WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:09.800 Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, page 952, if you are looking in 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:10.380 a pew Bible. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:18.960 We are looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verses 26 to the end of the chapter this morning. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:28.920 These are Paul's words to the church in Corinth and God's words to us. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.380 1 Corinthians 1, beginning at verse 26. 00:00:34.500 --> 00:00:36.920 For consider your calling, brothers. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:41.880 Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:44.299 Not many were powerful. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:47.480 Not many were of noble birth. 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:54.600 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. 00:00:55.579 --> 00:00:59.000 God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:06.459 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring 00:01:06.459 --> 00:01:13.260 to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 00:01:13.260 --> 00:01:23.480 And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:27.080 and sanctification and redemption. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:33.100 So that as it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:36.259 What do you boast in? 00:01:37.539 --> 00:01:39.419 In other words, what do you take pride in? 00:01:39.500 --> 00:01:41.239 What do you delight in? 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:42.919 What do you sing about? 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:44.479 What do you like to talk about? 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:48.919 What would motivate you to throw a big party and invite all your friends to come? 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.199 At one level, boasting is a very natural human activity. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:02:01.840 When we're closely connected to someone or something that we deeply value, boasting is our natural 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:02.780 human response. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:08.659 Think of sports fans boasting about the prospects or accomplishments of their team. 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:14.199 I'm originally from the Boston area, so we remember well the fall of 2004. 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:21.259 The Red Sox came back from being down 3-0 in the ALCS against the Yankees, defeated them, 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:25.479 and then defeated the Cardinals 4-0 and swept them in the World Series. 00:02:25.659 --> 00:02:26.759 Boston went crazy. 00:02:27.659 --> 00:02:33.060 If any city knows how to boast about their sports teams, it's Boston, if you've ever been there 00:02:33.060 --> 00:02:35.379 and ever lived there, right? 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:39.239 But boasting isn't always loud and obnoxious, like it usually is in Boston. 00:02:39.839 --> 00:02:41.959 Sometimes it's subtle and under the surface. 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:45.020 It can take the form of name dropping. 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.840 I studied with Professor So-and-so at Oxford or at Stanford. 00:02:51.980 --> 00:02:56.939 And if you're in the academic world, everyone sort of knows where different schools and research 00:02:56.939 --> 00:02:59.300 institutes fit on the ladder. 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:02.860 Parents boast about their kids and their achievements. 00:03:03.140 --> 00:03:06.819 Patriotic citizens take pride in their nation and its leaders. 00:03:07.040 --> 00:03:11.740 Businesses boldly advertise their commitment to certain values, whether it's environmental 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:16.240 sustainability or fair trade or providing tuition reimbursement for their employees. 00:03:17.040 --> 00:03:22.040 Boasting is a very natural and very pervasive human activity, right? 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:23.760 We're closely connected to someone or something. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:24.580 We deeply value. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:25.460 We boast about it. 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:29.060 But on the other hand, boasting can also be very dangerous. 00:03:29.060 --> 00:03:37.020 Particularly when the object of our boasting can't bear the weight of our claims about it. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:39.400 Often our boasting is hollow. 00:03:39.580 --> 00:03:40.520 It's sort of like a balloon. 00:03:41.140 --> 00:03:43.039 It inflates gradually. 00:03:43.860 --> 00:03:48.539 And then the moment someone pokes a hole in it, it collapses. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:51.539 Because it lacks real substance. 00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:56.740 At other times, boasting can lead to rivalry and resentment and even violence. 00:03:56.740 --> 00:04:01.280 The Corinthian Christians lived in a culture that was full of boasting. 00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:06.360 Highly concerned with honor and reputation. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:14.820 There were the sophists, the public speakers, the opinion columnists, the bloggers, the talk 00:04:14.820 --> 00:04:16.460 show hosts, the philosophers of the day. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:22.160 They boasted that they were wise, influential, and distinguished. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:30.260 And then there were patrons, political leaders, or heads of upper class families who had connections 00:04:30.260 --> 00:04:32.540 and money and power. 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:38.420 And if you didn't have a high position in society on your own, you would often try to attach yourselves 00:04:38.420 --> 00:04:41.540 to one of these sophists or patrons. 00:04:41.540 --> 00:04:48.700 So that you could share in and sort of derivatively benefit from their honorable status. 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:51.620 So that you could have something to boast about too. 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:54.580 I belong to that team. 00:04:55.580 --> 00:04:55.960 Right? 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:56.800 I follow him. 00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:00.060 And we see that even the Christians in Corinth were doing this. 00:05:00.840 --> 00:05:03.400 Chapter one, some of them were saying, I'm of Paul. 