#89 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – June 1 & 8, 2003 p.m.

WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS AND THE WORLD SYSTEM

1 John 2:15

The title of this message is "Wisdom and Foolishness and the World System." The focus of the first part of the message is 1 Corinthians chapter one. The first three chapters of 1 Corinthians deal with the world system and its connection with the present evil age. Those who are in the world system and its educational and religious aspects have their own peculiar wisdom and opinion concerning what is foolishness. Its wisdom assumes its own validity and makes a great effort to proliferate and expand its contents. The wisdom of the world system considers the wisdom of God foolishness. The Greek word for "foolishness" is the source of our word "moron." The important things that God has provided for believers are moronic from the perspective of the world system and its adherents. The primary confrontation of the wisdom of God with the world system involves the cross work of Christ.

God shows a contrast between His wisdom and the wisdom of the world system in His assault on the wisdom of the world system with the preaching of the cross work of Christ. 1 Cor. 1:18 teaches that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to the ones who are perishing. The very idea that Christ could die as a Substitute for all mankind is insane to the unbeliever. The "cross" is not the wooden timbers on which Jesus was nailed. It is the work that was done there that is important. They cannot comprehend that the work done on Calvary was a transaction between God the Father and God the Son. It makes no sense to them. Whereas believers see the cross work is a basis for salvation and a part of the power of God for salvation (cf. Rom. 1:16). God destroys the wisdom of the wise ones and sets aside the understanding of the prudent of the world system (vs. 19). The sources of the quotation are noted in the outline. Paul then addresses three questions concerning individuals who are made fools by God with His wisdom. These are the wise ones, the scribe and the arguing one of the present evil age (Gal. 1:4). The world system and its constituents cannot know God by its wisdom (1:21). God chose to use preaching (what the world system considered foolishness) to save the ones who believe. The thing heralded with authority is considered to be moronic by the system, its education and its religions.

Components of the world system include Jews and Gentiles. Each seeks its own standards for accepting something as wise. The Jews seek sign miracles (pl.) and the Gentiles seek wisdom. When we preach Christ crucified, we scandalize the Jews and are seen as foolish by the Gentiles (1:22-24). Yet to the called ones Christ is seen and believed as the power and wisdom of God. God then goes on to compare His program with that of the system. His foolishness (if there could be such) is far wiser than the wisdom of men. His weak things are far stronger than the strongest things of men.

Verses 26-28 describe those who are called to salvation out of the world system. Not many wise ones by world system standards and by inherent intellect from birth are called to salvation. Not many with inherent power are called to salvation. Not many well born (of good birth) are called to salvation. Rather God has chosen for Himself the foolish things by the world system's standards with the purpose of shaming the wise ones. He also has chosen the weak things of the world so that might shame the strong things of the world system. He chose the base things (lit. non-pedigreed, no generation cf. good birth of 26 for contrast) and the things that are in the state of being despised. He chose the things that are nonexistent by the wisdom of the world to render ineffective the things that are existing by the world's standards. The purpose and the consequence is that no flesh might boast before God the Father (vs. 29).

One of the things that the world system in its education and religion considers foolishness is "in Christ" truth. Three elements of position "in Christ" are noted in 1:30: righteousness, sanctification and redemption. This is the wisdom of God that men consider foolishness. A colon can be place after the word wisdom. As a result, any boasting can only be in the Lord. It is little wonder that so little is said in church about "in Christ" truth. It is foolishness to many because of their involvement in the world system. A tare will never see the value of this important truth.

It seems that I am on overload in sermon preparation in the last few months. I have too much information for one message. This message covered only the first point of the message. Tomorrow I will preach point two. I had hoped to finish the 1 Cor. 1-3 material and get back to Colossians two before vacation. I will send a synopsis but no outline next week. The attached outline will apply to that message material as well as this message. I will be leaving for Nevada on Friday.

Content and free from Condemnation,

-DKS-

WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS AND THE WORLD SYSTEM

1 John 2:15

Proposition: To evaluate the world system and its wisdom and its view of the wisdom of God. God's view of the wisdom of the world system is that it is complete foolishness in its education and religion of a believer.

Introduction

A. The Link Between the World System and the Present Evil Age

B. The Limits Placed on Wisdom by the System of Education in the World System

1. Determination of Its Validity

2. Direction of Its Contents

C. The Learning of the World System Considers the Wisdom of God as Foolishness

D. The Liability of Those in the System for Their Wisdom

TRANS: God directly approaches the wisdom of the world system with the cross work of Christ. The world system sees the very work of Christ as foolishness by all of its standards of education and religion.

