1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: This is one of the most comprehensive texts in the Bible. It is a short but full inventory of the invaluable blessings of the gospel; enough to make a poor sinner rich, and a miserable sinner happy. I. WISDOM 1. Wisdom chooses the best objects, and then pursues the best means of obtaining them. 2. All wisdom is from God; but there is a peculiar and superior kind of wisdom, viz., religion (Proverbs 28:28); and this St. Paul terms being "wise unto salvation," and James, "the wisdom that is from above." 3. Christ is the original fountain of wisdom. He is "wisdom" itself (Proverbs 8.; Colossians 2:3); so that whatever true wisdom is found in the world is derived from Him, even as the natural sun is the source of all the light of this world. Accordingly, we find Him, by His personal ministry, diffusing wonderful light, and when He ascended into heaven He committed this work to the Holy Spirit. "The natural man knoweth not the things of the Spirit of God"; but, by His gracious help, "they are spiritually discerned," and believers learn "the mind of Christ." 4. Other kinds of wisdom have their value; yet what do they avail? "I have spent my life," said a great scholar on his dying bed, "I have spent my life in laborious trifling! "Compared with heavenly wisdom, all literary attainments will be as a grain of sand to a mountain, or a drop of water to the ocean. II. RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., perfect conformity to the will of God. The word signifies that which is full weight or measure, the standard being God's holy law. And is there any man thus righteous? No; "there is not a just man upon earth"; that is, one "that doeth good, and sinneth not." Yet, without a perfect righteousness, no man can be justified. But must we, then, despair? Yes; of making ourselves righteous; but not of becoming righteous by other means, for "Christ is made unto us righteousness" (Romans 4:24). But do any suppose that we may therefore become careless about good works? Let them attend to the declaration that Christ is made unto us — III. SANCTIFICATION. 1. By this we mean the renewing of our nature in the image of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and through the mediation of Christ. 2. Sanctification differs from justification. Justification respects the state of man; sanctification respects His nature, disposition, conduct. A man may be tried for his life, and he may be acquitted; but if he have, at the same time, a mortal disease upon him, he will die. The province of a judge and a physician are very different. Justification is the act of God as a Judge; sanctification is the work of God the Spirit as the great Physician of souls; and we find both these works united in Psalm 103:3. It is also to be observed that our title to heaven is founded only on the righteousness of Christ, by which we are justified; but in sanctification consists our meetness for heaven. 3. Christ is made unto us sanctification. (1) Because He first relieves us by His atoning sacrifice from the guilt and defilement of sin. (2) By His intercession (John 17:15, 17). (3) By His Word — its doctrines, precepts, examples, promises, and threatenings. (4) By union to Him. (5) By His example. (6) By His love, which is, of all motives to holiness, the strongest and most effectual. IV. REDEMPTION. If Christ be made unto us wisdom, we are delivered from the powers of darkness; if righteousness, we are redeemed from the curse of the law; if sanctification, we are delivered from the dominion of sin. In these things consists the redemption of the soul. But the "redemption of the body" seems to be intended; and this agrees with Romans 8:21. (G. Burder.) Parallel Verses KJV: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: |
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