Carol & I own some drawings
by artists that we consider to be some of the world's renowned artists.
These drawings are so valuable that Carol has quit displaying them for
fear they might get damaged. She wouldn't even let me bring them over
here to show you, but she did put a copy of them on overheads so you
can see our priceless art collection. I want you to know that for years
they hung in the most predominate spot in our house, our refrigerator's
door. Let me show you some drawings drawn by our son Matthew, and our
grandchildren TJ & Savannah.
To
most of you these drawings aren't worth a plug penny, but to Carol &
me, they are invaluable. You don't have enough money to buy any of these
great pieces of art. The reason they are so valuable to us is not because
they were drawn by Picasso, or Michelangelo, or even Rembrandt. But
they were drawn by people we love. And because we love them, to us these
worthless drawings are the most valuable pieces of artwork in the entire
world.
The same is true when it comes to God. God has declared that we, in
and of ourselves, are worthless. If you & I were pictures, nobody would
buy us. Instead of hanging on someone's refrigerator door, we'd probably
end up in the trash can. But God, in his grace, says, I want you. That
is because it pleases God to take those who the world considers to be
nothing, and turn them into something of value & significance.
This is what the Corinthians had forgotten. They were starting to think
that in and of themselves they were something of value and significance.
And with this mindset, they were starting to look down on those who
they considered to be of little value. They had forgotten that their
spiritual roots came from a little Jewish baby, born of 2 Galilean peasants.
Jesus wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His birth wasn't
even acknowledged by the religious elite, or the political powers of
the day. God bypassed those groups, and instead, announced the birth
of his son to 2 of the most unlikely groups of people. These 2 groups
were some shepherds, who were despised by most of the Jews at the time
of Jesus' birth. And some pagan stargazers, who were considered to be
wise men among their people.
Through those who God called to come and see the newly born king of
the world, God gave us a microcosmic picture of what the Christian church
would look like. It would be made up of both the have & the have-not's.
And the Corinthians had forgotten this. They had forgotten that Jesus
didn't come to further separate us from each other because of our education,
our jobs, or whether our family is found on the "A" list of the social
registrar. Jesus came so both those who live in trailers & those who
live in gated communities could gather as the church, and corporately
worship him. But whenever the church loses sight of the fact that Jesus
humbled himself by becoming a man, that he humbled himself by leaving
his home in heaven to live among mankind on earth, and that he humbled
himself by willingly letting man kill him as a common criminal, the
church begins to set itself up as an elite segment of society. And this
causes us to separate ourselves from those who are less educated, make
less money, or have a lighter shade of blue blood running through their
veins.
This is what was causing the division among the Corinthians. And it
is what causes division in today's church as well. So to help us overcome
spiritual pride, God reminds us of who we really are-v. 26.
As I look around the room this morning, I don't see many intellectual
highbrows. I don't see Governor Mark Stanford, or President Bush worshiping
with us. I don't see any movie, TV, sports, or music superstars here
this morning. I just see a bunch of ordinary, hard working, common folk.
But because of that, we struggle with our own significance. Deeply ingrained
in all of us is a desire to be one of the somebody's, instead of one
of the nobody's. Women wish they looked like Jennifer Lopez/ Britney
Spears. Men wish they had a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and could
hit a golf ball like Tiger Woods, or shoot a basketball like Michael
Jordan. We all wish we were somebody other than who we are.
But the truth that Paul hits us with this morning is that we really
are a bunch of nobodies. Underline the words "in the flesh" in v. 26.
What I want you to see this morning, is the contrast between being nothing
in the flesh to being something in Christ. Notice that there is an "M"
connected to the word "any" in this verse. Paul isn't saying that there
weren't any smart people, or any influential people, or any blue-bloodied
people in the church. It just that there wasn't "MANY" who fit into
these categories in the church. If God didn't include the letter "M,"
then he would never call any one who is smart, or influential, and or
who comes from the right family to salvation.
The fact that the early church was also made up of people having very
little social standing was offensive to the culture of the day. In 178
A.D. a pagan Roman philosopher named Celsus wrote these sarcastic words
about Christians: "Let no cultured person draw near, none wise and none
sensible, if any man is wanting in sense and culture, if anybody is
a fool, let him boldly become a Christian. They are the worst, the most
vulgar, and the most uneducated persons."
To disprove his theory all we need to do is to look at Jesus. There
is no one who is wiser, no one who is more powerful, or no one who is
more nobler than the Son of God. Yet the Prince of heaven became a pauper
to give all of us an equal chance to be saved. But sadly, most of what
the world considers to be the elite are just too high-minded to humble
themselves before the hand of God Almighty, and admit they are sinners
in need of a Savior.
What Paul is saying is that as far as the world is concerned, not many
of us would be considered to be the cream of the crop. In order to claim
that status, you need to be able to fulfill each of these 3 requirements
that Paul mentions: Wise, Mighty, and Noble. You needed to have gone
to the best schools and have earned the highest degrees possible. You
also need to be able to influence those who are in politics/or places
of authority. And finally you need to be born into the right family.
