Characteristics of the wisdom of God 1Corinthians 1:21
1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 1Co 1:23, 24 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
What’s wisdom of God?
Already said….all that related to Christ…God’s way of salvation…God’s word..Consider 4 things:
i. Originated in God. V. 21a
Biblical revelations, not of man’s invention – the origin from God Himself. Cf.
2Pe 1:21: “for no prophecy has ever yet originated in man's will, but men who were led by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (Williams)
God planned….executed….revealed…etc..
- Salvation of man and all other related truths… 2Timo 3:16 – “All Scripture is breathed out by God..” (ESV)
Part of God’s Eternal counsel…..program cf. 2:7
o Mystery…hidden. cf 2:7
o Unless God reveals…no one will know His plan…wisdom..
? Praise be to His great name…He was pleased to reveal. Cf. Eph 3:9, 10
? Ob: God brought to light the hidden things…mystery from ages…that through Church…wisdom of God may be made known…
? Our duty as Christians…the church….make known God’s wisdom..
- Even angels wonder at this wisdom of God. 1Pet.1:12c.
ii. Personified in Christ. 1Cor 1: 24b; 30b
“Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” V. 24b
“Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God” v. 30b
Not only that God, revealed His hidden wisdom through the scripture…The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is God’s wisdom for us.
- He is the embodiment of God’s wisdom. Cf. Heb 1:2; Colo 2:3
Heb 1:2a:- “in these last days spoken to us by His Son…”
God revealed Himself to us through His Son…So, He is called Word. John 1:1 ; Col 2:3: “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
o In Him we have all the answers, all knowledge…cf. John 4: 29 ‘He told everything’ – He answered all her questions, all her secrets..
Cf. Pro 8:22 – wisdom personified….bible students consider that passage speaks of christ..
Cf. v. 30 - Not only that He gives us wisdom, He teaches truths, but once we come to Him…
We get everything we need…- to know or experience. Ref. v.30 (T) 1Co 1:30 “So you owe it all to Him through union with Christ Jesus, whom God has made our wisdom, our means of right standing, our consecration, and our redemption..” (Williams New Testament)
a. Righteousness – justification – right standing before God.
b. Sanctification – consecration – separation...access to Holy presence.
c. Redemption – glorification – redemption of our body..
Thus, sinners who were just enemies before God, having no way to be saved…God in His eternal wisdom…saves, justifies, sanctifies and going to be glorified…
This…entire work of salvation from beginning to end…reveals the wonderful.. wisdom of God…
This wisdom….personified in Christ.
iii. Contrary to human thought. V. 18a, 25..
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing..” “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men..”
Notice man’s response to God’s wisdom:
a. Foolishness! V.18, 25a
‘Perishing’ – unbelievers who naturally going to hell…finds message of the cross foolishness..
‘Being saved’ – But believers acknowledges the power behind the cross.
‘Message of the cross’ – refers to the entire gospel truth…everything related to God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
‘Cross is foolishness’ - Ob: Remember the difference between the general perception of the cross then and now.
Today, cross got some respect! World considers as a symbol of Christianity. .Then, it was just an instrument / method execution…Most painful…cruel ….cursed…way of punishment….Given to Non - Romans, the worst criminals.
So, they simply hated, felt utter foolishness to hear that someone who died in this way and His cross can save…help…to get heaven..Greeks who loved wisdom….Did not see any wisdom in this message…Only foolishness…beyond their common sense…to consider such a dead man saves! Just illogical for them..So, Greeks laughed at God’s word…the message of cross.
b. Stumbling block. V. 23
V. 22 - Jews always looked for a Messiah who will appear with spectacular glory…and signs / miracles.
Who will liberate them from Roman bondage with His mighty works. In fact, when they asked for a sign…He did give…Cf.
Matt 12: 39, 40:-“But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. “
They could not accept the sign the Lord told…His own death, burial & resurrection..They hated His message…found it a trouble…disturbance… a stumbling block. So, Greek found God’s wisdom as foolishness;
Jews found as a stumbling block.
c. Weakness. V. 25b
Some others felt, may be Jews…it’s a weak…message…Someone died…as a criminal…went down lower than a common man…God could not save Him…how He saves others!
So, Man’s response to God’s word / wisdom entirely different from what it is actually. V. 25
- What others consider as foolishness….wiser.
- What other consider as weak…strong…
God’s wisdom….contrary to human thought..In others word…
? Expect…opposition….fight…attack…at God’s word..
