1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Boast in the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (Evangelical Heritage Version)

26For example, consider your call, brothers. Not many of you were wise from a human point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high status. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong, 28and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before God. 30But because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31God did this so that, just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Boast in the Lord

I.

Early in life we learn about what really counts. School aged children quickly figure out who the smart ones are and which of their classmates are the best athletes. Sometimes they might notice who seems to be musically inclined. The message stays the same as we grow older. The world runs on résumés and having the “right” family and net worth. It’s reality.

How many people come to church feeling impressive? How many are impressed with their position as a CEO or an Istagram influencer? Probably not very many.

A far greater number come to church with the opposite attitude. There are tired parents. There are people carrying some secret shame that they’re afraid to tell anyone about—not their fellow members, and especially not the pastor. There are people who can barely get out of bed because of depression or doubt or anxiety. There are people struggling with a pile of debt, not knowing how they’re going to manage their family finances.

Paul says: “Not many of you were wise from a human point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high status” (1 Corinthians 1:26, EHV). He’s right. Most of those you see week after week at Holy Trinity would not be considered wise and powerful. Not many are born with high status—not many have a family name that’s going to carry weight when they apply for jobs, or a generous trust fund that’s able to keep them from having to work at all. You and I are just regular people.

Near the beginning of the service, week after week, is the confession of sins and the absolution. We confess: “I am sinful by nature and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.”

Then we hear today’s Psalm of the Day: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the advice of the wicked, who does not stand on the path with sinners, and who does not sit in a meeting with mockers. 2But his delight is in the teaching of the LORD, and on his teaching he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2, EHV). Does daily reality show us to be people who are blessed? More often than not, we’re swayed by the advice we receive from the news or social media—or even our own doubts.

So it is that we often show up to church feeling small, and unworthy. Then the devil whispers: “Maybe you don’t really belong with God.” Does God use only the strong, the smart, the wise, the put-together? Does God bless only spiritual superheroes? Or is there room for the rest of us?

II.

Look again at one of the first things Paul says: “Not many of you were wise from a human point of view” (1 Corinthians 1:26, EHV). Human wisdom would imply that the same standards that apply to life apply to salvation. In other words, humanly speaking, salvation should depend on your résumé or your popularity or your family status. Be a good person, from a long line of “good people” who have been members of the congregation since its founding. Human wisdom says you should point to yourself to demonstrate your worthiness to be considered part of God’s family.

The problem is, the human point of view eventually has to confront reality. No matter how highly others might view your résumé of salvation, it doesn’t measure up with God’s standards. In today’s First Reading God says: “I will remove the proud boasters from among you... 12But I will leave among you the people who are humble and weak. They will seek refuge in the name of the LORD” (Zephaniah 3:11-12, EHV). Those who point to their own ability to be close to God aren’t just fooling themselves, they are in danger of being removed from God’s presence.

“God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong, 28and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28, EHV).

Imagine that you were one of two captains who had to pick a team. You want to pick those who are likely to be exceptional for the competition. You want to pick the best of the best. That’s not the way God picks his team.

III.

The core of God’s team—the One who carries the whole team—is Jesus.

Jesus looked like the ultimate fool. What people were looking for was a Messiah that would challenge Roman rule. Jesus didn’t. What they wanted was a Messiah who would cater to their earthly whims—one who would feed them with his miracles and heal them of all their diseases. Jesus fed crowds of thousands, but he didn’t feed everyone, and he didn’t provide an endless stream of free groceries. Jesus healed many of their illnesses, but he didn’t heal everyone.

But they weren’t paying attention to Jesus’ résumé. His birth was unlike any other. We celebrated it just over a month ago—Jesus was born of a virgin, born without sin. His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River came along with the endorsement of the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit; his baptism was the formal announcement that Jesus was the long-promised Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. They didn’t pay attention to the fact that he lived a completely perfect life—the kind of life no one can live.

Then Jesus paraded into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding a colt, the foal of a donkey. It was only days later that he didn’t look like such a grand figure. Jesus looked like the ultimate meek weakling. In the Garden of Gethsemane he didn’t even allow his followers to put up a fight to save him from arrest. Once on trial he was beaten and spit on and mocked.

The weakest, most foolish, most shameful, most lowly, most despised thing of all—Jesus was hung on a cross to die. It truly looked like a fool’s errand. But in the verse before today’s Reading, Paul writes: “We preach Christ crucified, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25, EHV). Christ crucified was the plan God had all along; Jesus, the perfect One, hung out on the cross to die for the sins of everyone else.

It doesn’t really make sense from a human point of view. How could One man, even the God-Man, die for the sins of everyone who has ever lived? But a human point of view isn’t a Godly point of view. “Christ Jesus... became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30, EHV). The foolishness of God is wiser than men. Jesus’ righteousness and sanctification and redemption is draped over us like a robe. When he looks at us, God sees only Jesus’ perfection.

Jesus is the team God chose for salvation.

IV.

Nothing you have done has made—or could make—you part of God’s team. Jesus did it all. Then, “God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are not, to do away with the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before God” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29, EHV). God chose you. Not because of your résumé, but because of Jesus’ résumé. You were chosen only because of God’s grace.

Jesus said in today’s Gospel: “Blessed are the poor in spirit... 4Blessed are those who mourn... 5Blessed are the gentle... 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:3-6, EHV). These are not a list of things people do to try to be saved; they’re not a list of things we try to do to get on the team. These are some of the things that describe the way a believer wants to live.

Maybe when I asked before how many people come to church feeling impressive, you began to look around the room. You probably didn’t see any influencers or high-powered business executives. Perhaps there were some who are just tired; maybe some who carry a load of grief and shame; some might be depressed and filled with doubt and anxiety. These are the ones God has chosen to shame the wise and the powerful. These are the ones, because they rely not on themselves, but on Jesus and the salvation he won.

This week there will be times when you feel small and powerless. Pray Paul’s punch line: “Because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31God did this so that, just as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31, EHV).

The world will keep crowning its winners. They will be considered the best, the most impressive. On the Last Day, our real King will walk past all their thrones and hand the crown to the meek, the poor in spirit—people who are crucified with Christ. That was God’s plan all along. Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. Amen.