Return to Studies in Corinthians
Presented, May 25, 2008 pm
Studies in 1 Corinthians (5)
THE CHARACTER OF THE GOSPEL
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Tonight we continue our study of the book of 1 Corinthians.
In our last lesson we contrasted the wisdom of this world with
the wisdom of God. We noted
that the ways of the world reject God and see it as foolishness.
But in the end, Gods ways will win and put the ways of the world
in its proper place. Tonight
we want to continue to look at this text by noticing HOW God will
confound the wisdom of this world.
We want to notice what I call the Character of the Gospel as it
is contrasted with the world.
We will notice vs. 26-29.
I.
To
Whom Does The Gospel Appeal?
a.
“Not many”
is followed by wise, mighty and noble.
Note that “not many” means there ARE some!
Just because one is of high worldly stature does NOT mean they
cannot be saved. In
scripture we read many examples of leaders and the influential of
society serving God.
In the Old Testament, Abraham gained great respect and was even feared –
but he served God.
Kings like David (though he had
flaws), Hezekiah and Josiah reigned while serving God.
Crispus, ruler of the synagogue – Acts 18:8
Jesus said in Matthew 19:25-26 after the rich, young ruler rejected Him
said that even the rich can be saved, but they need the help of God.
b.
The rest
(and the majority) – those whose lives are not overly invested in the
wisdom of this world (and might and status).
That’s us! The gospel
appeals primarily to the “common man” whose earthly stake is minute.
c.
NOTE: With
our prosperity and social standing, we have become a nation of the
mighty and noble. Our middle
class, with all of our prosperity approaches and perhaps have even
exceeded what the Bible would call the mighty and noble and wise
according to the flesh. What
we consider poor is wealth in much of the world.
And it is evident in the wholesale rejection of God by the
majority, just like the rich young ruler who did not want to give up his
prosperity. Consider the song we
sing, “Where could I Go?”
That song begins, “Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a
comfort can afford.”
How many of us can honestly say that? (Yes there are some)
My point is that we need to be
cautious of these things because NOT MANY wise after the flesh are
called! While prosperity and
comfort can be an advantage, it can also be a curse.
Never forget what Solomon said in Proverbs 30:8-9, “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor
riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny
You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and
profane the name of my God.”
Something to think about!
II.
The Character of the Gospel (contrasted with the world)
a.
“God has chosen” – The way
He chose is deliberate! It
is a simple way that ANYONE can obey because it does NOT hinge on
worldly success. As an
example, consider who Jesus chose to take His message to the world – at
least 4 fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, just to name a few.
This is the way He chose! Who are we to question God?
b.
The
Foolish things –
What does the world see as foolish?
See 1 Cor. 1:20 – which we discussed last time.
The text specifically describes the philosophies of men.
NOTE: These things are NOT really foolish, but perceived as such by the
worldly.
“Foolish things” include:
1.
The
preaching of a simple gospel (21) – a simple message that can help
anyone at anytime.
2.
Treating
others well even after they have mistreated you.
Matthew. 5:38-44 – turn the other cheek, going the second mile,
giving without condition, loving and praying for your enemies.
3.
Faith –
the world doesn’t understand the concept of putting your trust in
something they cannot physically put their hands on.
4.
Sacrifice
– giving up what you want to do and things that those of the world
treasure the most (cf. Matthew 19:21-22 – the rich, young ruler).
5.
Many
others could be added to these.
Our verse (26) also notes that these
so-called “foolish things” put to shame the wise. The meek, “blind
faith”, sacrifice, the demand for strict authority, ritualistic conduct
(the Lord’s Supper, attendance, singing), etc.
Creation vs. evolution, The world says, “There is no God” and “We
evolved”. Christians say,
“There is a God, He is alive!”
Below are some things the world perceives as “foolish.”
c.
Weak things –
“Without strength, powerless … without physical ability” (WS Dictionary)
A word associated with illness (Louw & Nida) and a physically weak
appearance. See Matt. 25:43-44, 2 Cor. 10:10 – a weak presence, 1 Cor.
9:22 – Paul became as weak to the weak.
Often times, those filled with pride and arrogance (they have let
success go to their head, or they possess great power) will look at
one’s appearance and prejudge them as being useless.
They think they are better and they think they are stronger.
But God can bring them down!
Consider the “Golden rule” – Matthew 7:12.
The world expects retaliation and considers one who turns the
other cheek to be weak and cowardly, but it is not.
Cf. Romans 12:17-21.
The haughty consider
humility and meekness as
something that is weak. God
does not – and often times meekness wins in the end (cf. Matthew 5:5 –
they shall inherit the earth).
God sees humility, a little child, a feeble old man and finds them
useful.
