And which is evident in HIS own; distinguishing them from those of the world. The world will surely reject a great many of HIS people, based on worldly measures, and assessments, just as it did CHRIST JESUS our LORD, and SAVIOUR. It is not our loss, it is their loss, now, and eternally that they hold to lies over what HE HAS PROVEN; they find HIS dying on THE CROSS absurd, and going against their ideals of HIM, based upon their misinterpretation of HIS WORD...
Such created rifts in the early CHURCH, and have continued to do so. THE CHURCH which THE LORD *GOD* IS building is NOT dividable; it should not be in this time either, but alas, it is, though every worker of THE LORD ought to be narrowing the divides, as knowledge is imparted in a more direct, and unified way! THE CHURCH IS THE COMM'UNITY' belonging TO THE LORD, and thus, there ARE structured lessons TO that end, from the very coming together as a CHURCH, all the way through to existing IN HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD...
TRUE WISDOM is derived from THE LORD *GOD*, and IS shared with us via HIS WORD, and HOLY SPIRIT, which dwells in each of us; teaching us, guiding us, strengthening us, and oh so much more, IF we are open to receiving, and RELYING ON HIM to interpret all necessary to knowledge, growth, and development! We have a great NEED of DIVINE instruction in order to digest THE WORD and take it to the very spirit! Since way back when, too much human interpretation has interfered with the plainness of HIS intended meanings; like sometimes we make way more of it than is necessary, thereby distorting, and disturbing valuable instruction! Let us always look to THE LORD for TRUE knowledge, in doing so we can't be led off course...
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.”
Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. This is the sum and substance of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys. And by his death we live.
The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favourite pursuits. But those who receive the gospel, and are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all his other works.
God left a great part of the world to follow the dictates of man's boasted reason, and the event has shown that human wisdom is folly, and is unable to find or retain the knowledge of God as the Creator. It pleased him, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. By the foolishness of preaching; not by what could justly be called foolish preaching. But the thing preached was foolishness to wordly-wise men. The gospel ever was, and ever will be, foolishness to all in the road to destruction.
God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth, and power, and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. He best judges what men and what measures serve the purposes of his glory. Though not many noble are usually called by Divine grace, there have been some such in every age, who have not been ashamed of the gospel of Christ; and persons of every rank stand in need of pardoning grace.
Often, a humble Christian, though poor as to this world, has more true knowledge of the gospel, than those who have made the letter of Scripture the study of their lives, but who have studied it rather as the witness of men, than as the word of God. And even young children have gained such knowledge of Divine truth as to silence infidels. The reason is, they are taught of God; the design is, that no flesh should glory in his presence. That distinction, in which alone they might glory, was not of themselves. It was by the sovereign choice and regenerating grace of God, that they were in Jesus Christ by faith.
He is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; all we need, or can desire. And he is made wisdom to us, that by his word and Spirit, and from his fullness and treasures of wisdom and knowledge, we may receive all that will make us wise unto salvation, and fit for every service to which we are called. We are guilty, liable to just punishment; and he is made righteousness, our great atonement and sacrifice. We are depraved and corrupt, and he is made sanctification, that he may in the end be made complete redemption; may free the soul from the being of sin, and loose the body from the bonds of the grave. And this is, that all flesh, according to the prophecy by Jeremiah, Jer 9:23-24, may glory in the special favour, all-sufficient grace, and precious salvation of Jehovah.
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