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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 856. 1Co 1:30. What Christ Is Made to Believers
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1Co_1:30. What Christ Is Made to Believers
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."—1Co_1:30,
Our text contains a very rich and striking view of the happy state and privileges of the Christian. The apostle has been dwelling on the insufficiency of the wisdom of this world to lead men to the attainment of saving knowledge. He is also showing how God set at naught earthly grandeur and philosophy in the establishment of his kingdom, and how he resolved to pour contempt on earthly science and greatness. Hear the interesting questions of the apostle: "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?"—1Co_1:20. Then he shows God's own expedient for making the world wise and happy: "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. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; 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; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and the things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence."—1Co_1:21-29.
Then he turns to the direct and glorious privileges of his people: "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
Observe,
I. The union of believers with Christ.
"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus." "If any man be in Christ," says the apostle, "he is a new creature." "I knew a man in Christ," he says in another place. Now the believer is in Christ—as the branch is in the vine—as the stone is in the building—as the members are in the body. Several Old Testament symbols illustrate this idea: as Noah in the ark, and the manslayer in the city of refuge.
This union, also, must be mutual; Christ in us, and we in Christ. We may know Christ—come to Christ—be near to Christ; but religion also includes being in Christ; virtually, really, and vitally so in him, that he is our head, our life, and our all in all. So in him, that we are one with Christ; so in him, that we are baptized into his death, participators of his resurrection, and are co-sharers of his glory.
Observe in the text,
II. That this union is ascribed to God.
"Who of God is made unto us," &c. In every sense this is true. God gave and sent his Son; God revealed his Son; God brought us nigh to Christ; God by his Holy Spirit united us to Christ. The work is the Lord's; yet man is not passive, and merely acted upon. He must hear of Christ, as proclaimed in the Gospel; he must believe in Christ, and receive him into the soul. "To as many as received him, he gave power to become the sons of God." Now in this wo see exemplified the amazing mercy and love of God, and the gracious power of the Spirit. For it is a work both of love and power. It is a new creation, in which both the might, and wisdom, and power of God are put forth and glorified—"that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Our text shows us,
III. The advantages of this union with Christ.
"Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Now it is well to observe, how Christ, in his gracious fulness, is just the adapted good, the wretched helpless sinner needs. Just look at our fallen estate, and our moral exigencies:
1. As we are dark and ignorant. Christ is made unto us wisdom.
He is the light of the world—the true light that lighteth every man. He came to reveal that which the world could not find out—the true God, and the eternal life. He opens up the way of reconciliation. Hence he illumines the understanding, and gives the knowledge of salvation. He makes known the way of peace, and by him we become the children of light, and of the day.
See Saul ignorant of the scheme of mercy, and see him when God had revealed his Sou in him;—then he exclaims—"Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."—Php_3:8. Now this is true, saving wisdom.
2. Ah sinners, we are guilty and condemned; and Christ is made unto us righteousness, or justification.
For by him alone can the sinner be justified. His person, and obedience unto death, form the great moral ground of our pardon, and acceptance with God. See this clearly attested in Paul's address at Antioch:—"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."—Act_13:38-39. See also the reasoning of the apostle in his letter to the Romans:—"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."—Rom_5:17-19. And the result of this justification, he states—"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."—Rom_5:1. How beautifully this agrees with the prediction of Jeremiah the prophet! "And this is the name whereby he shall be called—the Lord our Righteousness." It is also stated that—"He was made sin for us who knew no sin." He hath fully met all the claims of the law. In him, we are not under its condemnation.
3. As defiled in heart and life, he is made unto us sanctification.
Now justification is a work of grace done for us; sanctification is a work of grace done in us. Justification affects our state as sinners; sanctification affects our character as defiled. Justification is effected at once; sanctification is a progressive work, which begins with our regeneration, and only ends in glory.
Now Christ is made unto us sanctification by the Holy Spirit which he promised, and sent down from heaven; who by the truth renews, and carries on the work of holiness in the soul of the believer; thus he sets up within us a kingdom of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."—Tit_2:14. And, "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."—iii. 4-5.
The atoning blood which he shed is not only the ground of our pardon, but is the medium of our purification. This was the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. This blood, says the apostle John, "cleanseth us from all sin."—1Jn_1:7. So also the powerful statement of Paul,—"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"—Heb_9:13, Heb_9:14. And the description of the redeemed, as beheld in the vision of John—"And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And be said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."—Rev_7:14.
4. We are mortal creatures, and must become the captives of death and the grave; therefore Christ is made unto us redemption.
This most evidently refers to something beyond, and subsequent to sanctification. Now this obviously relates to the resurrection of the body, and the glorification of body and soul in heaven. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."—Rom_8:22, Rom_8:23. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."—Eph_4:30.
Now Christ is the resurrection, or redemption of his people. He is so in every conceivable sense of the term. Not only will he raise the dead, but his indissoluble union with the Christian, will constitute the everlasting life to which he has been called. His resurrection, also, is both the pledge and pattern of theirs. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."—Php_3:20, Php_3:21. This will be the grand consummation—the end of the work of Christ in us, and for us. Beyond this, there will be the blessedness of complete and eternal glorification.
Such then is the Lord Jesus made to all his people. He is their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
Learn then,
(1.) Man's natural deplorable condition—ignorant, guilty, defiled; the victim of death; and in himself without merit or help. See,
(2.) The preciousness of the Lord Jesus. He is all our need; all our desires and salvation are completed in him. None of these blessings can we have without Christ; but with Christ, God will freely give us all things.
(3.) The necessity of union to Christ—personal, spiritual union—a union of heart and soul.
(4.) We see why Christ should ever be the subject of preaching, and the object of faith—because there is salvation in no other. Here is the one rock of perfect hope and blessedness, and nowhere else is there a foundation sufficiently strong to bear up the boundless interests of immortal souls. In Christ, God's glory has been revealed, and man's help found; so that the apostle may well add,—"He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
Now. learn also,
Finally. That our union to Christ should be the chief end of our solicitude. It may be well and profitable to be associated with some department of Christ's church; and to be honorably identified as public professors of Christ's religion; but this will really avail nothing, without we are spiritually united to Jesus, and unless he is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. This is the essential reality, after which we should aspire—and without which we should not be satisfied—and strangers to which we cannot finally be saved.
The experimental enjoyment of this spiritual union to Christ, with the emotions it should excite, are beautifully versified by Dr Doddridge:
"My God, assist me while I raise
An anthem of harmonious praise!
My heart thy wonders shall proclaim,
And spread its banners to thy name.
In Christ I view a store divine:
My Father, all that store is thine;
By thee prepared, by thee bestowed;
Hail to my Saviour, and my God!
Condemned, thy criminal I stood,
And awful Justice asked my blood;
That welcome Saviour, from thy throne
Brought righteousness and pardon down.
My soul was all o'erspread with sin,
And lo! his grace hath made me clean:
He rescues from the infernal foe,
And full redemption will bestow.
Ye saints, assist my grateful tongue;
Ye angels, warble back my song;
For love like this demands the praise
Of heavenly harps and endless days."