I think of a young, shepherd boy who goes out to face a giant named
Goliath and delivers a nation (1 Samuel 17).
Judges 6:12, 14-15 – Gideon, from the weakest tribe (Manasseh) and the
least family – yet God uses Him to deliver His people.
ALSO consider what
sickness can do. It often
takes one who becomes sick to wake up and realize that all he possesses
in this life CANNOT save him.
You don’t have to possess physical strength to be useful to God.
God doesn’t care what you look
like outside! What He cares
about is your heart!
d.
Base things –
A word that means inferior or “one who does not live up to expectation
of his stock, race or nation.” (WS Dict.)
“Pertaining to being obscure or insignificant, with the possible
implication of lacking in noble descent.” (Louw & Nida)
This describes things or one not considered noble.
Born common. The word is only used only here.
The world sees wealth, fame, power as honorable and goals we should seek
to obtain. And in the world
status and physical possession will gain you standing.
There are things we cannot do in this world because of our name,
lack of notoriety or lack of resources.
Many of lack these things are looked down upon and considered
inferior. They see the one
who is simply content to be a common worker as such.
But God does not!
While Jesus was a descendent of David and the kings of Judah, in the
days He was born – the lineage that He was a part of did not amount to
much. There is a reason
Jesus was born in a manger (beside prophecy) – it was the lot of the
poor and common folk. But look
what He did for us!
The Gentiles were viewed by the Jews as inferior or second class.
But God turned to them and even used them (he did NOT take
advantage of them) to put to shame the arrogant Jewish class and to
provoke them to jealousy (Romans 11:11-12).
We are following a king who died as a criminal on a cross. He was
lowly (Isaiah 53:3).
Some of the strongest Christians are those who have come from base
circumstances. They wasted
large portions of their lives and made decisions that will physically
affect them as long as they live.
But like the prodigal (Luke 15:17), they came to themselves.
Sometimes it takes one hitting rock bottom to come to his senses
that he needs God. And God
will take you and use you, even in that condition!
Even after the world has given up on you!
e.
Despised things – that
which is considered contemptible to man. The uneducated.
“To despise, treat with scorn.” (WS Dict.)
To have a low opinion of. (Exegetical Dict. Of NT).
To declare something worthless.
Word is used in Luke 18:9 where religious leaders despised
others.
Acts 4:11, the word rejected (“Set at nought” KJV, ASV, or dismissed).
Many in the world despise those who are different than them.
The worldly think they are too good to do certain things or
associate with certain people.
Consider the arrogance of celebrity (and yet people worship them
as gods).
God can something that man despises and use it for His glory.
Consider Naaman who was told to dip 7 times in the filthy Jordan river.
Think of Jesus dying on a cross as a common thief.
There are many examples of despised things that God uses: Those who dare
to stand on moral principles (such as opposition to homosexuality, the
straight forward stand on MDR as recorded in Matthew 19:9, etc.) are
often despised by the world.
Those who will stand up to the powerful and expose their hypocrisy and
evil works, like Paul stood up to Peter in Galatians 2: 11.
UNLIKE Peter, many would become angry at such and seek to exact
revenge. God forbid we
accept the morality of the Bible!
God can and does use things the world despises to teach others.
Sometimes, the reaction of the ungodly but powerful is revealed
and it turns the common man away from them and toward more noble
pursuits.
f.
Things that are not – In
this expression, I see things not visibly seen.
The worldly put their faith only in that which they can physically
comprehend with the 5 senses.
They put their trust in money, higher education, friends in high
places, etc. They reject the
idea of a God who will hold them accountable for their greed.
They scoff at the idea that this world was created by God instead
of the general theory of evolution.
They don’t believe in heaven OR hell because they have not seen
them.
But the evidence is out there for those who want it!
Romans 1:20, 2 Peter 3:3-7. God
IS in control and has shown throughout the ages that He is.
The sooner man learns this the better off he will be, because the
day of the Lord WILL come and all things earthly will perish (2 Peter
3:10-11)
III.
Who is glorified in these things? (29-30)
a.
Not flesh
– this is why God chose this avenue.
He could have said for us to advance in material things and pay
Him a million dollars or amass a great following with power or fame or
invent something or, etc.
But He didn’t. Those are
things the world respects, BUT NOT GOD!
b.
But in
Christ, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.
Let us glory in Him!
In our next lesson we will examine these things.
Ultimately, the
point of this section is that what makes one acceptable to God is NOT
the same as that which makes one acceptable to man.
Man worships celebrity, wealth, nobility, might and rulers.
God does NOT, and unless they humble themselves and become “like
the rest of us” they will be put to shame.
Philippians 2:10, Romans 14:10-12.
That is why we should put our hope in Him!
Think about it!