ARTICLE: LOVE BOASTS ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST | Rev. Elijag Gergan

1 Corinthians 1/26-31 “Brothers [in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ], think of what you [once]were when you were called. … Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God [in His gracious providence] chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to [put to] shame the strong [and mighty]. He [the Lord God, purposely] chose the lowly [ the ordinary] things of this world and the despised things; and the things that are not [of no significance], to quash [invalidate] the things that are [recognized by the world]; so that No one [in the world] may boast before Him. It is because of Him [the Lord God’s love] that you are [now] in Christ Jesus, who has become [the only one] for us [ the precious] wisdom from God; that is, our [only source of] righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who [ever desires to] Boast, boast [only] in the [loving] Lord [and Saviour Jesus Christ].”

There is hardly anyone who has never boasted in life. We all have boasted about something or the other. Boasting of the faithful religious forefathers; educational achievements; services to society; awards and public acclaim received; successful children; or even the present-day health and position. Boasting is a natural tendency of all humans; that is how people present themselves before others; with their good credentials.

Some of the Christian congregations during Apostle Paul’s time were torn by the way members desired to be known. “I gave up my property when I accepted the Lord”; “You know, she was an immoral woman till last month.” Boasting about something; despising others through the knowledge of their background. They argued, bragged, hated, and looked down upon. Their spirit of boasting rests on an attitude of pride in themselves and looking down on the other with an absence of love for the person. Maybe we have done that before and continue to do so.

It is with the particular intention of teaching the right understanding of boasting in God’s providence and hating the shameful living of evil mindset. Paul had observed the lives of people in the congregation, and naturally, he was burdened by their unfair boasting behaviour. He opened before the people of their past circumstances and despicable public image; none of which was worthy of being recalled again. His description is in detailed groupings to make people detect themselves and repent of unlawful boasting, their intentional sins against the leading of
the Holy Spirit.

After having described the worthless background, Paul leads to the love of God, who purposely chose what was worthless and discarded. God’s willingness in love to never forget the weakest of the weak from the offer of His destined work in their lives. Their total transformation was by His choice made in love. In compassion, He lifted them from the filth. A boasting for all for the love He displayed, and a proof of His power over the evil’s binding in the deplorable living.
If all that happened in the lives of the godly was of God’s love, then where must the boasting point to? To boast only in the love of God; the One who gave us His Son, Jesus Christ; the Son who in sacrificial love reached down into the evil filth and our worthlessness, lifting us to the gloriousness of His position; His own family; making us the sons and daughters of God.

Love God.
Love your neighbour.
Love your enemies.
1 Corinthians 1/26-31 “Brothers [in the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ], think of what you [once]were when you were called. … Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God [in His gracious providence] chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to [put to] shame the strong [and mighty]. He [the Lord God, purposely] chose the lowly [ the ordinary] things of this world and the despised things; and the things that are not [of no significance], to quash [invalidate] the things that are [recognized by the world]; so that No one [in the world] may boast before Him. It is because of Him [the Lord God’s love] that you are [now] in Christ Jesus, who has become [the only one] for us [ the precious] wisdom from God; that is, our [only source of] righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who [ever desires to] Boast, boast [only] in the [loving] Lord [and Saviour Jesus Christ].”

There is hardly anyone who has never boasted in life. We all have boasted about something or the other. Boasting of the faithful religious forefathers; educational achievements; services to society; awards and public acclaim received; successful children; or even the present-day health and position. Boasting is a natural tendency of all humans; that is how people present themselves before others; with their good credentials.

Some of the Christian congregations during Apostle Paul’s time were torn by the way members desired to be known. “I gave up my property when I accepted the Lord”; “You know, she was an immoral woman till last month.” Boasting about something; despising others through the knowledge of their background. They argued, bragged, hated, and looked down upon. Their spirit of boasting rests on an attitude of pride in themselves and looking down on the other with an absence of love for the person. Maybe we have done that before and continue to do so.

It is with the particular intention of teaching the right understanding of boasting in God’s providence and hating the shameful living of evil mindset. Paul had observed the lives of people in the congregation, and naturally, he was burdened by their unfair boasting behaviour. He opened before the people of their past circumstances and despicable public image; none of which was worthy of being recalled again. His description is in detailed groupings to make people detect themselves and repent of unlawful boasting, their intentional sins against the leading of
the Holy Spirit.

After having described the worthless background, Paul leads to the love of God, who purposely chose what was worthless and discarded. God’s willingness in love to never forget the weakest of the weak from the offer of His destined work in their lives. Their total transformation was by His choice made in love. In compassion, He lifted them from the filth. A boasting for all for the love He displayed, and a proof of His power over the evil’s binding in the deplorable living.
If all that happened in the lives of the godly was of God’s love, then where must the boasting point to? To boast only in the love of God; the One who gave us His Son, Jesus Christ; the Son who in sacrificial love reached down into the evil filth and our worthlessness, lifting us to the gloriousness of His position; His own family; making us the sons and daughters of God.

Love God.
Love your neighbour.
Love your enemies.

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