Man’s wisdom is to be righteous by works and self-effort.

But God’s wisdom is hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe to be righteous without doing any works!

In man’s eyes it is foolishness: how can we become righteous by just hearing the gospel and believing? That goes against all of man’s self-efforts and abilities.

But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God that seems like foolishness to the human mind of self-righteousness.

1 Corinthians 1 “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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” ²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ 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. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

The sin of Adam was self-righteousness, where he tried to become righteous (Godly) by knowing right and wrong through his works (Genesis 3).

The Israelites sinned by trying to be righteous by the ten commandments (Romans 9-11).

In God’s eyes, man’s efforts are foolishness.

What can man do to become righteous like God ?

What can a mere mortal do to be sinless and righteous like the immortal Almighty God who created the entire universe?

Nothing……

This is why God’s wisdom is to make us righteous by doing nothing but by believing the Good News about the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and rose on the third day to make us righteous without our works!

Jesus is God who did not sin, but on the cross He became all the sin of the world!

He took away all our sins! He rose from the dead to make us righteous freely!

Jesus did all the work – God did all the work – this is the GRACE of God.

We simply hear the good news and become righteous by faith in Jesus!

Romans 10 “⁴ Christ is the culmination of the law (man’s self-efforts) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes…..⁵ Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” ⁶ But the righteousness that is by faith says:…⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

When we believe in Jesus Christ, then we are made holy, righteous, and sinless as God Himself because Christ lives in us and He is our righteousness and sinless perfection!

1 Corinthians 1 “²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.””