The Righteousness of God III

 

“The Righteousness of God III”

Romans 10:11-21

 

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: The Principle for Receiving God’s Righteousness is Faith and not Works; This is why Israel is Presently Set Aside as a Nation—Unbelief.

RELEVANCE: God’s righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ. If God is fair in his dealings with Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him. The truth is anyone can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Nation of Israel missed God’s salvation and blessings because of their lack of faith and not the unfairness or inconsistency of God.

INTRODUCTION:

We discover the ‘righteousness of God’ and Israel’s current rejection in Romans 10. Paul is confident the gospel as the dynamic, saving power of God is available to everyone who believes. Salvation is obtained through faith—not works—revealing God’s righteousness, which is consistent from beginning to end. Yes, the ‘righteousness of God’ is the theme of the book of Romans, and it is further discussed in these following verses.

MESSAGE:

V.  THE SCOPE OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 10:11-13).

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

While ‘scope’ may generally include things like opportunities, range, extent, leeway, freedom and even latitude, it is important to identify the focus here is on acceptability to God. There is a specific way to qualify for this ‘righteousness’ that God regards as acceptable. People may be impressed for multiple reasons and based on varying criteria, but God grants ‘righteousness’ exclusively to real believers.

So, the ‘righteousness of God’ is universally available to anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of their background without even a remote possibility of disappointment (Rom. 10:11-13). This is the ‘extensive range’ of the gospel! Christ, “the same Lord over all,” bridges the divide between Jew and Gentile (worldwide), offering assurance through faith to every genuine believer. The promise of Joel 2:32, says to anyone—regardless of their past or heritage—if you genuinely call upon the name of the Lord you are guaranteed everlasting deliverance, eternal rescue, and forgiveness from God—salvation. 

Now we learn that there is no distinction as far as the availability of salvation is concerned. The Lord is not an exclusive God, but is Lord over all mankind. He is rich in grace and mercy to all who call upon Him.^[1]

Paul already demonstrated that everybody was indeed lost due to our inherent sinfulness; now he shows that everyone can be saved through faith in Christ. The “whosoever” (Rom. 10:13), mentioned here is encouraging, but the one in Revelation 20:15 is a warning of being “cast into the Lake of Fire” because of a sinful condition that rejects the gospel.

God’s glorious salvation is accessible to all people (anyone everywhere); there is no difference (vs. 12) or no distinction as far as the availability of salvation is concerned. Beloved, we are witnessing the universal scope of the grace of God. It is boundless towards you and me, and we are extremely grateful!    

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. To call on the Lord means to pray in faith for salvation.^[2]

God echoes this ‘whosoever believes’ standard repeatedly to welcome sinners like me and you to Himself.

Rom 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Pet 2:6, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Acts 10:43, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1 John 2:1-2, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

APPLICATION: The scope of the gospel clearly includes all who will believe on Christ from a repentant heart; God’s saving grace is astoundingly available to “every creature” as He has repeatedly stated. Clearly these observations disprove the teaching of a limited atonement by the Calvinist, and it also contradicts the teaching of the Universalist who claims we all will be saved eventually but going about it differently. To the Calvinist God says “whosoever”!  And to the Universalist God says “whosever believeth!” 1 John 5:12-13, He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Paul had already proved that “there is no difference” in condemnation (Rom. 3:20–23); now he affirms that “there is no difference” in salvation. Instead of the Jew having a special righteousness of his own through the Law, he was declared to be as much a sinner as the Gentile he condemned.

This entire section emphasizes the difference between “Law righteousness” and “faith righteousness.”^[3]

Eternal life is a gift both in the Old and New Testaments, and is never earned^[4]

May we who are save always be thankful to the Lord and never forget that we too are sinners save by the grace of God. Let’s refuse to be hypocritical judges (Matt. 7:1-5). We must never act like a ‘judge’ of others who have not believed or behaving as if we are superior because we have evidence of a few changes in our lifestyle (Rom. 2:15-16, 29; 3:19-26). We are not “judges” at all; that is never our role. While it is always healthy to agree with God regarding any of his standards or expectations even in matters of eternal condemnation, we must never behave like someone’s judge or be judgmental. God fills that role entirely and he requires no replacement (John 12:44-50; Heb. 12: 5-11; Rom. 14:10-12; Rev. 20:11-15).  

VI.   THE PREACHING OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 10:14-17).

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:14-15).

If God will save anyone who believes than we must be aggressive about preaching, proclamation, evangelizing, missions, and witnessing. 

But such a gospel presupposes a universal proclamation. Of what use is a salvation offered to Jews and Gentiles if they never hear about it? Here we have the heartbeat of Christian missions!^[5]

After proclaiming God’s gracious offer in Christ, Paul confronted the natural questions that arise, each additional question building on the key verb from the preceding question. God’s promise of salvation to “everyone who calls” on Him (v. 13) begins the process.^[6]

At this point it is imperative that we remind ourselves of the critical need to communicate the gospel generously and broadly.

• We are impressed with the importance of preaching the Gospel for salvation.
• We must emphasize the necessity of hearing the gospel message to believe in Christ.
• Our role as messengers is crucial; we must be sent to proclaim the good news.
• We are reminded that faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of God.
• Beloved, there is a chain of communication needed for real faith to develop in the heart.
• Most of all, we must stress the urgency of evangelism in spreading the gospel of God’s peace to everyone.

We are clearly confronted with an emerging pattern. Salvation is not based on adherence to the law but instead on faith in Jesus Christ. Remember Romans 10:9-10, teaches that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart, we are saved. Romans 10:14 is the bridge that connects salvation with hearing about Jesus. As a result, we connect the urgency for evangelism and preaching with our current mission.

