God’s Wisdom Prevents the Knowledge of God by Wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 2

>> This is part two >> This is part two on 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25. on 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25. on 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25. And we'll take the argument And we'll take the argument And we'll take the argument down to verse 22. So, we'll go this far down to verse 22. So, we'll go this far down to verse 22. So, we'll go this far down. down. down. For the word of the cross is folly to For the word of the cross is folly to For the word of the cross is folly to those who are being destroyed, but to those who are being destroyed, but to those who are being destroyed, but to those who are being saved, it is the those who are being saved, it is the those who are being saved, it is the power of God. power of God. power of God. For it is written, For it is written, For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I and the discernment of the discerning I and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." I said last time that this will thwart." I said last time that this will thwart." I said last time that this is a quote from Psalm 33:10. Actually, is a quote from Psalm 33:10. Actually, is a quote from Psalm 33:10. Actually, while there's an allusion to Psalm while there's an allusion to Psalm while there's an allusion to Psalm 33:10, it's not very close. The really 33:10, it's not very close. The really 33:10, it's not very close. The really close parallel or the close quotation close parallel or the close quotation close parallel or the close quotation would be Isaiah would be Isaiah would be Isaiah 29 29 29 14. 29:14. 14. 29:14. 14. 29:14. Sorry about Sorry about Sorry about not getting that exactly right last not getting that exactly right last not getting that exactly right last time. time. time. "Where is the one who is wise?

"Where is the one who is wise? "Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the scribe? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of Has not God made foolish the wisdom of Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? the world? the world? For For For since since since in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through the world did not know God through the world did not know God through wisdom, wisdom, wisdom, this wisdom of the world, this wisdom of the world, this wisdom of the world, it pleased God, God was happy it pleased God, God was happy it pleased God, God was happy that through the foolishness, the folly that through the foolishness, the folly that through the foolishness, the folly of our preaching and what we preach, to of our preaching and what we preach, to of our preaching and what we preach, to save save save those who believe. those who believe. those who believe. Father, as we trace the argument this Father, as we trace the argument this Father, as we trace the argument this much farther, much farther, much farther, grant us to be in sync with your mind grant us to be in sync with your mind grant us to be in sync with your mind and Paul's mind so that we can and Paul's mind so that we can and Paul's mind so that we can understand where we are, where where understand where we are, where where understand where we are, where where where where we in this where where we in this where where we in this argument and help us to understand this argument and help us to understand this argument and help us to understand this bottom line reality of your wisdom. I bottom line reality of your wisdom. I bottom line reality of your wisdom. I pray this in Jesus' name.

pray this in Jesus' name. pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. So, we got right here last time. So, we got right here last time. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, which is why we translate those who are which is why we translate those who are which is why we translate those who are being destroyed here regard the cross as being destroyed here regard the cross as being destroyed here regard the cross as folly. folly. folly. So, he concludes with rhetorical So, he concludes with rhetorical So, he concludes with rhetorical questions and you remember I have said questions and you remember I have said questions and you remember I have said before before before that wherever you have a rhetorical that wherever you have a rhetorical that wherever you have a rhetorical question, where where where has not question, where where where has not question, where where where has not these four rhetorical questions these four rhetorical questions these four rhetorical questions the answer is expected to be known the answer is expected to be known the answer is expected to be known provided and provided in such a way that provided and provided in such a way that provided and provided in such a way that you can turn the answer in the question you can turn the answer in the question you can turn the answer in the question then into a statement. then into a statement. then into a statement. Where is the one who is wise? What's the Where is the one who is wise? What's the Where is the one who is wise? What's the answer to that? Where is the scribe? answer to that? Where is the scribe? answer to that? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? So, what is Paul thinking when he says So, what is Paul thinking when he says So, what is Paul thinking when he says where where where?

where where where? where where where? Here's one answer. Here's one answer. Here's one answer. They are not They are not They are not among those who are being saved. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? Where is the debater of this age? They're not Has not God made foolish the wisdom of Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? Turn that into a statement. the world? Turn that into a statement. the world? Turn that into a statement. God has most certainly made foolish all God has most certainly made foolish all God has most certainly made foolish all this wisdom. And therefore, they are not among the And therefore, they are not among the saved. saved. saved. The wise here probably refers to the the The wise here probably refers to the the The wise here probably refers to the the one who depends on philosophical one who depends on philosophical one who depends on philosophical impressiveness. impressiveness. impressiveness. This probably refers to the Jewish This probably refers to the Jewish This probably refers to the Jewish scribes who are the scholars of the Old scribes who are the scholars of the Old scribes who are the scholars of the Old Testament scriptures.

