1 Corinthians 1:26-31 | December 20, 2020 | Advent 4

Theme: The Tale of Two Faiths

1.     Find God (His Word, His Will, His Plan) in Yourself

2.     Find Yourself (Your words, Your will, Your plan) in God

We’ve been studying the creation account in Genesis the last few weeks in Bible Class & Sunday School. There are many worthwhile details from that account that are important to meditate upon regularly and to study. But no matter how often I read Genesis, I am always amazed at the beginning of all things. The very first words (or word) in the Bible – “In the beginning.” What a simple statement but what profound implications come from it.

If there was a beginning, then there was a time when nothing existed, except God. From the moment those words are spoken, one must believe or reject that God is the author of everything – the first cause, the intelligent designer, the Creator – whatever you want to call it. The fact that there was a beginning to all things demands that someone had to be present to start it all off – to begin the beginning.

And from that moment, that first moment of all moments, mankind has wrestled with understanding, appreciating, and trusting God. Say what you want about faith – one thing we cannot change is that it is shrouded in deep mystery. We believers, who may at times think we know a lot about God, know very little indeed.

Such is the reality set before us in God’s Word today, as we read from 1 Corinthians 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. 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. 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." (ESV)

There are many stark differences in these words. Wise and foolish. Weak and strong. Noble and lowly. Man and God. But each difference comes back to one thing – things that are and things that are not. In terms of Genesis – things that God has begun and things that God has not begun. And there is an effect to these simple realities – “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The mystery of Advent is that Jesus Christ, true and eternal God – chose to have a beginning. Paul writes, “Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Just like the word “beginning” in Genesis pertains to the mystery of Creation, so the word “became” in 1 Corinthians pertains to the mystery of Advent. Jesus became these things. Jesus began these truths. This should not, indeed from a rational standpoint, cannot be said of God. God is. God exists. That’s the very essence of His revealed name, Yahweh. “I AM” God says. But Jesus “became” these things – wisdom for us, righteousness, sanctification, redemption – the pillars of the gospel truth of salvation. (explain each word a bit more) 

Here you see the value of Christmas to your faith. Without Jesus “becoming,” none of these things would be yours. Yes, Jesus would still be wise, holy, set apart, and capable of loving forgiveness. But if he never became Man for you – these things would not be for you. This is a testament of God’s unbounded love for the world – that He would “become” – something that in theory was impossible for God.

But we also consider what it means for our lives. When God does something for someone, there is an effect – a consequence. And as we consider our lives we must consider that effect. That God did this for us means that there is one more division in this text – a tale of two faiths. Just as wisdom and foolishness, rich and poor, noble and humble are all clear distinctions – so also is believer and unbeliever. And this last division dictates how we see ourselves in relation to Christ’s becoming for us. There are two beliefs:

    1.     Find God (His Word, His Will, His Plan) in Yourself

    2. Find Yourself (Your words, Your will, Your plan) in God

This is the singular division that exists as a result of Christ’s work. Yet, within it, there is an additional consequence. Whether we believe or do not believe in Christ has a role in shaping our lives, specifically in how we view ourselves. There are labels that we attach to ourselves – wise, foolish, rich, poor, noble, humble, believer, unbeliever. But just like Christ’s becoming – this is more than an academic exercise. These labels mean something, or at least they should.

What Christian out there would call themselves an unbeliever? No one. Yet the distinction of faith is not always as simple as the words – believer and unbeliever. It’s about more than just a label. The deeper question is how many Christians see the effect of that label, namely that they are to find themselves (their words, their will, their plans) in God? It’s easy to take upon oneself the label, it’s another matter to embrace the consequence that follows.

Paul speaks about that very difference in a unique way. How many of those who hold to the label of believer also understand that it means being poor, foolish, and lowly in the ways of the world? How many of us are willing to trust – literally to stake our eternities – on the belief that God has things under control? In other words, the belief that God can make something out of nothing. Everything we have in our faith comes from God alone – but far too often we live like we are the ones in control.

This was the essence of Paul’s discourse as he summarized by writing, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. The consequence of faith vs. unbelief can be witnessed in a person’s boast – in what they glory in.

This section is one of those ones in the Bible that defy human logic and reason. Why would God choose things that are foolish, poor, and weak? How can God make something out of nothing? To human nature, status and outward appearance are more important than anything else. Consider the example of the Pharisees and Sadducees from last week’s text. John the Baptist condemned their outward vanity because their hearts were filled with poison. This problem was not unique to the Pharisees and the Sadducees – it’s a human nature issue.

So, why would God make this logic-defying choice? Paul tells us – so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. This is the core of every sin. It all is a matter of glorifying oneself, rather than God. It’s wanting to take credit for God’s work, wanting to have our say above God’s Word, wanting to follow our own path over God’s will, and wanting to turn our object of worship into something of our own devising. In terms of identity – it is finding God in ourselves, rather than finding ourselves in God. And to put it simply – it is the difference between faith and unbelief.

This is the true division in this text, and within the world. Every person is either on one side or the other. And it’s as stark a difference as wise vs. foolish, powerful vs. weak, and noble vs. lowly.

But it’s also the very reason why Jesus “became” wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Every person desperately needs what Jesus alone can grant. And so, on Christmas Day, God brought to pass what previously did not exist – the divine Creator in human form – the perfect Redeemer for an imperfect people. The beginning of salvation. Jesus became man so that we could become holy – fit for eternal life by God’s side. As impossible a notion as it is that eternal God could become something in time, so also it is impossible that we can earn our salvation before God. That is why Jesus alone could do it, and He did.

The consequence of this faith vs. unbelief reality is that we find ourselves in Jesus. He leads our way. He is our truth. When we seek comfort, we trust in His power. When we are overcome with doubt, we return to His truth. When we are pressed down by our sins, we rejoice in His grace. When we face death, we triumph by the life He won for us. Truly, to the one who glories, let he or she glory in the Lord! Amen.