Divine Wisdom: Embracing Foolishness for True Understanding

 

Summary

In Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, we are reminded of the stark contrast between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God. The Apostle Paul challenges us to reconsider our understanding of wisdom, urging us to become what the world might consider "fools" in order to truly grasp divine wisdom. This is because the wisdom of this world, which often prides itself on intellectual achievements and human reasoning, is ultimately foolishness in the eyes of God. The modern man, much like those in Paul's time, often believes that his problems are unique and that the gospel is outdated. However, history shows us that humanity continues to repeat the same mistakes, demonstrating that the core issues of the human heart remain unchanged.

The gospel of Jesus Christ stands in complete contrast to human wisdom. It is not merely a set of teachings among many but is unique and divine in origin. Unlike human knowledge, which evolves and changes, the gospel is eternal and unchanging. It is a revelation from God, not a product of human intellect or discovery. This divine wisdom is beyond human understanding because it is rooted in the supernatural and miraculous acts of God, such as the resurrection of Christ. Human wisdom, which often starts and ends with man, fails to address the deeper issues of sin and the need for reconciliation with God.

The gospel reveals that man's fundamental problem is not intellectual but spiritual. It is not merely about improving oneself through education or moral striving but about recognizing our complete helplessness and need for a new nature. Salvation is not something we can achieve through our efforts; it is a gift from God, made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To truly embrace this gospel, we must humble ourselves, acknowledging our limitations and the futility of our wisdom, and accept the divine wisdom offered through faith in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The wisdom of this world is often seen as foolishness by God. True wisdom requires us to become "fools" in the eyes of the world, embracing the divine wisdom that comes from God alone. This wisdom is not about intellectual achievement but about understanding the deeper truths of life and salvation. [02:22]

- Human wisdom is ever-changing and often fails to address the core issues of the human heart. In contrast, the gospel is eternal and unchanging, offering a consistent message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. This divine wisdom is a revelation from God, not a product of human intellect. [21:43]

- The gospel challenges the notion that man's problems are merely intellectual. It reveals that our true need is spiritual, requiring reconciliation with God and a new nature. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own but is a gift from God through faith in Christ. [51:32]

- Salvation is not dependent on human understanding or effort. It is a miraculous work of God, available to all who believe, regardless of their intellectual capacity. This levels the playing field, offering hope to everyone, from the most learned to the most humble. [35:04]

- Embracing the gospel requires humility and a willingness to let go of our pride in human wisdom. By becoming "fools" in the eyes of the world, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's wisdom, which surpasses all human understanding. [56:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 3
- [00:52] - The Foundation of Jesus Christ
- [02:04] - The Folly of Worldly Wisdom
- [03:12] - Repeating Historical Mistakes
- [05:14] - The Rejection of the Gospel
- [07:06] - Human Wisdom vs. Divine Wisdom
- [09:26] - The Uniqueness of the Gospel
- [12:15] - The Gospel's Complete Contrast
- [14:05] - The Changeless Nature of the Gospel
- [17:42] - Revelation vs. Human Discovery
- [20:16] - The Eternal Gospel
- [23:14] - The Glory Belongs to God
- [26:08] - Beyond Human Understanding
- [36:06] - The Foolishness of Human Wisdom
- [46:26] - Starting with God
- [51:00] - Man's True Need
- [53:59] - The Way of Salvation
- [56:52] - Becoming a Fool to Be Wise

