Lesson 450

(Lesson 450)(11-08-12) 1 Corinthians 1:19-31, "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 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. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

This lesson tells us how God, seeing through their hypocrisy and insincerity, passed over the pious religious leadership and granted His redemption through some of the lowliest of the day's people. "God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are

mighty;" Through this effort, he exposed the pious for the fools and liars they truly are while uplifting the humble.

John the Baptist came, with no religious leadership recommendation at all, not from the inner most circles of the religious hierarchy, but out of the desert, with nothing but loincloth on his back and the divine message of the coming of the Messiah, our Lord, Jesus Christ, on his mind.
Jesus was born, not of a woman chosen from among the elite descendants of Levi, but of a lowly virgin girl. Jesus was raised as the adopted son of a carpenter.

What should we take from this lesson? I say don't go chasing after those who occupy the softest seats or those who proclaim sole ownership of redemption because they draw the largest crowds and inhabit the most beautiful and expensive buildings. These have proven themselves before God to be fools. NEVER accept an opinion of God's holy word that you have not personally verified by the written text of the gospel of Christ.

"For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified," Humbly search instead for the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God in all things, 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

If we simply obey this last verse of scripture, we will never be deceived by false prophets.~