We are not God
1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Cor 1:26-31
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Hello everyone, I know that we are in challenging and stressful times, but I am so glad that everyone has decided to use Technology and social media for good and not just memes about a cat. I know that it has been a while since we have been in the booth of first Corinthians, so let's provide a refresher from the previous pericope or passage. We need in verse 18-25 that unbelievers do not care about God and what He says in the handbook for our life. You might as well be talking to a wall.
However, this does not mean that Christ-Followers write them off but show them love, give comfort and understanding, especially in a time where everything that they worshipped instead of God has been taken away. Sports, movies, their jobs, even going out to fancy restaurants. Next, we must understand that We, as individuals, do not control who is saved and who has been called to party with Jesus in Heaven. Our part and our job are to spread the Gospel and not to beat non-believers in the head with a Bible. We are just the mega-phone spreading the good news of Jesus and his love.
As I look across this empty auditorium, we come to realize that Knowledge is not power. Even the biggest and most academically sound schools and institutions have been closed. The Knowledge of the world and everything that it entails can be shut down in a matter of weeks. It doesn't matter what you know through books or school but without, the relationship with our Heavenly Father, then we worth nothing. We, as a society, have had everything that matters to us taken away, and we have gotten a gut change by our Heavenly Father. We learned last week that we do not know the plan that God has for us, but we know that it is perfect. It is dark on Friday, but Jesus rose on Sunday.
Additionally, we learned last time we were in the book of first Corinthians that the proof is in the pudding or that our Heavenly Father has provided the evidence through the Miracles mentioned in the Bible. Jesus was well known to feed thousands just by a kid's snack pack or raise a little girl from the dead. We, as Believers, do not need an Identification card from Jesus because He is the Son of God. He is God in Human Form. Yes, I know I have oversimplified it, but there is no way that we, as mere humans, can measure up to the extreme awesomeness of Greatness that God is.
Now that we have a refresh on what has happened since I was at the pulpit. Let's dive deep into our first verse for this morning.
The title for this weeks message is We are not God.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
What we have to understand is that the early Christians were not rich and noble people. The time of the day, you did not have Rags to riches stories where you started on the dirt streets of Jerusalem and ended up in a palace. You were born into your situations. Of course, you had those that defied the odds with the help of our Heavenly Father, but it would be the equivalent of the slaves in our own country. They were transported on ships from Africa, living a life that was given. Their kids, unless they could escape or be very lucky, were stuck in that situation.
They were the red-headed stepchild. They were the people that were looked down upon but knew that life was going to get better. They were not up to the wealth and the amount of education that the world had around them. They did not reach the standard that the world would think of being the cream of the crop but instead looked down upon. A modern-day example where we all have been dealing with and in our thoughts is the Coronavirus is the food service workers and the grocery stores. How many of us looked down upon the McDonald workers or the bakery clerk? Until we are in a situation where we lose all of the smoke and mirrors of life, then we realize that the superstars are not the athletes or the musicians but our first responders and our essential workers. These individuals are not up to the worldly standards of being powerful, wealthy, or super smart, but they are doing what is right.
However, we also have to look and understand that just like the previous passage, we are called to be children of God. We were pinched from the pits of hell. Instead of our name being under eternal torture, we get to go party with Jesus. NO pain, no suffering. This is a curse because we are different than the world, but it is a blessing because instead of having to worry about dying, we get to continue to do our mission. WE were selected and chosen before the very fabric and foundation of the Earth. If we take our Salvation and what God has given to us through Jesus Dying on the cross, then we lose everything.
We learn in verse 27 that we are meant to be different from the world. Our Heavenly Father does not want us to be wrapped up into our Knowledge and our strength. The apostle Paul is tying it directly into the previous periscope, where we know that Knowledge isn't power. Everything that we have put our stake in will make us foolish, stupid, and boneheaded to following not our Heavenly Father but possibly ourselves and the world. God does not find the value in material things, but what is inside your heart.
Think of the story of David verse Goliath. Anyone with any logical thought with no faith would think that this is crazy. A puny boy that was tending sheep. Of course, defending your flock requires some skill and strength, but He was going against a giant. He was viewed as crazy and not very wise by going against him with a few stones and a slingshot. The reason why I used this childhood Bible story is that we, as Believers, are called to be different. WE are called to love each other as ourselves; when someone hits us or hurts us instead of retaliation, we turn another cheek. I am not saying that it is natural or humanly possible without the incredible strength and courage that we receive from our heavenly Father.
