"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, 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 bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
To understand the truth of the Cross requires spiritual insight. I went for many years knowing about the cross - about Jesus - mostly as a baby at Christmas, but did not understand their reality and personal significance until I met Jesus on the road in 1976. I don't know if I thought it was foolishness exactly, but I did not see it as relevant to my life or of any interest. It was fine if someone else believed it - but I did not - until.....
"These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:13-14
It is impossible for the natural man to understand spiritual truth. We must have the Spirit of God in us to do that. That is why it does not matter how much scripture you memorize or how eloquent you are in the presentation of the Gospel or how much you want someone to see the light - the seed you cast will not take root until the Spirit of God stirs the heart of the one in whom the seed has been planted. And even then, the person may choose to reject the unction of the Spirit and continue in their sin to their detriment.
On the whole - what God says is right runs contrary to what the world says it right. You may have heard someone say, "the heart wants what the heart wants". Think about that for a minute. That essentially says that we have no control over our desires. It's true.
"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." - Judges 17:6
As Christians we have a moral compass - the Word of God revealed by the Spirit of God who indwells every person who is born again by faith. Not so with the world. To know what is right they rely on man's laws (which can be changed to suit the times), consensus, and teachings from other people. We are to be salt and light in the world - but anyone and everyone who is born again is saved by their faith and their surrender to Jesus as Lord. When you espouse God's truth to the world that is blinded by sin you become an antagonist. As the light of Christ, you hurt the eyes of the hearts of the lost.
"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. .... He who hates Me hates My Father also." - John 15:18-19,23
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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