Tuesday of Holy Week
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 For the word 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, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? 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 through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no * man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
Being a Christian is really dependent upon one central event – Holy Week. The man Jesus was crucified, died, and was resurrected on the third day. In order to be Christian, people must believe those words are true. There are problems with this view.
One problem is that many people do not believe that such a narrow view of salvation fits into the view that God is loving. It leaves too many people out. A second problem is that such a miraculous view of life after death does not fit into the current scientific view of the world. It seems foolish! A third challenge to this belief is “the wisdom of this age” seems to really struggle with the idea of a life after death concept that is real. Thinkers find faith to be too difficult to understand.
Yet, Paul writes that “the foolishness of the cross, while being foolish to the perishing is the power of God to those being saved!” And to make things even more complicated, Paul writes that the foolishness that is being preached is the vehicle for salvation to those who believe. Telling the story is God’s plan to save the world.
Jesus is the wisdom of God to us. He came to us. He lived to show us God! He suffered for us, so that we may have life. He died for our sins. He rose from death to prove that life is eternal for those who believe. A simple story, but when we believe it, the power of God lives in us.
Blessings,
Doug
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18 For the word 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, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." 20 Where is the wise man? 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 through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no * man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."
Being a Christian is really dependent upon one central event – Holy Week. The man Jesus was crucified, died, and was resurrected on the third day. In order to be Christian, people must believe those words are true. There are problems with this view.
One problem is that many people do not believe that such a narrow view of salvation fits into the view that God is loving. It leaves too many people out. A second problem is that such a miraculous view of life after death does not fit into the current scientific view of the world. It seems foolish! A third challenge to this belief is “the wisdom of this age” seems to really struggle with the idea of a life after death concept that is real. Thinkers find faith to be too difficult to understand.
Yet, Paul writes that “the foolishness of the cross, while being foolish to the perishing is the power of God to those being saved!” And to make things even more complicated, Paul writes that the foolishness that is being preached is the vehicle for salvation to those who believe. Telling the story is God’s plan to save the world.
Jesus is the wisdom of God to us. He came to us. He lived to show us God! He suffered for us, so that we may have life. He died for our sins. He rose from death to prove that life is eternal for those who believe. A simple story, but when we believe it, the power of God lives in us.
Blessings,
Doug