God’s Way of Wisdom: Foolishness!

“God’s Way of Wisdom: Foolishness!”

Intro:

Two forms of pride in the church when it comes to Christian leadership.

1.) One who wants to be just like someone else and attaches to a leader to ride on their “band wagon” seeking to lay hold of the success and praise of this leader OR

2.) Someone who hates all authority and will not follow anyone

We see that the nature of disunity in the church at Corinth is a boasting in certain leaders and pitting them against one another.

Some say they follow Paul, others Apollos. Or even Peter and Christ. But now these esteemed men are being boasting in in a sinful way.

*Paul: He was the first man on the scene. He planted the church in Corinth. As an apostle, I’m sure he performed many signs and miracles attesting to his ministry. We read that although he was not sent to baptize he indeed baptized a few individuals.It is not hard to believe that there are those who boast in being some of the earliest converts, possibly even boasting in being baptized by the Apostle Paul?

*Apollos: We find in “Now a Jew names Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.” Later in verse 27 we learn that Apollos lefts Ephesus and traveled to Achaiah (which is the region where the Corinthian church would have been planted). Although Paul started the church, Apollos has come and he is an exceptional preacher. He has the rhetoric ability and percussiveness to out shine anyone. Some at Corinth have shown no care for Paul and have attached themselves to Apollos.

*Cephas: While it is hard to understand exactly what the group of Peter was promoting, we could take a guess that would make sense. Would it not be possible that this group rejected Paul because he was not one of the original apostle. They desired to follow one who actually lived, walked, and learned directly from Jesus. “To the source” they cried. Peter would have been their man simply because he spent so much time with our Savior.

*Christ: Paul also says there is a group within the Corinthian church who simply say they follow Christ. Although this sounds humble, I do not believe Paul is letting this group off the hook. This group looks down upon both Apostolic authority and possibly the preaching of Apollos. They promote ideas like “No creed but Christ”, or “Jesus unites but doctrine divides.” I am sure we are all familiar with certain Christian’s who continue to act in this fashion. They resist all sorts of human authority.

As we will see in our text today, Paul turns this boasting in human leadership on its head. Paul seeks to unity the Corinthian church by proclaiming that God’s wisdom centers around what seems to be foolishness. He speaks of the foolishness of the cross, the foolishness of preaching, and finally the foolishness of the Christian life.

18-25 Foolishness of the Cross

[18] For the word of the cross is folly 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,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

[20] Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. [22] For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, [24] but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [25] For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

First off, we need to ask, why is the cross folly to those who are perishing?

*The cross itself was offensive. This method of death was reserved for the lowest and cruelest of people. Roman citizens would not be crucified because this form of punishment was thought to low for an esteemed Roman.

*It is also crazy to say that God could die. Yet it would be unthinkable that God could possibly die upon a cross.

During an excavation in Rome around the first century there was found in a cave a picture of a man knelling in worship. He was knelling to a man on a cross. Yet this picture portrayed this man as having the body of a man and the head of a donkey. This blatant mocking of Christianity captures what many thought of the early churches message. Indeed the message of Christianity is folly to an unbelieving world.

Just think about it. What is it that we believe?

*A baby born to a virgin yet Joseph at first could not believe this message

*A man claiming to be God. The religious community would not believe this

*Although our Lord performed many signs and miracles many accused him of doing this though the power of Satan.

*That God would die on a cross AND be resurrected from the dead! Thomas refused to believe until he met with the resurrected Lord in person.

Friends, the message of the cross is indeed foolishness. But why? Why did God choose this means of salvation. Why death on a cross? Paul say this is so that NO man can boast. According to the wisdom of this world, it is simply stupid to believe the gospel. Therefore God chose to mock and destroy the wisdom of this world in order that no individual can make claim that they have saved themselves.

