God Confounds the Wise

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made FOOLISH the wisdom of this world?  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it PLEASED God by the FOOLISHNESS of preaching to save them that believe. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  You have an immense, unpayable sin-debt, but Jesus paid it for you when He offered up Himself on the Cross as your Substitute.  Salvation is free because of Jesus' finished work on the Cross.  Why do sinners reject the Gospel?  Because of human pride, the love of sin, and men want to be their own master and god.  Smart alecks reject Christ and wind up in Hell where we all belong.  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  For the wisdom of this world is FOOLISHNESS with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

God hath put down the mighty from their seat, and He hath exalted them of low degree:  He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.  Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.  Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.