God
Glorified in Men's Dependence
Pioneer
Days Outdoor Service 6-8-2014
Rev. Bruce A. Shields - Sermon by
Jonathan Edwards
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Those Christians to whom the apostle directed this
epistle dwelt in a part of the world where human wisdom was in great repute; as
the apostle observes in the 22d verse of this chapter, "The Greeks seek
after wisdom."
Corinth was not far from Athens, that had been for
many ages the most famous seat of philosophy and learning in the world.
The apostle therefore observes to them, how that
God, by the gospel, destroyed their human wisdom.
The learned Grecians, and their great philosophers,
by all their wisdom did not know God: they were not able to find out the truth
in divine things.
But after they had done their utmost to no effect,
it pleased God at length to reveal himself by the gospel, which they accounted
foolishness.
He "chose the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and things that are
despised, and things which are not, to bring the things that are to nothing."
And the apostle informs them why he did, in the
verse of the text; That no flesh should glory in his presence.
SCRIPTURE
READING
I Corinthians 1:29-31
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.”
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. 25 For the foolishness of God
is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human
strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when
you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not
many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God
chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God
chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things
that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so
that no one may boast before him.30 It is because of him
that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that
is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore,
as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
I.
THE MESSAGE IS FOOLISHNESS
A.
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
1.
The
"message", the "preaching" this the Word of God, is
foolishness to the lost.
2.
Why is this
foolishness to those who are perishing?
a)
Because spiritual
things cannot be discerned by unredeemed people.
b)
Therefore, to them,
it is foolishness.
c)
None the less, the
Gospel must be preached just the same.
B.
But unto us, who are being saved, it is the power of God
1.
The power of God
which paid the total debt of sin
2.
The power of God
which gave His Holy Spirit
3.
The power of God
made available through Christ Jesus
4.
The power of God
doing a mighty work within our lives.
C.
"I will destroy the wisdom
of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
1.
Reference to Isaiah
29:14
2.
Speaks to those who
are wise in their own eyes.
3.
In effect, having
forsaken the ways of the Lord.
II.
WHERE ARE THE WISE?
A.
The so-called philosophers of this age
1.
Paul addressing the three classes of learned people
a)
The wise and educated
(1)
He is the greatest fool of all who pretends to explain everything, and
says he will not believe what he cannot understand.
b)
The Scribe, Jewish
Theologians
(1)
He who knows nothing is confident in everything; hence they are
bullheaded beyond measure.
c)
The disputer of
this world, the Greeks, who were seekers of mystical and metaphysical
interpretations.
(1)
To know that which God conceals seems to be one of the depraved desires
of the human heart.
d)
"Has God not
made the foolish, the wisdom of this world?"
(1)
What God did by
sending His Son to redeem humanity, all the wisdom of the world could not do
this.
B.
God is pleased through foolishness preached
1.
No matter the
wisdom collected, you cannot know God through the teachings in this world.
2.
But by one manner,
the preaching of God's Word.
3.
Some require a
sign: some seek wisdom: But we preach Christ Crucified!
a)
Because this is the
foundation of the Word of God, and thereby Salvation.
C.
The foolishness of God is wiser
1.
Seekers of signs
ignore them, and seekers of wisdom search for hidden things, ignoring what is
plain in sight.
2.
Both finding it
difficult to accept God as a dead man hanging on a cross, for this is what
Christ was to them.
D.
24 but to those whom God has
called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom
of God"
1.
John 3:16 and Revelation 22:17 tells us that God has made this
"call" to all of humankind.
2.
What Christ did at the cross
atoned for ALL sin, thereby making it possible for the Holy Spirit to exhibit
His power within our lives.
3.
This wisdom devised a plan of
Salvation which pardoned guilty m en and at the same time vindicated and
glorified the justice of God, which stands out as the wisest and most
remarkable plan of all time.
E.
God achieves the mightiest ends by the humblest means.
III.
THINK OF WHAT YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE CALLED
A.
By human standards
1.
Your nature and
behavior.
a)
There is not a complimentary word to human nature within the covers of
the Bible.
2.
Not many were wise,
but after the flesh.
a)
A very hell of corruption lies within the best saint; and if the grace
of God did not restrain it, he would soon be found among the chief of
sinners.
3.
Not many were
mighty, or noble,
4.
All are called, few
accept.
B.
But God has chosen you, and equipped you.
1.
This wise preaching
of the Cross will change lives, confound the wise of this world, which nothing
man has can do.
C.
Therefore, no man may boast
1.
No flesh can give
glory to himself
2.
For the power is in
the Word, made available through Christ and the Cross, and given through the
Holy Spirit, which no man or earthly wisdom or work may obtain, but through the
accepting of the Gospel and calling of God.
CONCLUSION
To those who are in Christ Jesus, the ones who have
accepted the calling of God, by virtue of the Cross and what He did there, God
has made unto us Wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
According to what is written in Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Let not the
wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but
let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have
the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth, for in these I
delight,” declares the Lord."
He, who glorifies, let him glorify in the Lord,
bringing glory unto God, because of our dependence upon Him, and Him alone.
I
leave you with this thought today, boast in the Lord, not in one's self, nor in
any man, whether scholar, theologian or preacher.
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