As Paul thinks about the saints in Corinth, he doesn't remember seeing
many who could claim to be the cream of the crop. But what he does remember
is that most of them at one time were "fornicators, idolaters, adulterers,
homosexuals, thieves, drunks, slanderers, and swindlers." (1
Cor. 6:9-10) So to get them off their high horses, Paul encourages
them to remember that God rescued them all from the same slime pit of
sin.
As I read vv. 27 & 28, I want you to under the thrice repeated phrase
"God has chosen." Paul is now pumping back up our egos up by reminding
us that God has chosen to bring a bunch of losers into his family. You
were not chosen because of your good qualities. Salvation is a gracious
gift from God. If God had not interfered in your life by his Spirit,
you would still be dead in your sins, and headed straight towards hell.
You have been brought into salvation by grace through faith in Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the ultimate source for who we now are. God doesn't
care about who you are. The only thing that matters to God is whose
you are. And if you have called upon Jesus for salvation, you belong
to God.
I know it is hard to believe that we can't do anything to make God love
us. I don't know about you, but when I do stupid, sinful things, I feel
so unlovable. Or when I my body is attacked by sickness, and I can't
to do what I want to do, I feel that I'm not a contributing member of
God's kingdom. It is so liberating to know that to be used in God's
kingdom I don't have to be 6ft., blond haired, blue-eyed, with a 6-pack
stomach, or have a 140/better IQ. God loves me, and uses me, despite
the fact that I have an average IQ, that I'm only 5'6", and I have a
keg stomach. Aren't you thankful that God's love for you is totally
unconditional?
In vv. 27-28 Paul uses 4 paradoxical statements to show us that even
though the world says we are losers because we have declared allegiance
to Jesus Christ. God has declared that we are winners. And God is going
to use us to turn the world upside down. What Paul is saying in these
two verses is that the most simple, uneducated, untalented person who
has trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord, is immeasurably wiser than any
person with a Ph.D., is more influential than any politician, and has
a greater social standing than any of the Who's Who, who rejects the
message of the gospel. The world measures greatness by intelligence,
wealth, prestige, position, and power. God puts those at the bottom
of his list of qualifications for ministry.
We see this in the person God chose to announce to the Jewish world
that their Messiah had come. "Jesus began to speak to the crowd about
John: 'What did you go out into the desert to see? A man dressed in
fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces.
Then what did you to out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more
that a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: I will send
My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You. I tell
you the truth: Among those born of women there has not arisen anyone
greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he." (Matt. 11:7-11)
John had no formal education, no professional training, no money, no
military rank, no political position, no social pedigree, he ate gross
food, and he had bad taste in clothes. John the Baptist met none of
the world's standards of greatness. But God called him to light a fire
in the nation of Israel in preparation for the Lord Jesus' coming. And
Jesus promises that each one of us is greater than John, because he
never got to witness Jesus' death & resurrection. But we have through
the divine revelation of God's Word.
Let me give you a powerful illustration of how God can transform us
from nothing into something. The illustration comes from the opening
verses in the Bible, which says that "In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void." (Gen.
1:1-2) The Hebrew words for without "form and void" are "Tohu,"
and "Bohuw." The literal meaning of these words shows us that in the
beginning the earth looked like a huge lump of shapeless clay. But then
God started to shape this lump of clay through the power of his voice.
As God spoke the earth's bodies of waters & continents were formed.
As God spoke the different types of vegetation, birds, fish, insects,
and animals were formed. And then finally God took some of the dust
from the earth, formed it into the shape of a man, and breathed life
into his body.
This is exactly what happened to you when you were born again. You were
just a shapeless lump of humanity, aimlessly going through life. Yet
as God's Spirit started to make the message of Jesus' death & resurrection
a reality to you, you reached out and grabbed hold of the salvation
that Jesus won for you on the cross. At that very second, God took something
that was nothing, and made you into something: His precious child.
And as children of God, we have the 3 requirements for being on the
list of Who's Who. We have wisdom, power & prestige. As far as wisdom
goes, God has given us the mind of Christ. When it comes to influential
power, we can talk to the ruler of the universe at any time. We never
have to make an appointment. And through our talks with God, we can
even change the course of human events. As far as being born into the
right family, when you & I are born again, the Creator of this universe
calls us his sons & daughters. You & I are the cream of the crop.
In verses 29-31 Paul addresses the number 1
issue that our culture is obsessed with: self-worth. What God wants
is for us to find our identity only in Jesus Christ. God won't tolerate
human pride, so he chooses people who have nothing to brag about-v.
29.
The world finds their self-image in human boasting. We love to boast
about how smart our kids are by putting bumper stickers on our cars
that say, "My child is an honor student." We love to boast about how
much money we make by living in big houses, wearing designer label clothes,
or buying fancy cars. We love to boast about our achievements by showing
the trophies we won in school, or putting our degrees where everyone
will be sure to see them. Yet God did not choose you because of what
you did, or what you own, or even how much money you make. Rather, God
saves only those who acknowledge their sinfulness. The cross causes
us all to say, "To God be the glory!"
