...[F]ar be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 Galatians 6:14

...[F]ar be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #33: To Make His Cross the Ground of All Our Boasting.  In today's devotion, Piper unpacks Galatians 6:14, Piper by sharing that, while the Bible shares that believers are only to boast in the cross, and this for some may seem "over the top" to non-believers.  Yet this is indeed what the Bible says, not just in Galatians 6:14, but also in Romans 5:2, 3, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and 1 Thessalonians 2:19.  While these verses seem to describe boasting about things, they all point to honoring the cross.  Piper then connects the dots for us as he shares that "every good thing—indeed, even every bad thing that God turns for good—was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from faith in Christ, sinners get only judgment. Yes, there are many pleasant things that come to unbelievers.  But the Bible teaches that even these natural blessings of life will only increase the severity of God’s judgment in the end, if they are not received with thanks on the basis of Christ’s sufferings."  We are referred to Romans 2:4-5.  Piper then goes on to share that "everything that we enjoy, as people who trust Christ, is owing to his death. His suffering absorbed all the judgment that guilty sinners deserved and purchased all the good that forgiven sinners enjoy. Therefore all our boasting in these things should be a boasting in the cross of Christ."  Piper encourages all believers to be "radically cross-focused."  We do this by recognizing that when we truly trust in Christ, our old self is dead and we are born again and we belong to Christ.  We also recognize that all of our enjoyment is sourced by God and we seek what God seeks because we love Him and therefore love to please Him.  See yesterday's post.  Piper concludes by sharing that "every legitimate pleasure in the world becomes a blood-bought evidence of Christ’s love and an occasion of boasting in the cross."  Trust in Jesus and experience everlasting joy in Jesus as he becomes "the ground of all our boasting."

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and mercy for me.  Thank You Father God - Jesus - You are deserving of all my boasting.  I am not deserving of the grace You pour out for me...which of course started on the cross and continues though today and ultimately to Heaven where You are saving a place for me.  Thank You for these gifts for which I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1 Corinthians 4

We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 1 Corinthians 4:13

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 4:6-13. As a starting point, the commentary* provides as it main idea for the text: "[b]ecause Christians have received every good thing from God, they should avoid superiority, expect opposition, and live humbly."  It* then, in the introduction, further outlines Paul's intent for the text: "[t]he Corinthians had both a pride and an unbelief problem. They were taking pride in particular spiritual leaders and were arrogant in terms of who they thought they were and what they had achieved. Paul knew how deadly these twin sins can be in the body of Christ, the local church. So he confronts them."

The commentary* then outlines and provides details for the following divisions:

1. Be Careful about Being Prideful about Whom You Follow (4:6-7): Paul first warns the church of Corinth, and by extension all believers, about misunderstanding the "nature" of the gospel, the "role of the Christian minister," and the "attitude of the Christian minister." He starts by sharing how the church leaders live life humbly so that they serve as a model for the church - he builds on text going back to 1 Corinthians 1:10 with analogies referring to the leaders as servants, co-workers, and managers/craftsmen sent and gifted by God. The leaders are mere vessels to advance God's kingdom and unworthy of worship - it is Jesus alone worthy of our worship.  The commentary* writes about the "cult of personality," arrogance/pride, etc. that consumed the church in Corinth: "[Paul] does not want the church to be arrogant, prideful, or puffed up, choosing favorites like worldly political parties do. We need to hear the same warning. Don’t be seduced by the ways of the world when it comes to your leaders."  Additionally, the message on boasting is reinforced as Paul reminds us that all we have is by grace not through our own efforts as "[e]very good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). As a result we are no better than anyone else.
   
2. Be Careful about Being Arrogant about Who You Are (4:8-13): Paul then moves, using sarcasm and self-effacing language about himself and the other church leaders, to admonish the church about their arrogance and focus on "cult of personality."  He provides a contrasting portrait of the church leaders (spectacle of shame, fools, weak, dishonored, hungry/thirsty, poorly clothed/homeless, roughly treated, mere manual laborers, reviled, persecuted, slandered, scum, and garbage) vs the church body in Corinth and how they felt about themselves (arrogant and prideful). We are referred to Lamentations 3:45 as scriptural support for Paul's reference to the faithful as scum and garbage. Focus on Christ for Your identity - not the world!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus - You are an awesome God who humbled himself so that I could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life - simply incredible.  Thank You Jesus!  I am OF COURSE not deserving.  My sin persists...daily.  Please forgive me for my sins of both commission and omission.  Help me turn from such sin, overcome it and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

1 Corinthians 4

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 1 Corinthians 4:8

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 4:6-13. Here, Paul turns back to warning the church in Corinth about boasting in anything but Jesus - including self and ministry leaders (Paul, Cephas/Peter, and Apollos).  Paul first starts by sharing how all of the ministry leaders live humbly and focus on Jesus as a model so that those shepherded by these leaders may "learn" from them and also live humbly without boasting (v6).  He then points out how there is no basis for boasting anyway because all gifts/skills/blessings one may have are not through one's own efforts and instead "received" as a gift from God alone (v7).  Continuing, Paul describes how through Christ the church in Corinth is rich and having all things - to the point of lavish riches one might expect with royalty...indeed there is so much "received" that the ministry leaders "share" with the church members (v8).  Coming back to the ministry leaders, Paul then describes how the apostles are not worthy of worship (cult of personality - see posts from past several days) but are "last of all," "sentenced to death," "spectacles," "fools," "weak," "in disrepute," hungry and thirsty, "poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless," "reviled," "persecuted," "slandered," "like the scum of the world," and "the refuse of all things." Paul's colorful self-effacing language in v9-13 is used to illustrate how ministry leaders are servants and lowly existing to glorify God and not for self-glorification.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has lavishly poured out blessings and riches of abundance, including mercies that are new EVERY morning!  Thank You Jesus - I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

