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The Foolishness of the Cross

The Foolishness of the Cross

Words of Faith 4-25-17

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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1 Corinthians 1

[20] Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? 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 miraculous 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 man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

One of the big problems in Corinth had to do with people claiming that they were better than others or claiming that their leader was better than another. The thought has always been around that some are wiser or more deserving. It is a sort of spiritual elitism.

Paul pointed out that, in fact, the Gospel is the great equalizer in regard to wisdom, scholarship, or special knowledge. God's plan has literally made foolish the wisdom of the world through Christ and particularly through the Cross of Christ.

A foundational declaration of Paul is that God completely dismisses the wisdom of men as a means of salvation. There can be no leader lifted up as "wiser" or "better" than another since salvation comes completely through the grace of God.

To get behind these verses we must understand that the believers in Corinth were a mixture of Jews and Greeks who believed in Jesus. Both had backgrounds that honored wisdom, philosophy and striving as the way to find truth, and at least in a sense salvation. Paul pointed out that the Gospel flattens all these notions.

Paul asks rhetorically just where in fact "the wise man" can be found who is able to do what the message of the Cross of Christ has done. By "wise man," Paul was probably alluding to the Greeks. The "scholar" was a "scribe" or "teacher of the law," a Jewish professional who was skilled in the law and often emphasized its technicalities.

"The philosopher of this age" was the man who wanted to dispute every issue and solve it by human reason. This last designation could fit both Greek and Jewish culture. Paul declared that God has made foolish the wisdom of the world.

In fact, it was never God's purpose that men, with all their philosophical and religious wisdom and searching, should come to know God that way. It was God's good purpose to save those who believe by the seemingly foolish process of preaching the cross. The message of the Gospel is the message of the cross. It is equally accessible and inaccessible to the scholar and to a simple villager.

I came face to face with this fact a few years back while visiting our missionary in Guatemala. I was going to preach but we were part of a prayer meeting prior to the service. As we prayed and worshiped, I noticed a little lady next to me who was just exploding with joy before the Lord. She was an indigenous woman who had little or no education and an income of only a few hundred dollars a year. But it was so clear that she loved Jesus with the purest of hearts. I had to stop in awe and ponder the mystery that this little indigenous woman knew the power of the cross without any of the wisdom or education that we enjoy. In fact, it seemed clear that she probably was in a better position to preach the power of the cross than I was. This is the wonder and mystery of the Cross of Christ.

Judaism searched for miraculous signs to validate the coming of Messiah. Others look for wisdom and scholarship. But it was the preaching of Christ crucified that brought salvation. Paul declared to the Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). This is the power of the Cross.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. God has foolishness? God has weakness? What Paul means is that God's smallest, least significant thought is more worthwhile than the wisest plans of mankind.

And God's seemingly insignificant expression of His creative and providential power, as the coming of the dew or the unfolding of a leaf, is greater and more effective than the mightiest thoughts and acts of men. He has complete control and fully accomplishes His purposes, while the power, acts, and thoughts of men are, in comparison, as nothing.

It was not on man's terms and initiative, but on God's, that man found what he needed, the power of God and the wisdom of God. In the preaching of Christ crucified God calls people by opening their eyes of faith to believe the gospel.

Thank You Lord for the wonder of the Cross of Jesus. May I proclaim the truth of the cross today in all that I do and say. In Jesus' name.