“But because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, whom God made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (Read 1 Corinthians 1)
Why is it that we who are Christians are saved? Can we boast of our goodness, our worthiness to be chosen, our wisdom, our decision, or our faith? What does the Bible say? “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The apostle Paul points out to his readers in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:26-31): “For observe your calling, brothers. Among you, not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty men, and not many noble men were called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And God has chosen the inferior things of the world and things which are despised. Yes, and He chose things which are nothing to nullify the things that are, so that no flesh should boast in His presence. But because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, whom God made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”
The fact that any of us who believe have heard God’s Word and come to know the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth and all things, and to know and trust in His mercy toward us in Christ Jesus who died for our sins and rose again, is not because of anything good in us. Indeed, we were dead in our trespasses and sins until God graciously saved us by bringing us to faith in the Son and His atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world through the preaching of the Gospel (cf. Eph. 1:3ff.; 2:1ff.; Titus 3:3ff.). His election and calling are entirely of His grace and mercy toward us in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 1:9-10).
Thus, the apostle points out how God used the foolishness of the cross and the foolishness of preaching forgiveness of sins and life eternal through the shed blood of Jesus to save us. To the world, it remains foolishness. But to us, He has revealed it as the wisdom and power of God unto salvation. To us, who are counted fools by this world, God has revealed His wisdom. And Jesus Christ, the only-begotten of God the Father and born of the Virgin Mary, was “made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”
So, in what can we brag and boast? Only in the Lord! As it is written in the prophet Jeremiah (9:23-24): “Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, says the LORD.” And how is it that we can know these things and trust in the Lord? Entirely of His grace and mercy in Christ Jesus!
Therefore, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord!”
We praise You, O LORD God, and give You the glory for providing salvation for us in Your Son, Jesus Christ, and for bringing us to know Him and trust in Him as our God and Savior through the preaching of the Gospel. Amen.
[Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.]