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
We, as Christians, do not set the standard of Right and Wrong. We do not tell our Creator what we feel is right and deserving of being in the eternal presence of our magnifying Heavenly Father.
Even a single sin deserves death because this is a stain, a tarnish against the very nature of our Heavenly Father.
Imagine every time you sin against our heavenly Father; you have thrown a stain of black sticky tar or a newborn baby diaper. ( anyone that has kids remember how sticky and smelly that was at first). Every time you sin, you are thrown that sticky tar against our Father. Our Heavenly Father is blameless and has never sinned. I will be the first to admit for myself that is a lot of sticky and stinky tar against our Father. Let us take a look at
Romans 6.23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our Creator and Sustainer of the Earth. Our pop pop that started everything out of nothing has made everything that we value that is full of strength and wisdom o be weak that is of the world. I did not plan for us to be going through a pandemic when I was preaching this, but it is so fitting. Our society has taken God out of the equation and out of the home, but we are still meeting via zoom. We are studying God's word in droves and having a closer relationship. All of the distractions of movies, sports and musicians have been taken away. I had a customer that was a Florida Gator fan and he was craving or jonesing so bad for a football game he said he would watch a Florid State Seminole game. Anyone that has a Gators fan in their life understands that this is bad.
We, as followers of Christ, have to understand and remind ourselves always that we are God's chosen people. Not everyone is going to Heaven. We do not know who is on the list, and this is why we are proclaiming and telling the Good news to everyone that will listen. This is the perfect time for us to reach out to our friends and check on them, and if they are not Believers, then we need to do the groundwork to pray for them and work with them to become followers of Christ.
The Apostle Paul does not shy from the point that we, as followers of God, do not do anything to deserve the mercy and the grace that we receive from our Heavenly Father. We are not saved because we put a 20 in the offering plate, we walk the little old lady across the street or that we are kind to everyone. I do not shy away from the fact when talking with my coworkers and others that no one, including myself, is deserving of the gift we have received. However, there is nothing that I can do to gain this gift. It doesn't matter if you work hard, provide for your family, and do everything that the world thinks is right.
1 Cor. 1:30
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
The author does not shy away from putting us in our place. Being correct and disciplined is not fun for the child or the parent. Our Heavenly Father wants us to understand and grasp the understanding that we receive everything from him. Because of Jesus dying on the cross after being tortured and beaten within an inch of his life, we have eternal life, relationship with our Creator, and all of our transgressions have been washed away with the blood of Jesus. If we take Jesus out of the equation of being a follower of Christ, then we are not Christians. Before everything went crazy, we were going over our course of common identity of the Charis fellowship. The first pillar or box believes that Christ died for our sins. This is the elementary concept that we cannot stray from.
Wisdom isn't just knowing but how to use the Knowledge. Our Heavenly Father has given us the information through his word in the Bible to tell us what is going to happen. This is typically connected to the end of time, but he also has through human Authors inspired by him to tell us what happened in the past. A way to show us that what we are dealing with in 2020 is nothing new to civilization. Humans from the very beginning have placed more value on everything except the relationship and the existence of our Heavenly Father.
Next, in verse 30, the word righteousness appears to be nothing special, but when we dive deep into the meaning of the word, we learn that from the translation from Greek, it means a legal obligation has been paid. WE understand that we deserve death, but just like the real world, nothing is free and has a price. Our transgressions have a payment that is due. Either we pay for it, or we are given mercy and grace by our heavenly Father to be spared, and his Son takes the heat for our sin and misdeeds. We all know the saying that nothing in life is free, which is true. Even when we all are receiving our Stimulus checks but for every sin, no matter if it is a white lie or murder, someone has to pay for it. Either we pay for it with eternal hell and brimstone, or the blood of Jesus Christ spares us. Let this stink in. Every time you sin, "It doesn't matter what it is," you are adding another debt or nail into the hands of Jesus.
Let's look at the second part of verse 30, where the Apostle Paul states, "Wisdom from God." Does this wisdom or sometimes thought of Knowledge mean that we will be the next Stephen Hawking or Albert Einstein? Some of the most intelligent individuals of the last 100 years. Are we just all walking around with Iq of 200 plus?
Wisdom is more than the book knowledge but the application of the Knowledge. This is why when we are in tough times and struggles, we pray and ask God to give us the wisdom to help us do what is right.
