Can salvation be reached by earthly wisdom?

For the story of the cross is sheer absurdity to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1st Corinthians 1:18)

Some few verses later, the Bible says that the preaching of Jesus Christ crucified is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block to the Jews, and absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense to the Gentiles, which pursue (earthly) wisdom. But God deliberately put the wise to shame so that no mortal man should boast in the presence of God.

It is not about earthly wisdom. In the gospel of John, chapter 3 verse 3, Jesus made it clear that unless a human being is born again, he/she cannot see the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh; and has human nature. Human nature cannot see the kingdom of God. But what is born of the Spirit is spirit; and has divine nature. It requires divine nature to see the kingdom of God. However much the human nature tries, the story of the cross will remain sheer absurdity. But to those who are born again and have divine nature, the story of the cross is the power of God.

Are you trying to find salvation by earthly wisdom? You may as well give up at once, because you will never succeed; you will need to be born again.

Are you trying to prove salvation to be wrong? Again, you may as well give up at once, because however many ”proofs” you should find, the story of the cross will still be the power of God to us who are saved.

Jesus says: ”Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). He has finished everything necessary for your salvation. All you need to do is to open the door and let Him in.