1 Corinthians 1:18-25

[Hidden In Him]

Christ Jesus: The Power Of God And The Wisdom Of God

     Because they were comparing themselves to worldly philosophers by professing to be "disciples of" Apollos or Peter, the apostle Paul would now go on to explain to the Corinthians why this was a foolish thing to do: Through Christ, God was now "destroying the wisdom of the wise, and repudiating the intelligence of the intelligent." To repudiate means simply "to separate or distance oneself from; to refuse to have anything to do with," and now that the King of kings, the Ruler of the universe, had willingly allowed Himself to die on a cross for humanity's sake, it was becoming clear that God's ways were higher than man's ways, and His thoughts higher than man's thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). In the process, God was now making the philosophers of this age look foolish by comparison:

     For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God. For it has been written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and repudiate the intelligence of the intelligent." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Did not God render the world's wisdom foolish? For since the world did not know God through wisdom, in the wisdom of God He was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of our proclamation. And whereas the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, we proclaim Christ having been crucified, truly a scandal for the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. But for those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, for the "fool" of God is wiser than men, and the "weakling" of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

     Paul was here quoting from Isaiah. Jerusalem was in danger of being attacked by the Babylonians, and instead of consulting in the Most High God about what to do, the leaders of Israel were trusting in their own "wisdom," which told them the thing to do was to make a covenant with the Egyptians in hopes they might protect them. But God was warning them that placing their trust in such fleshly "wisdom" would do them no good:

     The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their teachings are but rules taught by men. Therefore will I remove this people's attachment [to such teachings], and change their opinion. I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and undermine the intelligence of the intelligent.”
    “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not Mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting Me; who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s protection will be to your shame, Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace... everyone will be put to shame because of a people who are useless to them, who bring neither help nor advantage, but only shame and disgrace.” (Isaiah 29:13-14, 30:1-5)

     Paul chose this passage because it exposed the weaknesses in humanistic wisdom. What the Jewish leaders of that time thought was the "wisest" course of action to take would actually turn out to be the most foolish. Jewish and Gentile leaders in Paul's time were likewise making the same fleshly assumptions with regard to  Jesus: Humanistic wisdom told them He was crucified by the Romans, either A. because He was weak, and did not have the power to prevent it, or B. because He was foolish, and although having the power to prevent it decided not to, proving Himself to be senseless and/or out of His mind. But like the leaders from Isaiah's time had, subscribing to such humanistic wisdom would lead to their shame, for as Paul would now contend, Christ knew exactly what he was doing.   


The Jews Asked For Signs Of Messianic Power

     What did Paul mean by, "The Jews ask for signs"? Some teach that he was saying they wanted to see miraculous signs from Jesus such as raising the dead or healing the sick, but this is incorrect. Jesus had just finished feeding four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few small fishes when they asked Him for sign. A closer look reveals they wanted to see signs from Heaven:

     The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from Heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. (Matthew 16:1-4)

     What signs from Heaven were they specifically wanting to see as confirmation that He was the Messiah? Demonstrations like those described in Joel, Chapter 2, which signaled that the Day of the Lord had come, and the arrival of the Messiah was at hand:

     I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:30-32)

     Jesus did indeed possess great power. As He told the disciples, twelve legions of angels could have been placed at His disposal had He asked the Father for them. After one of the disciples cut off the ear of one of the high priest's servants, Jesus declared to him:

     “Put your sword back in its place.. for all who live by the sword shall die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:52-54)

     But the time to manifest His full power, as well as fulfill the signs of the Day of the Lord, had not yet come. Jesus inform them that they would be given only one sign of His power as the Messiah: The sign of Jonah, i.e. His resurrection from the dead (Matthew 16:4). Unfortunately, due to their hardness of hearts it is doubtful if they even knew what He meant by "the sign of Jonah," but they would eventually, only after it was too late. They succeeded at capturing Him and convinced the Roman authorities to have Him crucified. Some even called out to him while He was on the cross, yelling, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the there!":

     Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads, and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:39-43)

     With their carnal "wisdom," the Jewish leaders assumed Jesus was a fraud as He hung dying on a cross. They would soon find out otherwise.


