WEBVTT 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:18.239 I encourage you to take your Bible if you have it with you and open it to the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians as we pick up where we left off a couple of weeks ago. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:22.399 If you do not have your own copy with you, that's okay. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.000 There is a copy of God's word in the pew in front of you. 00:00:26.320 --> 00:00:36.719 We'll be looking together this morning at 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning in verse 26 through the end of the chapter. 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:42.320 Again, that's 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning in verse 26. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:48.799 God's Word says, For consider your calling, brothers. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:53.600 Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:00:56.000 Not many were powerful. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:59.280 Not many were of noble birth. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:05.280 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.159 God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:23.280 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. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:39.519 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. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:40.799 Let's pray. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:49.519 Our great and awesome God, we bow before you this morning asking that you would enable us to boast in you. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.120 Show us yourself through your word. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:55.120 Show us Christ. 00:01:55.519 --> 00:02:02.560 Enable us to see Him so that all glory might be to you today and forever. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:03.519 Amen. 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:16.960 There is an old story about a king who wanted to remind his people that God alone is sovereign. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:20.400 It's a story about King Canute. 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:33.439 Canute reigned around the year 1000, and his rule extended over the areas of the world that we know today as England, Denmark, Scotland, and Norway. 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:38.000 Those of you of Scandinavian descent can cheer right now, right? 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:44.080 That area is sometimes referred to as the North Sea Empire. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:48.400 We have no way of knowing if the story is true or not. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:54.240 It was first recorded about a hundred years or so after King Canute reigned. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.360 So it might be true, it might not. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:08.319 But the story says that King Canute commanded that his throne be carried from his throne room and set on the seashore at low tide. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:14.639 So it was set out there on the sand, and then he walked out and sat in his throne. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:21.360 And in the hearing of all of his attendants, he commanded the rising waters. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:29.120 He said, You are part of my dominion, and the ground upon which I sit is mine. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:38.159 Therefore I order you not to rise unto my land, nor to wet my clothes or my body. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:45.840 Of course, as you would expect, the sea did not obey the king, right? 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:52.479 Gradually it rose, covering first his feet, and then his ankles, and then his calves. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:04:14.240 According to the story, King Canute then rose up off of his throne, came out of the water, and said to all of his subjects, All the inhabitants of the world should know that the power of kings is vain and trivial. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:25.759 And that none is worthy of the name of king but he whose voice the heaven, the earth, and the sea obey. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:33.040 It's said in the story that King Canute never wore his golden crown again. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:44.399 Instead, he took it and he hung it on a wall above a picture of the Lord Jesus on a cross as a means to praise God, the only true and great king. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:54.639 I don't know if that story is true or not, but I do know that there is a parallel story in the Bible that is true. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:56.639 You may know of this story. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:07.040 God humbled the ancient Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar by driving him insane, perhaps giving him a disease known today as boanthropy. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:11.040 He thought and acted like an animal for seven years. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:17.600 And at the end of that seven years of humiliation, God restored Nebuchadnezzar's senses. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:25.680 When that happened, King Nebuchadnezzar declared that God's dominion is an everlasting dominion. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.519 His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:33.920 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:45.519 And he does according to his will among the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him, What have you done? 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:50.800 Now, on the one hand, we recognize that as true, don't we? 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:57.839 The very thought of God requires that he be sovereign. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:07.439 And as an ultimate sovereign, it is understandable that there are some things that exist only under his control. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:17.040 For example, he has determined that the wind and the waves are beyond our control, but are still within his control. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:20.800 He is the ultimate sovereign. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:35.920 It's also true that God has determined that the sin brought into the world through Adam and Eve's rebellion cannot be undone by human beings. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:40.160 We cannot save ourselves. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:55.519 Instead, as we've seen in 1 Corinthians, God in his wisdom chose to use the death of his son and the proclamation of that message as the means to undo the curses' damage. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:02.079 Through that message, we saw in 1 Corinthians, God separates the people of the world into two groups. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.319 There are those who are perishing, and there are those who are being saved. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:14.879 The perishing are still trying to hold back King Canute's waves by their own ability. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:23.759 And even as they're standing in the sand with the water lapping at their toes, they are still saying, stop. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:31.600 They're still trying to build their own little kingdoms like Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon. 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:43.199 But those who are being saved have accepted by faith that God rules and that God does as he pleases. