1 Corinthians 1:18-25

18: For the word 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, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”

20: Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater 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 come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22: For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23: but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24: but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

*** 

Paul spoke of the salvation of God coming through the preaching of the Word of the cross—the gospel of Jesus Christ. The message sounded foolish to those who would reject it and not receive the salvation it brought. The Word of God contains the power within itself to accomplish what it says. So, the very message of the cross of Jesus carried and delivered contains the power to save. Those who reject it as foolish, thinking they are wise, are foolish themselves.

Paul quoted Isaiah 29:14 where God said He would destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the cleverness of the clever. Where are those who can dispute God’s wisdom? God intentionally, in His wisdom, made it so that man could not find Him or come to know Him or His salvation through his own wisdom or intellectual pursuits. Trying to attain a personal knowledge of God through philosophy, debate, or education won’t happen, for it would give man a reason to boast, and would exclude the simple and unlearned from salvation.

God chose to make His salvation available through the simple method of words preached. Just tell them, and those who believe will be saved. The Jews wanted a sign—they wanted to see power displayed. The Greeks wanted an extensive equation to solve, and an intellectual path to follow, to prove God’s existence, but the answer is Jesus Christ preached. He is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who believe—who are being saved, the called, whether Jew or Gentile—Jesus is both the power and wisdom of God.

If God were to be weak or foolish in any way, which He is not, He would still be stronger and wiser than man at his best. God’s Word is spiritual. Although it can affect the physical realm in signs and power, and it gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to man, its true power and wisdom to save and give life lies in its spiritual effect on the human heart of the one who receives it by faith.




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