Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

The vain babblings of unregenerated men

How many philosophers, teachers, students of scripture, so-called wise men, debaters, and counselors are out there, speaking the things of the Bible, judging and arguing the deep things of the Word, correcting, advising, and reprimanding others, all the while thinking that they understand the oracles of God, that they have the credentials to speak truth, and that they have their theology grounded because of research, study, and experience. To these individuals, I address the fact that if you have not been regenerated by the gospel of grace and received the Spirit of Christ within you, then your theological wisdom is foolishness, and your biblical teachings are vain jangling's and rife with lies.

Ask yourself truthfully, what is the origin of your theology? From what fountain of knowledge has your wisdom been syphoned from? Are you glorying in an invented truth? Has it not by chance been handed down to you from the vain imaginations of others who came before you? Could it be that you are gloating in reused fabrications of theology that others have once blended together for their own glory or purpose?

The apostle Paul arrived at one time in Athens and encountered a city fraught with idols. In the center of all this deception sat wise men who daily spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. 

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. ... 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? ... 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) ... 23 For as I [Paul] passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, "To the Unknown God". Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

—Some new thing! 

Some new thing! Does that not sound familiar? Unfortunately, much of the biblical truth published today is nothing but knowledge with some human spin on it. Adding here and removing there or coming up with the latest fads and interpretations. Unlike the King James Bible, just look at the modern translations today, each one being changed and tweaked so that it can be copyrighted and sold with some new twist. These so-called wise men and philosophers in Athens could talk new things all day but none of them even attempted to find out about that "unknown God". Similarly, we have so many today, dishing out their beliefs, operating behind their titles and education, their affiliations and personal commendations, leading people astray in their philosophies and wayward views on scripture. The Bible warns us about this by saying,

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

What then is the beginning of wisdom? 

Solomon, with the insights that the Lord gave him said,

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

As mentioned in my first paragraph above, if you have not been regenerated by the gospel of grace and received the Spirit of Christ within you, then your theological wisdom is foolishness, and your biblical teachings are vain jangling's and rife with lies. Paul states this quite clearly in his letter to the church at Corinth,

1 Cor.2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

If a person does not have the Spirit of Christ within them, how can they accurately interpret the Word which is spiritually discerned? In layman's terms, it amounts to asking a small child to accurately describe to you the intricate procedures of brain surgery or provide you the mathematical equations to calculate the dynamics of the universe. The resulting babble will come to nothing useful or truthful. 

Unregenerated men, who think themselves wise in their theological standards and titles, have no more knowledge of Gods incredible Word as my metaphor of this babbling child. All their interpretations of the Word sum up to hot air and scrapbook writings. I have learned, in my dealings with these sorts, that they never focus on the cross. They never show gratitude and thankfulness to Christ's death, burial and resurrection. All their debates and arguments are on things like physical issues, on things like the practicing of ordinances, on customs and traditions, on replacement theologies and spiritual giftings that were never gifted to them in the first place. They rant and fight about position and status, they concern themselves with their supposed callings of God when they don't even have a clear understanding of the grace gospel and salvation by faith in Christ without works. 

As wise and insightful as our apostle Paul was in God's Word, having seen the third heaven, having had profound revelations of the mysteries of Gods heart, he tells us all that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. Certainly, this is the result of all the vain babble of these so-called wise men. Their wisdom leads their victims away from the simplicity of the Spirit-filled life, away from the beauty of the pure Word of God, and worst of all, as Paul says, they lead people into a diminished understanding of the cross of Christ. What a dire repercussion!

Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God

The apostle Paul placed much of his time and focus on the greatest wisdom of all, the cross of Christ. Not only is the cross of Christ the greatest wisdom of all, but it is also the beginning of wisdom. It is by the gospel message of the cross that the human spirit is quickened. It is by this miraculous event alone that God grants us entrance into seeking out and understanding the wisdom in His Word. Without the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ within our hearts, one will not have access to that knowledge and neither has one the capacity and privilege to be instructed by the Spirit in His wisdom. Paul writes the following,

1 Cor.1:17 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. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 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? 21 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. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

The gospel of grace was the most important activity that Paul spent his time in. Paul had enough knowledge to challenge the philosophers in Athens, but his aim was not to get trapped in lengthy debates with these men, knowing that it would be devoid of purpose and value. He writes the following to Timothy and Titus about this fruitless exercise,

2 Tim.2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Rather, he turned the opportunity he had in Athens into speaking about the gospel, (Act.17:22-33). We learn in Paul's letter to the Philippians how that in comparison to the gospel of the cross of Christ, all other things were a loss and likened to dung,

Phil.3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord

Now, in closing this article, there is nothing wrong in having good debates about a scriptural topic. There are many discussions one might have regarding spiritual practices, eschatology, and views on bible interpretations, but one must consider the worth of these debates if there is no edification to be had. These debates are of value between members of the body of Christ as the Holy Spirit can move within the discussion and bring edification and enlightenment. However, as already mentioned, it would be utterly fruitless to debate these deep topics with others if they are not redeemed and have not the Spirit of Christ within them. Since they cannot speak from a heart that discerns the spiritual things of God, there is no value to gain here. No topics other than sharing the gospel of grace will help them.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

It is true that men seek after, and revel in, wisdom today, 1 Cor.1:22. It is also true that there are many wise and intelligent people today, in many different fields of life, but, when it comes to theology; to the study of God, and to the Word of God, the wisdom of men becomes worthless if their hearts are not filled with the Spirit of Christ, who is the wisdom of God, 1 Cor.1:24.

1 Cor.1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Col.3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

Rom.11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.