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.319 And they have come to believe that God saves through a foolish message. 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:56.480 Through the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.959 Now, there's an inherent issue in that truth. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:26.399 If God uses a message that by all appearances is foolish, that's what we saw in verse 18, 19, and 20 and 21 of 1 Corinthians chapter 1, if God uses a message that is in appearance foolish, then those who think they are already wise will not be likely to accept that message. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:30.879 They're going to think the message is foolish, right? 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:41.279 And if that is the case, then it will be likely that the church will be composed of a majority of people whom the world considers foolish. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:44.639 The same thing with those who are mighty and weak. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:49.039 The mighty will not accept a God who dies. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:53.840 The noble will not accept a God who is crucified. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:54.960 Why would they do that? 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.799 It's a foolish message. 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:02.879 So what does this have to do with King Canute and Nebuchadnezzar? 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:08.879 Well, both kings wanted their people to know that only God is sovereign. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:15.120 And here in 1 Corinthians, we see that sovereignty at work in salvation. 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:23.120 We see here that God is the one who is sovereignly chosen the composition of his church. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.080 And he brings that composition about. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:09.759 Did the glory and the power of our own little kingdoms save us? 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:11.679 No. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.559 No, we see here that God chose. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:20.320 That's why we're here. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:22.320 God chose. 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:28.799 Three times we are told God chose, God chose, God chose. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:32.639 Now, why would that be here? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.399 Why would the Apostle Paul say that repeatedly? 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.360 Well, it's because the church in Corinth was proud. 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:43.519 They boasted in themselves, much like Nebuchadnezzar boasted in his kingdom. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:52.799 You can look at the book of Daniel and see that Nebuchadnezzar got up on the roof of his house one day and he looked around Babylon and he said, Wow, this is just a magnificent city that I've created. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.159 The Corinthians were saying, look at what we've done. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.919 Look at who we are. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:14.399 And here they are reminded to think very carefully about the divine side of salvation, that God saved them through a foolish message. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:28.879 So, in a direct way, the church was told that God's actions in salvation, God's choosing, leaves no room, zero room for boasting about who you are or why you're here. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.480 Look back at verse 25. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:36.960 The previous section here is summarized in verse 25. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:45.120 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:52.879 Now, as we saw last time, the foolishness refers to the message of the cross as it's viewed by the sinful world. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.799 They don't see it as acceptable. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:04.480 It's foolish, it's moria, it's insane. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:07.919 It doesn't make any sense. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:12.720 But the reality is that God is working powerfully through that message. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:19.360 And to illustrate what he means, there is a call to think seriously about coming to faith in Christ. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:23.440 Verse 26, for consider your calling. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:31.519 The Apostle Paul asks us, the church, to think about, to consider your salvation. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.519 And there are three aspects to salvation that he wants us to consider. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:40.559 The first aspect that he wants us to think about is the recipients of salvation. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:43.039 Think about this for a minute, he says. 00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:57.759 God's method of using a foolish message, in appearance, it appears to be foolish, will by its very nature have an effect on the people in the church. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:12.159 If it appears foolish to those who are wise in a worldly way, then it is probable that the church will not have very many wise people according to worldly standards. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:20.639 If the message appears to be weak, then there will not be very many strong people according to a worldly perspective in the church. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:24.559 That's the point made in verse 26. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:34.639 Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:42.559 The common estimates are that the church in Corinth was composed of about 50 to 60 people at the time this letter was written. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:49.360 We really don't know for sure, but scholars tend to come to an agreement around those numbers. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.240 We do know that there were some educated people. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:57.679 We know that there were some middle to upper class society people. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:06.000 But the church in Corinth was comprised mostly of lower class people and even slaves, including some freed slaves. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:14.720 The majority in the church in Corinth were not the kind of people thought highly of in society. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:19.759 They would not have been highlighted on lifestyles of the rich and famous. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:25.600 They would not have their own reality TV shows. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.320 They would not be YouTube stars. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:32.000 They would not be sports stars known across the world. 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:36.159 The church in Corinth was just like most churches today. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:40.000 It's filled with normal, common, everyday people. 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:46.159 And in that society, those kind of people were looked down on by upper class folks. 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:53.440 Now that doesn't mean there weren't any highly educated or even any wealthy people. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.879 It means they were not the majority. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:58.080 Notice what it says: not many of you. 