I. THE DIVINE ASSAULT ON THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD SYSTEM WITH THE CROSS WORK OF CHRIST – THE CONTROVERSY CONCERNING REAL WISDOM AND REAL FOOLISHNESS – THE WORLD SYSTEM AND THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS AS THE WISDOM OF GOD – 1 Corinthians 1:18-30

A. The Presentation of the Word Concerning the Cross Transaction – 1:18

1. Folly to the Perishing One

2. Power of God to the Saved (cf. Rom. 1:16)

B. The Prediction of God's Destroying and Setting Aside – 1:19

1. Destroy the Wisdom of the Wise Ones

2. Set Aside the Understanding of the Prudent

3. The Quotation: Isa. 29:14; Psa. 33:10 (cf. Job. 5:12, 14; Jer. 8:9; Matt. 11:25)

C. The Questions Concerning the Wise of the System – 1:20

1. Where Are the Wise Ones? . . . Scribes? . . . Disputer of this Age?

2. What? God Made Foolish the Wisdom of the World

D. The Provision of Salvation by the Foolishness of Preaching – 1:21

1. The World by Its Wisdom Did Not Know God

2. God Was Pleased by the Foolishness of Preaching to Save

E. The Expectation for Validity by Peoples – 1:22-24

1. Jews Ask for a Sign

2. Greeks Seek Wisdom

3. We Preach Christ Crucified

4. To the Jews a Scandal

5. To the Gentiles Foolishness

6. To the Elect Ones = Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God

F. The Comparison of God with Men – 1:25

1. Foolishness of God Is Wiser Than Men

2. The Weak Thing of God Is Stronger Than Men

G. The Selection by God Guaranteeing That No Flesh Can Boast – 1:26-29

1. The Call to Salvation – Vss. 26, 27

a. Not Many Wise Men According to the Flesh

b. Not Many Powerful Ones

c. Not Many Good or High Born Ones

2. The Contrasting Choice by God – Vs. 28

a. He Chose the Foolish Things of the World to Shame Wise Men of the World

b. He Chose the Weak Things of the World Shame the Strong Things

c. He Chose the Base Things of the World to Abolish the Things Existing

3. The Consequence – Vs. 29

a. No Flesh Might Boast

b. Before God

H. The Participation in Divine Wisdom in Christ Jesus – "became" – 1:30

1. Righteousness

2. Sanctification

3. Redemption

TRANS: The wisdom of God is described in several ways in chapter two without an comparison to the world system. 2:13 bridges well into the teaching of chapter three of 1 Corinthians.

II. THE DECEPTIVE APPROACH OF THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD SYSTEM ESTABLISHES A FALSE STANDARD – THE CONFUSION OF THE BELIEVER WHO ACCEPTS THE WISDOM OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE WORLD SYSTEM AND ITS WISDOM ARE FOOLISHNESS TO GOD – 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

A. The Potential for Self Deception – 3:18a

B. The Proposal of One Who Thinks Himself Wise in This Age – 3:18b, 19a

1. Let Him Become a Fool in the Age

2. In Order That He May Become Wise in the Age

3. Explanation: The Wisdom of the World Is Foolishness Before God – 3:19a

C. The Proof from the Scripture – 3:19b, 20

1. Job 5:13

2. Psalm 94:11

D. The Problem of Boasting for Believers – 3:21b-23

1. All Things Are Yours – 3:21b

2. Things Make No Difference – 3:22 [8 sorts of things]

3. All Things Are of You

4. You Are of Christ and Christ of God

TRANS: The wisdom of the world system stands in a position opposite of the wisdom from God. It openly attempts to define the cross work of Christ as foolishness. In addition it completely denies the sense of in Christ truth as revealed in the Scriptures and considers it foolishness.

Core Terms for Wisdom and Foolishness and the World System in 1 Corinthians 1-3

WISDOM	1 Cor. 1-3	FOOLISH-NESS	1 Cor. 1-3	WORLD - kosmoj
sofo,j (sophos) – adjective noun	1:19, 20, 25, 26, 27; 3:10, 18 (2x), 19, 20 {Total = 10 times}	mwro,j (moria) – masculine adjective	1:25, 27; 3:18 {Total = 3 times}	1:20, 21, 27 (2x), 28; 2:12; 3:19, 22 {Total = 8 times}
sofi,a (sophia) – feminine noun	1:17, 19, 20, 21 (2x), 24, 30; 2:1, 4, 5, 6 (2x), 7, 13; 3:19 {Total = 15 times}	mwri,a (moria) – feminine noun	1:18, 21, 23; 2:14; 3:19 {Total = 5 times}	AGE – aivw,n 1:20; 2:6 (2x), 7, 8; 3:18 {Total = 6x}
sfw,teroj (sophoteros)– comparative	1:25 {Total = 1 time}	mwrai,nw (moriano) – verb	1:20 {Total = 1 time}

© by David K. Spurbeck

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119