Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We’ve all hear the story about poor old Humpty Dumpty. We’ve all faced situations where the thing that is broken is beyond repair. I hate that hopeless feeling when the only thing to do is to throw something out.
- Of course all of our catastrophes are puny in comparison to the catastrophic results of Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. They were expelled from the Garden of Eden, forbidden access to the tree of life. Death and decay, thorns and thistles, pain and relational struggles, all of this came about with the first sin. And then murder in the first family, Cain’s killing of his brother Abel.
- The Scripture records enough of the history for us to recognize that the evils in the world today are no different than past sins and atrocities. So, how does all of this get “fixed up” and repaired?
- Interestingly, human beings think it their duty and responsibility to make it better. We think, “We’re the ones misbehaving; we should clean up our own act, and then make sure other humans do the same.” And although such efforts have proven to be largely futile, many people still believe that we are capable to re-creating a Garden on earth like Eden.
- Such is not God’s plan – and the woes of mankind, the evils within human hearts and the wretched behaviors, can only be “cured” and remedied by the power of God. Unfortunately, God’s plan – one that offers wondrous and marvelous restoration to human hearts and souls – is not well received by humanity. This is the gist of our text.
- God provided forgiveness, salvation, and restoration to humanity in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. It was through the cross, Christ’s suffering and death that this was accomplished. And the lifeline thrown to mankind is the Gospel, this Word of the cross. But sadly, the infection of sin makes us resistant to God’s gift of salvation. In fact, God’s salvation seems like foolishness and folly to sinful, unbelieving, and worldly mankind. Nonetheless, as our text asserts:
I. God Destroys The Wisdom Of This World [Which Is Based In Evil] By The Word Of The Cross
Text: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
A. Worldly Wisdom Cannot Know God
Text: “Since in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”
1. Signs, wonders, and empirical evidence cannot bring greater knowledge of God
Text: “The Jews demand signs.”
2. Intellect and learning cannot grasp God or truth
Text: “The Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.”
B. But The Preaching Of The Cross – The Gospel – Is The Power And Wisdom Of God, Bringing Us To Faith And Salvation
Text: “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. . . . it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”
C. And This Foolishness And Weakness Of God Will Ultimately Prevail Over All Evil
Text: “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Statement: Now it is true that the kind of power and strength ascribed to the cross and to the Gospel are not all that astonishing to human beings. We prefer dynamite, or nuclear explosions, or horse-power in an engine. Perhaps we’re even impressed by body builders and “muscle-men” and great athletes. But these “powers” are of limited duration, and they accomplish nothing in renewing human hearts to goodness and decency! In fact, they are usually expressions of man’s sin – his pride, his greed, his cruelty.
Application: But the preaching of the cross? It has turned evil men into servants of goodness and kindness. It has built churches and hospitals. It has fed and clothed innumerable needy human beings. It has a power like nothing else on earth! It can overcome man’s selfishness and self-interest! And its power doesn’t diminish or wear out; it only grows stronger – moment by moment, day by day, and year by year. It is the power of God unto salvation, and it is bringing thousands of people to faith each day!
Transition: It seems so small and insignificant to the world – to those who do not believe in God, the true God, but believe in human strength. And so they remain unaware that:
II. God’s Salvation Turns The Tables On Evil And Worldly Thinking
A. What Is Lowly In Human, Worldly Estimation, Is Precious To God
Text: “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
B. But God Has Elevated His Dear Children Of Faith – To His Glory; He Is Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, And Redemption
Text: “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
Statement: The Word of the cross, the Gospel of God, His gracious forgiveness and mercy in Christ Jesus, changes everything for those who believe. Jesus is now our wisdom. Jesus is now our righteousness. Everything that we need to please God and to have salvation are ours in Jesus alone. We only boast in Him. Likewise, He is our sanctification and redemption. He changes our hearts and minds to love as He has loved us. He guarantees our peace with God, and our eternal future in His heavenly kingdom!
Application: So everything that makes sense to worldly people – human effort, human goodness, human ingenuity, human success; all of this is worthless. It cannot make us better inwardly. It cannot give us new birth. It cannot bring us closer to God. All human effort and accomplishment will ultimately fail and be destroyed; only God’s work will remain, His work of love in Christ Jesus, His cross, for humanity’s redemption and renewal.
Conclusion: This is how God is “REVERSING EVIL” in the world. I’m certain He could have done it in a myriad of different ways, but I’m also certain that this is the best way possible for us!
Frankly, given the insidious and devious aspects of human nature, it is astonishing that God has worked so much good in the world, through His people, by the power of Christ! But it is clear that He has, and continues to do so, and you are the evidence of that!
So let us rest ourselves and take comfort in Christ, and let us allow His love to move us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. The cross may be folly to the unbelieving, but it truly is the power of God! His church is the evidence! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.