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:05.679 There's another old story of a woman from the English royal family about a couple hundred years ago. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:11.120 She said she was a believer in Christ, and she said that she was saved by an M. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.679 By an M. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:21.679 She always said, God said not many, instead of any. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:28.480 That's the first characteristic of God's work through a foolish message that we need to notice. 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:37.039 In the Lord's church, there are not many whom the world considers wise, powerful, or of noble birth. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:40.159 There are some, there are some, but not many. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:50.480 Now remember, these are attributes, characteristics given by the world, by the sinful, unsaved world. 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:55.919 The church is not composed of many, what we might say, high society people. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:09.039 Now God spoke of the world's tendencies to separate people into groups based on success, long before it was ever a problem in Corinth. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:15.440 In fact, God said through the prophet Jeremiah, let not the wise man boast in his wisdom. 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.320 Let not the mighty man boast in his might. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.120 Let not the rich man boast in his riches. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.080 But let him who boasts boasts in this, that he understands and knows me. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:38.000 So the wise, the mighty, and the rich of Jeremiah's text became the wise, powerful, and noble in Corinth. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:41.039 Do you know what that tells us? 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:48.480 That tells us that the problem identified here is not confined to time or nation or culture. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:17:00.080 Every culture, every nation of every age has categories that they apply to people to identify those whom they consider successful. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:12.880 And most of the time, those viewed as having worldly status, worldly wealth, or high positions in society will not be found in great number in God's church. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.440 Why is that? 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:28.079 As we think about our calling, as we're told to do in verse 26, why is it that so few among us have worldly wisdom, have worldly power, have worldly status? 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:33.920 We see the answer to that question in verses 27, 28, and 29. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:41.839 That answer is found in understanding God's intention, in composing his church. 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:45.599 And we must not miss the intended contrast here. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:50.079 This chapter is all about the world's way versus God's way. 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.559 And that was the problem in the church in Corinth. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:17:59.759 They were combining the two, they were bringing the world's way into the church and sort of making God's way the world's way. 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.519 From the world's perspective, the message of Christ crucified is foolish. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:11.759 It is a stumbling block to some and utter nonsense to others. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:23.119 And the implication is that there is nothing in the gospel of Christ that is attractive enough for sinful people to embrace it. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:29.200 That's been true from the very beginning. 00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:42.720 The earliest known picture of Jesus' crucifixion was an image etched into stone in the city of Rome, just a few years after the gospel took root there. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:49.680 It's a rough image of a crucified man, but with the head of a donkey. 00:18:50.160 --> 00:18:56.559 Next to it is a young man scratched into the stone with his arm raised in worship. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:04.160 And the letters inscribed below the image read, Alexamenos worships his God. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:13.200 See, it was a common insult of the time to portray Christians as worshippers of a crucified donkey. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:27.359 In fact, a very early Christian book entitled Octavius records that people thought the religion of Christians is foolish insomuch as they worship a crucified man. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:37.279 Justin Martyr wrote a defense of Christianity to the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius around 150 A.D. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:50.160 He wrote, The world proclaims our madness to consist in this: that we give to a crucified man a place next to God. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.680 It is madness to believe in Christ crucified. 00:19:56.480 --> 00:20:01.359 Now the reaction to the foolishness of the cross was not confined to ancient times. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:11.680 Thomas Paine, one of the founders of the United States, wrote, What reason can there be in supposing or believing that God would put himself to death to satisfy himself? 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:21.519 And in another place, he wrote, No story is more absurd and contrary to God's power than in Jesus and in his crucifixion. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.519 Now, oddly, Thomas Paine was a deist. 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:28.799 He believed in God, believed in a sovereign God. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.279 He just did not believe in Christ crucified. 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:33.440 He said, that's absurd. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:42.559 So from the very beginning, Christianity, the message of the cross is absurd. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:46.400 It has continued down all through the centuries. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:50.240 Just in case you think that it's a little different now, it's really not. 00:20:50.480 --> 00:21:08.880 Richard Dawkins said, atheist Richard Dawkins said in an interview, it's a terrible idea that God, this paragon of wisdom and knowledge and power, couldn't think of a better way to forgive us our sins than to come down to earth and have himself hideously tortured and executed. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:19.599 Message of Christ and Him crucified is utter foolishness to an unbelieving world. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:22.000 And it's a stumbling block. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:28.079 That's why we must recognize God's sovereign intention. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:31.839 We must understand this. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:38.880 You, if you have not already, you will encounter some who think the cross is foolish. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:42.240 Why would you ever believe in a crucified God? 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.880 You will hear it in academia. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:51.279 From the elementary teachers to the university professor. