Choosing the Wisdom of God

INTRODUCTION.

A.        When you have a Bible question, to where do you turn?

B.        When you have a question of morality, to where do you turn?

C.        When you have a puzzle concerning right and what is wrong, to where do you turn?

D.        If you turn to man, you will receive man’s answer, all dressed up in his own self glory. However, if you turn to God, you will receive an answer that is tried and true.

E.        With this lesson, we will show why we should choose the wisdom of God over the wisdom of man. Let us begin in I Corinthians 1.

I.         THE WISDOM OF MAN AFFECTS HIS JUDGMENT AND UNDERSTANDING.

            A.        Man’s wisdom affected the understanding of baptism and salvation. (I Corinthians 1:10-17)

                        1.         They had placed emphasis upon the person doing the baptism, and not upon the purpose of baptism. (I Peter 3:20-21; Romans 6:3-4; Acts 22:16)

                        2.         Even today, man’s wisdom is hindering others from understanding the relationship between baptism and salvation.

            B.        Man’s wisdom can hinder some from hearing the Gospel. (I Corinthians 1:17-31)

                        1.         Paul did not teach with the “wisdom of words.” Paul simply preached the Gospel as given to him by Christ. (vs 17)

                        2.         To the perishing (those who have already rejected the Gospel), the preaching of the cross is foolishness. However, to the one who listens, it is the power of God unto salvation. (vs 18-19; cf. Romans 1:16)

                        3.         What man called foolishness, God called wisdom. The message of the cross was wisdom which brought salvation to those who would believe. (vs 20-31)

II.       MAN MUST FOLLOW THE WISDOM OF GOD.

            A.        Paul’s goal was to teach the gospel of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:1-5)

                        1.         Paul did not use “excellence of speech or of wisdom” to declare the testimony of God. (vs 1)

                        2.         Paul simply preached Jesus Christ crucified. Paul used miracles to confirm what he was teaching. (vs 2-5)

            B.        Paul spoke the wisdom of God which had been revealed to him. (I Corinthians 2:6-16)

                        1.         The mystery of salvation had been hidden. (vs 6-9)

                        2.         God revealed this mystery to the apostles through the Holy Spirit. (vs 10-12; cf. John 14:26)

                        3.         The apostles conveyed this revealed mystery as the Holy Spirit revealed it to them. The apostles did not use the wisdom of man to make known the mystery. (vs 13-16)

            C.        No matter what men of the world may say, we must always follow and teach the wisdom of God. This wisdom is found only in God’s word. (Cf. I Corinthians 3:18-23)

CONCLUSION.

A.        It is a simple question: To whom will you turn with questions of right and wrong? With questions of morality? With questions of doctrine?

B.        If you turn to the wisdom of men, then you will surely be misled, being lead away from Heaven.

C.        If you turn to the wisdom of God, then eternal life in Heaven waits on the other side of judgment.

D.        Which wisdom will you choose?

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Choosing the Wisdom of God - October 13, 2002 - File #: 1439 - Wisdom

by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK