1 Corinthians 1:21–31

The Worlds Way Is Not Gods Way

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

Gods Way is Higher Than Mans Way

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 

God’s Way Humbles Man

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

Glory In The Lord

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

In the book of Acts Paul demonstrated a practical understanding to how “the world by wisdom knew not God”.

Turn to Acts 17.

In Acts 17, the apostle journeyed to Athens Greece, where he has seen the city “wholly given to idolatry” in verse 16. 

Many people believe that those who do not believe in the God of the Bible, don’t believe in anything, but nothing can be further from the truth. 

Even those who deny the existence of God exercise faith in something that is not God.

GK Chesterton stated rightly, “When men stop believing in God they dont believe in nothing; they believe in anything”.[1]

This is as true today as it was when Paul visited Athens Greece.

Paul first disputed with the Jews and then in the market daily with any who met with him. He did not limit his conversations to the unlearned but challenged the learned men to understand what they’d learnt. 

There is no hint in the passage that Paul tried to placate the people, nothing here indicating that Paul was trying to look at things from their perspective as we are often told by the learned men of today’s Schools, on the contrary, he spoke directly of the resurrection of Christ (v18) and they thought of it as a “new doctrine” (v19) and they loved hearing “new things” we are told in v21.

Being brought to a speaking platform on Mars Hill, Paul points out the hypocrisy of their own wisdom, and that they might see THE WORLDS WAY IS NOT GODS WAY!

Acts 17:22-32

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Paul then goes on to explain the gospel of Christ, he goes on to TEACH THEM GODS WAY!

What is fascinating to learn from this portion alone is that even the wisest of the wise men of Greece, the fountain head of Philosophy, SO SMART, SO SURE of themselves as they give themselves to logic, are so EVIDENTLY IGNORANT as to erect an alter “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”….. just in case they had missed one in their daily ministrations.

This is so with the wisdom of this world. The highest of THE WORLDS WAY, will not find God.  

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God…

Turn to Romans 1;

Romans 1:18–19

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:21–22

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:28

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

THE WORLD has no ability to come to the knowledge of God IF it rejects everything that can be known about him, both from that which is “manifest in them”, and by that which “the invisible things” declare, “being understood by the things that are made“.

God is not there to bend the knee to reveal himself to man in accordance with THE WORLDS WAY, because man is to be held ACCOUNTABLE TO KNOW GOD his way!

Though the heavens declare the glory of God (Ps 19:1), though the ‘invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Rom 1:20), the world will not accept God but by the gospel. HIS WAY.

John 3:19

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

THE WORLDS WAY IS NOT GODS WAY.

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

A STUMBLING BLOCK

The same GK Chesterton, in his 1901 Book titled, The Defendant, wrote;

The Gospel speaks directly to the heart beloved. There are elements of the Gospel that is specifically designed to avoid any intellectual appraisal, not because it is not intellectual, but because man is to HUMBLY believe God that it “may be accounted to him for righteousness” (Gal 3:6). 

The intellectual understanding, respecting salvation, comes AFTER we “believe“, and it all makes sense. The phrase “I was blind and now I can see” (Jn 9:25), comes AFTER Christ opens the eyes!

A young Moslem man I had spoken to in my last journey in a tow truck, my Trusty Landrover   being piggybacked to her physicians house, we spoke of God and heaven. In this he mentioned of how Christians have it “too easy“.

“Its too easy, it must be more difficult to go to heaven than just “believe“”.

In that statement, Mohamad just confirmed the “Stumbling block” of the Jews, and perhaps of many others also. 

“There must be something we need to DO to go to heaven” is the common cry.

In speaking of the failure of the Jews, Paul wrote;

Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Ro 9:32–33.

How fascinating it is, that God, in making the attaining of eternal life so practically easy, has made it so difficult. 

Why has God done it this way?

1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

God tests the heart of man. Tremendous humility is required to simply realise that we CANNOT BE GOOD ENOUGH. 

This is GODS WAY, NOT THE WORLDS WAY.

THE WORLDS WAY IS NOT GODS WAY

Peter reveals the difference in his first epistle;

1 Pe 2:7–8.

Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

THE WORLDS WISDOM IS NOT GODS WAY.

