Something from Nothing
1st Corinthians 1:26-31 - Victory Fellowship
June 2, 2024 - Rev. Roderick Grabski
I. Introduction: (Jaime went to Gettysburg on Friday)
a. On Nov. 24, 1863 The Patriot & Union devoted all of one paragraph to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address that was delivered 5 days earlier: "We pass over the silly remarks of the President. For the credit of the nation we are willing that the veil of oblivion shall be dropped over them, and that they shall be no more repeated or thought of." They thought the speck was NOTHING.
b. 150 years later (Nov. 2013) The Harrisburg Patriot & Union published this retraction:
Seven score and ten years ago, the forefathers of this media institution brought forth to its audience a judgment so flawed, so tainted by hubris, so lacking in the perspective history would bring, that it cannot remain unaddressed in our archives. We write today in reconsideration of “The Gettysburg Address,” delivered by then-President Abraham Lincoln in the midst of the greatest conflict seen on American soil. Our predecessors, perhaps under the influence of partisanship, or of strong drink, as was common in the profession at the time, called President Lincoln’s words “silly remarks,” deserving “a veil of oblivion,” apparently believing it an indifferent and altogether ordinary message, unremarkable in eloquence and uninspiring in its brevity. In the fullness of time, we have come to a different conclusion. No mere utterance, then or now, could do justice to the soaring heights of language Mr. Lincoln reached that day. By today’s words alone, we cannot exalt, we cannot hallow, we cannot venerate this sacred text, for a grateful nation long ago came to view those words with reverence, without guidance from this chagrined member of the mainstream media. The world will little note nor long remember our emendation of this institution’s record – but we must do as conscience demands: In the editorial about President Abraham Lincoln’s speech delivered Nov. 19, 1863, in Gettysburg, the Patriot & Union failed to recognize its momentous importance, timeless eloquence, and lasting significance. The Patriot-News regrets the error.
c. In 1863 the editors thought they were wise but they turned out to be nothing of the sort.
II. RELATING THE TEXT
a. Paul is instructing the church in Corinth that God uses people who seem like nothing to the world.
b. Paul reminds them of who they were when they first believed: 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
c. God is not looking for famous athletes, entertainers, million and billionaires, and rich politicians to spread the gospel.
d. Paul says: 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
i. In verse 27 the Greek word for foolishness mwria (moria) is where we get the word moron.
ii. The Greek phrase in vs 28, agenhs ezouqenew o wn mh (agenes exoutheneo, ho oan may), “the lowly, despised things that are not” is the most contemptible phrase in the Greek language. To be called “nothing” was the worst insult you could be given and was usually used in reference to slaves.
e. God’s wisdom is a paradox. You are a wise person to God – not by your status or income – but by your willingness to receive and practice His guidance in your life. That makes you something.
f. Then we know our success is from God. As Paul says: 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself.
III. Application
a. When we choose to boast in the Lord, God gives us rich blessings:
i. God gives His Wisdom: Eph. 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. James 4:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without
ii. God Makes Us Righteous: Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 2 Cor. 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
iii. God Gives us Sanctification: Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
iv. God Gives Us Redemption: 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
b. We know these blessings come from God and we do not boast in our accomplishments as the worldly do – we boast in the Lord.
i. In vs 31 Paul is quoting Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.
IV. Conclusion
a. God’s wisdom makes us something in a world that might otherwise consider us nothing.
PRAYER
SONG: Loving My Jesus
1st Corinthians 1:26-31 NLT
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”