I Corinthians 1:26-31: "The Calling of the Wise"
Paul again reminds his readers of their calling to bring them to the awareness of what God has done for them and expects of them. "For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble". By calling, Paul is referring to the saving and effectual call of God to their souls that illuminated their hearts to see his grace and mercy and need for a savior. Paul here is making a point that many of those called to Him, although in earthly and temporal terms may not be the most wise or mighty or noble, they are eternally rich in Christ. Paul is pointing out the fact that they should be grateful that they do not possess earthly status or power because these are often a stumbling block to many. Often when we have everything we need here on earth we have no sense of need for anything else, including a savior. MacArthur writes, "God is not looking for Phi Beta Kappas to save and to do His work. Nor is He looking for millionaires or famous athletes or entertainers or statesman. His salvation is open to them just as surely as to others, but only on the same basis of faith. The very things that put them ahead in the world may actually put them behind with God. It is the feeling of inadequacy that makes people aware that they have need, and often draws them to the gospel". Therefore, Paul is reminding them of the wonderful riches and blessings they have in Christ, and not to long after, or argue over, temporal pleasures that may have kept them from ever receiving Christ.
Paul continues his point regarding the paradox of Christianity, "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God". Paul is showing that God has purposefully set aside, and chosen the weak, despised 'nobodies' of the world, to glorify Himself. Again, Paul is trying to take the desire out of the Corinthians for worldly acceptance, and inspire them to remember the very things that caused them to gain a rich spiritual inheritance. MacArthur points out, "The world measures greatness by many standards. At the top are intelligence, wealth, prestige, and position- things which God has determined to put at the bottom. God reveals the greatness of His power by demonstrating that it is the world's nobodies that are His somebodies". Proving this point is the very word's of Jesus himself who proclaimed in Matthew 11:11, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist". This man had no political power, no wealth, he lived in the desert, wore unimpressive clothing, ate wild honey, and had no social status. However, God took this man and made him into the greatest man who had ever lived. This means everything coming from the creator of the universe. Paul explains to us the reason that God would do this, "that no man should boast before God". God's purpose in saving those who are in earthly terms, "despised" and "nothing", is to show His wonderful mercy, and that God may receive all the glory. We are reminded of this in Eph. 2:8-9, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship". If we looked around and all those who had been saved by God were the richest, most athletic, best looking, on the earth, we would all tend to think that they had done something to deserve salvation, or that they had earned it through their status or skill. However, God crushes that thinking by showing the world, that there is nothing that you can DO to be saved.
Paul continues to remind his readers that all they have is from God including the many benefits of salvation. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption". This shows us that by believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord in our lives, what we did not have in earthly terms we have gained super abundantly in Christ. By accepting Christ we have received the very wisdom of God. MacArthur writes, "[Believers] not only are saved by God's wisdom rather than their own but are given God's wisdom to replace their own. The truly wise of this world are those whose wisdom is not of this world but is from the Lord. Christians can say without pride or self-boasting, that they have become wise in Jesus Christ". Not only that, but once we receive Jesus Christ as Lord, we receive His righteousness. Without Christ's righteousness, we would still be at enmity with God, and never be able to be in His presence. However, the second we trusted in Christ, we received His very righteousness. We have exchanged our sin and filthiness for the perfect righteous and holy life that Christ lived. All this was done on the cross, that God might be glorified in reconciling us to Him. We also receive God's sanctification. MacArthur writes, "In Christ we are set apart, made holy. We are declared righteous in Christ and are made holy in Christ. When we receive Christ's nature we receive His incorruptible seed, the seed which is not, and cannot be, habitually corrupted by sin". Lastly Paul points out that we not only receive God's wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but we receive redemption as well. We have been bought back. Once lost to sin and damned to hell, God has reclaimed those who have believed in Christ. Ephesians 1:14 says, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory". Later in this letter, Paul will tell his readers that they have, "been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body". We have been purchased and redeemed by God and God alone, and we are to therefore give Him all the glory as he deserves. So that, "just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord'". Paul is pointing out that there should be no arguing or disunity over who baptized who, or who is more wealthy or wise, etc. Instead the only boasting that should ever come off their lips is boasting in the Lord who has given them such heavenly riches. May this put in check our pride. May we remember all Christ has done for us. Do we find ourselves lifting ourselves up and telling others what we have done, or are we pointing them to Christ telling them about what he has done?
Paul continues his point regarding the paradox of Christianity, "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God". Paul is showing that God has purposefully set aside, and chosen the weak, despised 'nobodies' of the world, to glorify Himself. Again, Paul is trying to take the desire out of the Corinthians for worldly acceptance, and inspire them to remember the very things that caused them to gain a rich spiritual inheritance. MacArthur points out, "The world measures greatness by many standards. At the top are intelligence, wealth, prestige, and position- things which God has determined to put at the bottom. God reveals the greatness of His power by demonstrating that it is the world's nobodies that are His somebodies". Proving this point is the very word's of Jesus himself who proclaimed in Matthew 11:11, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist". This man had no political power, no wealth, he lived in the desert, wore unimpressive clothing, ate wild honey, and had no social status. However, God took this man and made him into the greatest man who had ever lived. This means everything coming from the creator of the universe. Paul explains to us the reason that God would do this, "that no man should boast before God". God's purpose in saving those who are in earthly terms, "despised" and "nothing", is to show His wonderful mercy, and that God may receive all the glory. We are reminded of this in Eph. 2:8-9, "For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship". If we looked around and all those who had been saved by God were the richest, most athletic, best looking, on the earth, we would all tend to think that they had done something to deserve salvation, or that they had earned it through their status or skill. However, God crushes that thinking by showing the world, that there is nothing that you can DO to be saved.
Paul continues to remind his readers that all they have is from God including the many benefits of salvation. "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption". This shows us that by believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord in our lives, what we did not have in earthly terms we have gained super abundantly in Christ. By accepting Christ we have received the very wisdom of God. MacArthur writes, "[Believers] not only are saved by God's wisdom rather than their own but are given God's wisdom to replace their own. The truly wise of this world are those whose wisdom is not of this world but is from the Lord. Christians can say without pride or self-boasting, that they have become wise in Jesus Christ". Not only that, but once we receive Jesus Christ as Lord, we receive His righteousness. Without Christ's righteousness, we would still be at enmity with God, and never be able to be in His presence. However, the second we trusted in Christ, we received His very righteousness. We have exchanged our sin and filthiness for the perfect righteous and holy life that Christ lived. All this was done on the cross, that God might be glorified in reconciling us to Him. We also receive God's sanctification. MacArthur writes, "In Christ we are set apart, made holy. We are declared righteous in Christ and are made holy in Christ. When we receive Christ's nature we receive His incorruptible seed, the seed which is not, and cannot be, habitually corrupted by sin". Lastly Paul points out that we not only receive God's wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but we receive redemption as well. We have been bought back. Once lost to sin and damned to hell, God has reclaimed those who have believed in Christ. Ephesians 1:14 says, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory". Later in this letter, Paul will tell his readers that they have, "been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body". We have been purchased and redeemed by God and God alone, and we are to therefore give Him all the glory as he deserves. So that, "just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord'". Paul is pointing out that there should be no arguing or disunity over who baptized who, or who is more wealthy or wise, etc. Instead the only boasting that should ever come off their lips is boasting in the Lord who has given them such heavenly riches. May this put in check our pride. May we remember all Christ has done for us. Do we find ourselves lifting ourselves up and telling others what we have done, or are we pointing them to Christ telling them about what he has done?
posted by amesfam | 10:23 AM
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