Introduction: A Tale of Two Wisdoms
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
The world preaches its own gospel around us. It preaches self-reliance. It promotes human achievement. It is the gospel of worldly wisdom. It tells you to be smarter and stronger. It tells you to be more successful. It celebrates the powerful and brilliant. This is the world’s wisdom. It builds towers of Babel, confident in its own strength.
Paul wrote to a city like ours. Corinth was a hub of commerce and culture. It had Roman power and Greek philosophy. The church there was in danger. They were infected by worldly thinking. They formed factions around their favorite preachers. They valued the messenger over the message.
Paul wrote to call them back to the foundation. He called them to a different kind of wisdom. The world cannot comprehend this wisdom. It looks like foolishness. It looks like weakness. Its glory is in God alone, not man.
This morning, we explore this divine paradox. We will see God’s Counter-intuitive Message. We will see God's Scandalous Method. We will see God's Unlikely Messengers.
I. God’s Counter-intuitive Message (vv. 17-21)
God's message operates on a different plane. It differs in presentation and content.
A. A Divine Commission: The Priority of the Message (v. 17)
Paul first clarified his primary mission. He set a sharp line on his methods. He said, "For Christ sent me... to preach the gospel..."
1. The Rejection of Human Eloquence: "...not with wisdom of words..."
"Wisdom of words" meant polished, persuasive speech. The Greeks prized this art of rhetoric. Paul was educated and could have competed. But he refused. He knew the danger of human technique.
2. The Reason for this Rejection: "...lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
Paul knew a faith built on clever arguments is weak. It rests on the arguer, not on God. A faith converted by the cross rests on God's power. Decorating the cross with human wisdom insults it. It suggests God's work needs man’s help.
B. A Divine Paradox: The Power of a "Foolish" Proclamation (vv. 18-21)
Paul defended the core message. He knew it was a paradox.
1. The World's Perception: Utter Foolishness (v. 18a)
Paul states bluntly, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness..." Imagine a marketing plan. "Our founder was arrested, tortured, and executed. This defeat is our victory. This weakness is our strength." This is foolishness.
2. The Believer's Experience: The Power of God (v. 18b)
In contrast, he declares, "...but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." The world sees a foolish story. Believers experience a real, life-altering power. The cross confronts the world's values. It says life comes through death. Strength comes through weakness.
3. The Divine Verdict: The Failure of Human Wisdom (v. 21)
This radical message was necessary. "The world by wisdom knew not God." Human wisdom failed. Philosophy and religion could not find God. So God chose a different path. God "pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
II. God’s Scandalous Method (vv. 22-25)
Paul explained the world's rejection. He diagnosed its spiritual demands.
A. The Conflicting Demands of the World (v. 22)
He identified two cultural appetites. “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom...”
1. The Jewish Demand: A Sign of Power
Jewish history was full of God's mighty acts. They expected a Messiah with great power. They wanted a conquering king to liberate them. They wanted a show of force.
2. The Greek Demand: A System of Wisdom
The Greeks valued logic and reason. They wanted a satisfying philosophy. They sought a grand theory of everything.
B. The Confounding Provision of God (vv. 23-25)
God's offer offended both groups.
1. The Offense to the World (v. 23): “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness...”
a. A Theological Scandal for the Jews: To the Jew, a crucified Christ was a skandalon. It was a stumbling block. Deuteronomy says one hung on a tree is cursed. Their Messiah could not die a cursed death.
b. An Intellectual Absurdity for the Greeks: To the Greek, it was moria. A suffering God was laughable. It was a moronic idea. A divine being should be above death.
b. The Revelation to the Called (v. 24): “But unto them which are called... Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes. The offense becomes our salvation. The Jew seeking power finds it in the cross. The Greek seeking wisdom finds it in the cross.
c. The Overarching Principle of God's Kingdom (v. 25): “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
This is the core principle of God's kingdom. The world's wisdom is nothing compared to the cross.
III. God’s Unlikely Messengers (vv. 26-31)
Paul then applied this truth to the believers.
A. The Reality of Our Calling: A Humble Assembly (v. 26)
Paul said to look at themselves. "For ye see your calling, brethren..."
1. A Call to Self-Examination: He told them to do a reality check.
2. An Observation of the Ordinary: The result? "...not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called." The church was not full of elites. It was full of ordinary people. This was God's deliberate design.
B. The Reason for God's Choice: A Divine Purpose (vv. 27-29)
This was not an accident. It was God's strategy.
1. God's Deliberate Strategy: Choosing the Overlooked (vv. 27-28): “But God hath chosen the foolish things... the weak things... and things which are despised...” God chose the world's nobodies for His team.
2. God's Ultimate Goal: Silencing Human Boasting (v. 29): He did this for one reason: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” Salvation is God’s great equalizer. At the cross, all people are the same. All human pride is crucified.
C. The Result of God's Grace: A New Identity in Christ (vv. 30-31)
We have nothing in ourselves. God gives us everything in His Son.
1. Our Position in Christ (v. 30a): “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus...” Our standing is not based on who we are. It is based on whose we are.
2. Our Provision from Christ (v. 30b): Christ Himself “is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” He becomes everything we lack.
3. Our Proper Response to Christ (v. 31): Our only response is logical and joyful. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
Conclusion
So, what is the state of our hearts? Are we still trying to impress God with our wisdom? Are we ashamed of the cross?
The gospel calls us to lay down our pride. It calls us to embrace God's foolishness. It calls us to admit we are the weak. God chose us because of who He is.
Let us leave here with knees bowed in worship. Our only boast is in the cross of Christ. Let us glory in Him alone. He is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