Testament scriptures. Testament scriptures. And And And goodness, that goodness, that goodness, that is used what 60 times in the Gospels, is used what 60 times in the Gospels, is used what 60 times in the Gospels, mostly alongside Pharisees, and they're mostly alongside Pharisees, and they're mostly alongside Pharisees, and they're mostly in mostly in mostly in opposition to Jesus because they're so opposition to Jesus because they're so opposition to Jesus because they're so arrogantly confident they have got the arrogantly confident they have got the arrogantly confident they have got the Old Testament right when Jesus says, Old Testament right when Jesus says, Old Testament right when Jesus says, "Hey, you don't even know how to read "Hey, you don't even know how to read "Hey, you don't even know how to read the Old Testament." the Old Testament." the Old Testament." And the debater is the oratorical person And the debater is the oratorical person And the debater is the oratorical person who uh would surely like Apollos because who uh would surely like Apollos because who uh would surely like Apollos because he's so good with with words. he's so good with with words. he's so good with with words. And he says, And he says, And he says, "God has most certainly made foolish the "God has most certainly made foolish the "God has most certainly made foolish the wisdom wisdom wisdom of the world." of the world." of the world." The wisdom of the world boasting in The wisdom of the world boasting in The wisdom of the world boasting in wisdom and scholarship and oratory wisdom and scholarship and oratory wisdom and scholarship and oratory and putting to naught the word of the and putting to naught the word of the and putting to naught the word of the cross, regarding it as foolishness cross, regarding it as foolishness cross, regarding it as foolishness rather than as power because only the rather than as power because only the rather than as power because only the saved regard it as power. And therefore, saved regard it as power. And therefore, saved regard it as power. And therefore, where are they?

where are they? where are they? They're not among the saved or try this. They're not among the saved or try this. They're not among the saved or try this. Drop down to verse 26 Drop down to verse 26 Drop down to verse 26 and ask the question, "Where are they?" Consider your calling, brothers. Not Consider your calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise many of you were wise many of you were wise according to worldly standards. Not many according to worldly standards. Not many according to worldly standards. Not many of you were powerful. of you were powerful. of you were powerful. Not many of you were of noble birth. Not many of you were of noble birth. Not many of you were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the But God chose what is foolish in the But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. world to shame the wise. world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to God chose what is weak in the world to God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low shame the strong. God chose what is low shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things and despised in the world, even things and despised in the world, even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are not to bring to nothing things that are not to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might that are, so that no human being might that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. That's boast in the presence of God. That's boast in the presence of God. That's where where where they they they are not. are not. are not. Right? Right? Right? They're not in the presence of God. They're not in the presence of God. They're not in the presence of God. Or Or Or verse 30, verse 30, verse 30, and because of him and because of him and because of him you are in Christ Jesus. That's where you are in Christ Jesus. That's where you are in Christ Jesus. That's where they're not.

they're not. they're not. So my answer is So my answer is So my answer is where where where where where where otherwise, where is the debater? otherwise, where is the debater? otherwise, where is the debater? Where is the Where is the Where is the scribe? scribe? scribe? Answer. Not in the presence of God. Not in the presence of God. Not in Christ. Not in Christ. Not in Christ. Not among the saved. And that's because God has destroyed the And that's because God has destroyed the wisdom of the wise or as he puts it wisdom of the wise or as he puts it wisdom of the wise or as he puts it here, here, here, God God God has most certainly made foolish the has most certainly made foolish the has most certainly made foolish the wisdom wisdom wisdom of of of the world. Now, Now, another argument. another argument. another argument. Because Because Because so they are he he has destroyed so they are he he has destroyed so they are he he has destroyed or made foolish the wisdom of the world or made foolish the wisdom of the world or made foolish the wisdom of the world for for for since And that since is going to go right And that since is going to go right here, here, here, but there's an intervening but there's an intervening but there's an intervening clause since it pleased God, but since clause since it pleased God, but since clause since it pleased God, but since in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God that is the most basic thing that's been that is the most basic thing that's been that is the most basic thing that's been said so far in this said so far in this said so far in this in this book in this text.

Because of the wisdom of God, because Because of the wisdom of God, because the wisdom of God decreed it to be so. the wisdom of God decreed it to be so. the wisdom of God decreed it to be so. In the wisdom of God, the world In the wisdom of God, the world In the wisdom of God, the world did not know God did not know God did not know God through wisdom. through wisdom. through wisdom. Not know God is the same as not being saved. not being saved. Not being saved. Not being saved. Not being saved. God in his wisdom God in his wisdom God in his wisdom saw the fall of man into sin. saw the fall of man into sin. saw the fall of man into sin. And when he formulated his own plan of And when he formulated his own plan of And when he formulated his own plan of redemption, redemption, redemption, he decreed in infinite wisdom he decreed in infinite wisdom he decreed in infinite wisdom man will not know me through natural man will not know me through natural man will not know me through natural theology. theology. theology. Through [snorts] nature, through Through [snorts] nature, through Through [snorts] nature, through conscience. conscience. conscience. We know God We know God We know God according to Romans 1, but we don't know according to Romans 1, but we don't know according to Romans 1, but we don't know him savingly. him savingly. him savingly. This is a saving knowledge. You never This is a saving knowledge. You never This is a saving knowledge. You never come to saving knowledge come to saving knowledge come to saving knowledge through the wisdom through the wisdom through the wisdom of the world. That is the wisdom you can of the world. That is the wisdom you can of the world. That is the wisdom you can have have have by virtue of your first birth. Just by virtue of your first birth. Just by virtue of your first birth. Just analyze the world analyze the world analyze the world and you can come to a conclusion about and you can come to a conclusion about and you can come to a conclusion about the word of the cross. No, you can't.

