Foolish Wisdom-2(2024)

FOOLISH WISDOM-II—1Corinthians 1:19-21(1:18--2:5)

Attention:

Fred had been sent to the big city in order to receive some training for a new position.

Fred’s co-worker—Billy Bob—was charged with escorting Fred to work. While they were walking, Fred was bombarded by all the unfamiliar lights & sounds of the city.

The stoplight on the corner, buzzes when it is safe to cross the street, & then it beeps 15 times to count down the fifteen seconds until the light changes.

Once they crossed the street, Fred asks Billy Bob, what the buzzer & beeping was for. Billy Bob explained that the signals were for blind people so they would know when the traffic light was red or green.

Fred responded, in shock! And said, “You mean to tell me that they let blind people drive cars here?!

Fred mis-interpreted what Billy Bob had said.

Likewise, ‘God’s wisdom’, can be mis-interpreted, to the detriment of a person’s standing with God.

Need:

The apostle Paul related that the wisdom in the Cross-work of Christ, was seen as foolishness by those who were perishing.

The wisdom of the Cross can be misinterpreted.

How can wisdom be properly interpreted?

9 means of interpreting foolish wisdom.

The title ‘Foolish Wisdom’ is intentionally indefinite. If something is foolish, it cannot be described as wise! And if something is wise, it cannot be described as foolish!

Last time we found that:

1—Foolish Wisdom is interpreted thru...

The MESSAGE Of The CROSS(:18)

Today we’ll find that:

2—Foolish Wisdom is also interpreted thru...

PROMISED FUTILITY Present In The World(:19)

Explanation:(:19)

:19—“For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.””

“For it is written...”

Refers to the Christian Scriptures either directly or conceptually. Not all Bible quotes are ‘word-for-word’ Many of them are a blending of statements that bring together varied concepts for pertinent application.

This reference from the Old Testament Scripture is from Isa. 29:14. The apostle Paul applies it to his statement in verse :18.

That prophetic Isaiah 29 passage let’s the reader/listener know unquestionably, that it had long been prophesied, that God’s solution for mankind’s sin-sickness would be rejected as “foolishness” in the eyes of the lost(:18). And that, in the eyes of the “saved”, that same God-ordered solution, would be accepted as “the power of God”(:18)!

2Cor. 2:14-16—“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, & through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved & among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, & to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

The Bible & the “written” word therein, has been determined thru millennia for & thru God’s people of every generation. It is not as if our generation just decided that this particular train of thought(biblical) produced the best form of government, or the best citizens, or the best life.

This “written” word is the culmination of God’s revealing of Himself & His heart to mankind. It is has been vouched for & scrutinized & determined by every generation of believers since Moses recorded the first of it by the instruction of the Holy Spirit(Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; Mk. 12:26).

•Therefore what is “written” in the canonized Bible is trustworthy:

2Tim. 3:14-17—“But you[Timothy] must continue in the things which you have learned & been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, & that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

“The Bible is not a collection of the wisdom & insights of men, even of godly men. It is God’s truth, His own Word in His own words.”—John MacArthur

The 2000 Baptist Faith & Message states:

‘The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired & is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, & truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true & trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, & therefore is, & will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, & the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, & religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.’