(Since the Gr. word kēryssō, “preach,” means “to be a herald, to announce,” it is not limited to proclamation from a pulpit.) Carrying God’s gracious offer involves human beings whom God has brought to Himself and then uses as His heralds. They share God’s message of salvation because He will save everyone who calls on His name.^[7]

APPLICATION: Be certain we are frequently sharing Christ with others. How often do we present the gospel? I realize that some have greater opportunities than others but are we taking advantage of the opportunities we have? It is okay with God if we create new ways or another way to proclaim the gospel! Is there a chance at work during lunch? What about a gospel centered luncheon or dinner with the same gender? Can you change or add to your social media platforms witnessing opportunities? Maybe keeping some gospel tracks in your car is one workable approaches? Perhaps God is sending you out of your church with the message of hope in Christ. Be a witness!

Hodge points out that this is an argument founded on the principle that if God wills the end, He also wills the means to reach that end. This, as we have said, is the basis of the Christian missionary movement. Paul is here vindicating his preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, a policy which the unbelieving Jews considered inexcusable.^[8]

VII.  THE REJECTION OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 10:16-21).

The Jews rejected God’s righteousness and God rejected them! They did not feel they needed to be saved spiritually, they were zealous for God already, they were filled with pride and self righteousness, and they certainly misunderstood the purpose of their own law. As a result they rejected Christ and God rejected them!

But Paul’s ever-present grief is that the people of Israel did not all listen to the gospel.^[9]

    A.    ISAIAH HAD PREDICTED THIS REJECTION

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?... vs 20-21, But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people" (Rom.10:16,20-21).

Israel’s unbelief was not because of a lack of opportunity, but rather their own stubbornness—their perseverance in unbelief. Accordingly, God is extending His salvation to the Gentiles world, fulfilling ancient Old Testament prophecies.

Isaiah had prophesied as much when he asked, “Lord, who has believed our report?” (Isa. 53:1). The question calls for the answer, “Not many.” When the announcement of the Messiah’s First Advent was heralded, not many responded.^[10]

    B.    MOSES HAD PREDICTED THIS REJECTION

"But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you" (Rom. 10:19).

Did Israel simply misunderstand the Gentiles would be saved? Moses tells us (Deuteronomy 32:21) and Isaiah (Isaiah 65:1) that God planned to include “a foolish nation” in His salvation plan to provoke Israel to jealousy. Yet still (Isaiah 65:2), God is patiently reaching out with open arms, to reach a yet “disobedient and gainsaying” Israel.

Collectively, the Gentiles did not seek after God; they were wrongly and ignorantly satisfied with their pagan religious convictions and ideas. But many of them did respond when they heard the message of hope in Christ. Relatively speaking the Gentiles response far exceeded the Jews.  While the Gentiles were flocking to the Lord, Isaiah portrays God standing with outstretched hands, pleading with the Nation of Israel, and their only response is disobedience and stubborn refusal. God is still yearning for His earthly people and I believe He wants to use you and me, us Gentiles to reach them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should not only appreciate the Jews, but we should love them for Jesus’ sake and send the gospel to them!

Paul’s obvious answer to his question is that Israel had ample opportunity by both general and special revelation to respond to God. Certainly she heard.^[11]

And yet concerning Israel, God has been gracious in spite of her disobedience (a quotation of Isa. 65:2). Israel’s continuing rebellious and unbelieving disobedience was judged by God’s turning to the Gentiles (Rom. 10:20; cf. Acts 8:1–8, 10). At the same time God has not withheld salvation from Jews. He has held out His hands, imploring them to return to Him.^[12]

CONCLUSION: The principle for receiving God’s righteousness is faith and not works; this is why Israel is presently set aside as a nation—unbelief. The truth in this passage is that we can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Israel missed God’s salvation and blessings because of their lack of faith and not the unfairness or inconsistency of God. God still holds people (everyone) accountable for their actions; He is not embracing the modern trend of renaming sin and offenses to please people or to remain popular. No, God will finally deal with the unrepentant heart; if anyone wants an eternity without Him, He will finally grant such desires. God is not being harsh; He is being consistent! 

1. Do you have the “righteousness of God” made available through the gospel?    

2. Are you attempting to establish your own righteousness while ignoring God’s?

3. Are you praying for someone or a specific group to be saved?

4. Are we evangelizing and witnessing to ‘whosoever’?

5. Are you making the mistake of ‘judging’ instead of ‘witnessing’?

6. Are you taking and creating opportunities to present the gospel regularly?

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1722.

^[2] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 481.

^[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 547–548.

^[4] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 175.

^[5] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1722.

^[6] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 481.

^[7] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 481.

^[8] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1722.

^[9] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1722.

^[10] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1722–1723.

^[11] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 482.

^[12] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 482.

Repentance in the Bible

 

“Repentance in the Bible”

Luke 24:47 & 2 Pet. 3:9

SUBJECT: REPENTANCE

THEME: An Appreciation of the Doctrine of Repentance Help to Ensure a Genuine Salvation Presentation, and Provides a Vital Step in Christ-centered Living!

RELEVANCE: the neglect of a biblical teaching does not eliminate its significance. Repentance has become a lost doctrine in fundamental circles in this positive thinking, high self-esteem generation. Unfortunately, churches and Christians have adopted a weak gospel presentation to avoid offending people. Not even the average preacher has a sound biblical understanding of this great doctrine anymore. 

INTRODUCTION:   

SO, HOW PROMINENT IS REPENTANCE IN THE BIBLE?

The prominence given to the Doctrine of Repentance in the Scriptures can hardly be overestimated and we downplay this teaching to our own determent.

The Word correctly conveys the just nature of God issuing in His holy decision to hold mankind accountable for their failures to live up to His standards and man’s unrepentant sinfulness. The justice of God can be seen in his judgment of Noah’s Flood, the destruction of the Sodom communities, and the removal of Israel from the Land of Promise. He is a just God who holds people accountable for their unrepentant hearts.

Repentance is witnessed as God changed his direction with mankind deeply pained in his heart for the destruction he must visit upon them (Gen. 6:5-7). There was God’s deeply felt grief over king Saul’s failures and incomplete obedience to the requirement to kill all the Amalekites (1 Sam. 15:11, 35). We also witness God’s repentance in David’s sin of pridefully numbering the armies of Israel and God stopping His angel from plaguing and destroying Jerusalem (2Sam. 24:15-17). In all these instances we see God repenting which involved a change of mind, heart, and will! Repentance, biblically speaking, should be the same for us except in our case we are guilty!