Look now at verse 30. In this verse Paul helps us to see who we are
in Jesus Christ. So far Paul has compared who we are according to the
world's standards. His conclusion: We are loser. But at this point Paul
begins to show us who we are according to God's standards. His conclusion:
We are winners.
The key to grasping the truth that we are winners is in the words "In
Christ." If you are a Christian, then you are in Jesus Christ. And in
this position God has given us the resources to have a healthy self-worth,
that is based on who we are in Christ. There are four words in v. 30
that describe the resources that God has given us to see who we are
in Christ. Please underline the words: wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. Let me explain these words to you.
First is the gift of wisdom. The wisdom that Paul is talking about here
is the ability to see life from God's perspective. This spiritual wisdom
is in contrast to the worldly wisdom everybody has. When you became
a child of God, the Holy Spirit renewed your mind, and gave you an insight
that is best described as superhuman.
Second, we've been given the righteousness of God. This means that God
has removed your filthy, sin-stained clothes, and exchanged them for
the robe of righteousness. In a couple of months we will be celebrating
Christmas. And one of the busiest days of the year for retailers is
the day after Christmas. It is the day when people exchange the gift
they didn't want, for something they really like. God's gift of righteousness
is the greatest exchange of all. Paul tells us that "God made Him who
knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness
of God." (2
Cor. 5:21) The moment we invite Jesus into our heart as Lord, God
clothes us with Jesus' righteousness. This is what gives us the ability
to come into God's presence without him wiping us out.
Third, we have received God's sanctification. This simply means to be
set apart for a holy purpose. This is the daily manifestation of Jesus'
characteristics that have been placed into us. The longer we're in relationship
with Jesus, the more we will learn how to handle all that life throws
at us in godly ways. As we mature in our faith, we'll become more patient,
more loving, and even more sinless.
In Romans ch. 6, Paul tells us that the desire to sin does not come
from the real you. It comes from the part that Paul calls the flesh.
Paul also tells us in Romans 6, that our flesh was crucified the moment
we became Christians. So when you're tempted to cheat or cuss, to lie
or lust, don't try to overcome the temptation in your own strength.
Just remind yourself that the part of you that wants to sin is now dead,
and that the real you is holy, sanctified, and doesn't want to sin.
Do like Jesus did when Satan tempted him in the wilderness: hit him
with the Word of God. God told Cain that "You must master sin." (Genesis
4:7) So the devil raises his ugly head through temptations, and
your flesh starts screaming at you to give in, tell both of them that
it is written: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old
is gone, the new has come." (2
Cor. 5:17)
Finally, we have received God's redemption. To redeem means to buy something
back. At one time, we were just like the drawings made by my son & grandkids:
pieces of paper that most people would consider to be worthless. But
God came along, purchased us through the blood of Jesus Christ, put
us in the picture frame of Christ, and posted us on his refrigerator
door in heaven. And he commands all of heaven to come and take a look
at this work of beauty. But to keep from getting a big head, always
remember that our beauty is not found in our physical attractiveness.
Our beauty is found in the fact that we are in Christ. God used Jesus'
death on the cross, as the means to transform our ugly, sin-stained
lives, into a beautiful work of art. What makes us priceless works of
art is that God used the most precious commodity in the world, the blood
of Jesus, to buy us out of the slavery of sin.
Finally look at verse 31. This is a part of a passage from Jeremiah
9:23-24. I want you to look at these 2 verses because they express
to us so vividly the heart of God: "'Let not the wise man boast of his
wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast
of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands
and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."
The very best that God can offers us, his kindness, his justice & his
righteousness, the things he delights to give us, come only through
the channel of his son, the Lord Jesus. God doesn't want us to boast
about our education, our wealth, or our social position. He only wants
us to boast about the fact that we are in Jesus Christ. Normally you
wouldn't hear me tell you to brag about anything. That's because of
all the warning in the Bible about being proud. But my assignment for
all of us is to go out into the world and boast in the fact that because
we are in Christ we are number 1.
As I finish, I want you to think back on all the gifts you've received
throughout your life. How many of those gifts brought you true happiness?
Oh, you may have experienced a moment of happiness as you opened that
gift which you thought you couldn't live without. Yet, where is that
gift today? Did any of them change the way you thought about yourself?
The truth is that since God designed us to live in fellowship with him,
no material things, no gifts, not even having a relationship with another
human, will ever satisfy the longing we have to have a relationship
with God. Yet, when we invite Jesus Christ to come into our lives as
lord, God fills that empty vacuum with his presence. And then God gives
us gifts that never break. Gifts that never need any batteries. Gifts
that we will never outgrow. Gifts that will never go out of fashion.
And the gifts each of us really do want the most. If you've never received
God's gift of salvation, found only in Jesus Christ, I pray you will
do so before you go home today.
Let's pray!!
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