Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Comparing man's wisdom with God's wisdom
• Man's wisdom can bring catastrophic problems
• Examples
• Modern man likes to think it can solve economic and moral problems
• History does not prove this
• The solution to man's moral problem does not lie with the world
• No human being can solve the problem of the soul
• The answer is only found in Jesus Christ
• A comparison between the wisdom of man and Jesus Christ
• Paul is writing to the Corinthians as they had a tendency to elevate human wisdom
• Paul brings them back to the gospel - which is the only message that saves sinners
• It is the only message that can change the destiny of humans
• The message of the gospel can transform society by transforming individuals

Context:

• Disunity within the church
• Groups has polarised around certain men
• Paul did not come in himself
• Paul had an extremely capable mind - 2:1
• Paul's focus was the simple gospel message - 2:2
• Paul came in weakness and trembling - 2:3
• Paul's preaching was in the Spirit's power - 2:4
• That the people would see there faith was in God
• 13:1-2 – The main thing in Christianity is a spirit of love
• "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal."
• "

  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

• 8:1-2 – it is love that builds up, not knowledge
• "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."
• "And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know."

Application:

• Is there a danger of elevating man rather than God in our theological courses?
• Is there a danger of moving away from the teaching of the bible?
• God destroys such teaching
• v20 - such teaching empties churches and makes them weak
• Churches must stand together in the gospel - not just be ecumenical
• Is there a danger of becoming seeker friendly?
• Example
• Is there a danger of thinking we can bring the power of God about ourselves?
• Example
• All these - say that the gospel is not enough
• v18-25
• The foolishness of man's attempt to transform society by its own methods (v18)
• Why do we try to change those who are perishing?
• 1 Cor 2:14 - "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
• The natural man cannot understand the things of God (without the Spirit)
• It is the Spirit of God who will convince through the preaching of the gospel
• They will always be dissatisfied
• Do not follow the foolishness of the world (v19-20)
• To those who are being saved - it is the power of God
• v19 (from Isa 29:14)
• God will destroy the wisdom of the wise
• God sees and knows
• v20 - examples
• The gospel is the power of God
• The message preached (v21)
• It is through the preached gospel that people are saved
• Comparisons (v22-24)
• Jews want a sign/miracles / Greeks want wisdom
• The Jews found the gospel a stumbling block / The Greeks called it foolish
• We get the same comparisons today
• To the called - it is power and wisdom of God
• Let him who glories - glory in the Lord
• The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men
• The gospel is the wisdom of God
• We must not move away from the gospel
• We must preach the gospel