? Never think…possible to satisfy man…cf. v.22
? Never possible to mix both…
Always it will stay contrary to each other….Never forget the contrast: cf.
Matt: 6:20 – Christ says to invest in heaven….what the world would say? – foolishness.
Matt 6: 33 - seek God First…
Matt 23:12 – humble yourselves….to be exalted…
Luke 6:38 – give…you will be given..
John 1:39 – come and see….world will say…see and come…
John 12: 24 – die to be fruitful…
2Cor 12:10 – weakness is strength…
All these and much more…totally contrary to the idea of man….That’s why when someone trying to serve God with the worldly wisdom fails.
- Leading a company vs. leading an assembly.
- Teaching in a school vs. teaching God’s word.
Different….totally…
Ob: God’s wisdom word can never be mixed with man’s wisdom. Rom.11:34. (Paradoxes in the scriptures. Cf. Matt 6:20, 23; 10: 39; 16:25; 23:12; Mark 10:40; Luke 10:38; John 1:39; 12: 25; 2cor 4:18; 5:7; 6: 9, 10; 12:10)
Review- Characteristics of God’s wisdom:
? Originated in God. V. 21a
? Personified in Christ. V. 24b; 30b
? Contrary to human thought. V. 18a, 25..
iv. Superior in every aspect. V.25; 2:6, 7.
“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Wiser than what man thinks. It’s man’s foolish / debased idea that God’s wisdom is foolishness. Not actually….on the other hand…it is the wisest matter….Stronger than man considers. Similarly…man…poor....weak…thinks…God’s wisdom…weaker…but strongest…indeed.
Three aspects particularly:
a. In its scope. V. 24 b ‘both Jews and Greek’
For all – universally. Answer / helpful to all. Cf. Rom 1:16 ‘for everyone…Jew…Greek’ Man’s wisdom may help ….Few people…wise….one who got access to etc...Sometime…season…Some places….not everywhere applicable.. But God’s wisdom helps all, always…in any situation…Even people of the lowest level. Cf. v. 26a
“For you see your calling”,….
God chose….the weakest, helpless, base…of nothing…Proving the preeminence of His wisdom…God’s wisdom has the answer…solution for all....the worst person..
b. In its potential. V. 18c.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
o ‘power of God’
When God’s wisdom…this message preached…it has the…. Power to save and transform man. Cf. 21b. “it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” V. 21b cf. Rom 1:16 Cf. Rom 1:16 – wrote from Corinth…
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
- ‘dunamis’ – from which we get, ‘dynamite’
= ‘inherent power’; ‘power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature’.
- The Gospel – message of the cross – God’s dynamite!
- Word of God has an inherent power in it.
o Our explanation, idea has no power…but scripture has..cf.
- Human wisdom does not have this power…cf. 2:4
1Co 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
o Paul realized it…so…refused the ‘power ‘of wisdom…
o That Spirit’s power may be manifested…
- If we allow….present word….…it has the power…
This transforming power of God’s wisdom is also evidence of its superiority.
c. In its goal cf. 2:7
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.”
- ‘Our glory’!
o Ultimate purpose of the message.
o The glory that man lost in the garden of Eden….to be returned…cf
o John 17:22a “the glory which You gave Me I have given them.”
2cor.4:4 - “gospel of the glory of Christ”
Heb.2:10 - “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Cf. Rom 8: 28, 30
Review- Characteristics of God’s wisdom:
? Originated in God. V. 21a
? Personified in Christ. V. 24b; 30b
? Contrary to human thought. V. 18a, 25..
? Superior in every aspect. V.25; 2:6, 7.
? In its scope. V. 24 b ‘both Jews and Greek’
? In its potential. V. 18c.
? In its goal cf. 2:7
Because of the above reasons Paul did not preach philosophy but preached the gospel. Testimony of the Corinthians itself is a proof to the ..Effectiveness of the gospel and the weakness of philosophy. Yet they sought and enjoyed useless, powerless philosophy.
Conclusion:
- Always remember the difference between wisdom of man and God.
- Never expect the applause of man for our commitment to God’s word.
- Never try to mix…compromise on God’s wisdom.
- What a blessing it is … Christ our wisdom…
o We have everything in Him…
o We know divine things in Him…
o The word Has the power…let us believe and use it..
(Prepared and uploaded by Evangelist Nelson Thomas Mumbai. For details write to gracepeaceu@gmail.com visit: graacepeace.net)
