In Galatians 5:1, Paul wrote to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Now, you would think that’s unnecessary to say, wouldn’t you? Like any parent who has told his child to stop hitting his head against the wall or driving his bike straight into the wall, there are simply some things you never thought you’d need to say to another human being that life proves otherwise.
But the reality is that Paul needs to exhort the Galatians to walk in the freedom won for them by Christ because there’s a great temptation always lying in our hearts to be enslaved. In the Galatians’ case, it was a temptation to be enslaved to legalism. It was a temptation to be able to point to something they did, some work they had performed, some righteousness they could boast in for their standing before God. And Paul warned them that if they go down the road of trying to do enough good to stand before God and be justified, then they were going down a hopeless road that ends in condemnation.
Well, the Corinthians, I think, were struggling with a certain kind of slavery of their own. They found themselves in a certain kind of captivity that was a bit different was what the Galatian churches struggled with but one that was just as deadly. The Corinthians were caught in a web that they had woven themselves that said that needed to achieve some sense of self-exaltation (some sense of lifting up themselves) by chasing after what the world says is valuable and successful and by trying to show themselves to be better than their Christian brothers.
We see this throughout the first part of this letter as Paul notes in chapter 1 that they’re dividing themselves behind certain leaders, saying, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or the like, as if identifying yourself with a leader because of his particular gifts somehow elevates you over your brothers. They were chasing after the wisdom of the world, chasing after those things that the world estimates to be good, wise, and valuable, and Paul corrects them. In fact, this self-exalting, prideful, divisive chasing after worldly wisdom and values is what Paul has been tackling over these first three chapters. And now, starting in 3:18, Paul begins to draw together some summary statements of his teaching in regard to how these Corinthian brothers were thinking and living. And what I hope we’ll see in the section we look at this morning (3:18-4:5) is that Paul lays out for them a path to escape the self-exalting captivity that they’ve placed themselves in and that is destroying the church.
But I’m willing to guess that we’re able to identify with the Corinthians a bit as they were walking in these shackles of self-exaltation and self-absorption from which Paul worked to free them. Think back to the last time that you laid awake at night, bothered that you said or did something embarrassing. I don’t mean something sinful, just embarrassing. Maybe it was something you said that made you look silly or uninformed or something you did that made you look a bit foolish. Now, ask yourself why you were lying awake in your bed thinking about that instead of sleeping.
Isn’t it fair to say that it was because you’re really concerned to look good in front of others, for others to think well of you, and for others to be impressed with you? You see, that one scenario alone may be sufficient to reveal that we’re living in the kind of captivity that had taken hold of the Corinthians and not walking in the freedom that Paul longed for them to know. You see, you can begin to long for what the world tells you is valuable, chase after exalting yourself, and find yourself going down a road that never ends. As a new college student, you might covet the intellect a fellow classmate has and chase after that, and then graduate only to covet the job or graduate opportunity they have and chase after that to build yourself up, only to find that once you have it, you wish you made as much money as someone and chase after that, only to want a family like someone else has to feel valuable, and then you want your kids to be as successful as someone else’s, or want to retire as soon or someone else, or want to be as healthy in old age as someone else, and it never ends. That chasing after whatever in order to find your worth and exalt yourself only leaves you empty-handed, and (and this is what was key with the Corinthians) ultimately that kind of self-obsession can be used by Satan to wreak havoc in and destroy a church.
This is what led to the Corinthians suing one another, boasting in their gifts over one another, eating the Lord’s Supper before others got there, pursing their own good without a thought about their brother, boasting that they were tolerant of sexual immorality, dividing by identifying themselves with certain leaders, chasing after worldly wisdom, and on and on and on. So, what does Paul say to them to lead them out of that into a life of gospel-freedom and gospel-security in Christ? First, he tells them to:
In 3:18-19a, Paul returns to a point he’s been stressing for a good while in this letter. He writes in these verses, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of the world is folly with God.”
Now, the reason Paul makes these statements is because he knows what’s going on with the Corinthians. The reason he says, “let no one deceive himself” is because he knows that some are deceiving themselves. And the reason he says, “If anyone among thinks that he is wise in this age” is because he knows that there are some who do indeed think they are wise in this age. So, Paul wants them to combine those two ideas and see that if people are evaluating themselves as wise because according to the standards and value system of this world they are told they are wise, then they’re actually deceiving themselves.
Remember from back in 1:19, God’s mission in saving us through Christ’s work and through the preaching of the gospel is to destroy the world’s wisdom, not uphold it. The world’s values and system of evaluation is just wrong. They consider God’s wisdom to be folly, but Paul adds in verse 19a that God has judged their wisdom to be folly.
Therefore, when the world tells us that wisdom is found in a self-focused pursuit of glory, prestige, power, riches, sinful pleasures, and the like, the Lord wants us to know that the world’s message to us is simply foolishness. And if we chase after what they label as wise and valuable, especially so that we might boast in such things, then we are being fools. Or, as Paul said earlier in 3:1-4, we’re acting as if we’re mere men and not those who have the gift of the Spirit, opening our eyes to what is true, good, right, wise, and valuable.
