"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."
In today's quote Paul explained how it is the nature of mankind to try and put his/her own selfish reasoning above the wisdom God. Through the much demonstrated selfishness of mankind, and his/her desire to make salvation all about him/herself, he/she has only laid obstacles in the path to to that salvation. One such obstacle is the demand made by most of today's isms, that perfection must be attained in ones daily life before that one can be saved. That contention is nonsense, just as Paul made clear in the quote from 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." That quote means that if you must work for your souls salvation it cannot be considered a gift, rather it would be considered something you had earned and there would have been no need for the righteousness of Christ. If, on the other hand, salvation is truly by grace, a gift, then one need do nothing more than believe that God is willing and able to give eternal life and simply ask for it, taking on him/herself the righteousness of Jesus Christ through faith in Him. Throughout the Old Testament God gave the Hebrew people the chance to live above sin, He even gave them a means by which they could atone for their weaknesses. The Hebrews, however, failed miserably. Then God sent Jesus so that through faith in His righteousness the lost could indeed be saved or "justified" before God.
The simplicity of God's plan of salvation baffles the minds of those who consider themselves intellectually elite (The wise). However, to those who merely and humbly seek the comfort of knowing that their eternity is secured by the Holy Spirit, God's plan is as plain as the nose on your face. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."~
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