Paul explains why unbelieving Jews and Gentiles alike find the cross to be folly. Jews demand signs. The Jews expected the Messiah to come in great power and destroy the Romans. After all the Jews were God’s people and who are these Romans seeking to overthrow the people of God. The Jews were filled with national pride. So many relied on their “royal birth” for their salvation. Therefore they interpreted the Old Testament through the lenses of a coming exulted King. Yet this is not what we find in the first coming of our Lord. Jesus came in humiliation, he came to fulfill the demands of the law of God in order to save a people for Himself. He was born under the law. He came to seek and save the lost. This is not at all what the Jews excepted and therefore according to their worldly wisdom Jesus could not have been the promised Messiah.

The Gentiles also rejected Jesus because of His humble state. The Gentiles esteemed wisdom. They considered themselves to be a cultured people. Highly respected because of their great learning and sophisticated lifestyle. They also could not believe in a Christ who was put to death on a cross. That is not respectable. That is nonsense. That is unbelievable according to worldly wisdom.

Both Jews and Gentiles and SO many today reject Jesus because He seems ridiculous. The gospel, the cross of Christ indeed looks like foolishness. It stands in total opposition to EVERYTHING that makes worldly sense. And as we see in our text, the reason for this is so that no man may boast. To be a Christian, to actually believe in the gospel clearly shows God’s mighty power to save. He changes our hearts and our minds to receive and embrace Jesus Christ. What used to seem like foolishness becomes the only thing that makes sense to us now. This leaves us boasting only in the cross because this is the only way we have been saved!

v. 17 Foolishness of Preaching

[17] For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Something I believe is often overlooked in our passage is in verse 17. Paul says that if he is to come preaching with words of eloquent wisdom the cross of Christ would be emptied of its power to save. While many commentators simply focus on the content of Paul’s message, I believe the medium of preaching is in view here for Paul as well.

The apostles and the leaders of the early church did not proclaim the cross with the eloquence and wisdom of this world. Preaching should not draw attention to the messenger. Paul is clear on this. Either he can receive the praise for his great ability to proclaim the gospel or God can receive glory in the salvation of sinners. We see that Paul understands the fact that the world’s wisdom and proclamation can only capture the mind and emotions of someone for a time. It will never be able to capture their heart.

The reason I chose to be read is because I believe it is a helpful example of just this point. Naaman, believing himself to be great and powerful goes to be healed bringing with him great gifts of silver, gold, and beautiful clothing. He arrives with many horses and chariots. All of these things showing his high position. Elisha simply commands him to go wash in the Jordan river in order to be healed.

Naaman, who has suffered from a horrible disease has now been given a cure. How does Naaman react to this wonderful news? He throws a fit! He is appalled that Elisha isn’t making a bigger deal of this. After all, doesn’t he realize just how great a man Naaman is? Naaman is not content with a simply washing, he wants the Prophet to put on a wonderful show, something to ooh and aah the crowd. He finds this simply method of healing to be beneath him.

And friends, there is a great temptation within us as well to look upon the simply methods that are given to us by our Lord and think they are beneath us. The ministry of Word and Sacrament doesn’t have some spectacular outward appearance. Yet it is these ordinary means of grace that the LORD has given to His church for our salvation and upbuilding in the faith. And the simply preaching of Christ, while it may lack outward show, contains the power of God to heal sick sinners.

As I had an opportunity in the past to teach about the ordinary means of grace, I had an older lady approach me afterward and say, “Why do you continue to call them the ORDINARY means of grace, when God does EXTRAORDINARY things through them?” I smiled and said, “I’m glad you are getting the point of the lesson.”

AND verse 17 also shows us that if the gospel message rests on human ability, cleverness, and wisdom than the cross of Christ is empty of its power to unite all people under Christ. One who proclaims the message of the cross is to do so not in the power of this world with all its pomp and show, but rather in simplicity. The gospel is not for just the upper class. It is not for only those with Ph.Ds. The foolishness of preaching, preaching without flash, without complicated speech, without the wisdom of the world shows that no man has an excuse not to hear and believe. It does not matter who you are, or your background, OR your education and upbringing. Faithful and simple gospel proclamation is for all.

v. 26-31 Foolishness of the Christian Life

[26] For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Paul finds one more way to show how useless it is to find our boast in human wisdom. He turns his attention directly to the Christians in Corinth. Paul powerfully demolishes the pride of those in the church by having them reflect on their own calling. He says, “Look at yourself believers! You were a bunch of no-bodies.” He proclaims that God choose the no-bodies in the world to humble ALL who boast in their own life, abilities, and work.