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:57.279 You'll hear it in the workplace, all the way to the nursing home. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.519 You may even hear it in your own home. 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:07.359 You will hear that the message of Christ and Him crucified is utter madness. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.480 It is foolishness. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:12.400 So you must know what God did and why he did it. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.559 Notice what he says: God chose. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.480 God chose. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.720 God chose. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:31.519 That's the divine work of electing or choosing that is then worked out in the drawing of the Father and the granting of faith to believe. 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:33.359 That's what God did. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.000 Now, whom did God choose? 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:38.480 We see three categories of people. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:45.599 God chose the foolish, God chose the weak, and God chose the nobodies. 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.119 Now remember, these are general categories. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:56.720 God did and does still choose some outside of these categories. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:23:06.319 But the majority of the Lord's people, the Lord's church, are the opposite of those whom the world considers wise, powerful, and of high status. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:16.000 God purposely chose what the world considers foolish people, as opposed to those whom the world thinks are wise. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:21.519 These are folks whom the world would say they don't know any better. 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:24.240 They just don't know any better. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.799 They've been deluded. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.559 They've been tricked. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:36.880 The wise of the world would say that foolish people are not able to see that Christ crucified is actually foolish. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:41.519 God chose the weak instead of the strong. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:46.160 The wise of the world think the cross is sheer folly. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.440 It's madness. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:51.039 It's a foolish way to save the world. 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:56.960 But the strong think that they are powerful enough to save themselves. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:03.119 The strong think they're able to hold back the waves of destruction. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:07.599 They think the cross is a weak method. 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.759 God is going to save. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.759 Why would he do it through death? 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.359 So God chose the weak. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:23.359 Those of noble birth could not bring themselves to the point of associating with a crucified man. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:26.000 So God chose the low and despised. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:33.759 When he says there that he chose even things that are not, he's referring to social nobodies. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:36.960 The nothings is what it literally says. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:42.880 These are those that are on the lowest rung of the social ladder, maybe even not on the ladder. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:47.359 God chose the nobodies, the nothings. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.240 Now there's a couple of things happening here. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:55.599 One is that there's a reversal of norms. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:05.359 Unless there was something really unusual, people did not move up the social ladder in Roman society. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:19.039 If you were born into a particular segment of society, a particular societal level or strata of culture, that's where you remained for the most part. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:23.279 There are cultures still like that in existence in our world today. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:31.119 People are relegated to remain forever in the cultural status into which they were born. 00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.799 God reverses that. 00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:54.240 But isn't that what God's always done? 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:59.920 God didn't choose Cain or Abel. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.640 He chose Seth. 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:07.119 It was not Esau that was chosen, but Jacob. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:17.839 And it wasn't Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, that was the agent of salvation, but Joseph, the one who was rejected by his brothers. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:25.039 Again and again and again, all throughout the pages of Scripture, we see that God's ways are not our ways, right? 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:34.559 And so often that is evidenced by God doing or choosing in a way that is opposed to human standards. 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.880 Now why would he do that? 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.200 What is the point of this reversal? 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.400 What is God's purpose in that? 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:50.079 Why would God choose the foolish and the weak and the nobodies? 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:52.480 Is it out of spite? 00:26:54.400 --> 00:27:00.720 Is it because the world as a whole has rejected him and he says, all right, that's the way you're going to be that I'm going to do this? 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.400 That's what I would do. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.119 Right? 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.359 I'd be irritated that they rejected me, and so I'd go the opposite direction. 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:15.839 Did God choose these areas, these groups of people out of anger? 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:24.079 Did he choose them to get back at those who are wise and strong and of noble birth? 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.119 To repay them? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.119 Is it some form of justice? 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.240 No. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:31.839 Look at what the text says in verse 29. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:39.359 So that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:50.240 God reverses, he flips over the way of the world in order to humble the world and his church. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:28:01.599 He reverses the pattern, the way of the world, so that all praise would be directed to his glorious grace. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.799 Now remember, we're talking here about the salvation experience. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:10.319 We're considering our calling to Christ. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:26.799 God's way of bringing to himself those that the world rejects is a way of humbling the world's status symbols. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.039 Isn't that what Jesus said? 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:34.079 He who must be greatest among you must be the least. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:38.319 We see that again and again and again. 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:41.759 That God does the opposite of what we see in the world. 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:54.960 God wants to proclaim to a world of unbelieving people that his weakness, his foolishness is stronger and wiser than anything that could ever come out of this world. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:58.079 Isn't that what we read elsewhere? 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:03.119 For by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:09.920 And that's not your own doing, it's the gift of God, not a result of works. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.960 Why? 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:15.039 So that no one may boast. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:26.079 And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, and sanctification. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:33.039 See, God's bringing the world down and bringing those he chooses up. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:35.359 He's reversing things. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:39.759 Now there may be another hint here to the book of Jeremiah. 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:45.680 Jeremiah verse 8, chapter 8, verse 9 says, The wise men shall be put to shame. 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:47.759 They shall be dismayed and taken. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:51.599 Behold, they have rejected the word of Yahweh. 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:55.519 So what wisdom is in them? 00:29:55.759 --> 00:30:00.559 God chose what is weak to shame the wise. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:11.839 Do you know that throughout the pages of the Old Testament, God gives us hints and little insights into the cross of Christ before we ever knew it? 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:17.519 God said, I'm going to shame the wise. 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:23.359 The psalmist declared that none who wait for you shall be put to shame. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:28.079 But they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:32.640 Now don't get all wrapped up about that wantonly treacherous, but that's hard to say. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.599 This is poetry. 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:38.319 And so in this poetry, there are two lines. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:42.960 One line is those who wait for you, the other is those who are wantonly treacherous. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:45.200 So he's giving a contrast here. 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:54.480 Those who are wantonly treacherous are those who don't wait for God, who don't trust in the cross, who don't trust in Christ. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:31:06.559 At some point, either in this, the time of this world or at the end of this age, this world and its godless wisdom will be humbled. 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:08.400 It will be shamed. 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:23.920 You know, our tendency can then be to go out and put placards on our cars or stand on the street corner with a sign saying the world is coming to an end. 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.720 Repent now. 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.680 Because we know that. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:31.759 We know that they're going to be shamed, and so we want to warn them of it. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:34.160 But I'm not saying that's inappropriate. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:42.799 What I do want to say is let's not simply point our fingers at an unbelieving world without first pointing our fingers at our own hearts. 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:49.759 This was an intentional strike at the hearts of the Church of Corinth. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:52.559 They were boasting in their status. 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:58.720 They were building themselves up and dividing the church based on their social status level. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:04.319 This is a jab right at the heart of every local church. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:15.680 When have we not looked down on others in the church? 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:19.839 If we're honest, we've all done it a time or two. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:26.559 When have we felt judgmental to someone who we think has dressed really poorly for church? 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:33.200 Maybe we thought poorly of someone covered in tattoos. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:42.160 Or someone who's, you know, stood out by the entry, lit up a cigarette before coming into church. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:49.920 Maybe we've thought poorly of someone that we know has a sordid past and we think, they're coming to church? 00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:50.799 Really? 00:32:53.519 --> 00:33:07.519 Maybe we've kept the more well-to-do people in the church for our friends and distanced ourselves from those who have less, or maybe we felt like the more well-to-do in church have separated themselves and so we're left alone over here. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:13.200 Maybe we think, you know what? 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:13.920 Yeah, you're right. 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.519 God should have chosen me. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:18.160 I am weak. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:18.880 I am poor. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:20.799 So God should have chosen me. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:23.920 Well, if that's your attitude, you're just like everybody else. 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:29.200 See, we find ways to puff ourselves up, don't we? 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:38.000 We find ways to separate ourselves from other people to make ourselves feel better about ourselves as compared to somebody else. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:42.400 We are no different than the rest of the unbelieving world. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:44.079 We just do it differently. 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:48.640 Examine your heart. 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:53.119 Brothers and sisters in Christ, there's no place for boasting. 00:33:53.680 --> 00:34:00.000 There's no place for pride, there's no place for feeling or acting superior before the cross. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:09.039 And if you do, if that is who we are as a church, if that is our heart, then we must be prepared to be ashamed. 00:34:10.719 --> 00:34:12.880 Prepare for God to humble you. 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:20.000 Instead, as Peter says, it would be better if we would humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:31.599 At the same time, if you are one of the foolish, the weak, and the poor from the world's viewpoint, if that is who you are, don't get a big head because God chose you. 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:36.480 It's all of grace, no matter who we are. 00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:45.920 Now, as we've considered our calling, we've seen the recipients of God's calling and the intention of his calling. 