 MESSAGE:

John the Baptist began his public ministry preaching a message of repentance. Jesus Christ was also a preacher of repentance and He sent out His Apostles to preach repentance not only to Israel but to every nation. Luke 24:47, And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Some have the idea that the preaching of repentance ended with the Jews, but it was preached throughout the Apostolic Age, and the same message was to be preached around the world!

The genuine burden of the heart of God is that all men come to repentance; he does not cherish the idea of anyone being lost to the Lake of Fire. 2 Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This is significant because a sinner can never be saved without repentance. And more generally speaking, a believer can never please God by experiencing victory in their life without repentance.

A. GOD PLACED ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE UPON REPENTANCE IN THE SCRIPTURES

Acts 17:29-31, Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. ³⁰ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: ³¹ Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the appointed day of judgment is coming, all people in every part of the planet must repent or face these consequences. God previously tolerated humanity’s ignorance but now firmly commands everyone to repent because of their sins. Jesus Christ provides the proof of this because God has raised him from among the dead. We can only be saved by trusting Christ while abandoning a lifestyle of sin and rebellion against God choosing a life of submission and cooperation with God’s plan. It is true some people don’t understand the holy and just nature of God, accountability to anyone is foreign to them, and owning up to one’s sins seems strange, but none of this changes God’s just expectations. People must repent or face a holy God with their sin.

B. A REVIEW OF GOD’S HOLINESS IS APPROPRIATE

Revelation 15:4, says, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.”

Leviticus 19:1-2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ² Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.^[a]

Isaiah 6:2-3, Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. ³ And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. ^[b]

God is utterly pure, morally perfect, and completely set apart from sin and creation, distinct in His being and worthy of awe and inspiring our worship. This holiness encompasses His intrinsic nature—His absolute separation from evil—and His moral guiltlessness, establishing a foundation that fills all His properties and demands a distinct astonishment from us. 

John 20:27-28, Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

This declaration of the Apostle Thomas affirms the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, and his belief in Jesus’ divinity and resurrection. This exclamation is a profound confession of faith, acknowledging Jesus as both his sovereign Lord and his personal God, signifying submission and worship. 

Repeatedly God is portrayed as sacred, holy, the holy One, and set apart! Then the Lord Jesus is clearly revealed to be that same God, not a denial of the Trinity. God is holy in His very essence/nature and so is the Lord Jesus and this fact demands a unique reverence for Him! It helps us to remember this fundamental concept of God when declaring the gospel. Essentially, “God is holy” His unparalleled nature and absolute moral integrity set Him apart from everything else. 

C.  THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS REQUIRED REPENTANCE

The book of Judges records a pattern of disobedience, rebellion, and repentance of the Nation of Israel. We have a record of Israel’s failures to live up to God’s high moral standards delineated by Moses. After each phase of spiritual apostacy, idolatry, and finally repentance, God would mercifully answer their cries for deliverance through a judge. A call to repentance was often issued by God’s prophets.

       1. The Preaching of Jonah Brought About Genuine Repentance in Nineveh - Jonah 3.

Luke 11:32, The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Our Lord’s generation, despite witnessing His power and ministry, was more accountable than the Ninevites who repented at Jonah's preaching. They will therefore face more severe judgment for rejecting the Savior, “a greater than Jonah,” who was literally in their presence. This condemnation of those who demand signs but reject God’s message can be contrasted with Israel’s greater privileges and greater condemnation with those who received less revelation.  But please do not miss the fact that “they repented at the preaching of Jonah”!

       2. The Preaching of Jeremiah Leveled this Requirement to Repent.

Jeremiah 18:8, If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

The prophet required Israel to change their minds about sin evidenced by a change in their activities. God’s willingness to withhold judgment and offer forgiveness when a nation repents from its evil actions, illustrates that true repentance can change a divinely planned outcome. God’s power to judge and his future for a nation are dependent upon their actions of repentance.

       3. The Preaching of Ezekiel Called the Jews to Repentance During the Captivity.

Ezek 14:6, Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel’s message from the Lord to the elders was God commanding the people of Israel to abandon their false gods and detestable practices, which were a stumbling block separating them from Him. God instructed them to actively turn away from all their idolatrous practices. God was again calling Israel to make a choice: to either continue in their rebelliousness or to fully return their allegiance to Him. 

These hypocritical elders came to the true God for answers while having another “god” in their hearts. God asked Ezekiel, Should I let them inquire of Me at all? God was not obligated to answer them when they refused to acknowledge His sovereignty. So instead of giving these elders the information they desired, God instructed Ezekiel to give them the information they needed—God’s attitude toward their idolatry.

God informed the elders that when any Israelite came to God while harboring idolatry in his heart, God would deal with the idolatry. God would do this for the ultimate benefit of the nation, to recapture the hearts of the people. The message Israel needed to hear was not some oracle about Jerusalem or the Captivity. The urgent message was, Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!^[c]

Beloved, this emphasizes how genuine faith and repentance requires a wholehearted (concerning our love, worship, and service), internal shift away from anything that occupies the place of God in our hearts and lives. True repentance, not just outward actions, requires separation from destructive idolatry seeking a sincere relationship with God. Are there unchecked desires occupying our hearts in the form of pleasures, power, or worldly success? Are we approaching God with divided hearts or loyalties like a mere fortune teller? God is still calling individuals, households, churches, cultures, and nations to identify and renounce counterfeit gods that can take the form of materialism, careers, or other pursuits, and to find life and security in Him alone. 

D.  REPENTANCE IS A PART OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

Lk. 13:3, 5, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Again, it may be necessary to spell out exactly what repentance is for some, but generally when we are confronted with the guilty weight of our sin, we naturally repent of our sin to trust Christ as our personal Savior. Sometimes people don’t feel guilt for their sin, they may be ignorant of God’s requirements in the 10 Commandments, they may have never accepted accountability for their actions, or they may have a twisted way of perceiving repentance. May God help us to know enough about the subject of repentance so we can help them repent of their sin and live victoriously after trusting Christ as Savior.

