The Gospel Must Be Boasted

The Gospel Must be Boasted

Let me invite you to turn in your Bible to One Corinthians 1:30-31. We will start reading at verse 18.

^KJV 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. ²⁰ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. ²² For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; ²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: ²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence. 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.

This is the Word of God . . . .

I. Introduction- The city of Corinth at this time was great in power and extremely important for it was the political capital of Greece. It had become the chief city of Greece in authority, wealth, brilliance, literature, arts, and luxury, and its geography was incredible. Being near three seas, it had become the center of trade; and with trade, brought much money for the city. With money came many recreations– namely athletics–and the ability to build, most notably the temple of Aphrodite, the centerpiece of Corinth. Not only was the culture of Corinth corrupt, but corruption had begun to seep into the church. The church of Corinth filled itself with vanity, sexuality, self-wanting desires, and pleasures of the wrong kind. The church was using the Lord’s Supper for a common meal, and had begun to allow women to speak in the church publically. The mindset of the culture crept into the church of Corinth and they wanted to have some type of feeling, or experience so they began to use tongues without regard to its order or its edification. Then due to the philosophy of its culture, some of them denied the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and changed the base of the gospel. I believe that the problem in Corinth, and namely, the church of Corinth, was that they boasted in themselves. They found their pleasure in what they themselves had done. They found their glory in what they had accomplished. Paul tells them fourteen different times throughout his letter to this church, to boast in Christ, and not themselves.[1] The city of Corinth seems very similar to America. The problem in Corinth is the same problem that exists in America. Corinth did not find its contentment in Christ, and what He had done, but in the pleasurable desires of their city. Corinth did not glory or boast in God, but found delight in what they had, what they had made, and what they were capable of doing. I tell you today, that this is what is wrong with our culture and our churches.

Propositional Statement (#, Noun, Application, action)

Today, let us consider two areas of the gospel in which one must boast. Now, I do not believe these to be the only areas of the Gospel to be boasted. I just believe that these are the two main areas in which the context of our text is keying in on, or trying to get across. So even though there is hundreds, thousand and maybe infinite areas of the Gospel in which you are to boast in, I am only talking about these two, in our text. So when I titled this message, the Gospel must be boasted, it didn’t mean I was going to give you every reason in boasting in the Gospel. That is why we have 66 books and not one or two verses in which I am going to bring to the table, on why the Gospel must be boasted. So therefore our areas are;

*First man must not boast in any of his wisdom. For the wisdom of God has brought you to him, not to boast in anything but Him.

*Secondly, a man must not boast in his work. For there is no work in which you can do that will bring you to the wisdom of God. The work of Christ is what has brought you to the wisdom of God.

II. Instructional Point- Boast in the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is greater than any wisdom man has, can, and will be. God’s wisdom is so great, so satisfying, and so enjoyable that you should not boast in any wisdom but God’s wisdom.

A. Illustration- What does the Bible gives us?

I would like to look at our text, mainly verses 30 and 31, but in the light of its given context starting in verse 18. I believe verses 18-30 give the biblical reason for the biblical principle found in verse 31. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord,” Paul knows that there is nothing to boast in of himself. That is why he is quoting from the Old Testament here.[2] Paul is not bringing new ideas or new principles to the table, but he is reminding God’s people of the principle that they were made for,[3] that is to Glory in God! Let us quickly look at what he says in the preceding verses.

In verse 19, Paul is once again quoting from the Old Testament, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise”.[4] Look at verse 20: “Hath not God made the foolish the wisdom of the world?” Verse 21 says, and “the world by wisdom knew not God.” The wisdom of man does not know the cross, and it cannot comprehend the cross without the knowledge of God. And verse 22, “the Jews required a sign,” and “the Greeks see after wisdom.” The Jews wanted power, the Greeks wanted knowledge, and no one wanted God!

B. Application- What does this mean?

Look at our culture today. We have businesses bigger than ever before, we have buildings bigger than ever before, we have nicer cars, bigger houses, bigger wallets, and bigger toys; we have it all! And what does America want you to do? They want you to buy into this lie of pride, or boasting in yourself, of glorifying yourself. Now, I am not saying that if you have big houses and nice cars that this is wrong, but if you seek the things this world has to offer more than the wisdom of God, you have fallen into idolatry. Think about this: the world admires your birth and your name. If your parents are well known, you are too. If your social status is good and if you have many friends, people will like you and consider you an intelligent being. You should be proud of yourself! If you have financial success, you are rich. If you can make money, everyone likes you. Many people value man’s authority and power. If you are the type of person that can get things accomplished and it always seems that you come out on top, then it is quite possible you will have many friends. Then some look at popularity. If you are pretty, you look good, you sound good, you wear the right things, you dress the right way, or you make the right movies, you can make the headlines of national news by getting a DUI, Your a role model now for America! So often, we buy the lies of this world. We think we need a new car, a new house, a new suit, even a new Bible. How many times do we start looking everywhere else in this world for our own personal desires? How often do we begin to search for treasures on this earth? It seems to me, that the problem in Corinth is no different from that of America. We glory in ourselves; we look for our own wants; we desire what this world has to offer. In addition, many times, we seek the wisdom of this world and not God’s wisdom. Paul reminds Corinth, and reminds us, that we must boast only in the Lord.

