1Corinthians 1:30-31 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
‘Made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.’ Things Christ is made to us: The power of God (1:24); the wisdom of God (1:24, 30); the righteousness of God, the holiness of God and the redemption of God (1:30).
Things he was made for us: He was made flesh (John 1:14); He was made of a woman (Gal. 4:4); He was made of the seed of David (Rom. 1:3); He was made in the likeness of man and of no reputation (Php. 2:7); He was made lower than angels (Heb. 2:7); He was made under the law (Gal. 4:4); He was made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13) and He was made sin for us (2Cor. 5:21).
‘Righteousness’ – the righteousness of God is that righteousness which has been fully met and maintained in the atoning work of Christ on the cross, by which God is now able to save sinners and still be righteous in doing so (Rom. 1:17; 3:5, 21-22; 10:3). Under the law, God required righteousness from man, but the law, instead of giving it to many, only demonstrated that he was destitute of it and needed God’s righteousness, which He now freely gives under Grace.
‘Sanctification’ [Greek: hagiazo] to separate from a profane to a sacred use; to consecrate self wholly to God and His service. The primary meaning is separation, not making holy. It means to make holy only when the person or thing sanctified needs to be cleansed from sin or defilement in order to be fit to be separated unto God and His service.
‘Redemption’ – is explained best by looking at what the Redeemer did to redeem the world: by His sacrifice, the penalty for sin was paid, the sentence of the law was upheld, the offender was propitiated, the offended was satisfied, and His honour and Word were justified, the holy demands were met, man and God were reunited, the usurper was destroyed, and the whole creation was delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. This work of God and His only begotten Son was entirely a work of grace – unmerited favour, for the ruined race who possessed no legal standing or merit at all.
‘He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.’ The 3rd Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in 1 Corinthians (Jer. 9:23-24). Glorification is used of man giving glory to God. When applied to God it is not the adding of anything to His essential glory, for He is perfect and complete in glory. It means to ascribe to Him the glory that is due Him (Mt. 5:16; Lk. 23:47; Rom. 4:20; 1Cor. 6:20; 1Pet. 4:16; Rev. 4:11). Things men should glory in: That they understand and know God and that He exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in earth and that these things delight God instead of human wisdom, power, and riches. Knowing God is the basis of all blessings of life, here and hereafter. It is the condition of trust in God; one who is unknown cannot be trusted at all. Lack of this knowledge led to universal corruption of the Gentiles (Rom. 1:28), and to Israel’s fall and dispersion (Isa. 1:3; Luke 19:42-43).
Living the Word 