Wisdom: A Mystery Revealed

Introduction

Well thanks again for welcoming Gretchen and me into your fellowship this morning. It is always an honor and a privilege to be invited to lead in worship through the preaching of the Scriptures. This morning I’d like to ask you to turn to and stand and read along with me as we submit ourselves to God’s Word. As you read along silently in your copy of the Scriptures, I will be reading this morning at times from either the Holman Christian Standard Bible or my own translation from the SBL Greek New Testament. , beginning in verse 18:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us, the ones being saved. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.”

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.

and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.

20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world into foolishness? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

26 So now brothers, consider your calling: For not many are wise from a human perspective, not many are powerful, not many are of noble lineage. 27 Instead, God has chosen the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something [that is, divine wisdom], 29 so that no one can boast in his flesh in the presence of God. 30 But it is from God that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”

26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world —what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

May God bless the reading of his Word. Please be seated.

Well if you haven’t noticed yet from the eleven uses of the root word, this morning the Scripture points us toward the theme of wisdom. Wisdom is a feature of creation which God has emphasized in my call to ministry in several ways. First, I have been led into the study of theology (what we believe about God) and philosophy (the study of wisdom). Second, God has provided me the opportunity to train his servant leaders and serve in ministry leadership. Directing students who already serve or are called to serve local churches is a great test in wisdom as to how to apply truth. Third, when I look back on the full course of my life, I can testify to the wisdom shown by others speaking into my life and ministry calling. You can probably look around this sanctuary and see the men and women whom God has called to help shape your life by speaking truth in love and by sharing their discernment with you.

Now we will see in a few moments that the Scriptures demonstrate that we have to be careful how we approach wisdom, but if I could give us a short, handy starting point for understanding wisdom it would be “life well lived.” There are several books in the Bible which focus on wisdom: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job in the Old Testament and James in the New Testament. We find a couple consistent elements of wisdom is not from these books. Wisdom is not just knowledge about an isolated subject: even if I knew all the baseball statistics across decades of baseball history, that would not help me survive if I was lost in a thick forest. Wisdom is not just an isolated skill: no one can personally train at wisdom like one can do math homework. And yet, wisdom does require knowledge and experience with skills - to live life well, you need to know about the world and you need to know what equates to good and bad. Wisdom is then in the application of knowledge through experience.

Key to our Scripture this morning is the context of the first letter to the Corinthians: the Apostle Paul is writing to quell divisions and rivalries in the local church. Read verses 10-17 with me:

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

It seems that the Cornithians were not lacking in knowledge or passion. The problem was that the congregation was not (in verse 10) “united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” While different parties were emerging within the church boasting the leader they followed or their emphases on minor topics, Paul urged the Corinthians to find their unity in Christ, the one who was crucified for their salvation. Paul likewise reminds them that his ministry is not about standing out, not about impressing, not about being the most learned- his ministry was about preaching the gospel of Christ crucified. Whereas Paul and Apollos were both very well educated and Cephas [who is the Apostle Peter] walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry, the Word of Christ was the only message which should unify the church. When we explore this passage seeking that Word of Christ which should unify us we realize that Christ is God’s divine wisdom in action: a mystery revealed to those who believe.

God’s Wisdom Hidden ()

Read the first section of our text again with me:

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us, the ones being saved. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.”

20 Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world into foolishness? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.

The clear notion from this passage is that Christians should not bank on wisdom: only the point is not to bank on human wisdom and instead seek God’s wisdom.

The clear notion from this passage is that Christians should not bank on wisdom: only the point is not to bank on human wisdom and instead seek God’s wisdom. In each sentence a contrast is drawn between the wisdom of this world—wisdom that we can gain over time on our own—and God’s wisdom—wisdom that is hidden in his glory and nature.

The notes in your Bible may point out to you that verse 19 is an allusion to . In that passage which Paul recalls, God is giving a message of judgment to Isaiah to preach against Jerusalem. Note how God makes clear in that prophecy that he knows all and understands all. Humans are subject to God’s rulership because he is the Almighty maker of heaven and earth: Isaiah 29:13 Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service — yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote— 14 ((therefore I will again confound these people with wonder after wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will vanish, and the understanding of the perceptive will be hidden.)) 15 Woe to those who go to great lengths to hide their plans from the Lord. They do their works in darkness, and say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” 16 You have turned things around, as if the potter were the same as the clay. How can what is made say about its maker, “He didn’t make me”? How can what is formed say about the one who formed it, “He doesn’t understand what he’s doing”?

The same contrast of human wisdom and divine wisdom is found in where God reminds Job that his knowledge and experience with the world does not compare to God’s rulership over creation:  Who is this who obscures My counsel with ignorant words? 3 Get ready to answer Me like a man; when I question you, you will inform Me. 4 Where were you when I established the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Back in our passage in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God. No wise one in our world today can even know God unless they submit to him and his Word.

Philosopher? Greek “lover of sophia,” seeking the order behind the world.

