‘THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD’ (I CORINTHIANS 3:19)
THIS foolishness of man is nowhere more apparent today than in the widespread disbelief and misbelief by the majority of
mankind, in the teachings of the Bible. Paul also states in I Corinthians 2:14:
“The natural (unredeemed) man receiveth not the things of the (holy) Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”.
Christianity is based totally on belief in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ and of course in the whole Bible – which is God’s Word – from Genesis I to Revelation 22. The expression ‘God’s Word’ or the ‘Word of God’ is quite simply the spoken or written utterances and the will of God, as recorded by inspiration of God in the Bible. Paul in Ephesians 6:17 talking about the ‘armour’ of God which is part of the Christians defence against evil, says:
“… Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.
Paul also says in 2 Timothy 3:16:
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness “.
How can this divine book which advocates integrity, honesty, truth and righteousness etc., written by many hands, but inspired by God, be anything else but true and righteous? Our God, the creator of all life and our vast universe, in which our tiny world exists, and who has inconceivable power and compassion, would have found it a very small thing to ensure that all scripture
would remain authentic and true over these many centuries. Especially in view of the history of hand copying and translation by man plus language changes etc. Matthew 19-26 tells us:
“… With God all things are possible”
Let us therefore consider what Scripture tells us concerning three contemporary items of disbelief and misbelief.
1) THE DOCTRINE OF EVOLUTIONISM
Charles Darwin’s Book ‘On the Origin of species etc’– written in the 19th Century and more especially the speculation that has followed, has been a major cause of disbelief. Firstly, it is necessary to differentiate between evolution and the Doctrine of Evolutionism.
Evolution applied to Biology, relating to the gradual small changes in animals and plants over long periods of time, involving adaption etc. to environmental and other changes, is largely accepted as proven and correct.
However, the Doctrine of Evolutionism which claims that all life ‘happened’ or originated by chance or natural selection, without any planning or design – so excluding the biblical creation story – is a classical example of the foolishness of man.
Unfortunately this theory is taught almost universally, regardless of the fact that some eminent scientists have stated that the theory is not scientifically sustainable. One such referred to the doctrine as being a philosophical error of the most disasterous consequences, and. how right he was.
An interesting sequel came about towards the end of Darwin’s life. He had written the book when he was a young man, and was, at the time, surprised that people took to his suggestions and proposals so readily. It would seem that he eventually came, to say the least, to be uneasy about his theory and was a believing Christian.
The early chapters of the book of Genesis in the Bible give a detailed account of God’s creation. Viewed with an unbiased mind and with the elucidation God will provide, the creation story becomes clear and logical and by faith, eminently believable.
2) THE ERRONEOUS BELIEF THAT GOD IS AN UNCARING GOD
This is a further major item of misbelief. The basic cause of such can only be that all the vital messages of law, advice and cordial instruction of the Bible, which are so very essential for all of us, have not been heard, read and/or understood. What are these vital messages? Fundamentally they advocate the total avoidance of all sin and the practise of all virtues. Paul lists both in Galatians 5:19-23:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: … they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”
Would anyone disagree that these sins are very prevalent and the virtues becoming more rare, in the the world today?
Scripture informs us that Jesus the Christ will cleanse all nations of sin when he returns to this world at the now imminent second advent, It seems that the general process will be the repentance and reformation of sinners – which God desires. Failing which, removal from the earth of many sinners will take place. In Proverbs 2-22 we read about the fate of the wicked:
“But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the. transgressors shall be rooted out of it”.
Isaiah tells us in chapter 11:4 about future actions of God by word of mouth:
“He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked”.
Ezekiel 33:11 confirms God’s mercy:
“…As I live saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; But that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, 0 house of Israel”.
In Isaiah 13:11 God records his absolute justice:
“… I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity”.
Isaiah 66:16 is not a threat. Emphasis should be directed to the word plead:
“For by fire and His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many”.
Revelation 19:15 gives a dramatic picture of our Lord at his second advent. His rule which no one will dare to disobey and his word (the sharp sword) never again to be ignored:
“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shall smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron…”
Numerous relative quotations in scripture affirm the same messages. More need to be read in order to understand the whole picture. It is submitted that God may well use expressions in his word that are perhaps fearsome and dramatic in order to convey full understanding, the important nature of the subject and to capture attention. But we must always remember God’s words in Isaiah 55:8:
“For My thoughts ar not your thoughts neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord”.
No doubt symbolism in part is used in these quotations and difficulty may be found in understanding them. As Paul says in I Corinthians 13:12:
“For now we see through a glass darkly…”
But prayerful and careful consideration. of these and other relative quotations will reveal the great underlying compassion and love of Almighty God towards all man-kind at the ‘day of the Lord’ to which these quotations refer. We are also assured by God in Joel 2:32 at that time:
“…… Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered…”
The elimination of the Adamic race (except Noah’s family) at the flood and the destruction of Ninevah Sodom Gomorrah and Babylon are examples of the necessary measures taken by God in the past to block the further spread of uncontrolled evil. After all, God has given man ample opportunity to repent and reform over several thousand years. What would we think of our God, if he did nothing to eliminate sin which is by far this world’s greatest problem. Paul in his teachings reminds us in no uncertain terms in Romans 6:23:
“The wages of sin is death”
Not the ‘punishment’ for sin note. In other words sin is the corrupting agent causing death. Psalm 34-21 confirms this:
“Evil shall slay the wicked”
In the epistle I Peter 3:12 we read:
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”.