We see this so clearly, do we not in the life of the apostles. This group of outcasts would have never been selected according to worldly standards. These guys were rough around the edges, unpopular by the elite and religious crowd. God choose fishermen, a tax collector, even one who would have been considered a terrorist. He chose a man named Paul, who spent his whole unconverted life trying to destroy Christianity. Talk about foolishness. There is nothing about these men that makes any sense. And this is exactly God’s way of shaming all worldly boasting.

In our text, we find that God choose the no-bodies of the world in order that we would understand that He alone saves. We so often fail to realize this. It is so easy to believe that if only we had more Christian celebrities, more famous people, who could get the attention of the unbelieving world, than we would have a powerful message. Then unbelievers would come to faith in Christ.

Again this thinking is still according to worldly wisdom. I see so many Christians flock to Tim Tebow and other athletic stars. Others who believe that if only we could get an outspoken Christian president, than the gospel could make headway. While it certainly is right for us to pray for these individual to keep a consistent and winsome Christian testimony, our hope does not depend on them. God does not need celebrities. And when our hope is placed in these men, we are still following the pattern of worldly wisdom.

We also see that in looking within, the Corinthians were to understand that they were nothing special. They had no claim to God’s calling. They had nothing that could earn His favor. They were powerless, weak, foolish, low and despised. They were people just like you and me.

And God’s word demands us to also look within and realize that we have no claim for boasting. When we consider the calling of the Corinthians we do well to consider our own calling. For if we think we are worthy of God’s election than we are still following the wisdom of this world. Only when we realize that we are nothing and have nothing to earn God’s favor are we in a desperate situation. Only then can we look outside of ourself for a Redeemer. This is the whole point of Paul’s argument. No one can boast in their own work! We have nothing to offer, nothing to earn God’s favor. Like the great hymn Rock of Ages remarks, “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling. Naked come to thee for dress, helpless look to thee for grace.”

But Paul does not stop there. He reminds the Corinthians and he reminds us believers today that as we forsake human wisdom, as we forsake boasting in self we find true reasons to boast. Paul says that for the one who has forsaken self and turned to Christ in faith we have much to boast about. Because of our union with Christ we have true wisdom, true righteousness, true sanctification and true redemption because Christ has these things. Only when we forsake the wisdom of the world, then do we truly have EVERYTHING.

As we come to a close, we all need to be reminded of the great miracle God has performed in our life. In understand that God alone has saved us, that He has changed us to now believe and love the message that once seemed foolishness, transforms how we deal with others. It frees us from thinking that if we only could come up with persuasive arguments my family or neighbors would believe. It teaches us that salvation is from God alone, accomplished by Christ and worked in us by the Holy Spirit.

Do we truly believe this? We are so prone to become frustrated and aggravated towards others who just do not understand the gospel. We need to be humbled by the cross. We did not come to love the Lord by our own work. We were not able to understand and come to love the Gospel on our own. No our only boast is in the Lord who has worked this grace in us. This should cause us to be patient towards others when it comes to embracing Scripture.

We need to be so convinced that only when we boast in the Lord do we processes everything. If we have Christ we can let go to the wisdom and pleasure of this world. For indeed He is our only boast!

God’s way of wisdom seems like foolishness to those who are perishing but for us, the Lord Jesus Christ is our only boast. Lets Pray

Our Great and Wise God,

We give thanks to you for this Lord’s Day and we ask that You would apply these truths to our hearts. Help us to see that to by means of the cross we come to possess a crown. That through Christ’s death we find eternal life. Give us grace that we may find our only boast in Him, the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Remove from us all boasting in this world and fix our eyes upon Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now highly exulted and seated at your right hand forevermore. Amen