God's Will and Human Weakness

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Alright we worked through most of the last verses of chapter one and the focus on them was how God works among men to bring about His will. In these verses we sat heavily upon the teaching that God uses broken, weak, and debased things in the world to confound the mighty, strong and preferred. This theme will carry forward in through different parts of the epistle. So after telling the Saints at Corinth that God does this so that “no flesh would glory in His presence," we wrap the chapter up with two verses where Paul adds:

1st Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The Role of Christ Jesus

1st Corinthians 1.30-end
Milk
December 10th 2017

After telling us how God is not impressed with the strong and mighty but uses the weak to confound the wise, and that NO flesh should glory in God’s presence he says:

30 But of him (God) are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Another translation read this way:

He (God) is the source of your life (how) in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (meaning in the Lord, Jesus Christ).

This relationship between God and Man with Christ Jesus being in between is so key in the Christian faith. Going all the way back to Jeremiah 23 in the Old Testament we read:

“Behold, the days come, saith JEHOVAH GOD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Unity Through Faith

Paul echoes this passage right here. Speaking of His Apostles Jesus says in John 17:19:

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

But then he adds, speaking of you and me:

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 5:21 “For he (God) hath made him to be sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Do we hear the clear and concise connection between God and Jesus and us? We are made the righteousness of God in Jesus – by and through our faith and trust in His Son God sees us as righteous!

Philippians 3:9 reiterates this in another way, where Paul says of himself:

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.; (and then listen to what he adds) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Since we know that all are resurrected because of Christ, Paul must be speaking about attaining unto a better resurrection, something he talks about in other places but which is a subject for another day – just let the idea sink in your heart and mind for consideration.

The Only Mediator

In any case the point here is that to us, in our relationship to God, there is Christ Jesus – the only mediator capable of bringing human creations into fellowship with the Living God. Later in chapter 3 of this epistle Paul will write:

1st Corinthians 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Note this carefully – we are not God’s directly. We are God’s by and through His Only Begotten Son by faith. Even in the marital union, there is a hierarchy, as we will read Paul say in chapter 11 of this epistle:

“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God,”

Based off the principle that out from God came Christ, out…

Wisdom Through Christ

From Christ came man, out from man came woman. This is another huge topic but don’t get stumbled over it. When we get to the verse we’ll thresh it out together. Just know that without the Son there is no Father.

In Luke 10:22 Jesus says something that is best understood in the literal translation from the Greek – He said: “All things were delivered up to me by my Father, and no one doth know who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whom the Son may wish to reveal.”

The point today is, without Christ in the life and heart, there is no relationship to God. And Christ is the one who decides who of us He will reveal to the Father! Amazing!

Believers in Christ

So, Paul says:

1st Corinthians 1:30 But of God are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Earlier and speaking of the wisdom and might and lineage of Man, Paul told us that God will use the broken weak things of the world to confound the wise and the reason for doing this would be so that “no flesh would glory in His presence.” But then Paul says that believers are in Christ, who God made UNTO US (meaning, who imputed unto us by faith) Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption. SO THAT . . . as it is written, (ready?) . . . So that “He that glorieth, let Him glory in the Lord!”

Wisdom Imputed to Believers

Let me talk about the things listed here that Paul says are imputed to those who believe on Jesus. First, wisdom – a word used seven times in this first chapter!

I used to hate this word in part because it was constantly being used on me by other believers on how they believed I needed to be, and think, and act, and speak. And I hated it because what they were calling wisdom was their wisdom – the wisdom of men – which is different from the Wisdom of God. When Christ, however, is the source or fountain of our wisdom, that is a different matter.

So I would have these religious men, sagey fellows in the faith – who would come and try and direct me according to their astute wisdom of all things Christian – but I rarely heard advice that echoed the way Jesus would have approached matters. Only how men would approach them. So, it was a word that caused a sore spot in my soul.

Here at CAMPUS, however, we sing the following from Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” His wisdom is real wisdom, a wisdom I seek and appreciate because it is perfect and therefore eternal. And I love it because it is often off balance with the way this world operates.

This is what causes Paul to say in the very next chapter verse 5: “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

In 2nd Corinthians 4:7 Paul writes: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

Of course, some of the best New Testament writings on wisdom from above come from James the brother of our Lord who says in the 3rd Chapter of his epistle:

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Men often describe wisdom in terms of strategies and the like. But here James says that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” That is wisdom I’ll personally accept. And Christ is to us the Source of wisdom.