      1. Repentance is the heart of the Great Commission (Lk 24:47). 

Luke 24:46-48, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.

Christ’s suffering and resurrection coupled with the message of repentance and forgiveness in His name are to be preached to all nations. We are commissioned to be witnesses to these truths. The gospel message cannot be complete without a call for genuine repentance. This is implied when it is not explicitly stated in the text. It makes no sense to call people to God without those individuals first acknowledging their sin, failures, guilt, responsibility, or faults. God has never changed, and he does hold people accountable for their sin against Him. In the modern ‘easy-believism’ movement there is little if any stress on this aspect or even respect for the holy nature of God. Thus, we end up with so called casual ‘Christians’ whose lives never really change and who treat God extremely nonchalantly. 

      2. Many Preachers and Evangelistic Programs Carefully Avoid Dealing with the Fact That Men Are Sinners Who Must Turn from Their Sin of Unbelief to a holy God.

ILLUSTRATION: During our pre-field ministry years ago, we visited a ‘church’ in Gary, Indiana who held to and taught ‘easy believism.’ The ‘pastor’ showed me his method of soul winning, and since I received his name and location from a ‘reliable’ publication, I tried to pay close attention. What was described to me was nothing more than easy believism’ salvation on steroids. I even went out in the community with the pastor as he demonstrated his method and message. I was shocked, appalled, surprised, disappointed, and confused! “You just simply have them repeat a prayer, don’t deal with man’s sin problem, just simply ask Jesus to come into your heart” …without the heart of the sinner being prepared to truly receive Him as Savior. The idea was “don’t worry about informing the sinner that he has greatly offended and extremely holy God. Just have them repeat a prayer and ask Jesus into their heart.” Beloved, this is a spiritual lie! This is not the Gospel of Christ, the good news of the grace of God proclaimed in our New Testament.

                a. John the Baptist Preached Repentance—Matt. 3:1, 2, and 8.

                b. Jesus Christ Preached Repentance—Matt. 4:17

                c. The Apostles preached Repentance—Mk 6:12, Acts 2:38; 26:20

         3.  From Theses Verses We Understand That Repentance Belongs to the Human Side of Salvation and That it Is Man’s Response to the Preaching of the Word of God.  Repentance is the negative aspect of that response while faith is the positive response!

In our day we don’t like it when the preacher deals with the negative, we want him to accent the positive!  But God has always used negative messages to bring about positive results just ask the people of Nineveh and the 3,000 Believers on the Day of Pentecost. The Ten Commandments are filled with “Thou Shalt Nots” but they work a positive work in the heart of the sinner showing him he is a sinner that he may be saved by Jesus Christ! 

QUOTE: “There are some people who do not like the negative. “Give us positive doctrines!” they say.  “Forget about negative warnings and admonitions!” But the negative warnings and commands grow out of positive truths of Christian doctrine. No amount of positive talk about health will cure a ruptured appendix.  The doctor will have to ‘get negative’ and take out the appendix. No amount of lecturing on beauty will produce a garden. The gardener has to pull weeds! The positive and the negative go together, and one without the other leads to imbalance.” -W. W. Wiersbe

We need to balance our teaching of Faith in Christ’s finish work on the cross for salvation with the truth concerning repentance from sin. We need to get back to addressing our sinfulness.

CONCLUSION:

Mark 1:14-15, Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

For a person to be saved they must repent of their sin and turn unto God in faith for salvation. In the life of the believer, there should be a healthy understanding of the Doctrine of Repentance and when sin is in our lives God expects us to turn from it and have victory over it. If believers refuse to repent, then we have automatically invited the chastening of God upon our lives to correct such folly.                                                                                                          

If John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, then we should be also. Easy Believism has no place in God’s economy. We need to get back to real Biblical teaching and Biblical living if we are going to have God’s blessings on our lives!

“GIVING UP FOLLIES”

“Well, Jack, old fellow” said a man to his recently converted friend.  “I hear you have given up all your pleasures.”  “No! No!” said the friend, “the fact lies all the other way.  I have just found all my pleasures and have given up all my follies.”

1) Are you saved? Really? How do you know for sure?  

2) Has your life changed since you professed Christ? In what ways?

3) Is your life consistently changing and becoming more pleasing to God?

4) Is God trying to correct you?  Are you being chastened by God?

5) Is repentance a part of your everyday life?

6) Do you by the power of Jesus Christ forsake sin and refuse to live in it anymore?

7) Are you comfortable doing your own thing?

8) Are you accountable to God? To his Word?

9) Do you treasure executing God’s will for you?

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^[a] The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Le 19:1–2.

^[b] The Holy Bible: King James Version., electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. (Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995), Is 6:2–3.

^[c] Charles H. Dyer, “Ezekiel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1253.

The Foolishness of Human Wisdom

 

Lesson One

Reflection

Begin your study by entertaining thoughts on this question.

1.  Which aspects of the gospel (Jesus' life, death, and resurrection) are difficult for people to understand and accept?

While the basic tenants of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are simple and straight forward, people today find it difficult to understand why Jesus or the gospel matter to them. I have seen people reject Christ because salvation by grace through faith in the cross and resurrection of Christ seems too simple…they insist there must be more to it than that to be rendered acceptable to God. They want answers for humanities problems that are scientific, from scholarly sources, and which does not assign responsibility for their sins to themselves. They want a message that is easy to receive, positive, affirming, and immediately advantageous for them personally or professionally. With these modern criteria, the gospel simply does not seem to fit what people want to hear these days. As a result, it is difficult for this generation to see why an ancient story about a poor carpenter turned traveling preacher…who got himself killed by his contemporary authorities has anything to offer them as they face the challenges of a very sophisticated age.

Bible Reading

Read thoughtfully 1 Corinthians 1:18–31.

