Praise His Name for b-u-t!!! part 3

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: Praise His Name for b-u-t!!! part 3

(If you haven't read part 1 of this series, you need to read at least the first 2 paragraphs of it before proceeding with this message, so you will understand its premise.)

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18) God sees man as being in one of two groups. One is those who have not accepted the promise of salvation through the substitutionary death of Jesus for their sins and are under the sentence of condemnation and eternal Hell. The other is those who have and have thus been made new (born again) and a member of His Family. Paul says here that, to the first group, the preaching (literally- logos, the word) that tells of God's Son dying and thus paying the penalty for their sins is absurd folly; b-u-t to us who have believed and received that payment as our own; that word is the dynamic power of God and more than enough to redeem us. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:6-12) Unredeemed men think they are so smart, b-u-t all of their "wisdom" is tainted, because they don't accept God's Word as the true foundation and source of real wisdom. All of the b-u-t's in this passage are lines of demarcation from man's wisdom to God's. They, the unredeemed, can't see the truth, b-u-t we can, because God has given us His Spirit through our faith in His promise, and because HE has given us His Spirit, we can "see" beyond man's wisdom and into the truth of what HE has promised us for eternity. In other words, it is not, "I see therefor I believe", b-u-t, "I believe, therefor I see." Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:7) We are very prone to pride in our "good works", b-u-t God's Word here reminds us that we are but dust and ashes; God is the source and power behind any spiritual victories. HE delivers us from carrying the burden of false pride through His Word. Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:14-15) We know that no one is saved by their works, but only through the blood of Jesus and our faith in Him. Scripture teaches us, though, we can store up treasures in Heaven, rewards for the things done for Him while we live our lives down here. As we do our "works", our "building" as Paul calls it in this passage, God looks at our heart's motivation, not just the outward manifestation, and many times HE sees pride, expectation of the praise of others, etc., as the driving force behind what we supposedly do for Him and others. HE may also see we are not really giving, but skimming off the top of our excess, or just getting rid of something we didn't want. I believe those kind of works are built of the "wood, hay, and stubble" Paul had just mentioned and will be burned up. Scripture teaches the things we do and give with a pure heart are made of "gold, silver, and precious stones." These will last and we will receive rewards in Heaven for them. This b-u-t gives us the assurance we won't be kept out because of those burned up works. I explain the concept something like this: "If your house was burning down and you got out in your pajamas, with a few things you could grab, while most of your possessions were consumed by the flames; you were saved, 'yet so as by fire.' Those things you could have had, you had no longer, but you still had life." Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11) The sins of our lives are horrible, dark and hideous, repulsive to God. If we could see them with the eyes of the Holy Spirit, we would stand amazed that we could possibly enter into God's presence, having done such awful things. Paul was exhorting and encouraging them to live lives worthy of what they had (and we have) become through God's grace, as he listed in the preceding verse some of the sins that were showing up in the Corinthian Church (and we have committed). He then reminded them those sins belonged to their former unsaved lives, and should be turned away from, repented of. He reminded them they had been made a new creation and should live like it, because that's what they "were" before salvation, but they (and us) "are" now clean (washed by His Blood), set apart for His service (sanctified, holy), and standing in God's sight as if they (and us) had never sinned (justified). Praise His Name for b-u-t!!!