) Ex. 12:22-23 – what logic is there b/t the sprinkling of blood on doorposts and the sparing of the 1st born? Was this foolishness?
b) 1 Kings 5:1-14 – what logic b/t Naaman’s dipping in the Jordan River? Why not the rivers in Syria? Why 7 Times? What connection b/t this & curing leprosy?
c) Joshua 6:1-5 – what logic b/t marching around a city & it’s walls falling down? Was this foolishness?
d) What logic b/t the plan of salvation as set forth in gospel & remission of sins?
5. 1 Cor. 1:25 – God’s foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of man.
a) men don’t see logic in being baptized for remission of sins.
b) Men don’t see logic in being members of Christ’s church.
c) Don’t see logic in seeking to follow Bible only.
d) Don’t see logic in worshipping God according to His plan.
6. does that mean that God does not know what is best?
B. The gospel exalts God – not man. (1:17; 2:4-5)
1. God sent Paul not only to preach – but to preach in a certain manner – simply wanted Paul to proclaim gospel.
a) not to adapt it in order to make it more persuasive.
b) Not to analyze the crowd & to be primarily concerned w/delivering speech in most dynamic manner.
2. Paul simply proclaimed it. He preached gospel message in straightforward simple way. He preaching not to glorify himself but God.
a) let this never go out of your mind if preaching/teaching. Remember…Paul had the sincerest of motives.
b) 1 Cor. 2:5
3. This needs to be kept in mind today by teachers/preachers.
a) it not your resp to be a “brotherhood watchdog” - seeking to expose others for your glory.
b) Mission of those who teach = glorify God. Not to build up personal rep. Not to b/c a big-name preacher; not to use pulpit to get back at someone else.
c) Any/all of those things going on in pulpits today – thus rejecting God’s message/purpose.
4. Not only are we to preach the truth – but God wants us to watch how we package His truth.
C. Gospel calls for man to be content with God’s way of doing things.
1. gospel calls for full faith in God – not only trusting in oneself.
a) it would have never entered into the mind of man that God would save man through a crucified Messiah.
1) Jews would have never suspected such b/c they looking for deliverance from Romans.
2) Gks and Romans: crucifixion a sign on weakness – reserved for only the most despicable.
b) quote from Bob Hutto:
1) it is hard for those in the Christianized west, where the cross for almost 19 centuries has been the primary symbol of faith, to appreciate how utterly mad the message of a God who got Himself crucified by His enemies must have seemed to 1st century Greek or Roman.
2. We must be content w/God’s plan of saving man. That is, salvation through the cross.
a) salvation via His plan – HBRCB
b) the importance of remaining faithful – Heb. 10:26-31
c) the way God calls man to worship Him – Eph. 5:19; 1 Thess 5:17; 1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7
3. We must learn to trust in God throughout life.
a) when problems come
b) when trials hit
c) to trust in God = foreign to the world & often looked upon as silliness.
d) But this what God expects – Js. 5:16; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; Phil. 4:4, 6-7, 13.
Conclusion:
A. The things that so often seem so wise to man is often not so wise at all.
1. 1 Sam. 17:38-40 – David/Saul
2. 1 Cor. 1:21 – man in his own wisdom will finally leave God.
a) see also Jer. 10:23; 1 Cor. 10:12
B. Let us learn to trust in God’s wisdom – not our own!
D. Trust in His wisdom by b/c a Christian according to His plan. The plan found in the NT.
E. Get your life right.
F. I N V I T A T I O N
