1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Study

Verse 26

Paul is trying to expound more on this idea of God subverting our expectations by pointing to their calling.

This calling is referring to their calling to know Christ. The Lord desires everyone to be saved and know Him, but many reject Him nonetheless.

Their calling to know Jesus was not based on human standards.

Not wisdom

Not power

Not noble birth

Jesus does not save based off of what the world defines as success. Jesus saves by grace through faith. We see this more in the following verse.

Verse 27-29

Notice that Paul over and over says God has chosen… He simply chooses. Does He choose based off of the world’s view of success? Clearly not. Look who God is choosing:

What is foolish

What is weak

What is insignificant

What is viewed as nothing

This does not mean, necessarily, that everyone Jesus calls to know Him is these things—rather, this is Paul pointing out that what the world views to be these things, God chooses.

We can’t get wrapped up in what the world thinks is wise, strong, significant, and something. If you are insulted, many men would call you weak for not bucking back harder. If you don’t place money at the top of your life-priorities, the world would think you foolish. If you devote everything—all your life—to serving your Creator, the world would consider this insignificant and nothing.

But the world is not whom we get our standards from. We view Christ as our standard. Following Christ leads to your own image, per unbelievers, being tarnished. You tell someone you’re a christian, and they can get really uncomfortable. You’re “that” guy, now. But what the world sees foolish, Christ sees as wise. Be willing to be the weirdo who loves Jesus.

It is hard not to read verse 28 without thinking about Jesus. He came as a lowly carpenter—a servant. He served and poured out. He washed His disciples’ feet. He let His creatures put Him on a cross and kill Him. The world reads this and calls it foolish, weak, and insignificant. Who cares? Christ is our standard. Be willing to bare His reproach and His shame for His glory.

Paul says that because God chooses the unexpected, we cannot boast in our salvation in God’s presence, as if we brought it about. This simply isn’t true. Christ saved us because He chose to! When we are in the immediate presence of God, it is purely due to Christ’s good works, not ours.

Verses 30-31

Paul says that Christ became the wisdom of God for us. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. Christ is the flesh of God, the application of God, even. He is God’s Wisdom because He is God!

But Christ is not only God’s Wisdom, but He is our:

Righteousness

Sanctification

Redemption

Each of these are extremely significant.

Christ is our righteousness because He perfectly fulfilled the Law. In putting our faith in Jesus, He declares us righteous.

Christ is our sanctification because it is beholding Him that makes us look more life Him. He is the goal of sanctification!

Christ is our redemption because His work on the cross redeemed us from our sin, killed our old selves, and resurrected us, spiritually and eventually physically.

Paul says once again, this time referencing Jeremiah 9:24

Jeremiah 9:24 CSB

But the one who boasts should boast in this: that he understands and knows me— that I am the Lord, showing faithful love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things. This is the Lord’s declaration.

If you are going to boast, it must only be in the Lord. Not in anything related to you really. You are not worthy to boast. You are nothing without Christ, and if you don’t have Christ, you are nothing.

He gives us true meaning and purpose. He is worthy of all our lives.