ALL ABOUT THE LORD
1 CORINTHIANS 29-31 NKJV
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
Paul had a lot of work to do with the church at Corinth.
Corinth was a major city in ancient times. It was a place of commerce, culture, and idol worship. Some have likened Corinth to Las Vegas of that day. It was a wild city.
Paul founded the church in Corinth, and his letter addressed many of the problems they were facing.
In chapter one, Paul is dealing with some of the divisions in the church. He begins to refocus the believers on what they have in the Lord and not to get caught up with people.
He states that no flesh should glory in God's presence. Or in other words, God is not enamored with who we are in the flesh.
Someone can be smart, but God's not impressed. They can have a Jewish heritage, but that will not provide salvation. A person can be extremely wealthy, but that does not matter in God's eyes.
What does matter is what we are spiritually. Through the new birth, we have been born into God's family. We are now in Christ, and because we are in Christ, there are benefits that come our way. All because of Him.
Because of Jesus, we now have God's wisdom. We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. We are set apart, sanctified, in Christ. And we are redeemed, bought back from the authority of Satan and darkness.
None of these benefits were because of anything we have done on our own. All of these are a function of what God did for us through Jesus.
This is why Paul quotes Jeremiah when he says that the one who glories, or boasts, should glory in the Lord. If we are going to brag, brag about what Jesus has done for us.
APPLICATION:
To bring these verses into our lives, we can use them to give thanks to God. And to profess what we have in Christ.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, that I have wisdom, right standing, and redemption through Jesus. Thank You that I have been set apart for Your glory and honor in Him.