Return to Studies in Corinthians
Presented, June 22, 2008 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS (6)
What Christ Became for Us
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
We are continuing
our study of 1 Corinthians.
In our last two lessons we have been examining the wisdom of man as it
contrasts with the wisdom of this world.
Paul in addressing wisdom is leading up to the source of his
wisdom – Jesus Christ. And
as he transitions to that point he identifies our Lord, Christ Jesus,
and what He has done for us.
Let us notice what Christ became for us.
I.
He became wisdom from God
a.
Jesus was
God in the flesh.
The word Immanuel means, “God with us” – Matthew 1:23.
John 1:14 says, “the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
b.
Jesus was
endued with wisdom from above.
Isaiah 11:2 which prophecies concerning Him said that the spirit
of wisdom and understanding would rest upon Him.
Jesus said that if one knew Him
he also knew the Father.
John 14:8-10 shows this as Philip asks Him to show them the Father.
c.
Jesus
demonstrated true wisdom from above – in answering questions, in His
teachings, in His attitude and in His actions.
Everything about His life shows the greatness of His wisdom.
When He spoke the people were astonished (cf. Matthew 13:54).
d.
Consider
also James 3:17 describes the wisdom from above as being, “first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
EXAMINE the life of Jesus and you will find that He manifested
that wisdom.
e.
It is that
wisdom that we ought to strive to imitate (1 Cor. 11:1).
When we follow the example of Christ, we are living in wisdom.
Earlier in vs. 24 (1 Cor. 1) Paul
noted that those who are called find in the gospel preached “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Later in 1 Corinthians 3:10 where Paul notes that he is a wise
master builder what he builds upon is the foundation of Christ, which
would include His wisdom.
f.
He is
wisdom to us in all that He instructs us to do and in the fact that He
has made us “wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).
II.
Righteousness
a.
What is
righteousness?
Vine’s defines the word as, “the character or quality of being right or
just.” The Complete Word
Study Dictionary - NT in describing the word notes that in both the OT
and NT, “it is conformity to all that He (God) commands or appoints.”
Thus righteousness is simply
being right in God’s eyes.
b.
Truly,
Jesus was righteous. In
fact, He is the essence of what it means to be righteous.
One the messages borne out in the book of Hebrews is the greatness of
Christ’s sacrifice. We see
His righteousness in His sacrifice.
Just as animal sacrifices had to be without blemish, so He lived without
sin - Hebrews 4:15.
Thereby being qualified to provide the ultimate sacrifice and God
accepted it – Hebrews 10:24-28
He obeyed the Father in all that He did – Hebrews 5:8
c.
How did
Christ become righteousness for us?
i.
By
shedding His blood – by going
through with the sacrifice He declared us right with God by once and for
all removing our sins.
2 Cor. 5:21 – He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Peter 2:24 – He bore our sins in His own body so that we might live
for righteousness.
ii.
He
continues to intercede on our behalf – Hebrews 7:26-27
d.
It was
this hope of righteousness that prompted Paul to willingly suffer the
loss of all things to gain Christ - Philippians 3:9.
III.
Sanctification
a.
What is sanctification?
Sanctified describes a state that one is
in. Sanctification is
placing one into that state.
It is a word associated with holiness.
Thayer defines the word as, “2. Set apart for God, to be, as it
were, exclusively His.”
b.
How did
Jesus sanctify us?
i.
By His
sacrifice we are set apart from the world – Hebrews 10:10
ii.
As we come
in contact with His blood in baptism – 1 Corinthians 6:11, Romans 6:3-4.
iii.
By
teaching us how to live not of the world – John 17:17-17 – sanctified by
truth, WHICH He taught – John 14:10, 7:16.
c.
Because of
Christ we can live sanctified to God.
But we HAVE to live properly.
Cf. 1 Thess. 4:3-7, Heb. 12:14 – pursue peace and holiness.
IV.
Redemption
a.
What is
redemption?
Thayer defines the word, “To redeem, by payment of a price to recover
from the power of another.”
b.
We need
the redemption of Jesus because of sin
i.
Never
forget the wages of sin – Romans 6:23 – it is death.
It separates us from God.
ii.
Jesus paid
the price - Titus 2:14 – He has redeemed us from all iniquity.
c.
How did
Jesus redeem us?
i.
He
redeemed Jews from the law of Moses – Galatians 3:13
ii.
He redeems
us from the power of Satan – Romans 3:24 – being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:7 – we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, also 1 Peter 1:18-19 – His precious blood.
d.
Because of
His redemption we now have hope and can live with peace.
What is the result
of this? “That as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the
Lord.” Who are we glorying
in? Brethren, in these
verses we see some of the blessings we enjoy in Christ.
He has done His part, are we willing to do our part?