Christ Jesus: Wisdom from God

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Christ Jesus: Wisdom from God

Date: Mar. 17, 2021

Passage

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (ESV)

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 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. 27 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; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:30

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

1. The power of God (18-25)

The message that Paul preached was the gospel. The gospel is a message that is foolishness to those who do not believe. But to those who do believe, the gospel is the power of God, 'the salvation of everyone who believes.' (Rom 1:16) The message of the cross has power. It has the power to save people from sin and death. People look for and rely on wisdom or miraculous signs. Neither of these can save us from our sins. None can give us new and eternal life. Only the gospel, the power of God, saves us and gives us life.

2. Jesus Christ: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption (26-31)

Paul reminded his readers what they were before they received the gospel. They were called from ordinary people. They were not geniuses. They were not famous. They were not powerful. But they were the one's God called. He chose the weak and uninfluential things of this world to send the gospel to. He did this so that people would have nothing to boast about. We can only boast in the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me in your wisdom. Help me to be humble, remembering what I was before you called me.

One Word: Only Christ Jesus is my righteousness

The Lamb Will Triumph

Revelation 17:1-18

Key Verse: 17:14

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Today's Question

What is creation?

See answer and references