Foolishness?

Foolishness?
“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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  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?  
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.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The above is what Christians believe. We present to the world a Saviour that is the Son of God. A Suffering Messiah.
We ask people to believe by faith that Jesus is the One and Only Son of God. That he came to earth died, was buried, rose from the dead, walked the earth briefly, before ascending to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.
We ask people to believe in the trinity, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one being existing in three parts.
These are hard things to accept. Yet they are the basics of Christianity.
They are truths that a true seeker of God will find to be true if they read the Bible.
 It however takes faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                        Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists

 and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                      Hebrews 11:6

Please think about it

We Preach Foolishness

We preach foolishness?
Jesus is to say the least a controversial character in some circles. Yet I believe he is the most important person in human history. Napoleon said of Jesus,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                               Napoleon Bonaparte.
To be a true Christian however does require a great deal of faith. The apostle Paul points out,
“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?  
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.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25. 
Christianity makes the claim that Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. That he paid the price for the sins of mankind and sits at the right hand of God. The writer of Hebrews telling us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.  
Jesus himself when asked,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” John 10:24-30.
I have had many people over the years ask me why would God enter his creation? To which I respond because he loves us. John’s Gospel recording Jesus as saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
We worship a Holy God and I think most people especially people of faith believe we do not live up to God’s ideal.
Many people believe that when you stand before God if your good outweighs the bad you did in this life you will get into heaven.
Christians on the other hand believe you can know that you are going to heaven here on this earth. That by confessing your sins directly to God and accepting Jesus into your life you will get to heaven.
That is why Jesus came to this earth to provide a way for us to go to heaven.
To man’s way of thinking this may seem odd, but then God dose not do things the way man does things. As the apostle Paul states we Christians,
“we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles...”.
The choice however to believe Jesus is the Son of God the Saviour of Mankind is however always up to you. All I would ask of you the reader is to pray and read at least the New Testament asking God to show you the truth.
Please think about it.