The Power Of Christ Exceeded What The Jews Knew

     The "wisdom" of the chief priests and teachers of the law went right out the window when Jesus rose from the dead three days later (this was the "temple" He had promised to rebuild). With His resurrection, suddenly the "weakling" of God was much stronger than they anticipated. The Jewish leaders were now caught in a massive scandal. Purporting to be God's representatives on earth, they had now been exposed as frauds in that it was now becoming increasingly evident that they had mocked and crucified their own Messiah!
     To save face, the Jewish leaders forbid the apostles from preaching in the name of Jesus, but to no avail. As Stephen would tell the leaders of the Jewish Sanhedrin:

      “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
     When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. (Acts 7:51-52, 54-58a)

                                               


     "At the right hand of God" meant all power and authority had now been given to Christ, just as He Himself told the disciples after He rose from the dead:

     Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority has been given unto Me both in Heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even unto the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

     That Christ is now seated at the right hand of God on High has been confirmed to this very day through visions given to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ. The following is taken from a heavenly vision given to evangelist Jesse Duplantis back in 1988:
 
     When I got to the throne of God I hit the ground. I couldn't stand up, the light was so bright. The angel of the Lord gave me some fruit. He said, "Eat this, so you can withstand the glory of God." The closer you get to the throne, the weaker you become because of the glory of God … [there was this] massive amount of energy… and these angels were flying, [shouting] "The Great God Jehovah!" and smoke was coming up, and this massive sound… [This was] Power like I've never experienced in my life.
     And in this massive light - I'm lying on my face, like this, literally like this (lying down face first, trying to look up), and I'm getting weaker looking like this, and out of that massive light, there's one yet there's two. I see like another individual. They're one, yet they're two (struggling for words). I can say this in tongues. I don't know how to explain this in English. And out of this massive energy of Light and Love and Power comes Jesus. He's in the Father and the Father's in Him. He's like at the right hand of God, you understand? I understand that statement. He comes out of that Power, and when He came out He came out in human form, something we can touch.
     What seemed like millions of people at the throne of God just bit the dust. And all of a sudden He comes out of that Light, and there He Is, like I saw Him in Paradise. And all my life I thought Jesus was a teacher, you know, a very mild-mannered Person. He came out on that platform from the throne … and He began to shout. Jesus said, 'I'm going to get your brothers! I'm going to get your sisters! I'm going to get your family! And I'm bringing them back to this place to live with Me with for Ever and EVER!' … He shouted! He was excited. People were screaming and hollering. I'm lying on the floor trying to glimpse this stuff. It was the most powerful experience I ever went through." (Close Encounters Of The God Kind, DVD Version, Chapter 16)

Jesse Duplantis: The Power of God in Heaven. The Power of Jesus' Preaching in Heaven.

The Greeks Sought Wisdom And Intelligence

     While the Jews were busy seeking signs of power and authority in any potential Messiah, the Gentiles were seeking something else entirely. Rather than signs of power, they wanted signs of wisdom. For them, the key to a long-lasting kingdom on earth was the extraordinary wisdom of its ruler. Plato, the wisest and greatest of the ancient philosophers, taught many principles regarding how to train up a class of "philosopher-kings" who could rule the people wisely. For starters, they were to be:   

     … rigorously trained, well assessed and proven and wisely selected as the best and wisest in the republic, having reached the hall-mark of wisdom, philosophy, justice and dialectics. They are therefore trained and specialised in wisdom, rational thinking and philosophy of the highest order to discern good, apply knowledge and make rational judgements in their most ideal perfect form.
     Plato presented many categorical arguments of the justification for the rule of philosopher kings and these can be grouped into the following:
 
     1. Supremacy Of Wisdom/Mental Development: Plato’s main argument is the supremacy of the rational minds of the philosopher kings relative everyone else in the republic... Just as the mind is therefore supreme for decision making, the philosopher specialised and trained in the highest order of critical thinking must bear the responsibility of making critical social decisions. He argued therefore that just as the mind’s control of the body is justifiable, the philosopher kings through their higher order of rational, dialectical, philosophical thinking and analysis should rule over the human society (Reeves, 1989). Because of supremacy of reason therefore in decision making the philosopher king must rule over society.

     2. Supremacy Of The Philosopher King’s Character: The philosopher king is of supreme and superior character as argued by Plato as he/she is not only well vested in knowledge, wisdom and quirk but is seen as a lover of truth, objective, balanced, and with a supreme sense of justice… [He] is not an emotional creature but one of truth, justice and objectivity… [He] is incorruptible due to his high moral values, and love for justice and truth.

