The Paradoxes of God’s Method to Save

Text: Isaiah 55:6-11

 

I.         Have you noticed the Bible contains one message, but that message causes conflicting responses

            A.        One group sees the gospel as foolishness, while the other sees it as the power of God - I Corinthians 1:18; Romans 1:16

            B.        The difference is not in the message delivered but in the people listening to it

                        1.         A division is created between the perishing and the saved - I Corinthians 2:14-15

II.        God chose this method to confound the wise - Isaiah 29:14

            A.        On the surface, it appears that God’s method of delivery is weak

                        1.         Why depend on humans who error to teach the message?

                        2.         It depends on men convincing other men about the importance of Christ being crucified for the sins of men

            B.        God doesn’t do things the way people would do them - I Corinthians 1:19

            C.        Paul asked a series of questions - I Corinthians 1:20

                        1.         The questions harken back to Isaiah 33:10-20

                                    a.         God challenges the Assyrians, who had planned out their assault on Jerusalem

                                    b.         Despite the plans, Sennacherib was sent fleeing in terror when God wiped out a great portion of his army in one night.

                        2.         Paul is hinting that God is doing it again with the Gospel

                        3.         People think they are so clever

                                    a.         Yet, time and again, God manages to make them look foolish

                                    b.         The wise men (the scribes), who have a deep knowledge of the law

                                    c.         The philosophers (the debaters)

                                    d.         They are all made to look foolish.

                        4.         Each sets himself up to bring down God’s truth in some fashion, and they always fail - II Corinthians 10:3-6

            D.        Because men, through their concept of wisdom, did not arrive at a knowledge of God.

                        1.         God’s own creation did not know their Creator - John 1:10

                        2.         They knew God, but did not honor Him, and instead, sought to replace Him with images fashioned after the creation - Romans 1:20-23

            E.        Therefore, God was pleased to select a method that appears foolish to men, to save men through belief - I Corinthians 1:21; Luke 10:21

III.       God chooses ways that are unexpected - I Corinthians 1:22

            A.        Jews tend to want miraculous signs - Matthew 12:38; 16:1

                        1.         However, even though signs were given, they rejected them because they did not want to believe - Luke 12:54-56

            B.        The Greeks demanded deep philosophy - Acts 17:21

                        1.         While deep discourses exist in the Gospel, they are rejected because they do not match what they want to believe - Acts 17:32

            C.        God gives a message of a crucified Savior - I Corinthians 1:23

                        1.         The Jews stumble over this because they refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior - Isaiah 8:14-15

                        2.         The Greeks stumble over this because this isn’t how they imagine the world could be saved

            D.        But to those being saved, Jews and Greeks alike, the Gospel is seen as the power of God - I Corinthians 1:24

IV.      One message brings a division between the worldly and the spiritual.

            A.        The division demonstrates God’s wisdom - I Corinthians 1:25

            B.        What the Jews and Greeks were seeking is found in the Gospel by believers

            C.        What appears to be weak to men demonstrates God’s power to save - II Corinthians 13:4

V.        Wisdom seen in the results

            A.        When we look at who responds to the Gospel, we don’t often see great intellectual, wealthy, or powerful people - I Corinthians 1:26

            B.        God chose the poor to have rich faith - James 2:5

            C.        God’s power to save doesn’t depend on men’s intellect, wealth or power

                        1.         It isn’t that God can’t save such people

                        2.         Rather, few people in these categories want to be saved.

                        3.         God purposely selected a method to save people that does require or appeal to such people - Psalms 8:2

                        4.         It emphasizes that men cannot save themselves

VI.      God doesn’t operate the way men do - I Corinthians 11:27-28

            A.        God uses the apparently foolish, weak, and despised things to overthrow the creations of men

                        1.         Seen in how people were upset by Christians - Acts 17:6

            B.        God creates things that never existed before

                        1.         Seen in God giving Abraham a son in his old age - Romans 4:17

            C.        He takes taking men off guard, even though He announces His intentions

                        1.         Seen in the saving of the Gentiles - Romans 9:25

VII.     In the end, men cannot take credit for their salvation - Romans 3:27; Ephesians 2:8-10

            A.        The glory belongs solely to God - I Corinthians 1:29