Fighting Pride and Exalting Christ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

This study came out of my studies in Nahum, and is adapted from articles on Desiring God and Ligonier related to the glory of God in the church and the difference between boasting in the Lord and boasting in self.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (ESV)

26 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. 27 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; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Pride is sinful and the object of God’s hate.

Proverbs 6:16–17 CSB

The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 16:5 CSB

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Jeremiah 50:31 CSB

Look, I am against you, you arrogant one— this is the declaration of the Lord God of Armies— for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.

Acts 12:23 CSB

At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Pride is the root of most of the problems in the church, and we see that in the church in Corinth.

Throughout the book of 1 Corinthian is instructing the church to boast in the Lord, while at the same time pushing them toward humility.

1 Corinthians 1:29 CSB

so that no one may boast in his presence.

1 Corinthians 1:31 CSB

—in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:7 CSB

So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:21 CSB

So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours—

1 Corinthians 4:6 CSB

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.” The purpose is that none of you will be arrogant, favoring one person over another.

1 Corinthians 4:18 CSB

Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

1 Corinthians 5:2 CSB

And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this?

1 Corinthians 8:1 CSB

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 13:4 CSB

Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,

Even in 2 Corinthians this theme continues…

2 Corinthians 1:9 CSB

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 3:5 CSB

It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.

2 Corinthians 4:7 CSB

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 CSB

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Pride is boasting in your self and not the Lord. It results in:

1. Taking credit for what God alone can do

2. Relying on yourself and not God

3. Denial of your weakness

4. Declaring your thoughts, will, and strength as sufficient

John Piper points out that throughout Scripture we see that what God loves means that He hates pride.

1. God loves the heart that boasts in Him

2. God loves the heart that gives Him credit for what he alone can do

3. God loves the heart that relies on His power

4. God loves the heart that wants to give Him glory in all things and wants the power of Christ to shine through in our weakness.

When we look to God’s design in creation we see that we were made to bear the image of God to one another and to the rest of creation.

By bearing God’s image we are made to reflect His glory like the moon reflects the sun. God’s design from the beginning is that we would represent Him in the world, and that in our representation we would boast or give glory to His name.

You were made to boast in God and give Him credit for everything that is good You were made to rely on His power and declare His glory and sufficiency in your weakness

5 Ways to fight against pride and boast in the Lord

1. Recognize and admit your desire to boast (kids, family, accomplishments, teams, etc)

This all reveals that we have an innate desire to boast in something… and that something is supposed to be the Lord. Does this mean you cannot be a proud parent, grandparent, team supporter etc… It depends on where all of those things and people fit in your heart and your relationship with the Lord.

2. Agree with Scripture that God is supreme over everything and everyone else.

3. Remind yourself how God deals with pride

4. Remember who God chooses (God chooses the foolish… in the OT He chose Israel because He loved them, not because they were the greatest. He chose them because through them He would receive glory.)

5. Take action by boasting in the Lord with your words and your actions (1:29, 31; Galatians 6:14)