Now, Paul wants them to know that this statement that the world’s wisdom is folly with God isn’t simply something he’s come up with on the spot. Rather, God has said this already in the Scripture. He quotes Job 5:13 in 19:b, saying, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” In Job 5:12-13, Eliphaz says of the Lord, “He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.” That is to say, these individuals have refused to submit themselves to God and a pursuit of his ways to chase after other things, but the Lord will make sure in the end that they find themselves empty handed.
And again, Paul quotes the Old Testament, this time Psalm 94:11, saying, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” The world chases after prestige, riches, power, glory, greatness, and sinful pleasures thinking that wisdom is found in that path of self-exaltation, but the Lord knows their thoughts are futile. He knows their plans of pursuit will prove fruitless.
Therefore, let us open our ears and hear that. Why do you fret because the guy across the street has greater riches than you, has accomplished more “successful” things than you, or seems to have all that the world says makes us valuable? Why do you fret? Why do you envy? Whose voice are you listening that tells you that you must chase after those things so that you might be exalted? It is not the Lord’s voice, is it?
So, first, in order to free ourselves from the shackles of pursuing self-exaltation, Paul reminds us that the world’s value system and system of evaluation is simply wrong. But he doesn’t just remind us that the one who pursues the world instead of obeying Christ is empty-handed in the end, he also wants us to see that we’re most definitely not empty-handed ourselves. In verses 21-23, it seems that Paul wants us to:
You see, in verses 21-23 of chapter 3, Paul lays out the other side. That is, in verses 18-20, we saw that pursuing worldly wisdom will leave us empty handed. Now, in verses 21-23 he wants us to see how full our hands are if our faith is in the crucified and risen Christ.
He writes in 21-22a, “So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas …” One thing that the Corinthians were doing by identifying themselves with one leader to the exclusion of other leaders (in an attempt to exalt themselves) is cheating themselves. Again, just to refresh our minds on how this might work, I might say that I’m a follower of D. A. Carson, who is a brilliant man, in hopes that you will recognize Carson’s gifts and perhaps think much of me (as I’m identifying myself with such a gifted man). Well, the Corinthians had gone that route as well, and one reason Paul says that they don’t need to do that and don’t need to boast in men is because all of these men are servants of Christ given to the church. In order words, Paul is saying, “Why settle for one of these leaders when all of them are yours?” They’re missing just how much they have.
In fact, Paul continues, “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (3:21-23).
Now, let me tackle this in two parts. Let me first explain why Paul can say that the world and life and death and the present and the future are ours. Then, we’ll look at why this is a helpful weapon in fighting against pursuing the world’s wisdom.
The reason Paul can say that all of these things are yours is because if you’re a believer, by faith you’ve been united with Christ so that what is true of him is now true of you. We’ve celebrated that truth in regards to righteousness again and again, haven’t we? He’s the sinless, obedient Son, whom the Father declared righteous by raising him from the dead, and that counts for us who get to be counted as sinless, obedient sons, who have been declared righteous through union with Christ before God.
But Christ’s obedience to the point of death not only mean that he would be the resurrected Christ, it also meant that he would be the heir of all things. This is why Paul writes in Colossians 1:16 that “all things were created through him and for him.” The world and all therein was created for Christ. Therefore, he is the rightful heir of all things. And, since we’re united with Christ so that what is true of him is true of us as well, Paul can say in Romans 8:17 that we are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” And this is why Paul can say that all things are ours, whether the world, life, death, the present, or the future.
Now, let me tell you why that’s a powerful truth and a great weapon against the temptation to chase after the world’s wisdom and values. Each of those things – the world, life, death, the present, and the future – can be a tyrant to us so that we find ourselves captive to the demands of these things as we live our lives. So, the world around us seems to place so many demands on us that we are forced to think sometimes that this world is all there is. Life feels so fleeting and death so imminent sometimes that it forces us to live as if this life is all there is and death is the end. The present and its urgency to achieve and accomplish and gain now in light of the haziness of the future presses us to take our eyes off of eternity and measure ourselves in light of this world, this life, and the present.
And that’s how the world works because that’s all they know, this life, this world, the present is all they have. But not us. All things are ours in Christ. So, we don’t have to chase after the things of the world because we’re heirs of the world with Christ. We don’t have to feel the pressures of life and imminence of death because our lives extend pass death and we will know truer life even after our death. The urgency of the present and the haziness of the future don’t have to drive us to take our eyes off of Christ because we know what the future holds for us in Christ and that the present will soon pass. In other words, you don’t have to be driven by all that the world is driven by because all things are yours in Christ. And you belong to him, even as he will do all things to glorify his Father.