C. Interaction- What would that look like?

Look with me at verse 25. “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” How foolish it would be of us to boast in ourselves. Man’s wisdom does not and never will, find God, nor will it ever begin to compare with God’s wisdom. The 63-volume set of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons just begin to explore the foolishness of God. Luther’s works in 54 volumes just barely start to touch the edges of the foolishness of God. Calvin’s institutes and his 22 volume set of commentaries is only a grain of sand in the vast amount of shores upon this earth in describing the wisdom of God. The 23-volume set of John Owens, the 12 volumes of Thomas Goodwin, and the 12 volumes of Thomas Boston together are only but a hint of the wisdom of God. Every commentary, every systematic theology volume, every dictionary, every encyclopedia, and every book ever written is but a drop of water in the vast oceans of the Lord’s knowledge and depth. Compared to the Lord’s wisdom, man’s knowledge is foolishness. And this is what Paul told the people of Corinth: boast in this Wisdom. This is the reason why you are made: to know the wisdom of God. The foolish, weak, despised, and lowly are made to boast in God alone. You were made by God to give Him glory. You are to boast in the wisdom of God, and it should be your utmost desire for God, not you, to be made known. Man must boast in God’s wisdom, for God’s glory. This brings me to my second point.

III. Instructional Point- Boast in the work of Christ. The work of Christ is greater than any work that man has, can, or ever will be. Christ crucified is so beautiful, so marvelous, and so astonishing that it allows you to boast in Him. This is a hard concept to grasp. Christ died so that you could boast in God, boast in Christ, and the cross. Christ died so that you might boast in the gospel.

A. Illustration- What does the Bible gives us?

Follow with me while I read verse 30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Your wisdom, your righteousness, your sanctification, and the only reason you can one day be redeemed and spend eternity with God, is a result of Christ’s work. For those of you who know the gospel, your whole life centers on Christ’s work accomplished on the cross. For those of you that may be sitting here today and have not heard or given up yourselves to the work of Christ on the cross, I tell you listen now, listen to the Savior, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ and recognize that what He has done gives hope to those who are lost.

B. Application- What does this mean?

One might stop and ask here, “What do you mean when you say that we should boast in “Christ’s work?” What I mean is that Christ died on a cross for His own glorification. Christ died in order that He might be boasted in. Moreover, He does this through you. How are you doing church? Are you boasting in the fact that the death of Christ is why, is how, and is where you can enjoy the wisdom of God? The denial of Christ was for your satisfaction in God. The mocking was for your ability to boast in the wisdom of God. The beating, the whipping, the spit, the beard plucking, the torment by the Roman soldiers, was for your righteousness before God. The wood He carried to His death, the nails driven into His hands, the sponge, the sword driven into the side of Him, was for your sanctification. Most importantly, I must tell you that His resurrection was for your redemption, and one day because of the work of Christ you will see God in all His glory, boasting in Him forever, and ever, and ever!

C. Interaction- What would that look like?

When you truly see the work of Christ, you will boast in God. He paid for all of your sins. He took on all of your condemnation, and in perfect righteousness, He purchased your eternal life. This is why you can come to God and bring Him praise. This is how you can wake up in the morning and live for God. This is why you can worship God. Christ died so that you can boast in God and only Him. Christ died for you, so that you can become dead to yourselves, and dead to this world. As a believer, you will get little satisfaction in finding happiness in yourself. Yet you will receive an overflowing amount of joy and satisfaction in Him alone. Nevertheless, I must add, only when you are truly satisfied with the work of Christ, can you boast in the Lord. You were made to find your desires in Christ; you were made to find your pleasure, your happiness, your enjoyment, your bliss, your enthusiasm, zeal, and passions in Christ alone. Exalt Christ among everything else; rejoice and boast in Christ above everything else.

IV. Conclusion- Today in America we have many churches that have bought into the idols of this world. We even have churches that have bought into this day’s philosophy and denied the doctrines of the cross, like penal substitutionary atonement, a literal hell, and original sin. I believe the most disheartening is postmodern churches that deny the truth of the Word of God. Churches have fallen into this dream called “America.” They let pride run its course and we are left with nothing but men seeking their own pleasures, their own desires, and their own pride. Paul could have told Corinth to boast in anything, the philosophy of its age, the culture of its time, its pride its lust, its worldly conformity and Paul says, “He that Boast, Boast in the Lord, He that glorith, let him glory in the Lord.” Believers today, I call you to boast in the work of Christ and the wisdom of God. May it never be said of us that we did not find our satisfaction, our identity, our wisdom, and our work in the Lord! The wisdom of God is far better than anything this world offers. It is better than any pleasure you can image that is short term on this earth. The work of Christ is our hope to enjoying the wisdom of God. It is nothing we have to do, Christ work has paved a way that which we can find all of our desires, all of our pleasures, and all good enjoyment in the wisdom of God. Dear friends must I remind you, it is the wisdom of God that allowed the work of Christ to pay your death penalty, so that you could enjoy Him! Let us all boast in that wisdom and in that work! Amen.