2 Corinthians 1:12–2:4 • "“Worldly Wisdom VS Godly Living”

Main Idea: The wisdom of the world can’t give us eternal confidence or lead us to godly behavior. Gospel transformation begins with the gift of God’s grace applied to our hearts and flows into godly patterns of submission and behavior in our lives.

Introduction & Context

This morning we are going to continue to look into 2 Corinthians to learn how to avoid the path of worldliness around us and instead follow the path of godliness that the Bible calls us to. In the section we will cover today, the Apostle Paul begins a defense of his ministry, words, and actions. 2 Corinthians is probably the most transparent look into Paul’s life and emotions in all of the New Testament. We see his deep love for the Corinthians, and yet we also see the deep pain that he is experiencing because his love for the Corinthians has been met with the challenges of bad theology, false teachers, false accusations, sinful actions, and much more. It seems like from the context of this particular passage that some people in Corinth are making Paul out to be dishonest and uncaring because he was unable to make a visit to the city like he initially planned. Paul responds by pointing out the integrity with which he has always operated toward the Corinthians. It is important to note as we read and study this letter that Paul doesn’t just defend himself because his pride is at stake; rather, he understands that if the Corinthians can’t distinguish between worldly behaviors and godly behaviors they’ll miss the very heart of the gospel message.

This morning, we will zoom into verse twelve and use the surrounding paragraphs to help us see how the gospel should impact the way we live our lives. We’re going to look at (1) the problem with earthly wisdom and (2) the foundation of godly living.

The Problem With Earthly Wisdom

As we compare and contrast the “earthy wisdom” that Paul mentions in contrast to his godly behavior, I think it will be helpful to start by understanding and considering exactly what Paul means when he says that he and his companions didn’t operate according to the wisdom of the world. We can define worldly wisdom as:

“…that kind of wisdom that is guided by principles of self-interest or expediency.” J.I. Packer, 2 Corinthians.

As Christians, we must continually evaluate what source of wisdom or understanding is driving our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Are we operating under the wisdom that the world says works or are we believing and embracing the wisdom of the gospel of Jesus? This is an important concept for Paul as he addresses the needs and wrong ideas of the Corinthians. I want to point to two huge problems with letting the earthly wisdom that is all around us drive our behavior.

It is focused on self-promotion.

The first problem with earthy wisdom is that its focus is self promotion. Look with me back at verse 12. Paul says that his “boast” is that he and his ministry partners didn’t operate under earthly wisdom. Boasting is a theme that we will see throughout 2 Corinthians. What you boast in is where you find your confidence. Paul wants believers to learn the right thing to “boast” in and see the danger of boasting in worldly things. Boasting was a cultural reality for the Christians in Corinth. One commentator says:

“[The Corinthians] were little different from their pagan fellow citizens who were obsessed with exalting themselves and trying to leap over one another to attain honor and prominence. Boasting, arrogance, and contempt for others of lesser status were common in the Corinthian environment and were gaining a secure place in the church as well.” David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians NAC.

Those who were trying to undercut Paul’s authority were most likely pointing to the things that the world sees as boast-worthy like appearance, charisma, wealth, ability, and success and arguing that Paul didn’t measure up. Paul, on the other hand, recognizes that if self is the source of our confidence as Christians, we’re in a dangerous place. The Bible actually tells us that boasting by itself isn’t sinful. The truth is that every person is going to draw life-confidence from some source. In fact, in Jeremiah 9:23–24 we’re told that God tells his people to what source they should boast in:

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.””

We see in Paul’s words and in Jeremiah’s that the problem with earthly boasting is that when we make ourselves and our worldly desires our source of confidence, we’re working directly against the way that God created us to exist. We can’t boast in how great God is and how awesome we are at the same time!

I think that there are a lot of connection points between the Corinthians and many modern people. Our society is also a boasting society. Just look on social media. It is designed to show who is the best because it has buttons for liking and sharing. But social media isn’t the only place we’re tempted to boast. We boast in our job success, family lifestyle, amount of possessions, and much more. We even boast in how kind and just we are. Every news cycle is an opportunity for us to make a stand for activism and signal to the world around us that we’re on the right side of history. I would argue that our culture has elevated self-promotion in that we’ve argued that whatever inner truth about yourself you feel to be true, that should be the boast of your life. This kind of boasting isn’t just outside of the church. Christians go to churches that meet their needs rather than sacrificially thinking of how they can be poured out for others. Pastors build their own brands and mini-kingdoms built around their personalities. Christians side with culture on topics that the Bible speaks clearly about. So-called believers promote the prosperity heresy that says God’s blessings look like earthly success and mountain climbing. And they boast that they are the most blessed.

Earthly wisdom tells us to boast in self-promotion of what the world values. It says that we ought to find our confidence for life in who we are. The problem is that boasting in anything but knowing God will ultimately fail. Let’s continue on and see why.