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:05.080 I'm of Apollos. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:06.259 I'm of Cephas. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:11.279 They were seeing these leaders in the church as people that they could attach themselves 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:14.019 to and benefit from. 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:17.139 Paul was very concerned about this pattern. 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:22.500 He was concerned about his effects because it was promoting all kinds of rivalries and 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:24.139 divisions in the church. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.839 So as we saw two weeks ago, he began with an appeal for unity. 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:34.159 Chapter one, verse 10, I appeal to you by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:37.320 you agree and that there'd be no divisions among you. 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.240 But Paul wasn't just concerned about the social effects of boasting. 00:05:41.380 --> 00:05:43.660 He was also concerned about its root cause. 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:50.780 And that's what he addresses from chapter one, verse 18 to chapter two, verse five. 00:05:51.520 --> 00:05:56.820 And the main theme in this section that we're in the middle of is he says, you're defining 00:05:56.820 --> 00:06:03.520 yourselves according to your culture standards rather than defining yourselves according to God's 00:06:03.520 --> 00:06:03.980 standards. 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:11.740 You're more attached to what he calls worldly wisdom than to God's wisdom. 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:14.100 And that's the main contrast. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:20.680 If you last week, we looked at verse 18 through 25, where Paul says, remember the message of 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:26.540 the cross itself, the message that defines you as believers in Jesus. 00:06:26.540 --> 00:06:31.120 It looked like weakness and foolishness to the world. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.220 The Messiah hanging on a Roman cross. 00:06:34.220 --> 00:06:38.980 But he says, no, but it's the power of God for salvation for you who believe. 00:06:39.760 --> 00:06:42.260 And chapter two, verse one through five, which we'll look at next week. 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:49.340 Paul says, remember how I proclaim the message to you, not with fancy rhetoric in a way that 00:06:49.340 --> 00:06:55.480 the world would immediately be flattered by, but in demonstration of the spirit and power. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:07:01.939 And here in this middle section, 26 through 31, he says, remember who you were when you 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:03.439 received the message. 00:07:04.640 --> 00:07:05.900 Consider your calling. 00:07:05.899 --> 00:07:09.419 That is your calling to faith in Jesus. 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:14.199 Now, the church in Corinth had only been around for about three years when Paul wrote this letter. 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:20.399 He had spent time in Corinth in AD 52, probably wrote this letter right around AD 55. 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:28.519 So all of them could first could remember when they were first called into the family of God, when they 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:30.899 first came to faith in Jesus. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:35.599 Paul says, think of what you were when you were called to faith. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.299 Not many of you were wise, according to worldly standards. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:40.459 Not many were powerful. 00:07:41.039 --> 00:07:42.659 Not many of you were of noble birth. 00:07:43.299 --> 00:07:47.479 In other words, most of you weren't clever, influential, or distinguished. 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:50.640 You weren't the cream of the crop in the eyes of the world. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:53.500 You weren't completely put together and competent in everything. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:57.240 You didn't measure up to the Corinthian standards of success. 00:07:57.860 --> 00:08:05.240 Now, of course, that's a risky thing to say, especially in a city where people came to that 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:11.080 city precisely in order to get ahead and climb the social ladder and gain a status they didn't 00:08:11.080 --> 00:08:11.860 have before. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:14.340 And Paul wanted to challenge them. 00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:21.219 You think, why are you competing with each other and defining yourself according to the 00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:24.939 world's standards when most of you wouldn't measure up to those standards anyway? 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:34.240 Both then and now, the majority of Christians have not been drawn from the intellectual elite, 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:37.779 the politically powerful, or the socially prominent. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.480 And some people have criticized Christianity for just this reason. 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:48.240 In the second century, the Greek philosopher Kelsus wrote the first book that we know of, 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:50.379 specifically attacking Christianity. 00:08:51.560 --> 00:08:57.300 And in it, he argued, no one who is educated or prudent or wise embraces the gospel. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:03.840 Christians are able to win over only the silly, the poor, and the stupid, along with women 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.420 and children. 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:11.979 In other words, he's saying Christianity is for poor, ignorant people, but we well-educated 00:09:11.979 --> 00:09:12.860 men know better. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:19.439 Now, a Christian scholar named Origen responded to Kelsus in part by referring to this passage. 00:09:20.679 --> 00:09:27.419 Origen said, the apostle did not say, not any of you were wise, but not many of you were 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:27.939 wise. 00:09:27.940 --> 00:09:33.720 In fact, we know of a few people in the church at Corinth in particular who would have been 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:34.660 socially prominent. 00:09:35.760 --> 00:09:42.040 Acts 18, verse 8, talks about Crispus, who is the ruler of the synagogue and the head of a household. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:45.460 He came to believe in Jesus, and Paul baptized him. 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:53.400 Romans 16, verse 23, the letter to the Romans was written from Corinth, refers to Erastus as 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:58.179 the city treasurer, and to Gaius, host to me and to the whole church. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:04.699 Priscilla and Aquila were business people who owned a house in which Paul stayed, Acts 18, 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:05.419 1 to 3. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:08.439 Phoebe was a deacon in the church at St. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:10.500 Crea, which was a port of Corinth. 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:13.980 She was a patron of many, Romans 16, 1 and 2. 00:10:14.439 --> 00:10:18.120 Likely, she was the one who carried Paul's letter to the Romans all the way from Corinth 00:10:18.120 --> 00:10:18.679 to Rome. 00:10:18.679 --> 00:10:25.120 So some Christians in the church at Corinth were well-educated and socially prominent. 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:32.099 And throughout church history, God has used, God has raised up well-educated scholars like 00:10:32.099 --> 00:10:37.139 Irenaeus and Athanasius in the early church, or Augustine and Anselm and Aquinas in the 00:10:37.139 --> 00:10:41.019 Middle Ages, or Calvin and Jonathan Edwards and many others in the modern era. 00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:47.059 God has turned the hearts of some well-connected political leaders to submit to the lordship of 00:10:47.059 --> 00:10:50.799 Jesus Christ and to rule with justice and mercy and wisdom. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:56.779 You might think of William Wilberforce and the so-called Clapham sect, a group of elite 00:10:56.779 --> 00:11:02.059 Christians in Britain in the 19th century who campaigned tirelessly for the end of the 00:11:02.059 --> 00:11:05.359 slave trade and a whole host of other social reforms. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:13.700 But for the most part, the church throughout history, then and now, has been composed of ordinary, 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:14.820 unremarkable people. 00:11:16.180 --> 00:11:16.600 Right? 00:11:16.659 --> 00:11:21.960 The church in Corinth was not an upper-class social club for the ruling elites. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:28.320 It was not a comfortable place for the middle class to simply network with other people who 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.120 are like themselves. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:32.320 It included people from all across the spectrum. 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:37.179 Some of the highest, but also many of the lowest. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.899 People who are low and despised. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.820 Nobodies in the eyes of the world. 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:42.539 Slaves. 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:46.220 Manual laborers who lived on the edge of destitution and starvation. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:47.700 And that was challenging. 00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:52.659 As we'll see later in the letter, there were some tensions between these different social 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:53.100 groups. 00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:55.019 Comes up in chapters 8 through 11. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:57.439 But we'll get to that later. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.000 But Paul begins with a simple reminder. 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:03.399 Not many of you were clever, influential, and distinguished. 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:07.079 But you might say, why does Paul care to point out that fact? 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:11.620 Why does it matter what social class or educational background the early Christians were from anyway? 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:13.139 Wouldn't that be irrelevant? 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:15.159 Well, not quite. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:22.340 Paul wanted to remind the Corinthians, and the Holy Spirit wants to remind us, that God does 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:24.220 not operate on this world's terms. 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:31.620 God does not choose people because they are intellectually superior or politically influential 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.799 or socially prominent. 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:38.559 In fact, God chooses some of the most unlikely people to carry out his purposes in this world. 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:44.179 Verse 27, God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. 00:12:44.939 --> 00:12:47.379 God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:51.500 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:58.159 things that are so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 00:12:58.159 --> 00:13:05.439 See, God chooses the most unlikely people to belong to him and carry out his work in the world 00:13:05.439 --> 00:13:14.639 so that we can see the emptiness of boasting in our worldly wisdom and power and ancestry 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.600 and accomplishments. 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:21.159 You know, think about many of the people who are most prominent in the story of the Bible. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:23.319 Take the book of Genesis. 00:13:24.699 --> 00:13:29.799 In a patriarchal society where the oldest son was expected to receive the inheritance, 00:13:29.959 --> 00:13:34.679 God consistently chooses the younger son to be more prominent than the older. 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:42.899 God favored Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Judah over Reuben and Simeon and Levi. 00:13:44.479 --> 00:13:45.759 You might wonder what's going on. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:50.719 Well, at the very least, God is turning social expectations upside down. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:55.639 Saying, I'm choosing to work with the people that you don't expect. 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.859 Or take the book of Judges. 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:00.779 One of the darkest times in Israel's history, 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:05.500 God raised up some of the most unlikely people to save his people from their enemies. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:11.939 He chose Gideon, the youngest in his family, from the weakest clan of his tribe, 00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:14.019 hiding in fear because of his enemies. 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:16.699 And he says, Gideon, I've chosen you to be a mighty warrior. 00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.459 Or he chose Jephthah. 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:24.360 Jephthah was the son of a prostitute who became basically a gang leader. 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:27.259 His older half-brothers kicked him out of the house. 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:33.919 And so he went elsewhere and hung out with, as Judges says, some worthless fellows. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.019 Yeah. 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:39.700 But God raised him up to deliver his people from the Midianites. 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:41.639 Again, not who you'd expect. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:45.840 Moses said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy, 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:50.220 he said, it was not because you were more in number than any other people 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:52.960 that the Lord set his love on you and chose you. 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:57.840 You were the fewest of all peoples, but it's simply because the Lord loves you 00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:59.840 and is keeping his promise. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:03.080 In the New Testament, the same pattern continued. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.740 Jesus Christ chose 12 disciples. 00:15:05.900 --> 00:15:06.920 He didn't choose them. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:12.460 He didn't choose the cream of the crop from the most advanced rabbinical schools of the day 00:15:12.460 --> 00:15:15.259 or the most powerful officials in Herod's court 00:15:15.259 --> 00:15:17.759 or leading men from prominent families in Jerusalem. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.460 He chose fishermen. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.840 He chose a tax collector. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.440 He chose a revolutionary zealot. 00:15:26.040 --> 00:15:30.700 Now, to be sure, some of the rich and famous did come to follow Jesus as well. 00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:34.899 People like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.240 who were Jewish ruling council members, 00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:41.899 or a Roman centurion who commanded hundreds of soldiers under him, 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:45.399 or wealthy women, including one from Herod's household 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:47.639 who supported Jesus out of their own means. 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:54.419 But Jesus didn't build his kingdom on the rich and famous or on the wise and influential. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:57.100 He didn't give them special preferential treatment. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.279 The apostle James said, 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.960 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, 00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:08.139 has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.100 which he has promised to those who love him? 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:13.519 See, the point is this. 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:18.159 Paul wanted the Corinthians to look around at each other when they were meeting together 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:19.860 and be reminded, 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:26.019 God didn't choose us because we were the greatest or the richest or the strongest 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:31.279 or the smartest or the most athletic or the most artistic or the most funny or the most beautiful. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:39.839 No, God acted through Jesus Christ on our behalf in his sovereign saving grace. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:45.459 And that's the only reason why we're here now together in Christ Jesus. 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.519 Verse 30, 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:49.980 Because of him, you're in Christ Jesus. 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:55.339 It's not because of anything that we've done or anything we can boast about. 00:16:55.340 --> 00:17:03.480 It's only God's saving power, God's life-giving intervention that has brought us from the kingdom of sin and darkness 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.700 into the kingdom of light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:17:08.600 --> 00:17:14.720 Salvation is by God's grace alone through the work of Jesus Christ and to the glory of God alone. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:19.440 Now, if you've come to Trinity, you'll probably think, 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:22.220 Yeah, I seem to hear this message over and over. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:26.720 And the reason is we think it's a message that the Bible teaches over and over. 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.400 And so that's why we say it over and over. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.240 And because it's a message we need to hear over and over. 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:37.279 Salvation is by grace and God's act. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:41.420 And not by our accomplishments and our performance. 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.079 One person put it this way, 00:17:45.180 --> 00:17:50.140 Salvation in Jesus Christ is not a human self-improvement scheme, but a radical rescue. 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:57.700 And therefore, grace is not only the great unifier, but also the great leveler. 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:02.740 In other words, the ground is level at the foot of the cross. 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:07.519 You see, Paul's writing to the Corinthians. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:14.460 Who are vying for honor and status and who are upwardly mobile and ambitious to make it in the world. 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:17.059 And he says, why are you envying one another? 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:21.940 Why are you pulling each other down in order to get ahead? 00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:25.480 Why are you vying for prominence in the world's terms? 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.559 Consider your calling. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:29.819 Most of you weren't that successful in the world's eyes in the first place. 00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:30.839 God chose you. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.559 The foolish, the weak, the nobodies. 00:18:33.659 --> 00:18:35.740 In order to confound the world's expectations. 00:18:35.919 --> 00:18:37.559 And now you are in Christ Jesus. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.539 You are part of God's new creation. 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.259 His coming kingdom. 00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:46.579 You have something far better than intellectual expertise. 00:18:46.940 --> 00:18:48.399 Or political power. 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.039 Or social standing. 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:54.740 In Christ Jesus, you have received from God righteousness. 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.779 And sanctification. 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.180 And redemption. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:02.480 Now these are three very profound words. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:07.059 That all describe the reality of being in Christ Jesus. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:14.779 Righteousness means you are accepted in the heavenly law court. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.619 It means that your sins have been brought before God, the judge. 00:19:18.619 --> 00:19:20.839 And they have been paid for. 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.419 Once and for all. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:25.739 By the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. 00:19:26.719 --> 00:19:30.399 And therefore God has declared you free from condemnation. 00:19:31.139 --> 00:19:33.679 Free from the fear of future punishment. 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:39.179 Your past, your present, and your future are defined by the divine verdict. 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.500 Bestowed upon you. 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:46.179 In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:50.799 In Jesus Christ, you are accepted. 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:55.640 In Jesus Christ, your status before God is secure. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:20:00.980 This is the righteousness that is ours in Jesus Christ. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:05.380 But we also have, but he also talks about sanctification. 00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:08.360 Again, another angle on the same reality. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:13.000 Which means you have access into the heavenly temple. 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:19.579 Now sometimes the word sanctification is used to describe our gradual growth in holiness. 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:24.380 But in 1 Corinthians, it's more often used to describe our holy status. 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:27.299 Our status as people set apart for God. 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:31.559 We have access into God's presence. 00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.599 We are God's people. 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:37.339 Clothes in priestly garments. 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:40.359 Equipped to enter into God's presence. 00:20:40.699 --> 00:20:43.139 And offer him acceptable worship. 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:46.699 We have been cleansed from the stain of sin. 00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:51.359 Our bodies are now members of Jesus Christ himself. 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:53.779 We are one in spirit with him. 00:20:54.639 --> 00:20:56.500 We have access into his presence. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.420 We can draw near to God in prayer. 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:02.680 And we can worship him with our lips and our lives. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.480 Sanctification. 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.640 Third, redemption. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.220 We belong. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.740 We belong to our heavenly Lord. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:17.880 Now in the ancient world, to redeem someone was to buy them out of bondage. 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:21.420 To set them free from slavery. 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:24.819 To bring them into a position of dignity and freedom. 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:28.500 Later on, Paul will say, you are not your own. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.559 For you were bought with a price. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:34.399 So glorify God in your body. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:38.339 Brothers and sisters, in Jesus Christ, we are redeemed. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:42.759 We are liberated from bondage and humiliation and despair. 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:48.659 And we are set free to belong to our heavenly Lord, Jesus Christ. 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:53.079 Paul says, in Jesus Christ, you are accepted. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.119 You have access. 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.699 And you belong. 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.799 To God himself. 00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:03.220 That's what it means to be in Christ Jesus. 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:08.740 And the ways that you experience those things now. 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:12.220 Your acceptance before God. 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.559 Your access to his presence. 00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:14.779 Your belonging to him. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.240 It's only the beginning. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:22.579 You've only begun to experience the first installment of a glorious inheritance. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:28.859 That will be revealed more and more throughout your life and into all eternity. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.980 So brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:37.980 Let me ask us the same questions that Paul was asking the Corinthians. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:44.140 Why are we setting our heart on getting ahead on the world's terms? 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:50.660 Why are you so concerned that people recognize you as a clever intellectual? 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.140 Or a big player in politics? 00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:55.000 Or a member of a distinguished family? 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:58.860 Why are you finding your identity and seeking your security in such things? 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:05.219 Don't we realize that what we already have in Jesus Christ is so much better? 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:09.139 And if you're not a Christian, let me ask you this. 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:18.899 Don't you also see the futility of boasting in your cleverness or your clout or your genes? 00:23:18.900 --> 00:23:22.500 Do you long to know that you are accepted? 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:24.300 That you have access? 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:27.180 That you belong to the maker of all things? 00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:30.740 Maybe you're not yet convinced that Christianity is true. 00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:33.380 But is there something inside you that wishes it were? 00:23:36.540 --> 00:23:40.800 You know, when we're closely connected to someone or something that we deeply value, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.880 boasting is our natural human response. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:45.259 And Paul wants to say, look at who you are. 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:49.839 Look at who you are in Christ Jesus. 00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:53.379 Isn't that more than enough to take pride in? 00:23:54.379 --> 00:23:58.660 Isn't that the bond that unites us as a church more than anything else? 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:04.259 Isn't our righteousness and sanctification and redemption an unending source of joy? 00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:12.279 Isn't that worth throwing a big party and inviting all your friends and even your enemies to come 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:15.279 just because of who Jesus is and what he's done? 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:21.420 As it is written, let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:28.000 Now let me conclude with some particular words of application about what that looks like. 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:31.079 This passage mentions two basic groups of people. 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:36.039 The not many who were wise, powerful, and noble birth. 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:37.660 And the many who are not. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:39.680 So let me speak briefly to each group in turn. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.640 First, to the not many. 00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.960 To those who are wise, powerful, or of noble birth. 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.039 Now our church is a bit unusual. 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:49.700 That's right. 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:55.580 If you look around, probably at least half of you would fit in one of those categories. 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:57.820 Especially wise in the eyes of the world. 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:58.460 Right? 00:24:58.600 --> 00:24:59.299 Well educated. 00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.620 Intellectuals. 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:07.160 What does it look like for you, if you're in one of those categories, to boast in the Lord? 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.799 Two things. 00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:15.339 Number one, even if you're on your way up in the world, keep your eyes fixed on the kingdom of God. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:21.059 Now this was the challenge that Daniel faced in Babylon. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.339 Before I came to college, my dad said to me, read the book of Daniel. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:29.680 Because Daniel also was enrolled in an elite training program. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:33.200 In a secular university of his day, basically. 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:34.960 In the most powerful empire of his day. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:38.920 And he had great opportunity, but he also had great challenges. 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:41.000 But he didn't forget who he was. 00:25:41.820 --> 00:25:44.660 And most of all, he didn't forget who he belonged to. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:50.140 And if you read the book of Daniel, it's a picture of what it looks like to be loyal to God and his kingdom. 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:53.960 While inhabiting a high position in this world. 00:25:55.440 --> 00:26:00.900 A couple years ago, we had an Oxford math professor named John Lennox come and speak at this church. 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:05.200 And there's one thing that he said that really stuck with me. 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.600 He said something like this. 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.580 I'm not quoting exactly. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:13.640 But he basically said, if you're a PhD student in, say, applied physics. 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:18.980 Devoting six years of your life to study the movements of microscopic particles. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:21.860 And the possible implications for engineering and technology. 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:30.519 Do you study the Bible with the same ambition and devotion and care and perseverance? 