But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, both righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that even as it has been written, “He that glories, let him glory in” the “Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:30-31 (Read verses 18-31)
Are we Christians because of our own wisdom or prominence in this world? The Scriptures make it very clear that we have faith in Christ and eternal salvation because of God’s gracious working, both in sending His only-begotten Son to redeem us and in bringing us and keeping us trusting in Jesus alone, and in His blood shed upon the cross, for our salvation.
It is as the Bible says: “For by grace you are saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, that not anyone should boast….” (Eph. 2:8-9).
Consider our calling. Was it because we are wiser than others, richer, more powerful or more influential? No, and in most cases, the opposite is true. We are little and even foolish in the eyes of the world.
And how do people come to faith in Christ Jesus? It is through “the word of the cross,” the preaching of “Christ crucified.” This is foolishness to the wise of this world and an offense to the Jews. It is as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God” (v. 18; cf. Rom. 1:16-17).
Though the world counts it as foolishness and the Jews stumble and fall over it, the truth is that we are saved because God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son to suffer and die for the sins of the world and rise again (cf. John 3:14ff.). Because of Jesus’ blood shed upon the cross for the sins of all, God is gracious and merciful and reaches out to you and me with forgiveness and the offer of life everlasting in His Son (cf. 2 Cor. 5:18ff.).
And this message would be foolish to us too, or we would stumble and fall over it because we are seeking to please God and earn His favor by our own righteousness under the law, but God has graciously assured us of His love and mercy – of His forgiveness and acceptance – through the preaching of Christ crucified for the sins of the world (cf. Eph. 1:3ff.). His Holy Spirit assures us through the preaching of the cross of the forgiveness of our sins and of life everlasting because of Christ crucified.
“Of Him, [we] are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, both righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that even as it has been written, “He that glories, let him glory in” the “Lord.” Can we glory in ourselves or in anything we have done for our salvation? No, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord who has done it all!
Thank you, O Lord, for Your mercy upon us and for granting us salvation in Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior. Amen.