13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid (Isaiah 29:13-14).
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:17-20).
This prophecy from Isaiah points to a profound truth. The truth is that what is actually considered wise is always from the perspective of God, not from the perspective of Man. Man is not the creator of wisdom and therefore the frame of reference for what is wise ought to be the God that created it all. We understand that it is through the sovereign action of God, through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are saved.
So, the wisdom of God benefits the World. But the wisdom of the World only benefits that which is in the control of the World. We are finite and in fact control very little, therefore any wisdom we have has a very limited scope of effect. It is the wisdom of God that we should rely upon, and what may appear foolish to the World is in fact the very wisdom that saves it. The wisdom of God is God’s gift to those that are wise in His eyes. Since the power of the World is so very limited, it is of no matter or consequence that the World may consider God’s wisdom in Christ, foolishness. As Isaiah states and the apostle Paul confirms, rely on the wisdom of the all-powerful Creator of Heaven and Earth; it is this wisdom that matters.
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:17-20).
This prophecy from Isaiah points to a profound truth. The truth is that what is actually considered wise is always from the perspective of God, not from the perspective of Man. Man is not the creator of wisdom and therefore the frame of reference for what is wise ought to be the God that created it all. We understand that it is through the sovereign action of God, through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are saved.
So, the wisdom of God benefits the World. But the wisdom of the World only benefits that which is in the control of the World. We are finite and in fact control very little, therefore any wisdom we have has a very limited scope of effect. It is the wisdom of God that we should rely upon, and what may appear foolish to the World is in fact the very wisdom that saves it. The wisdom of God is God’s gift to those that are wise in His eyes. Since the power of the World is so very limited, it is of no matter or consequence that the World may consider God’s wisdom in Christ, foolishness. As Isaiah states and the apostle Paul confirms, rely on the wisdom of the all-powerful Creator of Heaven and Earth; it is this wisdom that matters.
RSS Feed