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is in View. To the Christian this is the most important topic of all time!

The “preaching of the cross” this is a reference to the gospel in all its fullness, which centers in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ; it encompasses the entire divine plan and provision for the redemption of sinners—this is the theme of entire body of Scripture (1Cor. 15:1-4) and what the ancient OT prophets anticipated (1Pet. 1:10-12). (J. MacArthur)

Commentator Albert Barnes said it so well stating:

The death on the cross was associated with the idea of all that is shameful and dishonorable; and to speak of salvation only by the sufferings and death of a crucified man was fitted to excite in their bosoms only unmingled scorn.^[1]

In this section, Paul distinguishes this message of hope and redemption, the gospel of Christ, from all other messages and philosophies, both ancient and modern.

2. The Lowest Wisdom of God versus the Highest Wisdom of Humanity

        1.  The Greeks highly valued “wisdom”. This is a reference to ancient Greek philosophy. Paul showed in the following verses, however, that there is the kind of "wisdom" that the world worships, and there is the true wisdom that comes from God alone (W. Wiersbe). Not only is the gospel simple (1Cor. 1:17), many consider it "foolish" (1:18). This should not be surprising, since numerous centuries of human wisdom have failed to bring anyone closer to God (1Cor. 1:19-21).

       2.  Jewish scholars looked for supernatural “signs,” while the scholars of Greece pursued knowledge for its own sake—and both misunderstood the gospel in its simplicity (1Cor. 1:22-23).

       3.  Those who were called (1Cor. 1:2, 9), however, responded in faith and were saved (1Cor. 1:18, 24). The gospel's very simplicity shows how much wiser the Creator is than any of his creatures (1:25). Jesus used simple logic and his understanding of human nature to destroy human wisdom (1Cor. 1:19; 3:19; see Matt 21:23-27; 22:15-22; John 8:1-11). Even the lowest wisdom of God far out distances the most elite human wisdom ever!

   C.  Fundamentally, the Corinthians needed a renewal of their minds (Rom. 12:2). They were trying to live their Christian lives on the basis of unsanctified ideals which have self-preservation as its ultimate goal. This kind of life is self-seeking, self-serving, and ultimately self-destructive (Luke 9:24-25). Does such hyper focus on number one sound familiar?

Discovery

Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.

2.  In what ways can the gospel seem foolish? (1Cor 1:18)

Greeks believed that some gods had died and returned (usually they were vegetation deities who returned annually), but they relegated this belief to ancient myth and sometimes even allegorized the myths. Romans regarded crucifixion as a death appropriate for slaves; Jews also saw it as shameful (Deut 21:23). Those viewed as "saviors" were normally gods, kings, wealthy benefactors or miracle workers. Roman society was built around power and status; power was concentrated in the male head of the household, in wealthy and aristocratic families, and so forth. Associating power with a crucified man — the epitome of weakness — thus made no more sense to ancients than it does to modern people outside Christ. [2]

In spite of how the gospel may be perceived, Paul and early believers still preached the cross of Christ!

   A.  There were those Who Preach the Cross.  (1Cor. 1:17- 18).

Paul had not come to Corinth to make disciples for himself; he had come to "preach the gospel" (1:17). But this preaching was not according to the world's wisdom or desires—it was not filled with philosophical arguments or supernatural acts. Paul's preaching was the message of the cross—Jesus Christ crucified on behalf of sinners.

        1.  Such a message always has two results, for ultimately all of humanity will end up in one of these two classes.

        2.  The gospel message sounds foolish . . . to those who are on the road to destruction. For those who desire worldly wisdom, the message of the cross seems stupid. "Who wants a crucified king?" they might ask. To the Greek mind the whole notion was idiotic: salvation, if there were such a thing, would have to come through some appeal to man’s capacity to achieve. Furthermore, the Greek mind viewed God as immutable and unchangeable. The Gospel presentation of Incarnation, the Cross, and Resurrection were simply ruled out; the Gospel contradicted one of the axioms of classical Greek philosophy.

        3. But for those who are being saved . . . the gospel message is the very “power of God.” Paul wrote to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel message is more than a true story and a good way to live; it is “the power of God.” 

        4.  Only with such power can the gospel message redeem sinful people and transform them into God's people. (W. Wiersbe)

   B.  There are those Who Stumble at the Cross (1Cor. 1:23a).

This was the attitude of the Jews, because their emphasis is on miraculous signs and the cross appears to be weakness.

        1.  Jewish history is filled with miraculous events, from the Exodus out of Egypt to the days of Elijah and Elisha. When Jesus was ministering on earth, the Jewish leaders repeatedly asked Him to perform a sign from heaven; but He refused.

        2.  The Jewish nation did not understand their own sacred Scriptures. They looked for a Messiah who would come like a mighty conqueror and defeat all their enemies. He would then set up His kingdom and return the glory to Israel. The question of the Apostles in Acts 1:6 shows how strong this hope was among the Jews.

At the same time, their scribes noticed in the Old Testament that the Messiah would suffer and die. Passages like Ps 22 and Isa 53 pointed toward a different kind of Messiah, and the scholars could not reconcile these two seemingly contradictory prophetic images. They did not understand that their Messiah had to suffer and die before He could enter into His glory (see Luke 24:13-35), and that the future messianic kingdom was to be preceded by the age of the church. (W. Wiersbe)

        3.  Because the Jews were looking for power and great glory, they stumbled at the weakness of the cross. How could anybody put faith in an unemployed carpenter from Nazareth who died the shameful death of a common criminal? But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom 1:16). Rather than a testimony of weakness, the cross is a tremendous instrument of power! After all, the "weakness of God [in the cross] is stronger than men" (1Cor 1:25).  To the Hebrew, the whole thing was foreign as well. Deliverance would come in another Exodus, with God breaking into history to perform miracles and punish Israel’s enemies. A suffering Savior? Never! Israel would settle for nothing less than a conquering king.

