1 Corinthians 1:18-24

The preaching of the Son of God 1 Corinthians 1:18-24: The message of the cross and redemption by blood seems foolish to many that are lost. Satan lost the battle and sin was defeated by the death of Christ. Jesus Christ paid the only price that could be paid to bring unto sinful man redemption and that price was His own blood. It may sound foolish to men but God said, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." This is a quote from Isaiah 29:14.

God has shown us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness. How can you tell the wise from the foolish? True wisdom comes from God and His truth. God was wise and decided not to allow the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about Him through the gospel. Sadly the preaching of the cross is counted by many to be foolishness because of human wisdom."Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise." Jesus gave the sign seekers only one sign. Jesus said,..."there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:39-40) The sign was that Jesus was in the tomb for three days and at the end of those three days He arose. This is the gospel. Paul said, "We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness." (1 Corinthians 1:23) We preach Christ because He is both "the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

The wisdom of the Son of God 1 Corinthians 1:25-31: When you discuss the most foolish thing that God could ever think or do it is greater than man's best. The, "weakness of God is stronger than men." God in His wisdom set forth the plan of salvation through the blood of Jesus. This simple plan of blood redemption seems foolish to the world, but it in fact provides man's only hope. Common people with honest hearts gladly received the gospel. The mighty of the world often reject it. Jesus can use ordinary men and women that are committed to Him to accomplish great things.

God has chosen the things that seem to be foolish to the world to confound those that think they are wise. It is hard for the worldly to accept salvation by a cross. It is difficult for the world to believe that such spiritual changes could be brought on by an amazingly simple message. God can take what the world considers worthless, useless and nothing at all and use it in a powerful way. He can use the small, insignificant and the weak. This keeps people from bragging to God about what they have done. Through Christ's righteousness we are redeemed to be part of the body of Christ. So therefore, "if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord."