Corinthian Calling

You don’t have to look far...

Look at what you have in Christ.

Look at your personal relationship with God.

Example of God’s Wisdom

This is what Paul is pointing out here (vv. 26-31).

They are an example of what he’s just said (vv. 18-25)

What did God do? (vv. 26-28)

He called them (v. 26).

Calling (1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:24) - a summoning to salvation

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”

Romans 8:30 “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Brothers - all believers, not some special call to select individuals

Consider - take a look at your salvation, by way of example of what I have been address (Godly wisdom verses worldly wisdom, vv. 18-25)

According to worldly standards/to the flesh/from a human perspective

Wise, powerful, noble - highly skilled/intelligent, highly capable/influential, and high class

Not many - so some, but not predominantly

Most of them were “nobodies”/insignificant...

He chose them (vv. 27-28).

Chose - further qualifies “calling” - for salvation

Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

He speaks of them in the opposite.

Shame - dishonor/humble

Bring to nothing/nullify - to make ineffective, to invalidate

What is something in this world is really nothing to God, and vise versa.

They could look at there own salvation as a perfect example of God’s ways in contrast to humanities’ ways.

Why did God do it? (vv. 29-31)

To remove the possibility of self-boasting (bragging, pride) (vv. 29-30).

In the presence of God - where it really matters, the place of real contrast

Christ is all the things that really matter. To receive Christ is to receive these... To be in Christ is to have these…

What we NEED, because we don’t have it, is found in Christ alone.

Wisdom - life skill (this is the matter at hand, v. 24)…BUT there’s far more...

Righteousness - right legal standing

Sanctification - holiness, set apart unto God

Redemption - payment price

God has all the things that really matter.

Leaving only bragging in God (v. 31).

Summary quote of Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.””

Their boasting was misdirected.

1 Corinthians 3:21 “So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,”

1 Corinthians 4:7 “For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Their boasting was wrong in content. A true awareness/acknowledgement of their place before God would correct this.

We should be boasting!

Correctly, accurately, appropriately...

Credit to whom credit is due.

This is foundational - to this letter, to our life

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:9–31