1 Corinthians 3:18-23

November 26, 2017

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

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The sermon starts at 14:25 in the audio file.

Or, Two Traps of This Age

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 may be the most important paragraph in the epistle. I don’t remember reading anyone else who would argue the same case, but to get what Paul is saying here is to get into a position to have a humble, thankful, and large life. It is daunting to try to communicate the height and depth and length and breadth of this worldview.

I’m excited that by the plan of providence we get to cover this paragraph the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It would have worked well the Sunday before too, but let’s keep the great gratitude gravy boat full and flowing.

When I decided that 1 Corinthians was going to be my next book to study and preach I decided to use passages from it for the brief devotions at the beginning of each session at our Life to Life leaders retreat back in August. I usually give the retreat a theme and try to connect the devotions to said theme, and the theme was “All Are Yours” from this paragraph. I’ve been signing off my emails to the leaders since then with “All are yours.” It is Kuyperian, it is overwhelming, it changes how one views the Church and the church, preachers, relationships, resources, salvation, the Trinity, time and eternity, heaven and earth. All is gift.

Paul is still on the subject of the Corinthians attitude toward one another, sort of like a sixth year senior: you wonder when are they going to move on. He’s been addressing the issue of their quarreling and divisiveness since early in the first chapter. Their problems were both age-old and ever-current at the same time. The Corinthians were having problems getting along because they were thinking like and acting like the world. They were not thinking like God or acting like they were saved by a crucified Christ. Their standards were human standards, their ambitions were worldly ambitions, and their horizons got no further than the flesh on their noses. This is what Paul’s been confronting.

In 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 he confronted them for deceiving themselves and limiting themselves. He described two traps of this age, traps in Corinth that are traps in every culture and traps even among Christians. He commanded them, and by application us, to stop being cheated.

Don’t Be Trapped by Limiting Yourself to Worldly Relevance (verses 18-20)

There are two commands that make one point followed by an explanation that includes Scripture proof.

Let no one deceive himself. Is there ever a time that it would be good to convince oneself of anything that isn’t true? Is there ever a time to lie to yourself? Why would anyone give themselves a self-inflicted wound? Self-deceived people aren’t the ones doing any self-examination, so Paul gets their attention.

Here he puts his finger upon the true sore, as the whole mischief originated in this—that they were wise in their own conceit. (Calvin)

What is it in particular that he’s concerned about? To be convinced one is wise using the standards of this age is to be willingly deceived. To want to be identified by the world as someone who is wise, to want to be relevant, is a trap. So, If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. The contrast between what the world thinks is wisdom and what is truly wisdom is visible only to those who aren’t captivated by worldly wisdom. Consider: are you eager to have the approval of those who consider the cross foolish? Do you want to be seen as relevant, as cool, by those who think God is foolish? If so, become a fool in the world’s terms so that you may become wise in God’s terms.

The explanation comes in verse 19. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. Someone is wrong. Either God’s wisdom is folly as the world sa[...]