00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:34.859 He said, the Bible is God's word. 00:26:35.919 --> 00:26:45.959 Is that not worth our best efforts to study it and learn and delve into it and consider its implications for all of our lives? 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:48.279 So let me encourage you. 00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:51.459 Even if you're on your way up in the world, keep your eyes fixed on the kingdom of God. 00:26:51.460 --> 00:27:00.400 Second, delight in loving people who, as Paul says, are foolish, weak, low, and despised in the world. 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:02.279 Paul's using those terms a bit ironically. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:16.259 But, you know, there are many privileged people who are periodically motivated by feelings of duty and guilt to do something for people who aren't so well off in this world. 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:24.720 There are maybe a few people who are wise and powerful who just seem to be completely self-centered jerks and don't ever care about that at all. 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:24.900 Right? 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:30.619 But most people experience at least periodic pangs of feelings of guilt and duty. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:38.879 And so the problem is duty and guilt will not get you very far in loving people who are not like yourselves. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.280 Right? 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:46.400 You might give the guy five dollars on the street and at the same time you feel resentment that he has interrupted your walk to lunch. 00:27:47.540 --> 00:27:55.520 Or you will be happy that someone else in the church is serving those people because now you feel you're off the hook. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:59.720 But look at what this passage says about God. 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:08.000 It does not say that God showed mercy to sinners like us out of occasional feelings of duty and guilt. 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.099 No. 00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:18.379 God chose what is foolish in the world, what is weak in the world, what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not. 00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:26.740 In his love, God intentionally chose us to enter into lasting relationship with him. 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:37.780 God, the king of the universe, chose us who compared to him are all weak and poor and foolish and despised and wouldn't exist without him. 00:28:39.380 --> 00:28:43.440 God chose us in his love to belong to him. 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:50.559 He bestowed upon us righteousness and sanctification and redemption at the cost of his very own life on the cross. 00:28:51.420 --> 00:29:00.660 And so to those of us who are clever or influential or have high standing in the eyes of the world, 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:08.220 God invites us to share in his delight in loving people who don't have that status in the world. 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:11.180 Because our status in the world isn't really what matters anyway. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:26.660 God calls us not just to occasionally serve out of feelings of duty and guilt, but to delight in loving people who don't have a high status in the world. 00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:32.140 And in the process, God humbles us because he shows us our own weaknesses. 00:29:32.320 --> 00:29:36.600 And he shows us how weak and lowly and poor and inadequate we are. 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:45.319 And God also blesses us with the joy of understanding his grace and his more deeply. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:56.799 Second, to those of you who are the many, who are not wise, powerful, or distinguished in the eyes of the world, let me say this. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:30:05.659 Develop a strong identity and sense of security in Jesus Christ and in his love for you. 00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:14.000 You know, it's very common to feel a sense of shame and self-consciousness, especially in a competitive society, 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:17.940 about your relative lack of worldly status and achievements. 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:21.880 Maybe you feel like you don't measure up to other people intellectually. 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:28.220 And so you're scared to ever say anything in Bible study, even if you've been going for three years. 00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:37.759 Maybe you feel powerless because of your lack of educational background or because you have a criminal record. 00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:41.440 You'll never be qualified for a good job. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:45.259 Maybe your family's a mess. 00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:48.380 It consumes a lot of your time. 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:51.059 And other people don't even know about it. 00:30:51.100 --> 00:30:53.420 And you're ashamed to even share that. 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:59.759 You know, when we feel ashamed or insecure about ourselves for these or other reasons, 00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:08.000 what we often try to do is to compensate by finding something else that we can boast in. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:14.480 So maybe it's our physical strength or maybe it's our ability to make people laugh or maybe it's our ability to talk on and on. 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:20.259 Sometimes that can be an expression of our insecurity and shame. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:25.619 We try to compensate for our undistinguished past by our present achievements. 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:28.180 That's what people were trying to do back in Corinth. 00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:32.180 The city was full of people from undistinguished backgrounds. 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.960 Slaves who had achieved their freedom. 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:41.740 And they were trying to get ahead and trying to be successful and gain status in the world for the first time. 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:45.380 But underneath, they were deeply anxious and insecure. 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:50.700 And that's why there was so much boasting and rivalry and competition within the church. 