Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31 – Bragging on Jesus
If you are going to brag about something today, brag about Jesus and what He has done.
Why does Paul call the message of the cross “foolishness”? In today’s reflection, we explore why the Gospel challenged both Jews and Greeks in the first century—and why it still challenges us today. Rather than trusting in human wisdom, religious achievement, or personal strength, Paul reminds us that Jesus Himself is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. God doesn’t call us because we’ve got life figured out; He calls us because of His grace. Our greatest witness isn’t how impressive we are—it’s simply telling others what Jesus has done for us. So today, if you’re going to boast, boast in the Lord.
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Good morning!
It’s good to be with you on this Wednesday morning. I hope all is well for you as we begin our time together here in Rooted in Christ.
It’s been a busy week. Yesterday I had orientation at Mississippi State. It was good to see some college students and make some new connections. It’s kind of strange not having Wednesday night programming yet, but I know that’ll be starting back up soon once school begins. There are lots of meetings, lots of opportunities to get settled in here at Starkville First, and it’s been a fun week.
I hope wherever you find yourself today that things are going well for you. I also hope these reflections have been a blessing. I know I enjoy doing them every day, and I hope they encourage you no matter where you are.
Today we’re going to finish out chapter one of 1 Corinthians. It’s a little longer section, but it’s one of Paul’s great passages.
1 Corinthians 1:18–31
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... (passage continues through verse 31).
Paul is writing to a very diverse group of people—both Jews and Gentiles—and the message of Christ is a struggle for both of them.
As he says, “Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”
I’ve always liked something theologian Howard Thurman—or perhaps Howard Wass—once said: “I am neither a pessimist nor an optimist. Christ has died and is risen.” That’s really where our hope is found.
The message of Christ was offensive in Paul’s day for different reasons.
For the Jewish people, Jesus disrupted their understanding of the Law. This letter was written before A.D. 70, so the Temple was still standing and the sacrificial system was still in place. Their whole religious life centered around sacrifices, priests, and the Temple. Then along comes Jesus, claiming to be the fulfillment of it all.
Scripture tells us that Christ became our Passover Lamb. The sacrifice had been made once and for all. No longer would bulls and goats need to be sacrificed because Christ had fully atoned for our sins.
That was a radical claim.
To many Jewish believers, it simply did not compute.
But it was just as difficult for the Greeks.
The Greeks prized philosophy. They admired Socrates, Plato, Aristotle—the great thinkers who could debate and persuade with brilliant arguments.
Jesus certainly says things that are intellectually profound, but I’ve always remembered something one of my professors used to say:
“Jesus isn’t hard to understand. Jesus is just hard to follow.”
Loving your enemies isn’t a difficult concept to grasp.
It’s just difficult to do.
It’s much easier to debate theology than it is to forgive someone who has hurt you.
Paul says that Christ has become for us “wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
In other words, Jesus isn’t simply someone who teaches us wisdom.
He is our wisdom.
Sunday I said in my sermon that truth is not merely a concept; truth is a Person.
Righteousness is not merely a concept; it is a Person.
Salvation is not merely a concept; it is a Person.
His name is Jesus.
That’s why Paul concludes by saying, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
If I’m going to brag about something, let me brag about Jesus.
I’m not going to boast about my wisdom because I’m not that wise.
I’m not going to boast about my morality because I’m not that moral.
I’m not going to boast about my strength because I’m not that strong.
I’m not going to boast about my faithfulness because there are plenty of days when I fall short.
But I can boast about Jesus.
I can boast about what He has done for me.
I can boast that He has become my righteousness, my wisdom, my salvation, and my hope.
I also love what Paul says here about those whom God calls.
He reminds the Corinthians that not many of them were wise by human standards. Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth.
God doesn’t call us because we’re perfect.
He calls us because He is perfect.
God doesn’t call us because we have everything figured out.
He calls us because we don’t.
God doesn’t call us because we’re worthy.
His call is what makes us worthy.
His love is what transforms us.
And that’s why we boast in Him instead of ourselves.
The cross really is foolishness by the world’s standards.
Who saves the world by dying?
Who defeats death by submitting to it?
Who wins by losing?
The Gospel turns every human assumption upside down.
And honestly, I think that’s freeing.
Yes, we should be able to explain our faith. We should be able to articulate what we believe and defend the Gospel.
But at the end of the day, the greatest witness we have is simply telling people what Jesus has done for us.
The greatest witness isn’t our intellect.
It isn’t our arguments.
It isn’t our accomplishments.
It’s Jesus.
Paul keeps bringing everything back to Him.
That’s what Corinthians is about.
That’s what the Christian life is about.
It’s always about Jesus.
So today, if you’re going to boast, boast in the Lord.
Tell somebody how good Jesus has been to you.
Tell somebody what He’s done in your life.
Brag on Jesus today.
Thanks for being with us. Tomorrow we’ll move into 1 Corinthians 2 together.
Have a great day, and I’ll see you then.