Philosopher? Greek “lover of sophia,” seeking the order behind the world.

Scholar? Look at the proliferation of degrees

Debater of this age? Look at the absurdity of moral arguments today

Through all the time up to Jesus, God’s wisdom lay hidden in his transcendence. God had spoken directly to a handful of people in the Old Testament, but even this did not ensure they would understand. E.g., Moses who still gave God excuses.

Through all the time up to Jesus, God’s wisdom lay hidden in his transcendence. God had spoken directly to a handful of people in the Old Testament, but even this did not ensure they would understand. Think about Moses with whom God spoke almost face-to-face. When God called him through the miracle of a burning bush, Moses could only garner excuses for how he wasn’t capable of serving as God’s leader. Yet while maintaining the hiddenness of his guidance and power, God called those who believed. Recall the “Hall of Faith” in which lists Abraham being promised a lineage in a new land, Sarah being promised children in old age, or Rahab the prostitue being promised deliverance at Jericho. None of these situations made sense according to human experience, but God’s wisdom lay hidden in his plan to reveal his glory and grace to those who believed.

Yet while maintaining the hiddenness of his guidance and power, God called those who believed. By faith, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Rahab and the Israelites at Jericho. Close subsection with Hebrews 11:29-40

How God revealed his wisdom is found succinctly at the beginning of the letter to the Hebrews: Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.

Transition through Hebrews 1:1-3

Wisdom Revealed to Us ()

In these days, God has revealed his wisdom in one human being, who Paul calls “Christ.” This is Jesus, the one who was crucified. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. . . . 18 No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.

Wisdom personified in the Old Testament tied to 1:24

This same big-picture story of God revealing his wise plans through Jesus Christ is picked up in our text in verse 22. Read with me 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

God’s wisdom was hidden in his transcendence. People of all kinds were looking for wisdom, but in all the wrong places. Paul’s claim regarding the desires of Jews and Gentiles is consistent with narratives in Scripture. During his ministry, the Jews asked Jesus for a sign multiple times to confirm his power, testimony, or Messiahship. The Greek philosophers in Athens sought out wisdom through deep-thinking as evident when Paul visited and preached to them.

Paul’s claim regarding the desires of Jews and Gentiles is consistent with narratives in Scripture:

In the ancient world, philosophers (this word itself means “lovers of wisdom”) attempted to identify the ordering principle behind creation. They attempted to determine the ultimate truth which guided reality. All the philosophies and religious systems of that time are not important to us right now this morning, but we must realize that the world we live in is committed to the same pursuit. Many in our culture have given into the belief that scientific study is the only path to obtain truth. A self-refuting statement that “only experiments confirm truth” guides the pursuit of answers which only lie hidden in the wisdom of God. Likewise, many in our culture ground their morality in personal experience: do what feels right, live within your own truth, no one can tell anyone what is absolutely right or wrong.

All cultures in all times develop their own strategies to dig into the wisdom which lies hidden in God’s transcendence, but they will always come up empty-handed until they recognize that all truth, all reality is grounded in God the Son incarnate - Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us that the Son was not only present at creation, he was the ordering principle of all creation. In the incarnate Christ, God has revealed the truth which binds all reality.  For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.

in heaven and on earth,

the visible and the invisible,

whether thrones or dominions

or rulers or authorities—

American culture, the Western worldview, will continue to wander in a moral wilderness where left is right and up is down, where the universe magically created itself, where I can call you a bigot but you cannot judge me until we stop to notice that God has revealed his wisdom in one person: Jesus.

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things,

and by Him all things hold together.

It is important to note that both groups of people in New Testament times received what they were seeking in Jesus: signs and wisdom. They just did not realize what they had received. As Paul wrote, the message of Christ, a crucified Savior was appalling to the worldly wisdom of the Jews and Gentiles. Jews could not imagine a Savior who was cursed to hang on a tree, one who would render the Temple sacrifices obsolete. Gentiles found it foolish to believe in one who clearly died a criminal’s death and surely had not raised again into resurrected life. Yet in this mysterious message was the promise of divine grace and eternal life! In Christ, God revealed his wise plan to save those “who would believe” (verse 21). No longer was divine wisdom hidden in God’s transcendence. The mystery of God’s wisdom has been plainly revealed.

Philosophers in Athens

Contemporary Example: truth, moral and religious relativism (sexual ethics)

But there was a way for them to receive the benefits of Christ’s revelation: faith, see 1:21 (those who believe).

It is important to note that, in Jesus, both groups of people received what they were seeking: signs and wisdom. They just did not realize what they had received. But there was a way for them to receive the benefits of Christ’s revelation: faith, 1:21.

Contemporary Example: God is love, God has called us all to have our identities changed

Wisdom Given to Us ()

The final section of our text this morning sums up this message of divine wisdom to us: 1 Corinthians 1:26 So now brothers, consider your calling: For not many are wise from a human perspective, not many are powerful, not many are of noble lineage. 27 Instead, God has chosen the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something [that is, divine wisdom], 29 so that no one can boast in his flesh in the presence of God. 30 But it is from God that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: “The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.”