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:56.220 And Paul says, brothers and sisters in Christ, don't live that way. 00:31:57.220 --> 00:32:00.960 Don't stake your identity on what you hope to accomplish in the future. 00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:09.259 Stake your identity and find your security in Jesus Christ and in what he has accomplished for you. 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:11.400 Righteousness, you are accepted. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:19.440 Sanctification, you have access to the most privileged place in the universe, the presence of God. 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:22.079 Redemption, you belong to Jesus. 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:27.199 If you're not clever or influential or distinguished on the world's terms, rejoice. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:30.419 That God has chosen you to be in Jesus Christ. 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:33.460 You are included in the family of God. 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:36.699 You are a living testimony that God is no respecter of persons. 00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:41.039 And that God willingly lavishes his grace on all who will call on him. 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:45.579 When Jesus returns, you will participate in ruling over God's new world. 00:32:45.699 --> 00:32:48.480 Paul says in 1 Corinthians, we will even judge the angels. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.839 Imagine that. 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:51.799 But you will be part of that. 00:32:52.419 --> 00:32:56.259 You have much to boast about in Jesus Christ. 00:32:57.659 --> 00:33:04.480 And so go back to that Bible study where you feel ashamed to say a thing and remember who you are in Christ. 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.679 It's fine if you want to be quiet. 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:11.059 The Bible says it's good to be quick to listen and slow to speak. 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.079 It's a good example. 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:16.639 But if you have a question or a comment that could help someone, say it. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:22.820 Or even talk to someone afterwards and express your question or your comment and it will benefit them. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.759 Go back to your job. 00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:28.079 Even if you feel like quitting. 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:31.819 Even if it isn't at all impressive. 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:34.319 And remember who you are in Christ. 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:38.299 And do your work to the glory of God and not for the praise of men. 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:43.039 Go back to your family if it's falling apart. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:45.019 And remember who you are in Christ. 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:48.779 God has called you to be a peacemaker. 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:51.660 And a truth speaker. 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:54.920 And know that you have brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:56.200 A family in Christ. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.799 Who can pray for you. 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.619 And walk alongside you. 00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:03.000 As you seek to minister to your family. 00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:06.960 Brothers and sisters, whatever your status in the world. 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:11.300 Whether the world would see you as low or high. 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.519 Or anywhere in between. 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.860 Remember your calling. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:20.340 Remember your identity in Jesus Christ. 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:23.039 And make your boast in him. 00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:24.240 Let's pray. 00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:24.280 Let's pray. 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:37.420 God we thank you. 00:34:39.120 --> 00:34:40.420 That in your mercy. 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:43.580 You have chosen each one of us. 00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:45.340 And called us to belong to you. 00:34:47.820 --> 00:34:49.560 Not because of our own. 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.700 Worldly accomplishments. 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:56.680 And certainly not because of our own righteousness. 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:59.880 For your word says that we have all sinned. 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.780 And turned away from you. 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:06.400 But Lord we thank you that in your love. 00:35:06.780 --> 00:35:10.040 You have extended your grace and mercy to us. 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:14.340 And we pray that that would transform our identities. 00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:19.480 We pray that we would find our security and our hope in you. 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.300 And we pray that we would be equipped. 00:35:21.780 --> 00:35:24.260 To do the good works that you have set before us. 00:35:24.280 --> 00:35:24.580 For us. 00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:27.140 To live. 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:29.560 In the position of life. 00:35:30.060 --> 00:35:31.260 In which we are. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.700 Or in which we may be in the future. 00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:37.100 To bring glory and honor to your name. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.019 And to testify. 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:43.820 To the marvelous grace of Jesus. 00:35:46.260 --> 00:35:47.380 In your name we pray. 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.540 Amen. 00:35:48.540 --> 00:35:48.640 Amen. 00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:48.680 Amen. 00:35:48.680 --> 00:35:48.700 Amen. 00:35:48.700 --> 00:35:48.740 Amen. 00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:48.760 Amen. 00:35:48.760 --> 00:35:48.780 Amen. 00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:48.800 Amen.