   C.  Then, there are those Who Laugh at the Cross (1Cor. 1:23b).

This was the response of the Greeks. To them the cross was “foolishness.”

         1.  The Greeks emphasized wisdom we still study the profound writings of the Greek philosophers. But they saw no wisdom in the cross, for they looked at the cross from a human point of view. Had they seen it from God's viewpoint, they would have discerned the wisdom of God's great plan of salvation.

         2.  Paul called, on three men to bear witness: “the wise” (the expert), “the scribe” (the interpreter and writer), and “the disputer” (the philosopher and debater). He asked them one question: Through your studies into man's wisdom, have you come to know God in a personal way? They all must answer no! The fact that they laugh at the cross and consider it foolishness is evidence that they are perishing. (W. Wiersbe)

         3.  Paul quoted Isa 29:14 in 1Cor 1:19, proving that God has written a big "0 - Failure!" - over the wisdom of men. In his address on Mars' Hill, Paul dared to tell the philosophers that Greek and Roman history were but "times of this ignorance" (Acts 17:30). He was not suggesting that they knew nothing, because Paul knew too well that the Greek thinkers had made some achievements. However, their wisdom did not enable them to find God and experience salvation. (W. Wiersbe)

Question 2. As you discuss what seems foolish about the gospel, ask group members about their initial encounter with the Gospel of Christ. What age were they? What was hard for them to accept? What were some misconceptions they may have had about following Christ?

3.  How do Jesus' life and death reveal the wisdom and power of God? (1Cor 1:22-24).

   A.  Some Believe and Experience the Power and the Wisdom of the Cross (1Cor. 1:24).

Paul did not alter his message when he turned from a Jewish audience to a Greek one: he preached Christ crucified. "The foolishness of preaching" (1Cor 1:21) does not mean that the act of preaching is foolish, but rather the content of the message. 

   B.  Those who have been called by God's grace, and who have responded by faith (see 2Thess 2:13-14), realize that Christ is God's “power” and God's “wisdom.” Not the Christ of the manger, or the temple, or the marketplace - but the Christ of the cross. It is in the death of Christ that God has revealed the foolishness of man's wisdom and the weakness of man's power.

   C.  We are called into fellowship because of our union with Jesus Christ He died for us; we were baptized in His name; we are identified with His cross. What a wonderful basis for spiritual unity!

   D.  Many Jews considered the Good News of Jesus Christ to be foolish because they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king who did many spectacular signs and miracles. Although Jesus had performed many miracles during his ministry on earth, many Jews who observed his miracles firsthand had refused to believe (Matt 12:38-39; 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:16; John 6:30). Jesus had not restored David's throne in the way that they had expected. Besides, he had been executed as a criminal (Deut 21:23) -- how could a criminal be the Savior? This proclamation of Christ crucified was a contradiction of all that they believed, and it became a stumbling block to them (see also Rom 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8). (W. Wiersbe)

   E.  Silly, Superficial, and Simple

Paul had literally been where no man had gone before. He had taken the gospel to uncharted territories and untested hearers. He understood rejection. When Paul mentioned audience reactions (1:21), he had the scars to prove just how violently some resisted the gospel. Problems in sharing the gospel were not theoretical for Paul. Those who proclaim the gospel may find that others think they are ridiculous. If our message did not hold the answer to life and death it might seem silly and superficial. Though some ridicule it, the gospel remains the simple truth. Paul described the attitude we ought to have this way: (Rom 1:16). Like Paul, we must proclaim the simple gospel; it requires no revisions, embellishments, upgrades, or add-ons.

4.  In what ways is God's wisdom different from the world's wisdom?  (1Cor. 1:21-24)

   A.  The mention of the cross in 1Cor 1:17 introduced this long section on the power of the Gospel versus the weakness of man's wisdom. It is interesting to see how Paul approached this problem of division in the church. First, he pointed to the unity of Christ: there is one Savior and one body. Then he reminded them of their baptism, a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Then he took them to the cross.

   B.  Crucifixion was not only a horrible death; it was a shameful death. It was illegal to crucify a Roman citizen. Crucifixion was never mentioned in polite society, any more than we today would discuss over dinner the gas chamber or the electric chair.

   C.  The key word in this paragraph is wisdom; it is used eight times.

         — The “in the wisdom of God,” (1:21) God wisely established that men could not come to know Him by human wisdom. That would exalt man, so God designed to save helpless sinners through the preaching of a message that was so simple the “worldly wise” deemed it nonsense. Rom 1:18–23.

         — “That believe,” (1:21) from the human side, salvation requires and comes only through faith in the gospel. John 1:12; Rom. 10:8–17.

         — The key idea—that Paul expressed is that we dare not mix man's wisdom with God's revealed message. The entire section on wisdom (1Cor 1:17-2:16) presents a number of contrasts between the revealed Word of God and the wisdom of men.

         — God's wisdom is revealed primarily in the cross of Jesus Christ but not everybody sees this. (W. Wiersbe)

   D.  This very point is one that Paul made in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2.

        — He pointed out that man’s ways of thinking (human “wisdom”) and God’s ways of thinking (His “foolishness”) truly do not correspond.

        — “The Cross” is given as an example. What human mind would have imagined that God would give us righteousness, holiness, and redemption by means of the execution of His Son as a criminal!

        — While the Greek and the Jew each clung to his own notion of how God must act, God had His own ideas. The Cross meant that each must surrender his own way of thinking, and submit to a divine wisdom that operates on principles which are fundamentally different from those that appeal to mere human thought or values!

       — Man is impressed by human accomplishment: God chose to use things man despises.

       — Man is impressed by strength: God chose to use weakness.

   E.  Even in churches, the human tendency is to seek to build little kingdoms around differences—different leaders, different message styles, and different ways of worship. Paul’s whole argument is a warning to the church at Corinth—and to us—that we must learn to look at issues from the divine viewpoint. We must realize God doesn’t think the same way we do. We must be willing to surrender our own way of thinking and earnestly search out His.

