NEW SERIES:  THE TROUBLED TRIUMPHANT CHURCH

Sermon 5 – “Foolishness of God” Part II

1 Cor. 1:26-31

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Introduction

We come to our passage today completing what we started last week in looking at God’s wisdom….in seeing how God has taken what, to all the world seems like foolishness and even scandalous….God has taken this “foolishness” and brought about a plan of salvation for mankind!  And God has done it……continues to do it…..through “the word of the cross.”  We saw last week (in 1 Cor. 1:18-25) that the Wisdom of God finds its pinnacle….its highest point…. in the cross of Calvary.  We found that it is at the cross where God’s wisdom shines forth the brightest and, in the most amazing way……the Cross alone stands in as absolutely uncompromising in its contradiction to human wisdom! 

This morning….Paul continues his instruction to the church on wisdom……this great contrast between God’s perfect wisdom and our wisdom!  We are going to see the great value God places upon humility…..and greater still – the supreme value He places on the Christ Jesus! –Our All!   And so, the Apostle Paul continues – by telling of God’s:

·       Paradox of wisdom ….AND…..God’s

·       Purpose of wisdom

First, we see God’s Paradox of Wisdom!  Now, what do I mean by a paradox? 

Def. – A paradox is a statement or belief that seems to contradict itself…..or it may seem to be opposed to common sense! 

The Bible is full of paradoxes.    Here are just a few examples:

·       David, a young shepherd boy takes five smooth stones and a sling to fight a giant (in those days….about 6.5ft tall) with the fate of his country’s army weighing in the balance…and one small stone dropped the warrior at David’s feet.  (1 Sam. 17.38-49)

·       The Disciples came to Jesus in Matt. 18 and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Jesus calls a small child over and says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

·       Jesus told the disciples in Matt. 20:26-27, “…But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.”

A young boy slays a giant……..we must be like children to enter heaven……..we must be servants to be great leaders?  These represent paradoxes.  God loves to communicate to His creatures in ways that show His strength through our weakness!  It is in this same vein….in paradox; that the Apostle Paul lays out God’s wisdom in our salvation. 

Look at v. 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."

Paul is saying…..look at yourselves, Corinthians!  Think about ‘who you were before Christ!’  Remember what sort of person you were when God called you out of darkness!  God did NOT choose you because of your intelligence……nor for your wealth or good looks!  He didn’t care if you were of noble birth or a slave…..God didn’t call you because of who you were…..He called you in spite of who you were!

Illustration:  During my years as a business consultant, I worked in an environment that wreaked of power and money and prestige.  I watched as men….friends…..would grovel and scheme at the feet of status! For example, which Country Club you belonged to went directly to your status:  the “old money” and ‘blue bloods’ belonged to Cherokee CC; the newer money…and some that didn’t quite make the exclusive list at Cherokee were at Fox Den; and then Gettysvue CC opened and upset the status for Fox Den…..so you had some who joined both!  All for status and power!  All for the sake of pride!

Tie-in:  Gaining Christ and the Kingdom of heaven is not made easier the more successful you are….in fact, Paul might be implying here that the Corinthians should be glad that “not many were wise according to the world’s standards….not many of noble birth”…..for it seems this can actually be a hindrance to God’s grace!  I’ve seen this on the mission field – In Ecuador where the native Indians mixed with the Spanish conquistadors centuries back have lighter skin and are taller….more European in look….and they are the elite and wealthy class.  The gospel is blunted among them and the church is stagnant.  But in the indigenous Indian people (Qui-chua)…they are poor and actually have a sort of defeatist and doomed feel to their culture – the gospel shines forth and the church is growing! 

We see the same in India….where the lower caste (the untouchables) people are very open to the gospel----and they are being transformed not only spiritually, but in businesses and education!

Paul reminds them that they were called by God’s grace - - not because of their status or who they were before---BUT IN SPITE OF IT! 

In man’s world, it’s your intelligence or power or family that gains entry into the “elite”.  But in God’s world (the REAL WORLD) –

"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; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are," (1 Cor 1:27-28,)

It is God’s paradox….to take what seems scandalous – that God would come down and die on a cross to pay the penalty for sins…..it is foolishness – but it is the highest and greatest truth!  That through the weakness of death on a cross….the power of sin and death and hell would be shattered seems unreasonable…..that the Son of God would humble Himself to die….even to die on a cross – appears as weakness but in fact is the very Power of God!  “Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  It is the Paradox of God’s Wisdom!

But Second, we have the Purpose of God’s Wisdom. 

We have the key in v.29……the first and primary purpose of the wisdom of God that produces salvation is that God would be glorified! V. 29 - "so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." 

How can we boast in something that we have no part of…..how can we take pride in our salvation when it is wholly of God…it is completely by His grace!  Just as God created mankind from the dust of the ground….so we are His workmanship in Christ…called of God to see the reality and love found only at the cross of Christ!  Our salvation is a gift:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship……" (Ephesians 2:8-10a, ESV)  How can we boast or take pride in who we are when who we are comes to us completely through God’s goodness, love and mercy towards us?

Well we can’t!  And furthermore, Paul gives us God’s purpose for those whom He calls to salvation…..there are 4:  Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 

Wisdom – We cannot think or reason our way to “peace with God” and, as we’ve seen, God shames the wisdom of this world….and so we are saved by God’s wisdom – Jesus Christ and the Cross – BUT, we are also given God’s wisdom!  All of God’s promises and blessings towards us are found in Christ Jesus.  If we have Christ, we have God’s wisdom.

Righteousness – This means we are made “right or put in right standing” with God the Father!  We have this ONLY through Christ. 

God made Jesus, “who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [Christ].”  (2 Cor. 5:21)  We have peace with God only through Jesus Christ!

Sanctification – In Christ, we are “set apart”…we are made holy…we are saints of God!  When we receive Christ by faith, we are Born-Again spiritually – the corrupted becomes incorruptible.  While we are here, in the flesh, we still battle sin….but the Spirit of God dwells within us….changing us and transforming us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ!  As we are changed, the frequency of sin lessens and the fruit of the Spirit becomes more abundant in our life!  Christ is our holiness!

Redemption – As Christians, we have been purchased…our lives ransomed from death.  Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:18-19 –

"knowing that you were ransomed ……. not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

If you are a Christian…then you belong to Christ….and there is no better place to be!

Conclusion

The grace of God comes to us in paradox!  It calls us to humility…to see ourselves as we really are!  Maybe you are here this morning, and you appear to have it all together!  You look good…..you have a nice home and a good job…..you are basically a good person and treat others well.  Are you counting on that to please God? 

Do you think you can one day stand in the presence of God Almighty and boast of living a good life?  So many people think that being a “good person” is all that is required by God.  But outside of Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as a good person!  The Wisdom of God…now and especially when judgment comes…….is REALITY!  Not what you or I think, but what God has said…..that is all that really matters. 

God has said 3 things that are important if you have never come to Christ by faith:

1.    As the Creator of all, God has the right to set ALL the standards…and He has said that we must be Holy as He is holy!  This means, we must be perfect!

2.    God has told us that, apart from His Son, Jesus Christ, the very best we can be….in trying to be a good person….well, it looks to him like bloody, filthy rags…..dirty clothes worn on a sick body!

3.    There is only one way to peace with God – and that is through Jesus Christ!  " Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) 

Scripture says:  "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:35-36, ESV)

When Jesus called his Disciples, he simply looked at them and said, “Follow Me!”  Is God speaking that in your heart today?  To follow Christ is to repent….to turn from your sins and your control of life and to turn to Christ and allow His Lordship to rule in your heart!