Temple Baptist Church - 4-16-2025
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Introduction:
A. When writing to the most carnal of the churches in Asia Minor, the Holy Ghost twice admonished the people about glorying in the flesh instead of glorying in the Lord. As they grew in the Lord, self-pride became problematic and could lead to Pharisaism, the “look at me” syndrome. I do not like for people to constantly tell me their convictions.
B. It is essential to note that anything that man adds to the gospel (including his education and oratory) takes away from the effectiveness of his preaching and hinders the sinners and the saints.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
C. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and no one should ever receive credit.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
D. Probably the greatest of all believers’ sins is pride. The Book of Proverbs has much to say on the subject.
1. Pride shows a lack of fear of the Lord. Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
2. Pride ends in shame. Proverbs 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3. Pride causes contention. Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
4. Pride causes the believer to fall. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
5. Pride is sin. Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
6. Pride will bring the strongest down. Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
E. In our humanity, we are prone to think more highly of ourselves than we should.
Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (The context found here is separation from the world!)
F. We should never forget some things:
1. We Should Never Forget Where We Came From – vs. 26 (That will take the wind out of your spiritual sails!)
1 Timothy 1:12-17 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
2. We Should Never Forget What We Are – vs. 27 (We are still nothing apart from the grace of God!)
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Corinthians 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as
3. We Should Never Forget Who He Is – vs. 27 – “but God” – (He is God! He is sovereign! It is He who hath made us).
Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (“I am what I am” vs. “I AM THAT I AM”)
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. (Said by the greatest man born of woman.)
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Psalms 72:19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jude 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
4. We Should Never Forget What He has done – vs. 30 - (Were it not for the love of God, we would all be eternally lost without hope!)
Ephesians 2:1-6 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Psalms 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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