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:49.519 Notice briefly the result of God's choosing. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:55.039 And because of him. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.039 Who? 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.559 Him. 00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.599 Who's him? 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:00.800 God. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:07.039 Because of God, not yourself, not your accomplishments, not your status, but God. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:12.880 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God. 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:17.360 The world's wisdom gets us nowhere fast. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:21.920 So God gives us right wisdom found in Christ. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.159 What is that wisdom? 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:27.440 Righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:34.800 We don't have time this morning to go into that, but we need to know that those three words describe the wisdom that is in Christ. 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:39.760 And they serve collectively as a synonym for salvation. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.960 Notice this. 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:46.079 Because of him you are. 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.360 You are. 00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:56.239 That's speaking of a state of being, of identity, of status. 00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:00.639 The Corinthians were walking in the world's way of wisdom. 00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:08.639 They classified themselves as wise, as powerful, as having social status, but that has no place in the church. 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:12.239 Our identity, our status is in Christ. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:23.280 When we come to Christ, when we come to the cross, we leave behind any identity associated with this passing world, and we find ourselves in Christ. 00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:28.320 We're no longer classified as somebodies or nobodies. 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:33.760 We're no longer rich and poor, educated and ignorant. 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:40.719 Instead, we come together and we are righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and we are that only because God chose. 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:50.239 When God calls us to follow Christ, we no longer boast in anything in this world. 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:59.440 Instead, we boast in Christ because through God's gracious choice, He has become our wisdom. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:02.079 He has become our strength. 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:06.079 And our position, our status is now in Him. 00:37:07.039 --> 00:37:10.079 And that's better than anything this world could ever offer. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:13.119 So what do we do with this? 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:16.480 How do we respond to this? 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.320 Let me give you three thoughts quickly. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:22.719 Number one, we are to have a change of mind. 00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:27.440 This all starts in your head. 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:30.880 That's what he says in verse 26. 00:37:31.039 --> 00:37:33.119 For think about, consider your calling. 00:37:33.280 --> 00:37:34.480 That means it starts up here. 00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:45.920 We are to have a change of mind, which means we must repent of unbiblical thoughts and attitudes that lead to worldly strata, to divisions in the church. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:49.519 We are told here to think seriously. 00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:54.239 That means we are to respond with our minds to the word of God. 00:37:56.159 --> 00:38:02.159 But secondly, that change of mind requires a change of heart. 00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:05.920 That's evidenced in action. 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:13.519 As we identify leanings and tendencies in our hearts and minds, we change them by submitting to Scripture. 00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:17.599 We renew our minds with the Word of God. 00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:24.880 When those leanings and tendencies are molded by God's word, then we begin to think and to act differently. 00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:35.519 And instead of having divisions within the body of Christ, we fellowship with everyone across all those areas because in Christ we are one. 00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:48.079 The church displays repentant hearts when we come together in fellowship no matter who we are. 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:56.480 Thirdly, we must boast in Christ and the cross. 00:38:57.360 --> 00:38:59.599 Beloved, let me encourage you. 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:06.159 You are someone in Him. 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:11.440 You may feel like you're a nobody. 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:15.280 You may feel like you're a nothing in this world. 00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:21.519 But because God chose you in Christ, you are someone. 00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:27.280 We see the wisdom of the cross now because of Him. 00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:31.920 We are made sons and daughters of the Most High God because of the cross. 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:40.079 We become righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and so we glory in the cross of Christ our Savior. 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:42.639 That's exciting. 00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:48.239 And that's who we are for eternity. 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:56.719 King Canute's waves will come crashing down around the world. 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:02.559 Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian walls will fall down. 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:06.079 This world will be ashamed. 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:11.760 But for those who are in Christ, we are forever in Christ. 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:15.679 Let's celebrate that in prayer together. 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:19.840 Our Lord Jesus, we praise you for who you are. 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:22.639 We give thanks for what you've done. 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:27.039 Father, we give thanks to you for your gracious work. 00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:40.800 And I don't know everyone here, so you may have brought someone to our gathering this morning who is hearing of this word of the cross for the very first time. 00:40:41.599 --> 00:40:47.920 Or maybe repetitively, and so they are hearing it anew in their hearts, and they are convicted. 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:54.239 Lord, may they trust in you, may they lean on you, may they trust entirely in what you've done for them. 00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:57.840 And glory in the cross. 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:05.360 Amen.