The incarnate Christ is God’s gift of his eternal wisdom given to humanity. No matter how human beings seek knowledge, wisdom, power, or greatness in this world, we will never reach a fulfilled existence without Christ. Instead of revealing his power and love through a marvelous cosmic crisis, God chose (in his wisdom) to reach out to human beings with grace by subverting all the expectations of the worldly wise.

God works against the grain of human expectations to show his love, power, and holiness. The incarnation of God the Son is exactly that. Consider as an example: Philippians 2:5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. 7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth — 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When every bit of our human existence cries out to be better, to succeed according to the world’s terms, to earn more money, to take a more extravagant vacation, God teaches through Christ that wisdom is found in sacrifice and service, humility and love. Now in his incarnation, God the Son did not give up his divine nature but instead emptied himself of his divine rights and stooped down to our human level to offer a message of salvation. Through this, God’s wise plan of salvation, the incarnate Christ was rightfully exalted and confessed as Lord by those who believe. Look at the final bit of our text this morning in relation to God’s wise plan of salvation. The three “salvation” words in 1:30 demonstrate that the entire work of Christ reflects God’s transcendent wisdom and is necessary for a “well-lived life.”

The three “salvation” words in 1:30 demonstrate that the entire work of Christ reflects God’s transcendent wisdom and is necessary for a “well-lived life.”

The three “salvation” words in 1:30 demonstrate that the entire work of Christ reflects God’s transcendent wisdom and is necessary for a “well-lived life.”

Look at the final bit of our text this morning in relation to God’s wise plan of salvation. The three “salvation” words in 1:30 demonstrate that the entire work of Christ reflects God’s transcendent wisdom and is necessary for a “well-lived life.”

First, righteousness cannot be attained (that is, earned) or even maintained through human willpower and skill. Only through the grace of Christ can humans obtain the perfect righteousness of Christ. We are truly justified (counted as righteous) through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus’s death on the cross. As the Scripture says,  “He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Without Christ, we could make more money or become more successful by the world’s terms, but we could never be justified before a holy God. Not only would we miss out on life well lived, we would be without life itself.

Second, sanctification is the process of becoming morally holy. Although sanctification is related to justification the difference here is the contrast between being acquitted (not guilty) despite moral wrongdoing in the past as opposed to true moral holiness in our actions. But still, we need the revelation and conviction of God the Son to teach us holy living. Consider Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in , much of which entailed reversing common expectations in Jewish religion, law, and culture. Instead of striving for some external moral code, God’s wise plan of salvation provides the teaching which leads us into sanctification. This way, only through Christ, can our lives begin to image his moral perfection and lead us on the path to life well lived.

Third, redemption comes from the Greek term for buying something in the marketplace, usually buying a slave’s freedom or ownership. Unlike slaves in New Testament times, though, humans are unable to buy their own freedom from the powers of sin and evil. No matter how hard individuals try, no amount of money or hard work, no personal relationship, no physical substance like alcohol or drugs can lead one on their own out of slavery to sin and into God’s fold. Only through God’s wise plan of salvation in Christ can one be freed and adopted into God’s family. The Apostle Paul summarized this element of salvation poetically in  “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise. . . . 4:4 In the fullness of time, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Redemption cannot be achieved on our own. Without Christ we will continue in bondage to the evil in this world, and we lose hope of obtaining life well lived.

Righteousness in his obedience leading to atonement (he became sin)

Sanctification through his teaching (Sermon on the Mount) and cleansing

Redemption from bondage to sin to adoption into God’s family ( and Gal)

Conclusion

For many here this morning, this mystery of God’s wisdom has been revealed to you and you have embraced it and you have grown in God’s wisdom for many years. Yet for some, God’s wise message has perhaps seemed silly or inconsequential in the past. The world has not changed much since this New Testament passage was written in that the gospel message still comes across to many as a stumbling block or foolishness. But everyone here must come to grips with the lost condition of human life. All of us can look throughout our world, our country, our family and see the signs of a broken existence. If you are missing hope in your life, if you are missing joy in your life, if you are missing peace, if you are missing purpose, reconsider the wisdom of God.

Return to , stumbling block and foolishness;

1 Cor 2:6-7

We all recognize that we are limited people who get things wrong from time to time. In all those times, however, God knows what is right, God knows what is best. Don’t live your life telling God what is right and wrong about how things are going. Instead come to him submitted and rest in his wise plan of salvation: to change the world by giving his Son in human flesh that we might see him revealed and receive his salvation on the cross. Consider this puzzling story of God stepping into our world to graciously save us from our own lostness and brokenness we have reviewed this morning. God promised in this passage this morning to “save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached.” Will you believe that Christ is God’s salvation given to us in his wisdom? Will you boast in the salvation of the Lord?

Consider this puzzling story of God stepping into our world to graciously save us from our own lostness and brokenness we have reviewed this morning. God promised in this passage this morning