Faith and Wisdom

– by and through faith in Him, looking to Him, we “are made wise.”

Philosophers had attempted to become wise by their own investigations and inquiries. Great businessmen are wise their acumen, scientists and mathematicians are wise in facts and theories, but Christians had become wise by the work of Christ.

Now, I want to take 2 minutes and stand on my watchtower of warning. In Jesus' day he faced some real conflict with men who had taken the word of God and in their wisdom interpreted it in a manner that missed the mark. These types – Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes – were at odds with Jesus' understanding and view of scripture. We have to remember that the Spirit is the force that governs interpretation, not the wisdom of Men. Again, it’s not intelligence, education, or schooling – it’s the Spirit.

Spirit-led Understanding

We are going to get into chapter two and there we will read the following:

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

This was Jesus, who had the fulness of the Godhead in Him – He knew the things of God that those without the Spirit were missing. In their wisdom – of words, and tradition, and philosophy – they interpreted scripture – and decided what it meant – in many cases, wrongly (we might add). But Jesus – who certainly gave allegiance to the written word, understood the written word BY THE spirit – and therefore He was able to correct all their misinterpretations of it – causing them to hate him.

But listen to what Paul adds here in our next chapter:

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And listen to this last line:

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

This is subjective ChristianityA direct, personal relationship with God—free from institutional authority, guided by personal relationship, faith and agape love.. This is the Spirit teaching the individual allowing him “to judge all things (LISTEN) but he himself is judged of no man.”

We live in an age similar to the age Jesus lived in. We are surrounded with men and women who, upholding traditions, and leaning on their wisdom, crucify those who see and understand the things of God – including His Word – differently. They are befuddled by interpretations that do not fit what they, by the wisdom of Man in them, have decided are impervious to changes – and that such changes are even heretical and those proposing them worthy of excommunication from the Body. Same model, same players, same opinions, and typically the same outcome.

Righteousness through Faith

“And righteousness,” the next attribute bestowed upon those who place their faith in Christ. Again, by this faith we become righteous in the sight of God. Remember, the general argument of these passages is that by the ways of the Jews (under the Law) or the Greeks and their wisdom, none were considered truly wise, truly righteous, truly sanctified or truly redeemed but to either Jew or Greek, through Jesus Christ, all of this is bestowed by the grace of God.

Turning to other parts of the New Testament we learn in what way we are made righteous through Christ, or in what way “He is made unto us righteousness.” First, we learn that it is by his merits alone that our sins are pardoned, and we are justified, and treated as righteous, without any contributions of our own.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:9 . . . and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that

Understanding Righteousness by Faith

which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Romans 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

2nd Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Abraham's Example of Faith

Regarding Abraham, who trusted in God and placed his faith him, Paul writes

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

And speaking of this faith being, “ imputed to him for righteousness” in Romans Paul continues on the subject saying:

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Then James concurs on Abraham saying:

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

So we know that relative to righteousness all believers receive it by faith in Christ, and in so doing His righteousness is imputed to us. Praise God!

Righteousness Imputed by Faith

Not understanding this about God’s righteousness being imputed by faith to those who look to Christ, Paul wrote of his brethren the Jews (in Romans 10)

1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

This is the same problem any and all face who are under the false impression that they need to go about establishing their own righteousness. That is the first manner in which the righteousness of Christ is imputed to those who look to Him by faith.

This is an imputation that takes place upon belief and makes a thief on the cross not only forgiven of sin (by faith) but also righteous by the works of Christ imputed to Him by faith. Got that?

The Process of Sanctification

The second type of Christ’s righteousness imputed to those who look to Him in faith is due to His influence, Spirit, ways and truth whereby believers allow Him to make them personally holy in the sight of God.

In the case of what Paul is saying here in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30, it appears that it is the former righteousness that is intended. So first, His righteousness is imputed to our account and we are seen in this state through the eyes of God.

The second type is what Christ in us – His righteous Spirit, pulsing through the vine and out to the branches, serves to personally sanctify us as individuals as we relinquish our will to His in the presence of difficulty and temptation.

So Paul has said that Christ is our righteousness (imputed at salvation, making all men righteous in the eyes of God through faith) but then he adds that He is our “sanctification.”