1 Corinthians 3

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 3:18-23. The commentary* provides the following main idea for the text: "[w]orldly wisdom fuels competition in the church and causes Christians to forget they have everything in Christ." It then goes on to unpack the text via following three divisions:

1. Do Not Deceive Yourself; Know What True Wisdom Is (3:18): Paul warns the church in Corinth to be "on guard against self deception." Their lack of spiritual maturity lead them to focus not on Christ but on leaders and a "cult of personality." The commentary* writes about worldly wisdom: "The world delights in power and might. God works in weakness and suffering. The wisdom of this world mocks the cross. The wisdom of God glories in the cross. In terms of ministry, God works through servants, not superstars. He works through the nobodies, rarely the somebodies[.]" This is in direct opposition to what the world expects. 
   
2. Remember, God Sees Every Action and Knows Every Thought (3:19-20): The commentary* describes how God  peers into the hearts of all men and thwarts all thoughts and actions that are contrary to His will.  It shares how impure thoughts and motives undermine the church: "[t]he plans of the wise of the world are foolish, empty, and ineffective....God sees every action and knows every thought of every person. If we desire to be wise in the eyes of God, we must believe, live, think, and act in ways that this world sees as foolish. Run the other way from worldly fads and ideologies. They will only let you down. In the end you will have played the fool." 
   
3. Enjoy Every Blessing of God Because All Things Belong to You (3:21-23): The commentary* emphasizes "an amazing statement" in v22: "[w]hat an amazing statement of the blessings and wealth the believer has in Christ! God has made all unsinful things for our blessing, good, joy, and pleasure. For instance, God does not bless us with one teacher of the gospel but every teacher. He blesses us in life and death. He blesses us now and in the future. Everything is ours!" The commentary* then lists eight things from these verses that all believers should keep in mind: (a) Paul is ours (including the 13 letters he wrote in the Bible!).  (b) Apollos - noted as a gifted preacher, (c) Cephas (aka Peter) - upon which Christ built the church, (d) the entirety of creation, (e) life - and the abundance (not an earthly one) Christ promises, (f) death - the sting of death is overcome, (g) the present - sanctification, (h) the future - "[t]he future in Christ is not uncertain, scary, ominous, or nerve-racking. The one who holds my present also holds my future. We’ve read about the end, and we win! There is a rider who will arrive on a white horse." The commentary* for this division concludes by ensuring we understand all of these glorious realities belong to those who are in Christ.  We are referred to Matthew 3:17, John 1:1, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 1:15, and Hebrews 1:3.  
   

The commentary* wraps for the text by reinforcing how we are to avoid boasting in ourselves or relying on (in an ungodly manner) anything in the world.  "[B]oast only in Jesus."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me everything - thank You Jesus!  What an amazing promise and reality.  I am not deserving of how You provide - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

1 Corinthians 3

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 3:18-23. As Paul wraps this chapter, he concludes by returning to wisdom and a contrast between Godly wisdom revealed by God alone to whom He chooses, and worldly wisdom, which is described as folly.  Using similar language in 1 John 1:8 where John warns us to avoid deceiving ourselves by claiming to be without sin, Paul also warns the church in Corinth to avoid being deceived by claiming to be wise (v18).  He shares the counter-intuitive but Godly thought that we should instead strive to become fools - emptying ourselves of worldly sin and influences and allowing ourselves to be filled by the Holy Spirit that takes captive our every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5).  God sees all of our thoughts, motives, plans, etc. and He knows our heart and "catches the wise" as they pursue wicked and ungodly pursuits - ultimately the paths of the wise are proven futile.  To illustrate his point, Paul refers us to Job 5:13 and Romans 1:21-22.  The text wraps by commanding us to avoid boasting in men or worldly wisdom - because we all belong to God and He is in control.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace for me - revealing Yourself and wisdom to me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this and the many other blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Hebrews 3

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Hebrews 3:5-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 3:5-6, and how my commentary describes this text - with the heading "The Hope of God's House" - as the second of two divisions in Hebrews 3:1-6. The commentary starts by describing how Moses, although he is referred to as a servant, should be translated from the original Greek text therapo, which is used for those in "a position of nobility under the authority of the one who appointed him....[V]erse 5 highlights Moses’s place of rank and honor."  It then moves to look at how Moses pointed to Christ: "Moses faithfully discharged his service in the household of God by pointing to one greater than himself, Jesus Christ. Christ fulfilled all that Moses said in ways beyond Moses’s own understanding. Christ then is superior to Moses, just as Moses himself would affirm."  Next, as Jesus is compared to Moses, the commentary shares that "Moses was a servant. He was a faithful servant, but still just a servant. Jesus, however, is the Son. Jesus is not just a servant in the household; he is the One who inherits the house and functions as its Lord."  Finally, the commentary for this division examines v6 and how and it may trouble some "because it seems to suggest that our salvation is conditional."  This commentary addresses this by saying that our salvation is not conditional on works - Jesus did away with this: "[o]ur works neither save us nor keep us saved. Only Christ can save us. We must hold on to our “confidence” and retain our “boast” in the gospel and in the Lord." Persevere!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are a great God...You sent Your Son and gave me my salvation, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, my family, my church, etc....all as a means to persevere in my faith!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.