<p><b>Summary</b>:</p><p>Paul contrasts human wisdom with God’s wisdom revealed in the cross of Christ. The message of the cross appears as foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved it is God’s power. God has made the wisdom of the world ineffective for salvation and instead chose to save believers through what seems like “foolish” preaching. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but Christians proclaim Christ crucified - a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, yet to those who are called, Christ is God’s power and wisdom. God’s “foolishness” is wiser than human wisdom, and His “weakness” is stronger than human strength.</p><p> </p><p><b>Teaching</b>:</p><p>“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not <i>come to</i> know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”</p><p> </p><p>God does not choose the ways people consider wise but chooses what seems foolish to accomplish salvation. The cross is such a way - God became the Son, was killed by humans, and was buried in a tomb, and through this we received salvation. This is God’s justice.</p><p> </p><p>Do not be swayed by the knowledge of this world, which sees the cross as foolishness. True wisdom is not something visible or tangible but can only be received by faith. Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom, those who receive the Spirit are given God’s heavenly wisdom and come to know Him.</p><p> </p><p>Our Lord Jesus showed the sign and the very essence of truth through the “foolish” way of the cross, and so Paul preaches the message of Christ crucified.</p><p> </p><p><i>Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Sep 15, 2025</i></p><p><i>1 Corinthian 1:18-25</i></p>
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