"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."
Because, as Paul said, the gospel to some might appear to be "foolishness", I want to go over this quote again because it contains information that will maybe help clarify what was said in the previous two lessons.
I believe as Paul did that to the egotistical mind of mankind the simplicity of God's plan of salvation appears to be "foolishness".
It might appear foolish to believe that all one need do to attain eternal life is to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God, and that He was sent to be the perfect sacrifice for ALL sin, that He was killed, buried and then rose again alive to ascend back to God the Father with all power to save humanity, thereby fulfilling ALL the requirements of the Law.
As was proven by God's chosen Israel, mankind could never live a wholly righteous life. Therefore God Himself, in human form, came to earth as Jesus Christ to live a perfect, sin free life and then sacrifice Himself so that all who would place their faith in Him could take on His righteousness and thereby be reborn in the spirit so as to attain eternal life. Paul made that point very clear in Romans 4:4-5, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Although God's plan might appear "foolishness" to the lost, "unto us which are saved it is the power of God." even unto eternal life.~
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