THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING

TUESDAY 05 JULY 2022

The Gospel is the perfect plan, power and scheme of God's saving truths through the foolishness of preaching the gospel. It introduces the perfect righteousness of Christ, and complete justification by it. The plan entails the salvation of souls through the free pardon of all sins by the atoning sacrifice actualized by the blood of Jesus, as well as redemption and justification by faith in Him.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:21 New International Version (NIV) "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."

There was a comparison- something happened. Before Christ came in the flesh to die for us, the wisdom of this world was put to test and yet it didn't work in actualising salvation. So the Bible says, "Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Corinthians 1:20 NIV).

The wisdom of God is fixed, firm and stable - in comparison with the fleeting, shifting, unstable judgments of human reasoning. The wisdom of this world is earthly, unspiritual, demonic and its process is manipulative and utterly contrary to the rule of the Gospel. Therefore, you can't use such wisdom to win souls and bring people to light, because its temperament exerts moral blindness and works by sinful nature. Remember who is responsible for the blindness - Satan. The Bible says, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4 ).

Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He then used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. Foolishness here, means senselessness. In other words, it doesn't make sense to the ordinary mind because it's not sensual. This is why sometimes when you preach to unbelieving people, they despise or neglect the Word because it makes zero sense to their human mind unless the Spirit of God captures and overpowers their minds and hearts and proves their human reasoning to be unwise.

For instance, 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) reads, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." When did 'preaching' fully commence? Christ Himself introduced the system as the great commission. Matthew 16:15 (KJV) reads, "And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

This is why the preaching of the glorious gospel is all about Christ. Yes, Christ crucified is the power and wisdom of God unto salvation. We introduce Him to the lost souls or the world at large. No wonder apostle Paul says, "For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord..." (2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV). As we proclaim Jesus as Lord through the foolishness of preaching, and portray Him as the origin of true salvation, the power of God is exercised and put to work, until someone accepts salvation which is in Christ alone, who is automatically made to them wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Beloved, salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12 ESV). Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 1:21; Luke 24:47; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 10:42-43.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for your grace which you introduced through the wisdom of spreading the glorious gospel on earth. Preaching your eternal Word is perfect; without fault or defect. It fully and completely abounds in helping men to discover your divine nature, eternal purpose and will. By presenting Christ to the lost, they gain excellent advantage by believing and obtaining salvation in Christ and they are quickened by the Spirit to worship and serve you, and to practise the Word in Jesus' Name, Amen!