     3. Proven Training: The life and training of the philosopher king is one like no other as he is in a 50 year training program. It has been noted that all of society is eligible to enter into the training of a philosopher king from childhood and the rigorous training program is what sets the philosopher king apart from the rest of his or her peers. He commands respect by virtue of his attainments. He has passed through the education system which makes him master of music, literature and Greek culture and mythology. He has passed through rigorous physical training and is a fighter, a soldier who can if need be fight for the defence of the republic. Furthermore, he is master of academia having the education of the known sciences, mathematics, astronomy and astrology and a five year study of philosophy of dialectics and a further 15 years of study in self-control, manners, resistance and resilience and reaching the highest possible state of being emerges as a master of all knowledge, philosophy or otherwise. The philosopher king is therefore non-rivalled in any field or discipline, especially in wisdom of governance. (Philosopher Kings: Reign Justification and Characteristics, Nicholas Mtetesha)

                                                               

     Plato even went so far as to teach that philosopher-kings should prove their selflessness and dedication to the people by foregoing the right to own private property or have a family, a view not all the ancient philosophers agreed with: 

     "In Plato's hands, however, this template included some specific political prescriptions to maintain the unity of the ideal city which most of his successors abhorred. In particular, Book V of the Republic suggests that a sufficiently unified regime can be achieved only by depriving its guardian-rulers of private property and of private families, instead making them live in austere communal conditions in which they are financially supported by their money-making subjects and allowed to procreate only when and with whom will best serve the city. Aristotle and Cicero would deplore this abolition of private property, and even those following and radicalizing Plato on property (applying the abolition of property to all the citizens, rather than only the rulers, as would the sixteenth-century More), were generally opposed to if not scandalized by the suggestion of procreative communism." (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Ancient Political Philosophy)

    One thing was for certain, however: NO ancient philosopher believed a ruler should die on a cross. This was just plain foolishness. It was simply throwing one's life away for nothing. Yet as Gentile believers were now finding out, there was a "fool" who died on a cross outside Jerusalem who was now proving to have been even wiser than the wisest of the ancient philosophers. 


The Wisdom Of Christ Exceeded What The Greeks Knew

     Given that Christ Jesus survived His crucifixion and death, His grounds for rulership over the people were more sound than any philosopher-king's ever could be, even in Plato's wildest dreams. For according to Christian teaching, Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be crucified so that those who believed in Him might enter the kingdom as a result of HIS sacrifice. This went far beyond simply foregoing one's rights to private property and a family. It was self-sacrifice on a level far beyond it, since it solidified Christ's right to unquestioned authority like no other, since no other had given his life on a cross as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8 ).
     But as this verse suggests, this was in fact God's plan from the beginning, as is even now evident from modern heavenly visions. While believers are reported to be completely restored to perfect health when they arrive in Heaven, Jesus on the other hand is said to have retained forever the scares He received on the cross, as a reminder to every believer throughout eternity of who it was who paid the price for their redemption.
     The following is another excerpt taken from Jesse Duplantis' testimony of His visit to Third Heaven. This one describes his first meeting with Jesus in Paradise, before being escorted to the throne room where he would see Him again in power:       

     I understand this scripture, "Suffer the children to come unto Me, for such is the kingdom of God." I saw a glorious light coming. And I looked at Abraham, and he said, "That's Him. That's Jesus." And the angel said, "Come on. Come on." He started moving me toward this…
     The Lord walked out and these children ran up to Him and began to sing praises to Him. And He just hugged them. But to me He looked like a shaft of light. He was so glorious. His clothes looked like solid diamonds sparkling. Just… just… beautiful… I fell at His feet. Just fell down. The angel of the Lord fell down. You bite the dust. And I saw His feet. And in all my life I thought Jesus had scars. But those holes in His feet were this big (using his fingers to make a circle the size of a quarter). I could see the light shining through it… I realized how big those nails were. You people don't realize how much He suffered…
     He said, "Stand to your feet." And the first thing I thought of doing was confessing. I said, "Look… (searching for words)... Ya know…" He said, "You're forgiven." (Close Encounters Of The God Kind, DVD Version, Chapter 11)

     Even the children in Heaven are taught about the sacrifice of Christ. Lessons there are taught by means of visual dramatization, much like how we use filmed presentations to educate today, only with no projection or movie equipment of any kind. The "real-to-life" scenes appear supernaturally by the power of God. Marrietta Davis recorded in her vision of how the infants were taught about Calvary, and how and why Jesus had to die on a cross. She mentioned specifically that these scenes were being "presented to the infants as part of their preparation for (spiritual) advancement." The lesson of Calvary must be taught to and understood by everyone in Heaven, for the wisdom of God is that "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, to the glory of God."

