#449 (30/9/21) - RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS AND REDEMPTION

This week’s devotionals are from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

If you get on a plane, a boat, a train… you will experience the benefits of being in such technology. You can do what would be impossible with your natural faculties. To be ‘in Christ’ is to experience all the benefits of being united to Him by the Spirit. To be ‘in Christ’ is what it means to be a Christian. You get in Christ through faith in the gospel message.

In Christ, we have ‘wisdom from God’. This wisdom is defined as ‘righteousness, holiness and redemption’. The world’s wisdom may look attractive and powerful, however, it is only God’s wisdom and power - Jesus and His cross - which can grant us these peerless gifts of righteousness, holiness and redemption.

JESUS IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Jesus has become our righteousness. To be righteous is to be accounted as having never sinned and as having lived a perfect life. This is equivalent to justification which I summarise as ‘just as if I’d lived like Jesus’. A great text on this is from Romans,

JESUS IS OUR HOLINESS

Jesus is our holiness. To be holy is to be chosen and set apart for God as His precious possession. Holiness often relates to our behaviour (we are to live holy lives) but in the context of 1 Corinthians 1:30 holiness is referring to our identity as having been made holy by God by His choosing us by grace. As Peter wrote,

JESUS IS OUR REDEMPTION

Jesus is our redemption. Redemption comes from the world of slavery. Redemption is the price paid for a slave’s freedom, or the price to transfer the slave to a new master. We belong to God and have been purchased by the blood of Christ. Peter writes,

Do you see the glory of the grace of God to you in Christ? Jesus is our ‘righteousness, holiness and redemption.’ You have true and eternal riches in Christ.

OVER TO YOU

I’ve made a few comments. However, it’s more important that you engage with the text yourself. Take a moment to pray and listen to God’s voice out of today’s text. Use the following questions which are based upon The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13).

1. Praise - What can you praise God for?

2. Petitions - What can you ask for?

3. Peace-making - Do you need to receive or give forgiveness?

4. Protection - How do you need protection?

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Next week is SIV Week. Please come along ready to share, pray, and plan about how we are Serving, Investing and Inviting into our communities.

2. Icebreaker

How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week?

3. Recap of Sunday's message - please share in your group

On Sunday we continued in our series in 1 Corinthians. The title of the message was, 'BOAST IN THE LORD NOT OURSELVES'.

Please read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

BOASTING IN JESUS OR BOASTING IN OURSELVES?

Pride is a constant danger for all of us. Pride is to judge ourselves as self-sufficient and better than others. Oftentimes, as in this text, prideful superiority is along the lines of ‘wisdom’ (superior education) 'influence' (being well connected) and being of ‘noble birth’ (high-status background). However, in our culture, we can also have a reverse snobbery that takes pride in our poor education, lack of influence and our ‘working class’ or particular ethnic background.

Rather than pride, God wants to bring us to a place of boasting in Jesus alone who saved us regardless of our past.

REMEMBER WHO YOU WERE

In order to combat divisive pride and inspire boasting in Jesus, God wants us to think of what we were. Most in the church are not ‘wise…influential… of noble birth.’ In fact, most of us were 'foolish...weak...lowly...despise...the are nots'! On top of this everyone, even with worldly status, is in sin and powerless to save themselves.

REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE CALLED

Having remember who we were in our hopeless state, We are to ‘think of what we were when we were called’. No matter whether we had more or less worldly advantages, God chose and called us regardless of these things. God wants you to know that you, specifically, were chosen by Him. Our hearts are stirred to boast in Jesus as remember His grace in choosing us.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

We will boast in Jesus as we remember who we were, remember that He chose us, and, finally, remember who He has made us to be. In Christ, we have 'righteousness, holiness and redemption'. The worlds wisdom may look attractive and powerful, however, it is only God’s wisdom - Jesus and His cross - which can grant us these peerless gifts of righteousness (justification), holiness (set apart for God) and redemption (brought out of slavery). Anyone who truly understands the grace of God in Christ will boast in Him and throw off foolish and divisive pride.

Discussion questions

1. Did God speak to you, or what do you plan to do in response to Sunday's message?

2. What about your past inspires worldly pride and what about it causes you shame?

3. God chose us regardless of our past status. How does this make you feel?

4. We described the term 'righteousness' as being equivalent to justification. We described this as 'just as if I'd lived like Jesus'. Discuss the vital idea of justification in Christ.

5. This text is teaching us to 'boast in the Lord'. How will you put this into practice?

6. Do you have any additional questions about this text?

5. SIV

Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

Let's be praying and actively preparing to invite friends to our carol service on 5th December. Please make sure this is in your diary.

Next week is SIV Week. Please come along ready to share, pray, and plan about how we are Serving, Investing and Inviting into our communities.