Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Introduction
- Today’s vocabulary word is “counterintuitive”
- This word was first used in 1955 and is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
“contrary to what one would intuitively expect”
- Intuitively, we expect certain things to happen: we have a “hunch” or just instinctively sense something.
- Intuitively, we would expect God to use people who are upbeat and confident, BUT
- Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
- Intuitively, we would expect God to use people who have power and authority, BUT
- Jesus said: “”Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
- Intuitively, with all the wars we have, that God would use warriors to do His work, BUT
- Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
- Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
- “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- These are God’s logic – not human logic.
- In this first part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian, he is just getting warmed up;
- He begins with greetings; says how thankful he is and then lays into them about quarreling about who to follow;
- and then we get to today’s verses about the importance and significance of their ministry.
- Here are three ways that God is counterintuitive:
- The power of the cross
- A stumbling block to nonbelievers
- Uses the foolish to shame the wise
1. The power of the cross
- Paul said: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,”
- Think about the cross for a minute: just imagine the God of the universe dying on a cross.
- I know, the whole thing sounds ridiculous to me too. Gods don’t die on crosses.
- And that is exactly what Satan thought too as he helped march Jesus right to the cross.
- Human wisdom would say that the idea of God’s Son dying on the cross is foolishness.
- The average Joe just isn’t going to get it.
- “BUT, to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Paul tells us.
- God’s wisdom is confounding to the world for a reason.
- If human wisdom prevails, then humanity can boast in its own power
- By confounding the wisdom of the world, God is ensuring that His wisdom will prevail
- God does thing in ways that we find counterintuitive because only He can make it work
- When God had Jesus go to the cross, He used His own system of atonement.
- In God’s system, an animal had to be sacrificed for the forgiveness of human sin.
- Hebrews 9:22: “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
- By using His own system and SUBSTITUTING His Son as a HUMAN sacrifice, God has cancelled out ALL the sins of mankind starting with Adam and Eve in the garden.
- It doesn’t make sense to us, but to God, it is the PERFECT solution to RESTORE His creation.
- This comes at a price because, as Jesus gave His life for us, we must give Him our lives
- If we accept Christ into our lives, then the power of God’s redeeming love can save us.
- It is in this simple process of turning to Christ that we tap into God’s mighty power.
- As Christians today and as a church, we must turn away from judgment and condemnation as many have done.
- We must preach the message of the cross and Christ crucified to give hope to the lost.
- We must harness our tongues and our attitudes towards others.
- It is for the enemy to tear down and destroy others; to say mean and hateful things.
- It is for us to build up and comfort and heal and give others hope for eternal life in Christ.
2. A stumbling block to nonbelievers
- Paul said: “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”
- Even though the Jews were God’s chosen people, many of them rejected Jesus.
- God gives us a choice: we can accept the reality of Jesus or we can reject Him.
- It is a clear and simple choice: black and white; no shades of gray.
- You either believe in Jesus and this all makes sense; or you reject Him and it is foolish.
- The Greeks believed in logic and knowledge to understand the meaning of life.
- It is understandable that they will be harder to convince.
- In this context, I believe you could substitute the word Gentile for Greek, i.e., non-Jews.
- But the Jews had the background knowledge that should have made this understandable.
- They had the prophets who predicted all that unfolded in the life of Jesus Christ.
- This should have better prepared them to accept the truth of Jesus Christ.
- We need to realize that the message of Christ crucified is going to be a stumbling block for some.
- For the gentile, science and reasoning and worldly knowledge are their stumbling blocks.
- For the Jew, failure to connect Jesus with their religious knowledge are their stumbling blocks.
- How often does religious knowledge get in the way of people accepting Christ today?
- Jesus brought His message to the Jews first because they SHOULD have made the connection.
- What happened? The Jewish leaders perceived Jesus as a threat and denied Him.
- Many people followed the leaders and denied Him.
- In their ignorance and foolishness, they killed Him.
- And it was in His death and resurrection, they fulfilled Him for those who believe.
- “To those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,” Paul said are given “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
- Don’t get hung up by this term “called” as though God PICKS who will believe in Him.
- Instead, think of it as the called being those who feel the call of God on their heart.
- God calls everyone just as a shepherd calls his sheep wanting none to be harmed.
- But some will hear His call and ignore it because of human knowledge or religion.
- Religion has good intentions, but religion gives the enemy structure to work with.
- We must work as Christians and as a church to break down these stumbling blocks for others.
3. Using the foolish to shame the wise
- Why do you think God uses the foolish to shame the wise? So that no one can boast.
- Paul says: “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.”
- That’s a great question. Where were you when you were called? When you first accepted Christ in your heart?
- Were you doing it because you were prepared? Or knowledgeable? Or wise?
- No, most likely, it was something you felt in your heart – not so much in your head.
- Paul said the same thing: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
- But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
- God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
- Paul goes on: “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.”
- God turns human logic upside down and inside-out. WHY?
- So that no one may boast before him.
- It is because of Him that you are in Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God
- Jesus is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
- God does all of this, on purpose, to confound human logic and knowledge.
- Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.
- What we see in the salvation of Jesus Christ is a God-thing; no human can claim this
- Just like what we see happening here at Biltmore: it’s a God thing.
- We are doing what we are doing here for one reason: God wants us to be here.
- God called us and we responded obediently and so began a cycle of obedience/blessing.
- If we stop being obedient and turn away from Him, He will take His marbles and go somewhere else.
- Don’t think He won’t!! He has done it here before – more than once.
- Paul quoted Jeremiah 9:24: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- Let us always remember this is a God thing and never stop preaching Christ crucified – even though it is COUNTERINTUITIVE.