Introduction:   Every state in the U.S.A. has a state flower and a state tree as symbols. Some also have a state fish, a state stone, even a state insect. Christianity has only one, the cross. The cross that was a symbol of suffering and shame has become a symbol of glory and grace. The message of the cross is the simple message that Jesus died that man might be saved. Yet, the simplicity of the message is…

I.          DENIED BY THE WISDOM OF MAN (VV.19-20)

The words, "for it is written" refers to Isaiah 29:14. In Isaiah 29, the Assyrians were threatening Judah. The counselors of the Jewish king advised an alliance with Egypt. Isaiah the prophet appealed to Judah to trust in God alone. Isaiah's counsel was mocked by the scribes of Jerusalem. Instead of trusting God they devised their own programs of personal and social redemption. In like manner the simple message of the cross has often been rejected by men. Instead, many have come up with their own way of salvation. Instead of simply accepting the message of the cross, they say that one must achieve a certain level of works and maintain that level to be saved. Some have advocated extensive rituals and rites as the way of salvation. In verse 20, Paul refers to certain groups that represented the wisdom of men.

A.        He Speaks Of The Intellectual (The Wise)

He refers to the Greek philosophers who attempted to influence the makeup of the then known world. (See Acts 7:16-21).

B.        He Speaks Of The Interpreter (The Scribe)

He refers to those who were originally the copiers of the important documents in Judaism. Because of their familiarity with the literature they persevered, they were also its principal interpreters.

C.        He Speaks Of The Insolent (The Disputer)

·         The word speaks of a debater.

Prowess in debate was greatly admired among both the Greeks and the Romans. A man who could think well on his feet and who could cleverly direct a discussion was considered a man of great wisdom. Each of these groups represented the wisdom of man. They were considered the wisest of wise and the leaders in thought and truth. Yet, verse 21 declares, "the world by wisdom knew not God." (Rom 1:22) "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"

·         Man’s wisdom

Can put a man on the moon, clone cows and sheep, design satellites that can watch our every move, but when it comes to God; understanding God, knowing God, man can be a fool. Some of the most brilliant thinkers and intellects of this world are absolutely in the dark when it comes to God. In our world of complexity, it is hard for some to see and accept the simplicity of the message of the cross. The Simplicity Of The Message is…

II.        DISPLAYED BY THE WISDOM OF GOD (VV.20-21)

As the wisdom of man is denounced, the wisdom of God is displayed.

A.        By The Ridiculousness Of Preaching

Not foolish preaching, but that which the wise consider foolish.

·         Man has his many programs

Reformation, education, and information, which are often marked by failure. In a document called, "The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators," former Secretary of Education, William Bennett said, "Since 1960, population has increased 41%; the Gross Domestic Product has nearly tripled: and total social spending by all levels of government…multiplied to…a five-fold increase. But during the same 40 year period there has been a 560% increase in violent crime; more than a 400% increase in illegitimate births; a quadrupling in divorce rates; a tripling of the percentage of children living in single-parent homes; more than 200% increase in the teenage suicide rate; and a drop of almost 80 points in the S.A.T. scores." He added, "Modern-day social pathologies, at least great parts of them, have gotten worse. They seem impervious to government spending on their alleviation, even very large amounts of spending."

·         Man's wisdom says,

"We have got to have more programs." "We have got to spend more money." "We have got to educate more." But look around; has man's wisdom affected (to the good) the way men live and behave?

·         The wisdom of man fails… (When it comes to making a new man).  

Where man's wisdom has its programs of reformation, education, and information, God has His method of transformation and salvation that can completely alter and change a persons’ life. What man's wisdom does not see is that it is not government, but God that makes a difference. Man's wisdom says we need to change the dwellings of the poor. But God changes the poor that live in those dwellings. Verse 18, identifies the unsaved as "them that perish." The word "perish" does not speak of annihilation. The word describes that which is ruined. So many of those that are unsaved are characterized by ruined lives.

B.        The Redemption Of The Soul

The message of the cross is that God can take ruined lives and make them whole again. God can take a bottle out of a man's hand and put a Bible in it. He can take a mouth of profanity and fill it with praises. He can take the nobody and make them somebody. He can take the vile and make them virtuous. He can take the unholy and make them holy.

Conclusion:     Here is the amazing thing about it all. God can do all this with the simple message of the cross. Where man in all his wisdom fails, God takes a church service much like this one, in which a choir sings a few songs about a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and a country preacher telling the story of the cross. All that man could not do with all his wisdom, God does with the simple message of the cross. It is in this way that God hath made foolish the wisdom of this world. What man could not do in all his wisdom God can do through the foolishness of preaching a simple message.