See also Psalm 34 verses 11 to 22.
Thus we see that if we ignore God and his teachings, he may well ignore and reject us. We may not then have his divine protection against harm and danger. This protection is so eloquently promised in the whole of Psalm 91 a part of which is quoted here from verse 9 to 11 and verses 14 and 15:
“Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, for He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
“( God speaks here) Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him”.
The writer can personally vouch for God’s benevolent care in these promises of Psalm 91. Scripture gives numerous examples of God’s care for us. One outstanding example is recorded in the gospels of the new testament where God, manifested as Jesus the Christ, the son of God, had great compassion towards the sick, lame and blind, healing all who came to him.
The reason for our individual presence on this Earth may be regarded as attending a University – the University of Life. We have to learn to serve God’s will and how to live our lives righteously for our own and other’s benefit.
We are told in Matthew 6:33:
“… Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you “ (blessings)
We have free choice on how we behave, in righteousness or in sin. We have a supreme text book in the Holy Bible – the best translation is still the Authorized Version, which has stood the test of time since the 16th Century. We have also many teachers.
However, there is one enormous snag! Satan the devil is resident here on Earth. Make no mistake about this! He is the originator of all evil. None of us can, on our own, resist him. He has enormous power.
His sole aim is to make all humanity and the creation evil. How successful he is! However, not to worry. Just over two thousand years ago, Jesus the annointed one, son of God, was born in humility, as a babe in Bethlehem. God provided in this divine birth the means whereby all mankind of all nations and ages could be protected against sin and it’s inevitable sentence or effect on us of death. This is achieved solely, and I repeat, solely through belief and faith in the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus the Christ as detailed in the New Testament of the Bible. In St. John 14:6 Jesus says:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me”.
True belief in the Gospel of Salvation, so demonstrating our faith in God and his Word, is imputed unto us as righteousness even as Abraham’s faith in God was similarly counted to him as righteousness. Thus all true believers are able, with God’s help to resist Satan and evil ways. As James says in his epistle 4:7:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
We have no righteousness of our own only that which God teaches us and provides through faith. Remembering that the Commandments and Statutes of God in the Bible, if disobeyed, carry the sentence of death (sin kills us). Jesus the Christ himself paid the price for all our sins, in his death on the cross of Calvary. Thus God ensured that justice was and is done and as a result our sins are forgiven us. St. John 3:16 & 17:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved”.
This is surely an act of supreme compassion and love towards mankind by Almighty God, manifested as Jesus the Christ. An act by an infinite being, Almighty God, for the sole benefit of all finite mankind. This is described by Paul in Romans 6:23 as:
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Thus the bible shows that the erroneous belief that God is an uncaring God is quite illogical and based on a lack of knowledge of God’s Word.
3) MISBELIEF CONCERNING JESUS THE CHRIST
It is often said, quite earnestly, by people, ‘Oh I believe in God’. When the subject is discussed further, it is seen that there is little understanding about the role of Jesus the Christ. As we saw in Item 2 above, Jesus said in St. John 14:6 and it is worth repeating:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me”.
Further, James says in his epistle chapter 2 verse 19:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble “.
He is saying in heavy irony, that belief in God alone is not enough. I think that James had a dry sense of humour. As we saw above in St. John 14:6 belief in Jesus the Christ is peremptory. How can we know that our belief in Jesus is sufficiently acceptable to God? We are told in St. John 7:39 that all true believers will receive the Holy Spirit:
“But this spake he of the (Holy) Spirit, which they that believe on Him (Jesus) should receive “.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit acted on whosoever he would. In Matthew 25:1-13 we read about the parable of the ten virgins. Five were wise and had oil for their lamps, and five who were foolish, not having oil. Oil in the Bible is symbolical of the Holy Spirit. Thus the five without oil it seems, did not have the Holy Spirit, and were refused entry into the wedding feast!
Dr Scofield, in a footnote in his Bible at Malachi 2:15 records the Deity of the Holy Spirit and his attributes as being omnipotent, omnipresent, enlightening, and enduing recipients with skill and/or physical strength, executive ability, wisdom, enabling man to utter divine revelations and generally endowing the servants of God with understanding and fear of God. This footnote is based on evidence in the Old Testament. For example, one recipient was Samson who was given great physical strength. Another attribute must also be the desire to repent and cease from sin.
It would appear therefore that the gift of the Holy Spirit, does indicate true belief in the blessed saviour of mankind, Lord Jesus the Christ. In any case recipients of the Holy Spirit should be well aware of their divine gift. None of us can resist Satan without
true belief in Jesus the Christ and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
Thus the Bible makes it crystal clear that true belief in our saviour Jesus the Christ is an indispensable and profoundly necessary addition to just simple belief in Almighty God.