The pursuit of the world’s wisdom and values will leave us empty handed, when we don’t have to pursue such things anyway because we have all things in Christ. Those are two powerful weapons to free us from the self-exalting pursuit the Corinthians were on. But Paul doesn’t stop there. In 4:1-5 we see him exhorting us to:
That is to say, if we’re not taking our cues from the world concerning what we should pursue, then what should we be pursuing? The answer: we should be pursuing faithfulness before Jesus Christ, our Lord. In 4:1-2, Paul lets us get an inside look at his own pursuits and own motivation, and what we’ll see is that Paul is modeling what should be our pursuit as well.
Paul writes in 4:1-2, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” Instead of boasting in men with such proclamations as “I follow Paul” or “I follow Apollos,” Paul tells them that they should see these men as they are – servants of Christ and stewards of the gospel.
And when Paul puts himself in those terms, he’s like us, isn’t he? You and I have been called to be servants of Christ and to be stewards of the gospel of God. And what does it mean to be a steward? It means to care for something that does not belong to you and handle it in a way that would be faithful toward the one who actually does own it. So, for example, if one of you were to allow me to be a steward of your home while you were out of town for a while, I wouldn’t take my cues from my friends as to how to handle your house, would I? I would take my cues from you. After all, it’s your house. And if I am a good steward it’s because I’m concerned about being faithful to your desires for your home and am faithful to your wishes.
So, Paul tells us, that is how he is living his life. The Corinthians may not think he’s as eloquent as Apollos or a bold as Peter, but he’s not taking his cues from anyone telling him that popularity and prestige should be his aim. He’s a servant of Christ, who has been commissioned to take the gospel and make disciples of the nations, and he’s seeking to be faithful to Christ.
That is your calling. It doesn’t so much matter if the world around you deems you successful, intelligent, or having achieved all that one should achieve at your place in life – whether that’s at 22, 52, or 82. You’re not taking your cues from them. Your focus is on being faithful to Christ and asking yourself each day, “Am I doing what’s necessary in my life to be faithful to my Lord who lived, died, and was raised to purchase me?”
And right in line with this, Paul wants us to:
Paul writes in 4:3, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.” Now, that statement is powerful and freeing if we could get that in our hearts, realizing that Christ’s judgment is all that matters.
But before we dive into it, let me tell you what that statement doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that believers are not to make judgments concerning one another in terms of if we’re sinning or walking in accord with the Bible. This is not Paul’s way of saying, “Don’t judge anyone.” After all, in the very next chapter Paul is going to say that we do indeed judge those inside the church (1 Cor. 5:12), that is, professing believers.
Therefore, if you confront someone because he’s telling you he’s going to leave his wife to go after another woman, then you can make a judgment, telling him he’s sinning and must repent. And if he responds that you’re judging, then you can merely say that judgment for that action has already been passed, and God calls that adultery. That’s not the kind of judgment Paul is saying he’s not subjecting himself to in verse 3.
The kind of judgment Paul is not subjecting himself to is the kind of judgment made by the Corinthians who were likely saying that Apollos or Peter or someone else was more worthy of being branded a successful minister than Paul, especially in light of the gifts they can demonstrate through their ministry. And Paul’s response is that he doesn’t minister to hear any tell him, “Man, Paul, you’re a successful minister.” He simply lives to be faithful to Christ and hear his judgment. He doesn’t even make a judgment himself. After all, we can be prone to thinking too much or too little of ourselves.
Now, he clears up any misconceptions in verse 4. I mean, it’s not like Paul is aware of all kinds of things he’s doing foolishly but is ignoring them, refusing to pass judgment on himself. Rather, he notes that he’s not aware of anything against himself. But that doesn’t matter. He could be missing something. He is simply looking to the Lord’s judgment.
“Therefore,” Paul concludes, “do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God” (v. 5).
So, don’t be tormented by another’s judgment of counting you as successful, or valuable, or having achieved or accomplished what you should. You’re free from that because you have Christ and in him all things. You’re free from that because your focus is to be faithful to one – Jesus Christ. You’re free to seek to please him, to obey him, to be faithful to him, and trust that his judgment in the end will trump all other judgments made by man.
So, do you see how Paul is charting them a path for freedom from the tyranny of chasing after what the world deems wise and valuable in order to exalt yourself like the world says you need to? No, Paul says. Their value system and system of evaluation is wrong. Moreover, everything that’s pressing on you to measure up and achieve are already yours in Christ. And not only that, but he’s the one you must take your cues from. Just seek to please him. If others pass judgments along the way, suggesting that you’re not enough, don’t measure up, and are missing out on life, you just be faithful and await the only judgment that matters – that of Jesus Christ on the final day.
Until then, let us declare corporately and visibly this morning that we will indeed act as fools in the world’s eyes, taking up our cross and following Christ in this life, laying down our lives, knowing that we will find them in the end. And let us visibly proclaim that as we come to the table. Amen.