Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

December 2, 2001

 

Intro: Verses 26-31 key off of what was stated in verse 25

1 Corinthians 1:25,  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

A-  God’s plan of glory was not according to conventional wisdom.

1-   Strength through weakness, Victory through apparent defeat, Man achieving something by doing nothing.

a-   The gospel is:

-         God’s plan

-         It’s all about what He did on the cross

-         Who’s hand held the nails and swung the hammer??

·        This is about God’s victory over sin and death.

b-   Man at best is a spectator, at worst an obstacle.

-         Satan continues to work the same way today as he always has.

·        Satan: real, opposition, contrary to God and His plan.

-         His most effective strategy is to ask mankind “well what do you think”.

·        Do you need that bible, can’t you think for yourself?

Turn to Genesis 3:1-13,  22-24

 

1 Corinthians 1:25,  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

A-  What is the foolishness of God

1-   The cross

B-  What is the weakness of God

2-   Jesus dying of that cross.

Man in his wisdom throughout the ages has come up with nothing better (we’ve always made ourselves the focal point.)

 

1 Corinthians 1:26,  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

A-  Calling = The saving call of God (our road to Damascus)

1-   As proof of what Paul has just said he is using the living illustration of the members of the church at Corinth.

2-   Tonight HE is asking to look at yourself.

a-   What did you do to save yourself.

- What did you used to be (moron)

-         You more than likely experienced salvation at a very weak time.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11,  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.

Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.11

And such were some of you.

But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

3-   KNOW THIS: God calls us, not because of who we are, but inspire of whom we are.

a-   Look at the Apostles:

-         Fishermen, tax-collectors, peasants, religious zealots.

-         There was one refined gentleman among them, because of his background they made him their treasurer.

·        His name was Judas Iscariot.

Read Verses 27-28

A-  As mentioned before, when will someone receive from someone who they believe has a foolish philosophy of life.

1-   When their philosophy has been found to be more foolish.

a-   Unfortunately George Harrison now realizes that he will not be reincarnated.

-         He will not get another chance he has made a foolish decision.

·        He seemed so spiritual, so wise, he was so famous how could he be wrong.

·        His dying thoughts were of us loving each other.

-         I always wonder “what kind of worship leader could these people have been.

B-  The Apostle Paul knew that eternal position was more important that worldly.

Read 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

 

WHY ALL OF THIS

l- In these last verses we wisdom from God produces 4 things

          #1- Glory to God

          #2- Righteousness

          #3- Sanctification

          #4- Redemption

1-   No amount of earthly wisdom can produce any of these things.

a-   Our wisdom has produced (perpetuated)

-         Anthrax, AIDS, Wars, pollution, Despair

Former CIA officer Victor Marchetti told London's Daily Telegraph in November that the Company had a project in the 1960s ("Acoustic Kitty") in which a cat had batteries and wires surgically installed, with an antenna in the tail, so that it could be placed close to enemy operatives and transmit eavesdropped conversations back to a monitoring station.

The project was five years in development when the first Kitty was deployed,  it was immediately run over by a taxicab.

2-   Energy crises: Last spring (higher rates), Panic spending (higher rates).

-         Why do I not have confidence in the Fed.’s taking over airport security.

1 Corinthians 1:29,  that no flesh should glory in His presence.

A-  God’s plan for salvation is structured so that we would not look to man but God.

1-   Who could Israel give the glory to in Exodus.

a-   Who gets the glory in your salvation.

It’s not the man who has more of God that you are to seek after, BUT the man whom has given more of himself to God.

Isaiah 42:8,  I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

 

1 Corinthians 1:30, But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

(NIV): 1 Corinthians 1:30,  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

#1- Wisdom from God is to impute righteousness to us.

A-  Something man has attempted to do since the garden and failed.

1-   Our righteousness is imputed (placed in our accounts) this is why we still sin.

a-   One day we will be righteous but for now it is stored up for us.

Romans 4:23-25,  The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

#2- Wisdom from God is sanctification (to separate us from the ungodly)

A-  As the Levites were set apart for service to the Lord so are we.

(Priests)

1-   I am sanctified for His service.

Ephesians 2:10,  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Read Romans 8:4-11

2-   Try as we might but apart form the Spirit of God we always return to our desires according to our nature.

Proverbs 26:10-12, The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

#3- Wisdom form God is redemption.

A-  Redemption = liberation procured by the payment of a ransom.

1-   Soda bottles.

a-   Because of sin man was sent out of the garden, by God, and sealed out, by God.

-         In our wisdom we spend so much time trying to recreate the garden but never cam.

2-   Through Christ mankind has been redeemed, restored back to a former condition.

1 Peter 1:18-19,  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

1 Corinthians 1:31,  that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

A- “As it is written” = Old Testament

Read Jeremiah 9:23-24

 

Colossians 2:1-3, For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.