The naturally learned, or influential, or wealthy, seem to
have difficulty believing in Jesus. They have trouble believing that God today
actually works miracles.
When they see a miracle, they look for some natural reason
of how it happened. By human reasoning, they create explanations to reason and
explain away the miracles of God. They have more faith in the things of man
than they have faith in God. They will come up with some “reason” why it was
not God.
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many
wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:" -
1 Corinthians 1:26
It is by faith that we know that God overshadowed a young
virgin, creating for Himself a body to dwell in by the name of Jesus.
It is by faith that we know that Jesus died for our sins,
was buried, and rose again on the third day.
"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen
me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed." - John 20:29
It is by faith that we know that Jesus ascended into heaven
and will be calling us to meet Him in the air in the rapture, the catching away
of the Bride of Christ, to ever be with the Lord.
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." - 1
Thessalonians 4:14
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
It is by faith that we receive the promise of the gift of
the Holy Ghost.
"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles
through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith." - Galatians 3:14
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high." - Luke 24:49
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to
your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call." - Acts 2:38-39
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6
And so, by preaching we hear the gospel which is able to
save us, and through our faith we obey the gospel.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel
which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by
which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless
ye have believed in vain." - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I
also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
We do not believe in vain, for we obey the gospel when we
become dead to sin by repentance, are buried with Jesus by baptism, and are
resurrected to new life in the Spirit when we receive the Holy Ghost.
Most naturally learned, or influential, or wealthy people think
that preaching is foolish. To us that are saved it is the power of God.
"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of
the prudent." - 1 Corinthians 1:17-19
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the
disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 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." - 1 Corinthians
1:20-21
So by obedience to the gospel, our faith is not in vain. We
repent, are baptized in Jesus name, and receive the Holy Ghost, faithful to
assemble together to hear the preaching
of the word, faithful to living a holy and overcoming life, looking for the
soon return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