1 Corinthians 1:25-28

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 

Isaiah 55:6–9

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

The general state of man is to think he himself KNOWS the purpose of things, the reasons for things and the direction of things. 

We think we are capable of knowing the truth of a matter….or at least we THOUGHT we were.

       Moses thought so too.

Turn to Numbers 20

Moses believed an error concerning the reason for God giving him a very specific instruction during the time the people of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. We don’t know specifically what that error was, we only know they did not believe him enough to “sanctify” him to the people.

The people were again thirsty and gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, telling them that the reason that they must’ve brought them out of Egypt was if they would die in the wilderness.

Moses and Aaron left the people, presented themselves before God, and God gives them the instruction;

Numbers 20:7–8

7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Moses however seemed to believe that God was angry with the people. 

This is now the second time they had berated him for leading them into the wilderness to die first and so Moses responds differently to the instruction that God had given him.

Numbers 20:9–11

9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

You see Moses followed Gods instruction his way and not God’s way.

Beloved, you nor I have any right to reinterpret what God says according to what we WANT it to say. This is very dangerous.

    I had a lady who I corrected on a social media platform this week. After giving her the evidence and made such a clear logical argument, she came back to me with;

“I believe the Holy Spirit mapped those cross references in my heart when I read Isaiah 26. I didn’t need the help. It’s clear to me and I can’t unsee it or deny it. Take care.

In short she interpreted Isaiah 26:20-21 where God hides his people while he punishes “the inhabitents of the earth for their iniquity” as referring to the Passover….

I simply responded that God holds us accountable to KNOW what he wrote and we cannot make things up simply because if FEELS right, and then turn around and blame God (the Holy Spirit) for our own misinterpretations.

 Rather than speaking to the rock as he was instructed, Moses decided to RE-Interpret, or at the very least, not take seriously what God instructed, and in the very next verse God holds him accountable;  

Numbers 20:12

12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Man! has a tendency to believe that his way is the right way, we all do to one degree or another. Moses believed that he was doing the right thing, but God had another purpose when he gave the command for Moses to speak to the rock. for the rock itself was a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ who brings fourth water into life. PAUL stated that it was a spiritual drink that I drank;

He wrote;

1 Corinthians 10:4

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Just as a Passover in the Exodus was a symbol of the upcoming Messiah so two is the rock in the wilderness as symbol of Christ. Christ was once smitten for the sins of the world. Moses had struck The Rock once the first time, but now he’s simply to petition the rock to bring forth water and life, just as we are to petition Christ.

God’s ways are higher than our ways Conor when it comes to matters of eternal life we ought not to presume we know the way other than that by which God has revealed.

1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

To the world, God dying for the sins of mankind seems foolish, “but unto us who are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18). 

We NOW see the power of God, we NOW see that his way is higher and WE GLORY IN THE LORD.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

While it seems foolish on the surface, it is the ONLY way to save mankind. 

Why?

Why Gods Way?

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

Because man naturally thinks of himself higher than he ought to think.

Because man naturally thinks that, if heaven exists at all, he naturally should not be exempt from attaining it, he testifies that he is somehow worthy, and thereby God OWES the glory of heaven TO MAN.

While our passage tells us “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (V31). Man saving himself could “glory in his presence“.

So true this is for those who think they can save themselves, and I place those who believe the gift of God can be lost, those who think they can loose that for which they did nothing to attain. THESE THINK MORE HIGHLY OF THEMSELVES THAN THEY OUGHT TO THINK.

And I must wonder if they are saved at all, for no flesh should glory in his presence.

Turn to Romans 4 as we give a short consideration of this transfer of glory in the mind of man, from God to himself.

It is still astounding to me that there are those who still believe that somehow salvation can be gained or lost through merit. 

As if the constitution of God is a meritocracy. Scriptures says;

Isaiah 64:6

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Those who believe the ‘PROMISE IS NOT SURE‘, and who refuse to “glory in the Lord“, but glory in themselves, simply cannot see the accounting of righteousness.

Romans 4:1–8

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Do you yet see the wisdom of God in this matter? 

