2013-11-24

Foolishness and wisdom

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According to the Bible God's works of creation proclaim that a personal God exists. "His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made" (Rom. 1:20). "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the firmament is declaring the work of His hands" (Ps. 19:1). According to the Bible the existence of God is such an obvious matter, that "the fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God'" (Ps. 14:1).

Studying the book of nature, however, will not bring us into communion with God. This natural revelation cannot provide us with the Christian knowledge of God. It does not tell us that God is a Triune God and that He is a gracious God. For this reason God has given us a special revelation, the Word of the Bible. "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Cor. 1:21). "These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31).

The Christian knowledge of God is a matter of faith. No one can be brought to faith through scientific evidence from nature. God has chosen another way to accomplish this: "But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:23,24).

All people do not believe that God exists. Others believe, but not all of them are Christians. In other words, they do not in their hearts believe that God is gracious to them for Christ's sake. To all of you I recommend: Without preconceived opinions start reading ? the Gospel of John, for instance, or his epistles or the Epistle to the Romans. In this way you can get directly to the central issues. Now if God does not exist, as the atheists say, there obviously should be no danger in submitting oneself to a book, born through the influence of a non?existent author. If the book of nature does not speak to you about the existence of God, atheists, then surely as sincere people you will be ready to re?examine your point of view by studying another revelation, the Bible.

According to the Bible the Christian religion is foolishness to the unbelieving world, but wisdom from God's point of view. Believing in the existence of God is foolishness to the atheist. The denial of God is foolishness according to the Bible. Both the unbeliever and the believer are sure of their stand. Who solves the controversy? God!