The Conquest of the Cross
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (1 Corinthians 1:18-20 NASB)
When it comes to the salvation of man’s soul, the Lord had totally disarmed the two greats man has put up on his pedestal of pride: his wisdom and his cleverness. In his daily commerce of common life, man busily and confidently employs his wisdom and own ingenuity to better himself and to get ahead of the ‘other guy’. We boast of the person who is sharp of mind or has the business acumen propelling him to success over the competition. Such success can often lead to arrogance and further dependence upon these two resources. That salvation would be available to all; God would have none of that.
When we speak of wisdom of this type, we are talking about what man’s intellect has gained from the world’s classroom of learning and experience. Yet not only what has been gained, but also beneficially applied in life to increase his lot or at least to prevent loss of assets, whether they be financial, material, relational, or emotional. When we speak of cleverness, we are speaking here of mental aptitude and maneuverability to apply the wisdom we gain under our own ethical standard and use it for advantage.
God however has never been impressed with these honorariums man pays to himself. Not only did He not invite these two vanities of man to his own salvation banquet, but He has intentionally frustrated man’s reason with the word of the cross. He has done so because man’s reason is flawed from the Fall and his pride will keep him in bondage to his sin leaving him eternally condemned.
Where is the wise man, where is the learned man, where is the great debater? They are in the cross hairs of the Lord’s grace. He seeks them too. God is merciful in that the word of the cross seems foolishness to those perishing. We have to be brought down in order to be built anew in Christ. All of our vanities stand opposed to Christ, the suffering servant. They must be frustrated so that repentance might come. It is God’s will and manner (2 Corinthians 7:10). His desire is to have them see their need of Jesus and His cross as they crumble in defeat.
Oh what mercy that salvation does not depend upon such vices or mental acrobatics. Praise be to our Lord that He never concerned Himself with His own popularity or the opinion of man, but forged ahead with the cross in paying for our sin. The word of the cross is not that it would make sense to us, but that it brings the hope of salvation for us.
Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary. Mercy there was great and free, pardon there was multiplied to me, there my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary. At Calvary! by William R. Newell
