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I like what Paul says on this subject:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]20 [/SUP]Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [SUP]21 [/SUP]For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [SUP]22 [/SUP]Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [SUP]23 [/SUP]but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [SUP]24 [/SUP]but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [SUP]25 [/SUP]For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]20 [/SUP]Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [SUP]21 [/SUP]For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [SUP]22 [/SUP]Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [SUP]23 [/SUP]but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, [SUP]24 [/SUP]but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. [SUP]25 [/SUP]For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
A
There is a Christian church down the hill from California Institute of Technology here in SoCal. The first time I attended a service I almost fell out of my chair. About 1/4 way into the sermon, visiting students from CalTech began jumping up and raising their hands to challenge the pastor's assertions.
They weren't Christians and didn't realize the format wasn't like classes at CalTech which are interactive and operate in this fashion.
The pastor was very used to this behavior apparently because he simply paused his sermon to begin taking the student's challenges. He balanced his time between delivering the sermon, answering questions, and defending his assertions from the student's attacks.
LOL! That's how it goes at the church next to Cal Tech University.
They weren't Christians and didn't realize the format wasn't like classes at CalTech which are interactive and operate in this fashion.
The pastor was very used to this behavior apparently because he simply paused his sermon to begin taking the student's challenges. He balanced his time between delivering the sermon, answering questions, and defending his assertions from the student's attacks.
LOL! That's how it goes at the church next to Cal Tech University.
T
OK brother, praise the Lord for your open heart. Please go to ellisskolfield.com. Under menu item "Books & Essays," download the book "Islam in the End Times," which is a short synopsis of the view. If you find that book has merit . . . on the home page please download the 2013 edition of the "Bible prophecy Study Guide," which fills in most of the blanks. Because the Word continues to open, and will do so until the Lord returns, it's always a work in progress so if you see any errors, please let me know. Also, please bear with the strange 3x4 formatting, it is designed for video projection to Bible study group or church congregations.
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[SUP][a][/SUP] [SUP]2 [/SUP]For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. [SUP]3 [/SUP]I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. [SUP]4 [/SUP]My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, [SUP]5 [/SUP]so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. [h=3]Wisdom From the Spirit[/h][SUP]6 [/SUP]We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. [SUP]7 [/SUP]No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. [SUP]8[/SUP]None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.[SUP]9 [/SUP]However, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”[SUP][b][/SUP]—
[SUP]10 [/SUP]but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [SUP]12 [/SUP]We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. [SUP]13 [/SUP]This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]14 [/SUP]The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [SUP]15 [/SUP]The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
[SUP]16 [/SUP]“For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?”[SUP][d][/SUP]
But we have the mind of Christ.
I wonder if Paul's thinking(why he wrote what he did) in 1Cor1 may be explained in ch2
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him”[SUP][b][/SUP]—
[SUP]10 [/SUP]but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [SUP]12 [/SUP]We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. [SUP]13 [/SUP]This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.[SUP][c][/SUP] [SUP]14 [/SUP]The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. [SUP]15 [/SUP]The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
[SUP]16 [/SUP]“For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?”[SUP][d][/SUP]
But we have the mind of Christ.
I wonder if Paul's thinking(why he wrote what he did) in 1Cor1 may be explained in ch2
T
In my opinion, that is the way a church is supposed to opperate. It's the way the brethren I pastor behave. I learned early on, if someone has a question, you better answer it right then because he won't be able to hear another word you say until you do. And what is the goal, anyway? To lead the brethren to truth in the Lord.
T
Welcome to the forum. Again, may God speak through us and to us in our fellowship here together!
In Romans 1 and 2 Paul explains that the revelation that comes from nature and through conscience is sufficient to leave each man without excuse before God. Those who know the law of Moses are condemned by that law; those who do not are condemned by nature and by their own conscience. God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ. Therefore, Chapter 3. Therefore, there is none righteous, not even one; all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, God provided a way where He maintain His own justice, and can be the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ Jesus. Nowhere in Romans (or anywhere else in scripture) will we find men being saved by revelation from nature and/or conscience apart from knowledge of this Jesus, who was declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead, and the Son of David according to the flesh. How will they believe without a preacher and how will they preach unless they are sent?
Do I misunderstand you? Are you saying that Romans teaches that natural revelation and human conscience provide a witness that makes it unnecessary to believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and dwelt among us? Do you believe that people who believe in the Christ, but who deny that Jesus is that Christ, have sufficient light and need no warning from the church?
In Romans 1 and 2 Paul explains that the revelation that comes from nature and through conscience is sufficient to leave each man without excuse before God. Those who know the law of Moses are condemned by that law; those who do not are condemned by nature and by their own conscience. God will judge the secrets of men through Jesus Christ. Therefore, Chapter 3. Therefore, there is none righteous, not even one; all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, God provided a way where He maintain His own justice, and can be the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ Jesus. Nowhere in Romans (or anywhere else in scripture) will we find men being saved by revelation from nature and/or conscience apart from knowledge of this Jesus, who was declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead, and the Son of David according to the flesh. How will they believe without a preacher and how will they preach unless they are sent?
Do I misunderstand you? Are you saying that Romans teaches that natural revelation and human conscience provide a witness that makes it unnecessary to believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and dwelt among us? Do you believe that people who believe in the Christ, but who deny that Jesus is that Christ, have sufficient light and need no warning from the church?