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- 1 Corinthians 3:18-20

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "Let no man deceive himself" in 1 Corinthians 3:18? How does this relate to the wisdom of the world? [00:11]
2. According to the sermon, how does Paul describe the wisdom of this world in contrast to God's wisdom? [02:22]
3. What examples from history does the sermon provide to illustrate humanity's repeated mistakes? [03:12]
4. How does the sermon describe the reaction of the Greeks to the gospel in Paul's time? [07:26]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul urge believers to become "fools" in the eyes of the world to gain true wisdom? How does this concept challenge modern views of wisdom? [02:22]
2. How does the sermon explain the unchanging nature of the gospel compared to human wisdom? What implications does this have for believers today? [21:43]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that human wisdom fails to address the core issues of the human heart? [51:32]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of humility in embracing the gospel? Why is this significant for spiritual transformation? [56:52]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own wisdom rather than seeking God's guidance. How did that situation turn out, and what did you learn from it? [02:22]
2. The sermon suggests that the gospel is often rejected because it is seen as outdated. How can you effectively communicate the timeless relevance of the gospel to someone who holds this view? [04:56]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be holding onto pride in your own understanding. What steps can you take to humble yourself and seek God's wisdom instead? [56:52]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for the supernatural aspects of the gospel, such as the resurrection of Christ, in your daily faith practice? [28:31]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel helpless and in need of God's intervention. How can you actively seek His guidance and strength in this area? [51:32]
6. The sermon emphasizes the need for a new nature through faith in Christ. What practical steps can you take to nurture this new nature in your daily life? [53:59]
7. How can you support others in your community who may struggle with embracing the gospel due to intellectual pride or skepticism? What role can you play in encouraging them to become "fools" for Christ? [56:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Divine Foolishness
The wisdom of this world is often seen as foolishness by God. True wisdom requires us to become "fools" in the eyes of the world, embracing the divine wisdom that comes from God alone. This wisdom is not about intellectual achievement but about understanding the deeper truths of life and salvation. The Apostle Paul challenges us to reconsider our understanding of wisdom, urging us to become what the world might consider "fools" in order to truly grasp divine wisdom. This is because the wisdom of this world, which often prides itself on intellectual achievements and human reasoning, is ultimately foolishness in the eyes of God. [02:22]

1 Corinthians 1:25-27 (ESV): "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For 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."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on worldly wisdom instead of seeking God's wisdom? How can you begin to embrace what might seem foolish to the world but is wise in God's eyes today?


Day 2: The Eternal Gospel
Human wisdom is ever-changing and often fails to address the core issues of the human heart. In contrast, the gospel is eternal and unchanging, offering a consistent message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ. This divine wisdom is a revelation from God, not a product of human intellect. Unlike human knowledge, which evolves and changes, the gospel is eternal and unchanging. It is a revelation from God, not a product of human intellect or discovery. This divine wisdom is beyond human understanding because it is rooted in the supernatural and miraculous acts of God, such as the resurrection of Christ. [21:43]

Hebrews 13:8-9 (ESV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them."

Reflection: How can you anchor your life in the unchanging truth of the gospel amidst the ever-changing ideas and philosophies of the world?


Day 3: Spiritual Transformation Over Intellectual Improvement
The gospel challenges the notion that man's problems are merely intellectual. It reveals that our true need is spiritual, requiring reconciliation with God and a new nature. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own but is a gift from God through faith in Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ stands in complete contrast to human wisdom. It is not merely a set of teachings among many but is unique and divine in origin. Human wisdom, which often starts and ends with man, fails to address the deeper issues of sin and the need for reconciliation with God. [51:32]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to focus on your spiritual growth and transformation rather than merely seeking intellectual or moral improvement?


Day 4: Salvation as a Divine Gift
Salvation is not dependent on human understanding or effort. It is a miraculous work of God, available to all who believe, regardless of their intellectual capacity. This levels the playing field, offering hope to everyone, from the most learned to the most humble. Salvation is not something we can achieve through our efforts; it is a gift from God, made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. [35:04]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself today that your salvation is a gift from God and not something you have earned? How does this truth impact your view of yourself and others?


Day 5: Humility in the Pursuit of God's Wisdom
Embracing the gospel requires humility and a willingness to let go of our pride in human wisdom. By becoming "fools" in the eyes of the world, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's wisdom, which surpasses all human understanding. The gospel reveals that man's fundamental problem is not intellectual but spiritual. It is not merely about improving oneself through education or moral striving but about recognizing our complete helplessness and need for a new nature. [56:52]

James 3:13-17 (ESV): "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility today to better receive and apply God's wisdom in your life? How can you let go of pride in your own understanding?