Since that's the case, Since that's the case, since since since in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God in the wisdom of God we can't know God through worldly we can't know God through worldly we can't know God through worldly wisdom, wisdom, wisdom, it pleased God, he was happy it pleased God, he was happy it pleased God, he was happy that through the foolishness, the folly that through the foolishness, the folly that through the foolishness, the folly of heralding of heralding of heralding Christ crucified, Christ crucified, Christ crucified, heralding the word of the cross, heralding the word of the cross, heralding the word of the cross, to save those who believe. And if you to save those who believe. And if you to save those who believe. And if you wondered, when I put the stress on when I put the stress on being destroyed, those who are being being destroyed, those who are being being destroyed, those who are being destroyed, and those who are being destroyed, and those who are being destroyed, and those who are being saved, that both those two statements saved, that both those two statements saved, that both those two statements refer to the action of God, not to what refer to the action of God, not to what refer to the action of God, not to what we do. we do. we do. But this refers to what we do. But this refers to what we do. But this refers to what we do. And therefore, And therefore, And therefore, oops, I didn't mean to do that. oops, I didn't mean to do that. oops, I didn't mean to do that. Therefore, Therefore, Therefore, if we're being saved, we're believing. if we're being saved, we're believing. if we're being saved, we're believing. If we're If we're If we're being destroyed, we're not believing.

being destroyed, we're not believing. being destroyed, we're not believing. It pleased God It pleased God It pleased God through the foolishness through the foolishness through the foolishness of of of the preaching of the cross, the word of the preaching of the cross, the word of the preaching of the cross, the word of the cross, the cross, the cross, to save to save to save That's why this refers to saving. That's why this refers to saving. That's why this refers to saving. You don't get saved by the wisdom of the You don't get saved by the wisdom of the You don't get saved by the wisdom of the world, you get saved by believing world, you get saved by believing world, you get saved by believing the word of the cross. So, the bottom line so far in the So, the bottom line so far in the argument is argument is argument is in the infinite eternal wisdom of God, in the infinite eternal wisdom of God, in the infinite eternal wisdom of God, he planned it that way. he planned it that way. he planned it that way. Sinful man would not be able to grope Sinful man would not be able to grope Sinful man would not be able to grope his way to God and be saved through his his way to God and be saved through his his way to God and be saved through his own own own powers of thinking, analyzing, powers of thinking, analyzing, powers of thinking, analyzing, observing. observing. observing. He needs the revelation and the He needs the revelation and the He needs the revelation and the heralding, the proclamation heralding, the proclamation heralding, the proclamation of the word of the cross so that faith of the word of the cross so that faith of the word of the cross so that faith would be awakened as he hears of Christ would be awakened as he hears of Christ would be awakened as he hears of Christ crucified for sinners and be saved.

crucified for sinners and be saved. crucified for sinners and be saved. Now, let's just step back and notice Now, let's just step back and notice Now, let's just step back and notice this. this. this. This begins with four. This begins with four. This begins with four. I think here there's an implicit four. I think here there's an implicit four. I think here there's an implicit four. Where is the one Where is the one Where is the one who is wise? who is wise? who is wise? They're not saved for God has made They're not saved for God has made They're not saved for God has made foolish the wisdom of the world. foolish the wisdom of the world. foolish the wisdom of the world. Here's a four. Here's a four. Here's a four. Here's a four. This is a train of Here's a four. This is a train of Here's a four. This is a train of argument that goes back argument that goes back argument that goes back here. here. here. Christ did not send me to preach the Christ did not send me to preach the Christ did not send me to preach the gospel with words of eloquent wisdom. gospel with words of eloquent wisdom. gospel with words of eloquent wisdom. Now, it goes further back, but we'll Now, it goes further back, but we'll Now, it goes further back, but we'll stop right here. stop right here. stop right here. Don't decorate the gospel Don't decorate the gospel Don't decorate the gospel with pretended with pretended with pretended oratory or philosophy in order to make oratory or philosophy in order to make oratory or philosophy in order to make it more attractive to those who are it more attractive to those who are it more attractive to those who are being destroyed. That's what this is being destroyed. That's what this is being destroyed. That's what this is arguing for. Keep the word of the cross arguing for. Keep the word of the cross arguing for. Keep the word of the cross pure. Keep the preaching of the gospel pure. Keep the preaching of the gospel pure. Keep the preaching of the gospel and the word of the cross central, and the word of the cross central, and the word of the cross central, strong, pure, unadulterated, strong, pure, unadulterated, strong, pure, unadulterated, shameful, simple, weak, foolish in the shameful, simple, weak, foolish in the shameful, simple, weak, foolish in the eyes of the world, and let God do his calling work, which we'll look at next calling work, which we'll look at next time.