The education of the world may offer some value, but mere knowledge acquired through worldly wisdom is limited and ultimately leads to destruction. Why is worldly wisdom not enough? 

 Sin, Evil, Death, Dying, and What Happens After We Die

This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.

Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.

But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again. 

From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)

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Inviting God’s Presence

Holy Father, you have promised that if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask and you will give it to us.  Give us the wisdom we need to move into eternity. In Jesus’ Name Amen 

The wisdom of the world, worldly wisdom dominates our society today. Wordily wisdom maintains that all reality is only material. It supports the idea that there is no God, nor is there a supernatural realm that goes beyond human existence.  Although this idea is contrary to Christian belief and thinking, this philosophy or way of thinking is dominating the wisdom of the world. It has become so popular in our current society that we see it in how individuals respond to each other.  No wonder Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18–24 says that the wisdom of the wise, God will destroy. However, to those who hold Christ Crucified, Christ the Power of God, and the wisdom of God in the highest regard, shall be saved. 

The message of the Cross, the message of Jesus’ Crucified is far more important than any wisdom obtained from the world. The most important message related to the history of saving humanity is Jesus’ death on the cross.

It is said that “Eternity can never fathom the depth of love revealed in the cross of Calvary. It was there that the infinite love of Christ and the unbounded selfishness of Satan stood face to face.”—Stephen N. Haskell, The Cross and Its Shadow (South Lancaster, MA: Bible Training School, 1914), p. v.

In contrast between Jesus and Satan. On the cross, we see Jesus humbly offering Himself as a ransom to save us, humans, while Satan selfishly causes Him to suffer in terrible agony and pain.

You should know that Jesus didn’t die only the natural death that every person must die. Jesus died the second death. All those who accept Jesus will never have to experience this terrible death for themselves. Jesus has already done it for us.

 There are several important things and scriptures we need to keep in mind as it relates to the Cross and Jesus’ death on the Cross.

(1) First, The Cross shows us God’s justice as it relates to sin according to Romans 3:21–26.

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)

(2) The Cross is the ultimate in showing us God’s love for sinners as expressed in Romans 5:8.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

(3) The Cross provides the source of power we need to break the “chains” of sin as expressed in Romans 6:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 1:17–24.

Romans 6:22-23

22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23)

I Corinthians 1:17-24

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

18 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.

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;

23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (I Corinthians 1:17-24) 

(4) The Cross is our only hope of living eternally as indicated in Philippians 3:9–11; John 3:14–16; 1 John 5:11, 12

Philippians 3:9-11

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

11 if, by any means, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:9-11)

John 3:14-16

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16)

I John 5:11-12

11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (I John 5:11-12)

What’s more

 (5) the Cross is the only thing that can inoculate humans and angels against starting another war against God’s government as revealed in Revelation 7:13–17; Revelation 22:3.

Revelation 7:13-17

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.

16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 22:3

3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. (Revelation 22:3)

Without God’s help, even the wisest humans in the world, “the worldly world” can’t comprehend the Bible’s truths about the Cross.

It’s no wonder the “worldly wise” see the teachings about the Cross as foolishness. Neither should it come as a surprise that so many “worldly wise” refuse to acknowledge God or even believe that God created the universe even though his invisible attributes are clearly revealed.  It is for this very reason that those who do not acknowledge God will experience his anger or wrath according to Romans 1:18-20

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (Romans 1:18-20)

The word “Foolish” comes from Greek. The English word for it is “moron”. Hence the preaching of the Cross is “moronic” to the worldly-wise. They can’t and do not know Jesus or the saving love and power He offers us through His death on the cross. 

Therefore, though the teachings of worldly-wise may have much to offer, their wisdom should never supersede the wisdom of God or interfere with what we believe about Jesus Christ and the hope he offers through “the foolishness of the message preached”

(I Corinthians 1:21)

Be it known that:

“By bearing the penalty of sin, by going down into the grave, Christ has brightened the tomb for all who die in faith. God in human form has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. In dying, Christ secured eternal life for all who believe in Him. In dying, He condemned the originator of sin and disloyalty to suffer the penalty of sin—eternal death.

The possessor and giver of eternal life, Christ was the only one who could conquer death. He is our Redeemer.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, pp. 230, 231

If you have not accepted his sacrifice on the cross for your sins, Do so now, allow him to be your Redeemer, and escape the destruction that will come to the worldly-wise.

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