Consider Your Calling in Christ :: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

For see your calling, brothers, that not many (are) wise according to flesh, not many are powerful, not many are of noble birth. But God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong; And God chose the low and the despised of the world, [even] things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in the presence of God. [And because of him] you all are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that just as it is written, ‘The one boasting, Let him boast in the Lord.’ (vv 26-31).

4. [Preparing to see your calling.]

As I was preparing this sermon, I couldn’t help but notice that our epistle reading begins with the word “For.” ... For see your calling, brothers (v 26a). You may have never before noticed one of our readings starting this way, but your pastors almost always do, and it seems to happen often. I’m sure I can speak for most of my brothers by asking, Why do any of our pericopes start this way? That three-letter word “for” ... γάρ in Greek ... is a preposition that tells you that what came before it explains the importance of everything that comes after it. 

So today, I’m going to pause before we consider our calling, brothers, as the ESV framed it. We need context ... because Scripture wasn’t meant to be read in snippets. Did you know, for example, that grammatically, chapter 1 of Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians has only four sentences? Or that the Gospel according to Mark and the Book of Hebrews are sermons? Scripture is meant to be heard in its entirety, just like the works of John, whose rhyme, reason, and repetition hammer home the point that these are written with the purpose that you may have faith that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that in having faith, you may have life in his name (Jn 20:31). This is fundamental to our calling. So if you haven’t been reading your Bible at home, start doing it today. More than that, bring your Bibles to church ... so you can hear from your various translations. Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the Word of God (Rm 10:9). 

It is in this light that I wish to reframe today’s epistle reading from 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. 

To see or to consider our calling, brothers and sisters, we need to see where we have been ... where we are ... and where we are going. We who have been called out of the world into the church ... just like in Corinth ... are dealing with serious problems ... common problems. 

This is why, after giving thanks to God because of his grace given to you in Christ (1:4), Paul writes in chapter 1, verse 10: I encourage to you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you say the same thing, and that there are no schisms among you, but that you may be restored in the same understanding and resolution (vv 10-11). In other words, Paul wants you to consider the call of the Gospel so that you can persevere. And Wow ... does he give us the Gospel to consider in 1 Corinthians! Paul begins with the Word of the Cross and concludes with the Resurrection. In between, he enlightens us with the means of grace. 

3. So what is this Gospel by which we are called?

Paul ultimately defines the Gospel of Christ in no uncertain terms in chapter 15. Now I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, through which you also are being saved, the certain word I preached to you, if you hold fast to it, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for the sake of our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he also was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was seen (15:1-5a).

This is the Gospel through which you have been ... and continue to be ... called. As Paul also tells the Galatians, there is no other Gospel (Gal 1:4). Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father (Gal 1:4). ... In Ephesians, he adds that God showed himself to be rich in mercy. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, he made us alive together with Christ ... by grace you have been saved ... and he raised us up with him (Eph 2:4-6).

Sadly, there are people within the church who don’t consider their calling ... that they have died and have the new life now. They behave as if they have never heard the Gospel. They stop coming to church. They literally refuse to allow Jesus to serve them and show them mercy. They walk away from their baptism. They ignore the word of absolution. They deny they need the forgiveness of sins. They say they don’t need anything from God. They do this, Paul says just before our reading, because the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18).

Foolishness also manifests itself in sin. Some grumble with and about each other. Others spread rumors with and about each other ... destroying one another’s character ... sometimes innocently, sometimes maliciously. It doesn’t matter how true or false your grumbles are: Gossip kills your neighbor. Gossip is one of the most divisive sins in the world. It is the source of more quarrels and schisms than any other sin. 

Instead, brothers and sisters in Christ, consider your calling, and repent every one of you in the name of Jesus. You who hear the Gospel can do this. 

This is why we preach Christ crucified and risen, which is a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but to those who are called ... that’s all of you ... Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God! (1:23-24) He lives in you and you in him (Gal 2:2). He has become one with you so that you become one with him. 

2. And now you can consider your calling. 

GOD CALLS EACH ONE OF YOU TO NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

 This happened in baptism, which like absolution and the Lord’s Supper, preaches the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It is on account of these means of grace that you are always able to see your calling, to know your calling, to consider your calling ... and to unite.

God chose the foolish things of the world ... (the cross, baptism, absolution, and communion, even faith in the Word) ... to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world to shame the strong ... [God chose] the low and despised things of the world, [even] things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in the presence of God (vv 27-29).

You might not think God’s means of grace ... baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper ... are unnecessary and foolish, but the world does. The world says baptism doesn’t do anything. The world says that you and your pastor are not able to forgive sins. The world says the Lord’s Supper is nothing more than a memorial meal ... something that merely symbolizes or represents something Jesus did a long time ago. 

But consider your calling: You know better. Baptism now saves you, both Paul and Peter teach (Rm 6:3-4; 1 Pt 3:21). If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven, Jesus teaches us (Jn 20:23). More than that, the Lord’s Supper is specifically for the forgiveness of sins (Mt 26:28). As Paul reminds us, the cup of blessing that we bless [is] a communion of the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break [is] a communion of the body of Christ (1 Cor 10:16). This is Christ’s call to unity! His means of grace actually do something, achieving the purpose for which he gave them. They are the gifts of God. 

1. And because of God’s Word on this matter, you can now consider your calling, brothers (v 26a) to do the good works that He prepared for you (Eph 2:10). 

Whereas we believe, teach, and confess that good works should be entirely excluded from the question about salvation, we also believe, teach, and confess that we are obligated to do good works (FC Ep IV 3). We are, because as Paul concludes today, you all are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that just as it is written, ‘The one boasting, Let him boast in the Lord.’ (vv 30-31). Jesus did by fulfilling all righteousness in his baptism and supper while living, dying, rising, ascending so that he will always be with you. 

And now that you are in Christ ... forgive each other just as God in Christ forgave you. Share your life with each other, just as Christ shared his with you. Serve one another, just as Christ serves you. Unite with one another, just as Christ united himself with you ... not neglecting our gathering, just as is the ethos of some, but encouraging one another ... as you see the day drawing near (Hb 10:25). 

[Conclusion]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is our calling. It is an Epiphany. 

Do you see now how his presence purifies us? Do you see now how his blessedness and holiness and peace become the focus and dynamic of our lives? His love motivates our life of love for him and for one another. He sets us apart for holy service in himself. And then we can praise God for bringing us into communion with him and each other, conforming us in his image. 

This is our calling. It is what we need to see and hear every day ... in Jesus’ name. Amen.