Quotes



Let no man deceive himself if any man among you seeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool that he may be wise for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written he taketh the wise in their own craftiness and again the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are Vain. [00:00:24]

There is nothing it sometimes seems to me about the Modern Men which is quite so foolish as the way in which he seems to think that the conditions in which he finds himself are entirely different from the condition positions and the position confronting all mankind hether this is very characteristic of the modern men that he believes his problems are new problems. [00:02:43]

The gospel of Jesus Christ was rejected in the first century at the very beginning our Lord himself was not only rejected he was vilified he was crucified and these Apostles as they went around preaching they were given the same treatment they met better opposition the Apostle Paul himself himself had to meet it constantly he was referred to in the great intellectual city of Athens the mecca of the philosophers as this babler. [00:05:37]

The gospel does not merely differ slightly in certain details it's allog together different and the altogether aspect is much more important than the details you see this is where so many have gone wrong books used to be written about this a great deal during the the the end of the last century uh people used to point out how much of the teaching of The Sermon on the Mount could be found in Sena and so on and in various other Greek philosophers. [00:12:41]

The gospel therefore is not one of a series of teachings we can't say this too often because the opposite is being said too often Plato Socrates Aristotle Jes and so on now the gospel is not one of a series it is unique it is enti on its own this is the whole point that is made by the Apostle he contrasts the wisdom of God and the wisdom of this world and he says that they're entirely different. [00:14:09]

All other teachings confronting the human race tonight at their best and at their highest are all of men it's not part of the preaching of the Gospel in a sense to disparage the efforts of men only when they claim to be adequate and claim to be gospel but the point about them all is even at their best and their highest that they're entirely and altogether of man take the most exalted teachings it is some men or a group of men that have produced them and prop Ed them and propagated them always of men but here we have something entirely different. [00:14:57]

This is entirely and absolutely and allog together different how well in this way that this is entirely a matter of Revelation now this is basic as you can see and quite fundamental that is why I say it is allog together different from everything that is known to men this is god making things known not men arriving at the knowledge but God making the knowledge plain and clear and manifest. [00:17:30]

Take human knowledge in any realm philosophy science any other study you like its great characteristic is that it changes that it grows that it develops with the passage of time needn't waste your time with this I've often pointed it out to you take a textbook on medicine they're always having to bring out new additions and there are great changes a textbook of 40 years ago the kind of textbook I had to read right out of date it's no use reading that now. [00:20:22]

The great characteristic of this is that it's changeless that it is eternal it is called the Everlasting gospel Jew talks about the faith once and forever delivered to the Saints now this you see is an absolute point all other knowledge in all other Realms I say go in for the latest get the latest textbook generally the latest is the best but when you come here there is no change there is no development there is no difference it is the changeless Everlasting gospel we are face to face with truth unchanged unchanging. [00:21:41]

The great characteristic of course of human wisdom and of human learning is that it gives glory to men so Paul ends off by saying here therefore let no man glory in men you see what they were doing at Corinth behaving like children he says one says I'm of Paul says no says the other Apollos is better no no no wait a minute says the cus is the men you know and here they were dividing up Christ and the church into factions into rival groups in terms of men. [00:23:19]

The gospel is consequently something that is beyond men's understanding now I'm dealing here with the very essence of the modern position man doesn't realize that it's different then you see here is the second point and this is a very vital one but I lay it down as a proposition because the gospel is what it is it follows of necessity that it is something Beyond men's understanding and time. [00:26:08]

If you are to have a gospel that can save anybody it must not be dependent upon men's ability but upon the power of God and that is the truth about this gospel because nobody can understand it the most ignorant and illiterate amongst us and the one most lacking in brain power and intellectuality stands as good a chance as anybody else and that is where the clever Gentlemen of the television don't begin to understand. [00:35:04]

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Transcript
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