It is focused on the temporary.

Not only is earthly wisdom focused on self-promotion, but it is also focused on temporary experience and comfort rather that God’s eternal plan for glory and redemption. It is helpful for us, when thinking of why the Bible warns against “earthly or worldly wisdom” to see that part of the problem is explained in the description: the wisdom of the world is dangerous, because it never gets past a view of this world. For some context, I’d like to read a passage from 1 Corinthians where Paul compares the wisdom of the earth with the eternal wisdom of God:

1 Corinthians 2:6–8 “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

If we want to see the big problem with wisdom from the world’s system we don’t have to look much further than these four words: “Doomed to pass away.” At the end of all things every person is going to come face to face with what they boasted in. Every person will have to weigh out all their confidence— their choices, their riches, and their legacy—and they’re going to have to watch it all melt away in light of the immeasurable goodness, beauty, and eternal glory of God. This is not a scary story to make people behave well, this is the natural flow of all of history. Paul knows this, because in verse 14 he says:

2 Corinthians 1:14 “just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.”

Paul points to the “day of our Lord Jesus” as a defining moment for the relationship between himself and the Corinthians. He hopes that he will be able to share gospel-centered confidence in one another. He doesn’t mean that their boast will be that they got along with Paul, but that they mutually saw God’s grace as the foundation for their life and behavior.

Before we move on to the next main idea, I want us to take a moment and really consider our own hearts. How are we tempted to be led by earthly wisdom rather than God’s? What is the confidence for our lives? Are we focused on self-promotion or on boasting in our relationship with God through Christ Jesus? How do we get it right? Let’s chew on those questions as we move on.

The Foundation of Godly Living

If Paul isn’t driven by the wisdom of the world, what then motivates the way he lives and behaves? At the end of verse 12 we see the contrasting statement: “not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.” I want us to see today that God’s grace is the only foundation of godly living. Paul uses truths about God’s character as the foundation for how he wants to operate and wants the Corinthians to operate. We will see that God’s grace frees us to find our confidence in him and that God’s grace drives us to holy behavior.

God’s grace will free you to find your confidence outside of yourself.

The only hope we have to be set free from the bondage of earthly wisdom is for God to reveal himself to us by his grace. The grace of God is his kindness and favor toward us despite our rebellion against him. Part of the good news of the gospel is that God opens our eyes to see all the sinful ways we boast in comparison for his love for us. God’s grace directly confronts the wisdom of the world. You can’t operate in both realms.

In explaining his actions and choices to the Corinthians, Paul brings up some gospel foundations. In a way, he is saying, “the reason that this is how we behave toward you is because this is how God behaves toward us.” I want us to see how the grace of God enables and frees us to put our confidence in the character of God.

(1) God’s grace will free you to find your confidence in God’s faithfulness. (18)

First, God’s grace enables us to see the wonderful faithfulness of God toward his people. In verse 18, Paul says:

2 Corinthians 1:18 “As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No.”

God’s attitude toward his people is not wishy washy. He doesn’t say one thing and then do another. He is not hypocritical or flighty. God is not like the politician who says whatever people want to hear today but will assuredly changes their platform in the next election cycle. The reason that we boast only in knowing God through Christ Jesus is that God is completely faithful. How do we know that God is faithful? Let’s look at the next truth.

(2) God’s grace will free you to find your confidence in Christ’s accomplishments. (20)

Jesus is the exact image of God. He fully reveals God to his people. His actions and words reveal and confirm all of God’s promises. Paul says:

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

Jesus proves that God’s promise to save his people has been kept. Jesus proves that God’s promise to love his people has been kept. Jesus proves that God’s promise to redeem and restore his perfect Kingdom has been kept. All of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Jesus. One pastor puts it like this:

“Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus.” Eugene Peterson

We boast only in knowing God, because no matter what we feel like we have failed at or accomplished, we can be sure that we are right eternally with God because of Jesus’ work on our behalf. But it gets even better!

(3) God’s grace will free you to find your confidence in the Spirit’s sealing. (22)

Paul then uses the imagery of an official stamp or seal and of a financial downpayment to point to the reality of our confidence in God being affirmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives:

2 Corinthians 1:22 “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

You can boast in your own moral accomplishments, but are you sure that is enough to justify you? You might boast in your earthly wealth, but will that buy you a ticket to heaven? We boast only in knowing God, and we’re sure of the eternal value of that boast because God himself has placed his Spirit in our hearts to guarantee that we know who his is and how he loves us.

Ask yourself in this moment: do I have this confidence? Can I say that I see the freedom that God’s grace has given me to find my boast and confidence in knowing the Lord? For Paul, the foundation and freedom of the grace of God in his life comes from understanding the truth of who God is. That then leads from heart understanding to outward holy behavior.

God’s grace will drive you to holy behavior.