     Gradually a pale light began to shine over Calvary. The three crosses became more and more distinct until the features of the three sufferers could be clearly seen.
     "It is Jesus! Jesus is suffering! Jesus is dying!"
     The words exploded from every [infant] spirit. A sudden shuddering seized them, and they bowed their faces, still repeating, "Jesus is suffering! Jesus is dying!"
     As they spoke a great cry burst from Jesus' lips.
     "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Nine Days In Heaven, P.101-102)

     They were eventually allowed to witness the satanic celebration going on as Satan and his angels appeared to be on the verge of victory:

     There was raucous shouting, blasphemies, and wild demoniacal laughter… their fiendish delight burst out like a blast from a compressed sea of madness. As Death stood there boasting, the evil spirits milled around him shouting in triumph, "Ah-ha! Ah-ha!"
     The children watching this asked their guardians, "Will they win? Will Jesus Die?" (Nine Days In Heaven, P.106)

     But then Jesus is shown taking the keys away from Death and Hell, preaching to the spirits in prison, and ascending in victory back to the earth.

     Mercy then said with satisfaction, "The Offering is now perfect… God Himself, in the form of Jesus, came to save sinful man just as a faithful shepherd seeks out sheep that have strayed. From now on salvation will be preached to the lost, and those who receive it will find paradise… Death will now give up its dead on the last day, when God will embrace all those who love and obey Him." (Nine Days In Heaven, P.112)

     God's wisdom in allowing Christ to suffer on a cross has paved the way for a kingdom that will never end. No one will ever question the right of Christ to rule in eternity. It is the wisest plan known to man, and why Jude referred to our God the Father as "the only wise God." (Jude 1:25)   


Willing Submission: The Result Of Love, Not Fear

     No kingdom will succeed for long that forces its citizens into submission, based upon the principles of fear and control. It is why God gives mankind an opportunity to willing submit to His Lordship in this life of their own free will. In the age to come, only those who desire to submit to Him will be allowed entrance into Heaven. It is also why He has never manifested Himself in power for the whole world to see. He did so with the Jews on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19), but the result was simply that they served Him out of fear. As a result, they rebelled against Him time and time again during their time in the wilderness. If He manifested Himself in power to the whole world, the results would be the same, and God has no desire whosoever to force humanity into worshipping Him.
     But the Devil cares nothing about building a kingdom that will last. He only wants to use humanity to fight against God, and will therefore have no problem with bringing the planet under submission through force. This is clear from Revelations 13:11-17:

     Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name. (Revelations 13:11-17)

     Very clearly, this will be a kingdom based on the rule of force. It is how Satan's kingdom works in the Second Heaven, and he will attempt to make it work here on earth as well. But it will not last long. When the time comes, the Lord will return with the angels of His power, and cast both the Antichrist and the false prophet into the Lake of Fire:

     But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Revelations 19:20-21)

     All who bow down to the Beast will do so based upon mere humanistic wisdom. They will see that, in fleshly terms, no one on earth has the power to wage war against him, and so they will worship him:

     The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” (Revelation 13:2b-4)

     But their decision will prove to be a foolish mistake. In Mary Baxter's vision A Divine Revelation Of Hell, the Spirit of God foretells of how the Antichrist will make it seem a wise thing to submit to his authority, but it will be a deception designed to destroy the unwise:

     "The beast will arise to the acclamation of the world, for he will bring peace and prosperity such as none can remember.  When he has gained world dominion, those without his mark in their foreheads or their hands will not be able to buy food, clothes, cars, houses or anything else that is bought.  Neither will they be able to sell anything they own to anyone else unless they have the mark...
     True, there will be a time of peace and prosperity during which the beast will gain popularity and esteem.  He will make the problems of the world as though they were naught, but the peace will end in bloodshed and the prosperity in great famine across the land. Fear not what man can do to you, but fear him who can cast your soul and body into Hell.  For though there is great persecution and though tribulations are multiplied, I will deliver you through them all. (Divine Revelation Of Hell, P.196-197)

     As I state in other studies, it will be through the Muslim world that the kingdom of the Antichrist arises. Pray for Muslims that they wake up before this hour comes. If they do not wake up to the wisdom of God, they will be deceived by their own fleshly intelligence into following the beast to their own destruction. Those who are truly wise will know that the Muslim caliphate will not last for long. In the wisdom of God, however, the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on a cross for mens' sin to motivate them to submit to him out of love, will last for all eternity.