   F.  How? God has revealed His thoughts by the Spirit (1Cor. 2:13). And God has given believers the Holy Spirit to interpret the written Word (1Cor. 2:9–15). In the Word and in the Spirit we have been given an astounding gift: “We have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:16). Searching the Word, guided by the Spirit, we are to learn God’s way of thinking (His wisdom), and gradually learn to evaluate all things from His unique perspective.

   G.  This is why a tracing-the-argument approach to Bible study is so important. We’re prone to grasp a single verse or teaching, and try to make it fit our way of thinking. We’re apt to use the Bible to try to prove our point of view, or to disprove another’s. But Paul here teaches us to study the Scripture so we can learn to abandon our own points of view, and submit ourselves instead to God’s. By disciplining ourselves to trace the argument of a section of Scripture, we guard against our natural tendency to misuse, and we set ourselves to grasp the very thoughts of God. (W. Wiersbe)

5.  What does Paul mean when he says God “hath chosen the weak things of the world”? (1Cor. 1:27)

   A.  Perhaps the Corinthian were influenced by the culture of nearby Athens. They seemed to fancy themselves as thinkers and took pride in their supposed intellectual superiority. Paul reminded them that human cleverness is not necessarily God's way or wisdom (1:18–2:16). God's plan of salvation through Christ's death on the Cross is often rejected by wise and clever people. Those who are spiritually wise perceive truth by the Spirit and not the mind alone. This kind of wisdom is God's gift through His Holy Spirit. 

   B.  Proud and clever people are not the ones who appreciate the wisdom of God's plan of salvation through Christ's death on the Cross, but those who are spiritually wise. According to 1 Corinthians 3:18, one must actually become a “fool” in the world's eyes in order to be really wise.

   C.  One does not have to “check his brains at the door” when he becomes a Christian. Human wisdom has its place. God has equipped us with wondrous knowledge, giving us dominion over the earth and intelligence to travel to the moon and back. The capacity of the human mind is beyond comprehension.

   D.  Paul's attack on human wisdom (1Cor. 1:18–31) does not belittle the gift of human intelligence. But the answer to humankind's dilemma is not intellectual and cultural; it is moral and spiritual. The cure is the Cross of Christ—not merely the wooden instrument of death, but the sacrifice that took place there—and the subsequent resurrection of our Lord, His ascension, and finally the bestowal of His Spirit on all those who believe.

But God's “holy foolishness” is at odds with humankind's “wise” ways. Neither the Jews' “do a miracle” approach, nor the Gentiles' philosophical approach (1:22) can grasp the power and wisdom God expressed in the Cross. It is an issue of false versus true wisdom.

   E.  Paul further points out the inferior intellectual and social status of many of the believers. The church was populated with the ordinary instead of the extraordinary person of that day and culture. Their congregation was evidence that God ignore the worldly criteria of favoring and selecting people because of their social elitism, high breeding, outstanding pedigree, political influence or whatever other ‘power’ men pride themselves for. Notice Paul’s explanation: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1Cor. 1:27). Yes, God choose those who embrace the foolishness of Christ’s cross, and the result is no one can brag about their human accomplishments or elevated position in life before the Lord.

   F.  But the results are powerful and eternal. Each believer is “in Christ,” and He provides “righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). This “holy foolishness” is illustrated further by Paul's plain manner of preaching and in the convincing power of the Spirit (2:1–5). The purpose was that the faith of the believing Corinthians would not be in man's cleverness, but in the power of God (2:5). However, true wisdom is revealed by the Spirit (2:6–13) to those who are “mature.” This maturity is like a fruit which has developed to completion and perfection; it is ripe.

   G.  Spiritual maturity involves many things. Hebrews 5:11–14 teaches three principles about spiritual maturity as compared with spiritual immaturity:

         1.  First, maturity takes time (v. 12). The believers need to be exposed to the truth of the Word and see it modeled in others over a period of time. God will apply it to the individual life.

         2.  Second, maturity involves growth in the knowledge of the Word of God (v. 13). Babies in Christ are able only to handle the simple things of the gospel (1 Pet. 2:2). Spiritual development (or deformity) is directly related to the amount of intake of the Word.

         3.  Finally, spiritual maturity involves experience in the use of the Word in discerning between good and bad, or truth and error (vv. 13, 14). This is to be a disciplined exercise in spiritual discernment.

6.  So, what do believers have to brag about?

1Cor. 1:30-31, But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

   A. Beloved, all praise and glory is correctly ascribed to God who acted graciously on our behalf. Accordingly, it is by the activities of the Father that believers are “in Christ Jesus”—spiritually identified with the Savior—and thus possesses wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This wisdom of God is literally Christ crucified and as a result believers are declared righteous and justified in the courtroom of God, sanctified to enter the august presence of God, and ultimately destined for the fullness of redemption! These four underserved blessings are now ours and follow the wisdom of God:

      1. Wisdom—Christ is the wisdom of God; he alone personifies divine wisdom—he is God’s way of salvation. As such he actively accrues the praise to the Father and destroys all human platforms for self-centered pride and confidence…achievement. He is our exclusive claim to wisdom! (Walvoord & Zuck)

      2. Righteousness—it is through our faith in the cross of Christ that moves God, the Judge, to count us as right in his court of law (Rom. 4:24–25). The final verdict concerning all believers is ‘justified.’ If we are acceptable to God in Christ then we do not need the acceptance of mere men who judge and value people for the wrong reasons.

      3. Sanctification—two realities are in view and both are precious acts of the Father’s grace. First, since we have no holy clout or status of holiness with God, he gave us this position, status, and regards us as holy. Secondly, he also gave us the holy power to live free of sin’s enslavement and control—thus a lifestyle experiencing and characterized by holy motives and actions (2Thes. 2:13–15). We can brag about the clout, privileges, and honors God graciously affords us because of who he is and not who we are. (MacDonald & Farstad)

      4. Redemption—while it is true believers are redeemed, we also will be redeemed. Redemption has multiple installments or benefits and blessings. There is more to come! Yes, we are fully saved, but we have not experienced everything God has planned for the Redeemed (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30). Beloved, one day we will traverse new heights of redemption relative to the body, soul, and spirit…we will move…yes...be transported beyond anything and everything we have been trilled to know in Christ heretofore. I am talking about the ultimate next level—glorification! God plans for us are certain and will one day be fully consummated in our individual and collective experience.