In the rest of this passage (2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4), Paul tells the Corinthians the actual reason that he did not follow through on his original plan to visit. It was not that he was insincere or intentionally deceitful, but that his confidence in God and his love for the Corinthians led him to humbly refrain for coming to Corinth in a confrontational spirit and instead to write a strong letter in hopes that pain could be avoided. What I want us to see is that Paul’s behavior is transformed by the presence of God in his life. If he were boasting in himself, he could have been intentionally deceitful. If he was confident in his own skill and ability, he would have shown back up with his figurative guns blazing. But, rather, he submits to the Spirit and let’s God direct his path. I want us to look back at verse 12 to see how Paul describes how the gospel transforms boasting and earthly wisdom into holy behavior:

2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.”

I want us to break down the two ways Paul says that he and his partners behaved and see how we can apply these behavioral patterns to our lives.

(1) Holy Simplicity & Sincerity

First, Paul says that “we behaved with simplicity and godly sincerity.” According to this passage, these are traits of godliness in contrast to worldliness. What does it mean to behave with “simplicity?” Some English translations communicate the idea as “integrity,” “pure motives,” or “holiness.” Verse 13 helps us out to understand what Paul means when he says, “We aren’t writing to you anything other than what you read and understand.” He means that there’s no intention of posturing or pandering. “What we’re writing to you is exactly what we mean, don’t look for a hidden agenda.” Sincerity is added as a synonym that supports and defines another dimension to what Paul means. Here is an interesting definition of sincerity:

The root meaning of the word translated “sincerity” (eilikrineia) refers to something “examined by the light of the sun and found pure.” David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians (NAC).

Would you agree with me that more often than not, our culture is defined by shadiness rather than clarity? The wisdom of the world tells us that we should operate in such a way that we always look good and can always boast. That takes a great degree of complicated motives and insincerity. The culture around us says be ambiguous, vague, and flattering in your words and actions so that you can always come out on top.

I believe that simplicity or purity in motives in how we communicate and behave would be a radical witness to the power of God’s Spirit at work in our hearts. This has been particularly convicting to me because I’m a people pleaser. I want everyone, everywhere, all at once to be happy with me. Some of you can relate. The reality is that even my fear of how I am accepted finds its roots in me boasting about myself rather than in God’s grace toward me.

I want to challenge us this morning: are our motives pure and our lives sincere? I think there are two areas that help us evaluate our answer. (1) Community: what motives do I bring to social situations? Am I constantly trying to make myself look better in person or online? (2) Conversation: simply put, does my yes mean yes and my no mean no no matter who I am talking to?

(2) Holy & Costly Love

I want us to see that there’s a second part to how the gospel has shaped Paul’s behavior and that is that he operates out of holy and costly love for others. Look with me at 2:4:

2 Corinthians 2:4 “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”

After the last point, some of you probably felt convicted and crushed like I did because you recognize a gap in where you’d like to be in sincerity and where you are, but some of you may feel pretty okay. Some of us are really honest. You tell the truth and you don’t care who you tell it to. What we often see is that often people will naturally lean toward a spirit that struggles with sincerity, or a spirit that is brutally honest but void of deep affection. In truth, those who are people pleasers often wish they were more honest and those who are honest often wish they felt more kindness. In truth, both personalities are often rooted in self-focus rather than in confidence in Christ.

For Paul, the reality of his position in Christ motivated him toward both sincerity and deep love. We need both. Paul could have said, for the sake of the way I’ll look to the Corinthians I will sugar-coat the truth. Paul could have said that since the Corinthians were so mixed up and accusing him of so much wrong, he would come set things straight with an iron fist and no concern for collateral damage. Instead, he sees the love that God displayed for him in Christ Jesus: that God is completely honest about sin and guilt, but that God is also deeply loving and affectionate, so much so that he spilled his own blood to rescue Paul. This picture motivates godly behavior that is sincere and loving.

Conclusion

This morning as we have compared and contrasted earthly wisdom with the grace of God that drives us to boast in Christ, I hope that you have been challenged to evaluate where your confidence for life is and how that shapes your behavior. The wisdom of the world can’t give us eternal confidence or lead us to godly behavior. Gospel transformation begins with the gift of God’s grace applied to our hearts and flows into godly patterns of submission and behavior in our lives. By God’s grace, let’s go this week and embrace God’s leading. Let’s commit to sincerity that pierces the darkness of the world and love that reaches into the pain of the world to see real change. By God’s grace we will. Amen.

Small Group Questions

In what ways has “earthly wisdom” guided your behavior in the past?

How does God’s grace (particularly in the gospel) directly confront and contradict the wisdom of this world?

How does our culture tempt us to “boast” by self-promotion? What practical ways can we resist these temptations?

Do you find that you struggle more with living in “holy sincerity” or in “holy love?” (See 1:12, 2:4)

How does a balanced lifestyle of both holy sincerity and holy love bear witness to the gospel?