This is the second means by which we are made righteous by and through our faith in Christ. The word translated “sanctified” here in scripture is hagiasmas, and it means to sanctify or make holy.

The difference between His imputed righteousness and His sanctifying righteousness is not in how they are activated – both are by faith. But the imputation of His righteousness comes hand in hand with faith on His life, death, and resurrection, where the sanctification is processional and occurs over the lifetime of the believer as he or she surrenders to Him and His righteousness by the Spirit. I say that they both come by faith because when it

Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ

When it comes to sanctification by the righteous Spirit of Christ, we illustrate our real faith in Christ as we die to the will of the flesh over the course of our lives. Failure to die to self and to live by Him and His spirit of Righteousness is, in the end, a direct reflection of having placed our faith in Him or not.

Babes in Christ, milk drinkers, are recipients of His righteousness by imputation. The mature in Christ, meat eaters, are those who have allowed His righteousness to replace their will and ways and as a result have experienced personal sanctification or holiness—again by and through Him—and not of our own doing.

Understanding the Diagram

Let’s go back to our diagram from last week to explain this in greater detail. You recall the setup, right? Three in one – BODY / SOUL / SPIRIT. THE FALL – SEPARATION from Knowing God by the Spirit. Life in the Realm of Happiness (positive actions and negative). Jesus the door – shining the light. Entering the door is the point of imputation of Christ’s Righteousness. Thief on the cross. Babes in Christ (visits back to the trough).

Interestingly, the Word of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount really helps us see the sanctification process that all mature believers in Christ experience as they allow His righteousness to prevail in their lives. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 5 and I will explain:

Matthew Chapter 5

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Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

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3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

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6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The last thing Paul says here in 1st Corinthians that believers obtain by faith in Christ is: Redemption. Because Paul has already mentioned imputed “righteousness” (salvation) and “sanctification” (which are all part of redemption as it is normally seen and understood in scripture), I personally believe he is referring to the final stage of redemption—resurrection.

In Romans 8:23, Paul says:

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

This is a fascinating concept not often discussed but if we look at the procession present in these words we face some interesting concepts.

First Paul tells us that by faith in Christ we have real wisdom—with the best definition of wisdom being “knowledge applied.” Then by Christ we are imputed with His righteousness—the salvation experience. Then we enter into a life of personal sanctification where we choose to allow His righteousness to thrive and flow through us (or not). And finally the word presented is redemption—again which I interpret to mean the final redemption of the body in resurrection.

Remember when we just touched on Paul hoping that . . . “if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” I am convinced that once a person has been imputed with Christ’s righteousness, and lives their life choosing or not choosing to also live by His righteousness, that all of it is “cashed in” or redeemed (at death) when God gives to every man a specific resurrection predicated on the sanctification they allowed in their lives.

This is why I think Paul writes that he, by any means, might attain to the (perhaps the best) resurrection of the dead possible. The writer of Hebrews, speaking of the Old Testament faithful, says this: Hebrews 11:35 Women

Understanding Resurrection and Salvation

Received their dead raised to life again (speaking about widows whose sons were brought back to life by Elijah): and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

When Jesus said that in His Father’s house there are many mansions, I believe these mansions to be the actual diverse types of resurrected bodies people will receive, as they will receive them from God, as we will read in chapter 15.

1st Corinthians 15:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

Justification, Sanctification, and Redemption

At the end of all of this we can see that when it comes to our justification (through the forgiveness of sin and the imputation of righteousness) our sanctification (where we get to choose to allow His righteous ways to operate in our lives, and then by the redemption of our bodies (made possible by Christ overcoming the grave) everything – our all before God – is due to Him giving us His Son.

The whole work beginning to end depends on him – with no part of it going to the wisdom of man, philosophy, talent or strength, causing Paul to

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior

In harmony with the whole of scripture all human beings have Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. But to believers in the here and now, we admit that we have no strength, and no righteousness of which to boast; but we rejoice in him, who has God as His head. He is full of goodness and mercy. He is able to save us. He can redeem us out of the hand of all our enemies. And when we are conscious that we are poor, and feeble, and helpless–when oppressed with a sense of sin–we may rejoice in him as Lord and Savior.

Q and A
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Taylor Godfrey
Celeste Kristopherson
Lisa