Next, we tackle Righteousness and the meaning of it. I know what everyone is thinking while watching the stream because we see this word a great deal in Scripture. But, do we understand what the real meaning is. However, when we dig deep into the meaning in Greek, it means more than just something good but something right and just. This is the clean slate of perfection. The long flowing robes that we will be wearing in Heaven perfect. The opposite of Righteousness is sinfulness and evil or wicked.
So what does this mean for us?
Does this mean that as long as we don't kill someone, we are Righteous? There is a little more than that going on. We as Believers will always miss the mark without the assistance of our Heavenly Father. WE cannot become Righteous, perfect and with no flaws by ourselves. I don't care who you well have stinky tar sin. Some people I know have more than others, but anyways. We are not perfect, and this is more a humbling experience that we need our Heavenly Father to become wise in understanding, perfect with no flaws.
I apologize for the rabbit trail, but next, we look at Sanctification. The Baker Dictionary of Biblical terms explains this word as the process of becoming more holy or purified. The word seems to make sense for the reader to understand that we are trying to become more like our Heavenly Father. The best way to understand Sanctification is Holiness. Many Scholars, specifically in the Baptist Denomination, believe that Sanctification is the act of Christians becoming like Christ. However, the process of Sanctification is not a stepping stone but is the act of Holiness, perfection, and should be Reserved for our Heavenly Father. God wants us to be like him, but we know from wisdom that we will fall short. This doesn't mean that we don't try because if we don't attempt, then we are not accepting the grace that we have received. We as humans beings will never be perfect, and without our Heavenly Father, then all we have are bits and pieces of tar sticking to us.
The last part and word of verse 30 is Redemption. This morning I have not strayed from the fact that without the saving grace of our Heavenly Father sending his Son to die on the cross, we would be somewhere toasty. WE are apart of the lucky few, Followers of Christ that were selected before the foundation of the Earth and saved from the pits of hell. Without the blood of Jesus covering our transgressions, we have a large purchase order or warrant for us. Pastor Rich has, in the past, wanted to pin a warrant to the cross, and this is so fitting in the understanding that we were enemies of our Heavenly Father. We as sinners are driving the 2-3 inch stakes into the wrists and the feet of our Creator in human form. Let that sink in for a second. We, as Believers, especially in troubled times, forget these facts, and we need a nice bucket of ice-cold water to wake us up. We were given a gift of grace and not something we earned. WE were redeemed, and the debt was entirely paid to the fullest amount.
Our Last verse for this morning is finishing up the chapter.
so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Apostle Paul finishes up this pericope and the chapter by giving us a gut check that the only boasting or bragging should be in the Lord. We as human beings love to brag, tout our own horn, especially when we get a raise, or we just did something that we think is above and beyond the call. However, when we are boasting about ourselves, we are focusing on us. We believe we are more critical than the supreme being that has created the heavens and the Earth. The amazing Father that saved us through his Son from our transgressions. We don't need to be boasting about people or us we know, but we need to be saying, look how awesome my God is. He provided food on the table or a roof over our heads. He takes care of his creation and his children.
So what are the takeaways from this passage this morning?
1. We are to be different and not follow the standards of the world. Some of the things that Believers do are not considered wise or even smart, but it is the right thing—taking care of widows and each other. Helping others and not expecting anything in return.
a. This could mean that we are the red-headed stepchild of the world, and I am fine with this. Doing what is right in the eyes of our Father is much more worth it than what my peers and others think.
2. Intelligence and wisdom are more than Knowledge. What we know and learn is more than all of the books and internet resources but the ability to use that information. Praying for wisdom is not a bad thing and is needed now more than anything.
3. Man does not make up the rules. We live in a society where everyone wants something, and we think that we can make up the guidelines to fit what we believe is right. However, we do not have the right or even the hope to do this because we are just guests on this Earth. We are not meant to be here for the long term. Earth is only a hotel room while we wait for our Heavenly Home.
4. WE are sticky. The stench of sin is all over us. We as humans are flawed, and even when we try not to sin, we still get angry; we want what others have and many other sins. We do not deserve what we are given, but now we know that Salvation is a gift and not something that we earn by our works. We gain our wisdom, honor, and glory all from God. This is an act of worship to our Father.
5. Only Brag about God. We tend to brag about anything. Instead of boasting about your brand new car, or how fast you can do a specific task. We need to Brag about what God has done for you, your family, and others.
Brag that you have food on the table because God has supplied supplies and the ability of Technology for us to all get together for church on Sunday and for a well heated and T Rex trail on Wednesday night.
Our God is Good, and he is good all the time, even in times of trial and trouble.
Let's pray