Worldly Wisdom

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.