Identity Revealed – Blessed, is a theme that doesn’t point us to Jesus divinity. Not directly. You, Christian, are the object of this theme. No matter how weak and foolish you may feel, in Jesus you are blessed.
Feeling Blessed
You may not feel blessed when you are hungry or insulted or mourning the death of a loved one. You may not be in the mood to boast when you feel foolish, weak, or lowly. But knowing your difficulties, Jesus still chose you to be his own. He gives you many gifts, and he calls you blessed.
Roman Graffiti
If you think that Satan will leave you alone because you’re on God’s team, you’re mistaken. Go back to 200 AD and you will find this Roman graffiti scribbled on some ancient wall. Alex worships his God. Is worshipping Jesus foolish? A verse just prior to our text helps us out. 1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Celsus a 2nd century Greek philosopher wondered:
“Their injunctions are like this. ‘Let no one educated, no one wise, no one sensible draw near. For these abilities are thought by us to be evils. But as for anyone ignorant, anyone stupid, anyone uneducated, anyone who is a child, let him come boldly.’ By the fact that they themselves admit that these people are worthy of their God, they show that they want and are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable and stupid, and only slaves, women and little children.”
“Those who summon people to the other mysteries make this preliminary proclamation: ‘Whosoever has pure hands and a wise tongue.’ And again, others say: ‘Whosoever is pure from all defilement, and whose soul knows nothing of evil, and who has lived well and righteously.’ Such are the preliminary exhortations of those who promise purification from sins.
But let us hear what folk these Christians call. ‘Whosoever is a sinner,’ they say, ‘whosoever is unwise, whosoever is a child, and, in a word, whosoever is a wretch, the kingdom of God will receive him.'”
He asks, “Why on earth this preference for sinners?”
Why indeed? How great is the love of God that we should be called his children!
Nietzsche (19th century) said that Christian favor the botched and degenerate, despising the rich, scholarly, noble, healthy, and strong.
Jesse Ventura, the former governor of MN – organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.
Defenseless
There have always been attacks on God’s people. What I want you to see is that you are not defenseless. During the week, we are walking through a study on Apologetics – that is a defense of the Christian faith. You are welcome to attend Wednesday mornings, but you don’t need to, it’s a great self-study. A series of six videos and study guides walks you through the basics of defending your faith from Satan’s vicious attacks.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s message, Identity Revealed – Blessed.
Book(s): 1 Corinthians
Series: Identity Revealed
Tag(s): Epiphany
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg