"Those Who are Perishing"

For the word of the cross is folly 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 the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

A frequent discussion among discerning brothers and sisters is why some will not believe in the truth of the Word of God, the truth of the Bible. Why is it that the Bible is so easily disregarded as a fairy tale, a fable, or fiction? There are many different responses to this question; however, there is really only one answer.

Paul tells us why in today’s verses. The perishing will not see the Word of God as truth; they are unable to see truth because they have not been enabled to by the Holy Spirit. Only those who have faith in Christ will see the Bible for what it is: a history and prophetic writings of God’s interaction with His creation.

God said to Isaiah, “therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.” Like Christ, who often referred to the Old Testament in revealing His fulfillment of scripture, Paul uses the Book of Isaiah to reflect on the foolishness of the gospel to the perishing (Isaiah 29:14). The Holy Spirit blesses us with the gifts of God. He gives us grace that we may find faith, and in the case of scripture, that same grace allows us to read, understand, and have faith in the Word of God.

This is not a new concept. It was the same in Paul’s time as he noted in verses 20-21, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” The same issues of understanding God and His word were no different then as they are today.

Today, people want proof. Show me scientifically, or philosophically, that this is rational thinking. In Paul’s time, it was the Jews who wanted signs, yet when the signs were before them, they still would not believe. Paul wrote in verses  “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”(vv22-25) I love that because it is true. The wisest in the world are no greater than God’s foolishness if there is such a thing. Maybe the platypus is an example of God’s humor.

In society today, God has “turned them over to debased minds” (Romans 1:28). So why did Paul or why should we preach the gospel at all? Because it is the Word of God carried by the Holy Spirit that has the power to change hearts. It is how Christ works and delivers grace through the Spirit. We know this to be true because Paul wrote it in Romans 10:14, where he said, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” 

We also know that Christ revealed this to us in His statement to Peter about those who believed in Him, which Matthew wrote in 16:17, “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. All things are revealed to believers about God. Not all at once do these things come to us. The more we grow in the Lord, the more we are able to understand.

So how do we respond to a rejection of the Bible? Well, many simply say, “It's foolishness, isn’t it, the Bible? It will always be foolishness to the perishing.” You have just planted a seed. You can try to explain what it means if the person asks. Perhaps the Lord will send them the grace to be open to the word. If not, simply smile and walk away. They will pursue you to find out more or turn away in disgust. Either way, you have planted a seed. Let others water it, and if it is God’s will, at some point, that seed will bear fruit.

Speak the gospel. “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?”

Are you curious about Jesus Christ? Do you want to learn more about Him? Contact us here at In Messiah Ministries. We can show you the scripture that reveals salvation through faith in the risen Son of God.

Grace and Peace.