The Wisdom of God

1 Corinthians 1: 18-24

“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.” 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? 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 signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

Christians who follow the teachings of Christ and live their lives according to Christ’s example are foolish in the eyes of those who do not know Christ.  After all, Christ was rejected by His own people, ridiculed, arrested, and finally crucified.  What kind of savior is this?  How could such a person be the savior of the world?  How can such a weak, lowly person, who could not save Himself, offer salvation to the world?  

But this foolishness was God’s plan.  To a person of faith, it makes perfect sense and is, in fact, ingenious.  The problem of human salvation was a problem that only God could solve.  The only sacrifice that would pay the price of human sin was the sacrifice of God incarnate; God’s only son.

To the world this seems foolish.  After all,  how can death result in life?  But it was not just the death that gave us life.  

It was the death and the resurrection.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Cor. 1:25)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)