1 Cor 1:18-27 is another example of God
turning the tables; of God turning the world and its wisdom on its ear. The
Cross stands as God's coup de grace to the world's wisdom. Paul is challenging
the "great" of the world: The Wise man, the Scribe, the Great Debater of the
time to come forward to test their wisdom against God. He then goes on to show
these wisdoms are opposites. They are diametrically opposed. I used the example
in my sermon on Sunday of Paul's example in Galatians about Justification where
he stated you can choose to be justified by Grace or by works of the Law, but
not both, and only one is God's way (Grace, of course). He draws a similar
conclusion here with the Cross. In IT is the Power to SAVE one from
eternal condemnation and transfer one into the Kingdom of God. Those however
who are enamored with their own worldly wisdom look at the Cross as "folly" --
absolute and complete foolishness.
Paul
proves his point by showing who accepts the message. Is it the wise, the
powerful, those of noble birth? Generally, no. Not because they are not allowed
by God -- the Cross is for all. But because the wisdom of the world
that is in them, prevents them.
The point is: God wins. It is his world and he has made the
Cross the vehicle of salvation -- at great cost I might add. Man's
wisdom and strength, on the other hand, don't even register when one compares
them to God's wisdom, strength, and power. q
Ken Davidson