THE WISDOM OF THE LORD, GREATER THAN MAN
1
Corinthians 1:17-31
PREACH WITH THE POWER OF CHRIST
V:17. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to
preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be
emptied of its power.
A. The
wisdom of man is limited by what he sees, hears or discovers on his own. The
Wisdom of man is finite.
1. The
wisdom of the Lord is infinite.
2. Because
man cannot understand the infinite wisdom of the Lord it is
Foolish.
B. There
were quarrels in the church on the significance of water baptism.
1. The
leaders in the church in Corinth did not take time ask the Paul
Their
teacher of God’s wisdom.
2. It
is not unusual for us to come to a conclusion without proper
Research
and investigation.
3. The
Word of God can only be understood by faith
C. Baptism
is a spiritual concept and can only be fully understood by
A spiritual mind.
1. Our
foolishness would put the divine work of God in the hands of man.
2. If
we don’t study the Word for ourselves we will be limited by man’s opinion.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS
V:18. 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.
19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will
frustrate."
A. When
we accepted Christ for our personal Savior we were
Gifted the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. One
of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all things.
2. The
Holy Spirit enlightens us to the full meaning of God’s
Word.
B. To
believe that one receives eternal life by the blood of Jesus
Christ shed on the cross is a spiritual
truth.
1. The
human mind cannot understand the power of the blood
Of
Jesus to place us in heavenly places.
2. The
human mind looks for a reasonable explanation to get
From
one place to another.
3. In
Genesis chapter 11 after the flood, the
man in his finite wisdom
Decided
to stop wondering in defiance of God's plan decided and
build
a tower into heaven. Genesis 9:19
a. They
were smart enough to make bricks and used tar for mortar.
b. They
decided to make a name for themselves.
c. According
to God’s own word, they were unified to do what
They
wanted to do.
4. It
was the power of God to confuse their language so they couldn’t
Communicate
with each other.
5. The
wisdom of God was foolish to them.
THE WISE OF THE WORLD IS FOOLISH
V: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,
A. There
are two types of people in the world; those who listen to God and those who
reject
God’s Word.
1. Those
who reject God’s word are under the influence of Satan lies and deceptions.
2. They are limited in knowledge because they are
cut off from the wisdom of God.
3. They
are smart, energetic , and capable of doing good things.
4. They
plan their future with blinders on because they cannot see what tomorrow
Will
bring.
5. Their
end is an eternal hell because they have no plan for salvation.
6. They
may see death as a final state of unconsciousness.
B. God
chose a second group and enabled them to believe in the preached word
Of Jesus Christ crucified.
1. This
second group was given the grace to believe without seeing the crucified
Savior.
2. The
Word, the power of love brought salvation to God’s chosen.
3. To
the world, the Word is a stumbling block of confusion and unbelief.
4. Because
these wise men of the world need proof, no proof is provided.
5. Since
there is no proof to satisfy the world, the Word is foolish to them.
CALLED TO BE WISE
V: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.
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were
called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were
influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things
of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame
the strong.
A. It
is the grace of God to be called out of darkness into the marvelous light.
1. It
is the love of God to draw us as believers to Himself to be saved.
2. I
often wonder why God who made everything and everyone chose
Some
for salvation and some for damnation.
Exodus
33:19
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
a. God
is Sovereign, you and I cannot rationalize His decisions.
b. It
may seem unfair, but there is no sin in God.
B. God
gave those He chose the power to do what the world sees as foolish.
1. It
may seem weak to love your enemies, but it takes power.
2. It
may seem weak to turn the other cheek but it takes power.
3. It
may seem weak to forgive those who hate you but it takes power.
4. It
may seem weak to pray for the good of your enemy, but it takes power.
C. God
did not choose the elite, the powerful, or the rich to be part of the
Body of Christ.
1. He
chose the everyday common man and woman
to give the hope
Of
His salvation
2. Jesus
said :
Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle
then for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God."
3. Those
who are wise and strong in their own eyes will soon find how foolish and weak
They
are.
CHOSEN IN CHRIST
V:28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the
despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are,
29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in
Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our
righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the
Lord."
A. The
problem with the wise men and women of the world is they boast in themselves
And their ability.
1. They
give all the credit for their success to themselves.
2. They
store up their treasures in places where it can be stolen easily.
3. The
wise don’t consider that what they have today can be gone today.
B. Jesus
took off His robe of glory and became man, lowly and despised.
1. He
confounded the world with His wisdom, power, and authority.
2. Jesus
chose us in Him to be like Him.
3. He
chose us in Him and imputed His righteousness on us.
4. Jesus
set us aside to be a role models of His holiness
5. He
redeemed us from the world of sin and positioned us for a home in heaven.
LET US BOAST IN JESUS CHRIST
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