   B. Clearly, this is what we glory in, brag about, exult in, rejoice over, and swell with appreciation for…the cross of Christ and God’s gracious acts towards fallen sinners who repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is appropriate to glory in the Lord…to boast in the Lord’s goodness to us…to brag on Jesus! Actually, we as God’s people have plenty to brag about (see Matt. 11:25–26).

  C.  The message and miracle of God’s grace in Jesus Christ utterly confounds (“puts to shame”) the high and mighty people of this world. The wise of this world cannot understand how God changes sinners into saints, and the mighty of this world are helpless to duplicate the miracle. God’s “foolishness” confounds the wise; God’s “weakness” confounds the mighty!

The annals of church history are filled with the accounts of great sinners whose lives were transformed by the power of the Gospel. In my own ministry, as in the ministry of most pastors and preachers, I have seen amazing things take place that the lawyers and psychologists could not understand. We have seen delinquent teenagers become successful students and useful citizens. We have seen marriages restored and homes reclaimed, much to the amazement of the courts.

And why does God reveal the foolishness and the weakness of this present world system, even with its philosophy and religion? “That no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:29). Salvation must be wholly of grace; otherwise, God cannot get the glory.

It is this truth that Paul wanted to get across to the Corinthians, because they were guilty of glorying in men (1 Cor. 3:21). If we glory in men—even godly men like Peter and Paul and Apollos—we are robbing God of the glory that He alone deserves. It was this sinful attitude of pride that was helping to cause division in the church.^[3]

Question 6. Bragging or boasting implies a certain amount of pride. Discuss the difference between the sin of being prideful and the wonderful deep pleasure, soaring admiration, and complete satisfaction that we have in Jesus’ accomplishments. (The difference resides in whether the object of our “pride” is ourselves.) In contemplating what God has done for us, see Romans 5:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Inspiration

Here is an uplifting thought.

You want success? Here's your model. You want achievement? Here's your prototype. You want bright lights, pageants, and media attention? Consider the front-page, center article of the nation's largest daily newspaper.

It is a caricature of “Miss America.” The vital data of the fifty one participants has been compiled to present the perfect woman. She has brown hair. She has brown eyes. She knows how to sing and has a perfect figure: 35–24-35. She is Miss America.

The message trumpets off the page: “This is the standard for American women.” The implication is clear: Do what it takes to be like her. Firm your thighs. Deepen your cleavage. Pamper your hair. Improve your walk.

No reference is made to her convictions … to her honesty … to her faith … or to her God. But you are told her hip size.

In a small photo, four inches to the left, is another woman. Her face is thin. Her skin is wrinkled, almost leathery. No makeup … no blush … no lipstick. There is a faint smile on her lips and a glint in her eyes. She looks pale. Perhaps it's my imagination or perhaps it's time. The caption read, “Mother Teresa: In serious condition.”

Mother Teresa. You know her story. When she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, she gave the two hundred thousand dollars to the poor of Calcutta. When a businessman bought her a new car, she sold it and gave the money to the underprivileged. She owns nothing. She owes nothing.

Two women: Miss America and Mother Teresa. One walks the boardwalk; the other walks the alley. Two voices. One promises crowns, flowers, and crowds. The other promises service, surrender, and joy.

Now I have nothing against beauty pageants (although I have my reservations about them). But I do have something against the lying voices that noise our world.

You've heard them. They tell you to swap your integrity for a new sale. To barter your convictions for an easy deal. To exchange your devotion for a quick thrill.

They whisper. They woo. They taunt. They tantalize. They flirt. They flatter. “Go ahead, it's O.K.” “Just wait until tomorrow.” “Don't worry, no one will know.” “How could anything that feels so right be so wrong?” …

For amidst the fleeting promises of pleasure is the timeless promise of [God's] presence.

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

There is no chorus so loud that the voice of God cannot be heard … if we will but listen. — (From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)

Response

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

7.  In what ways does the media entice us to accept the world's values?

 

 

Question 7. Be sure to include music, printed materials, and billboard advertising when considering the media. What commercials use sex to sell something totally unrelated? How are conservatives depicted in the news? When do news stories or movies prompt us to sympathize with the less-than-honorable characters or choices?

 

8.  Have you sought God's guidance, rather than relying on your own intellect and ability? Explain the circumstances and the outcome.

 

 

Question 8. See Proverbs 3:5–7. For more discussion, how should we draw the balance between acting on the wisdom God gave us and trusting him to lead? Ask your group for any personal experiences.

 

 

9.  In what ways can we ignore the false messages around us and think more like God?

 

 

Prayer

Father, too often the lies of the world drown out your voice. Give us ears to hear you and hearts willing to obey. Help us to stand against the pressure to seek success and power. Give us the strength to choose the timeless truths of your Word over the fleeting promises of the world. And Father, confirm only those thoughts and plans that conform to your will.

 

Journaling

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

In light of this passage, how can I make better decisions?

 

 

 

 

Additional Questions

10.  Why is it important to recognize the limits of human wisdom?

 

 

11.  In what ways can you determine if an idea or plan is based on worldly thinking or biblical teaching?

 

 

 

12.  List some benefits of living according to God's wisdom instead of human wisdom.

 

 

For more Bible passages on the limits of human wisdom, see Proverbs 3:5, 7; Ecclesiastes 1:12–18; 2:16; Jeremiah 9:23–24; Ezekiel 28:2–7; Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 3:19, 20.  To complete the book of 1 Corinthians during this twelve-part study, read 1 Corinthians 1:1–31.

 

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 571–572). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. 

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^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1749). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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[3] IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener Copyright © 1993 by Craig S. Keener. Published by InterVarsity Press