Tell me beloved, how you can have ANY confidence you are SAVED from hell if it is based on MERIT? 

What happens to you tomorrow when you forget the Lord?

If the greatest commandment is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, what happens tomorrow when the mortgage is due and you cant pay it? 

What happens when you are choked with the cares of this life? (Lk 8:14) Can you say that your mind and heart and soul is filled ONLY with your love for God?

What happens the moment you TROUBLE comes your way?

Are you still happy to DISPLAY that FISH symbol when someone cuts you off in traffic?

What kind of security is it if being saved from HELL is NOT ultimately a gift, but given by merrit? 

If Jesus only cracked the seal to heaven rather than open the door, and entering in is by merit, suddenly, inventing a PURGATORY is not so bad an idea is it?

But that is not the answer God gives in this Romans passage;

Romans 4:13–16

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law [merit], but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

You can have NO assurance whatsoever that you have eternal life IF you trust in your own wisdom or merit to save you.

Why? Next verse

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

It is the WISDOM OF GOD that makes all this work together.

Our salvation is SURE because we had nothing to do with attaining it, OTHER than believing the Gospel. 

Salvation is a GIFT and God is not an Indian giver.

When Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED” in Jn 19:30, it was not for the debt to continue to be paid by believers AFTER he paid for it all….he meant “it is finished“.

The debt is “Paid in Full“, it is the same word stamped on the released prisoners card when his penal sentence is remitted. “It is finished“, done, completed, there is no risk of DOUBLE JEOPARDY, you cannot ever be tried again for your sin!

Beloved, if the wisdom and grace of God does not humble you, nothing will!

WHY?

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

God’s way, humbles mans Way and brings GLORY to where it belongs, We Glory In The Lord.

1 Cor 1:30-31 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Beloved, the first chapter of 1 Corinthians highlights to us the vain focus of the people in the Church; their focus on men. 

Divisions in these Churches due to the distinct doctrines of men.

Spiritual gifts, touched on in verse 7, will feature in chapters 12-14, testifying that it was the vanity of man that was in focus for this Church. 

Paul here writes from the beginning that we ought to ‘GLORY IN THE LORD” not man.

My friends and brethren, and also to the visitors and those watching on line, this life is NOT ABOUT YOU, its about Jesus Christ.

Our natural VANITY has the focus on ourselves, but it is God who saves us for HIS PURPOSE!

Turn to Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:4–10

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

O IF WE ONLY understood the glory of God, how wonderful his is, how glorious he truly is and perfect are all his ways and all his thoughts and all his motives.

Romans 11:33

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Psalm 97:2–6

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

Psalm 107:8–9

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Beloved, Gods love for you is testified through Jesus Christ and we are to glorify him. But this LIFE IS NOT for YOUR Glory.

 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.1 Corinthians 6:19–20

If this is true, and it is, what is absolutely certain is that you will ONLY EVER BE TRULY HAPPY when you live your life for the purpose God had created you for.

God has so wonderfully built in you a JOY that can ONLY be triggered when you live life for him. Does this surprise you?

Why is it that you “feel” so good when you don’t sin against him for a day, a week, a month? 

Why are you so happy when you think of the Lord and the glory of his grace?

Did you know that there is a book written for every time you think of the Lord? Its in one of the famous 3:16’s

Turn to 

Malachi 3:16

16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Did you know that the tears you cry in the Lord?

The sorrows that people put you through, the injustices that are served against you in the Lord, no matter how much good you do for others in the Lord, every tear you cry is bottled and recorded?

Psalm 56:8–11

8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? 9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. 10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

In CLOSING

Our passage began referring to the foolishness of God being wiser than men etc. We naturally think happiness comes from doing what we want, but both the evidence in our own lives and the evidence we see all around us (if we look) testifies this to be false. 

Happiness comes from doing that for which we are created to do, GLORY in THE LORD.

1 Cor 1:30-31

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Is he not worthy?

[1] 1   Widely attributed, although not traced in his works; first recorded as ‘The first effect of not believing in God is to believe in anything’ in Emile Cammaerts Chesterton: The Laughing Prophet (1937)

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