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A Study of 1 Corinthians

The Choice to Stand

April 7, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 16:13–14, Ephesians 4:13–14, Joshua 1:9, 1 Peter 5:8, Daniel 3:17–18

1 Cor 16:13-14 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.” 1. Be Watchful 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 2. Stand Firm Daniel 3:17-18 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 3. Act like Men Ephesians 4:13-14 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and for by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” 4. Be Strong Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Hebrews 11:36-38 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 5. Do All This in Love John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

On This We Stand

March 31, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, 1 Corinthians 15:19, Romans 5:1, 1 Peter 2:24, John 14:6

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. Hope Comes When We Make the Choice to Remember 1. Remember the Gospel Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Remember the Basis for the Gospel 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Luke 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 3. Remember the Fruit of the Gospel John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am.” Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearance.

1 Corinthians: The Choice for the Higher Love

March 24, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, 1 John 4:9–10, John 3:16, 1 John 4:19, 1 Corinthians 10:24

-God’s Love is All You Need. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends.” 1. See God’s Love. Luke 6:35b “for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” 1 John 4:9-10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 2. Receive God’s Love. Romans 5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 3. Walk in God’s Love. 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)

1 Corinthians: The Choice for God's Design for Male and Female

March 10, 2024 • Steve Hinton • Ephesians 5:21–33, 1 Corinthians 11:3–14, Genesis 1:26–27, 1 Timothy 2:12, Romans 1:26

- 1 Corinthians 11:3-5: "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven." The Answer to Gender is Neither Chauvinism nor Feminism but in the Divine Design 1. The Cultural Question of the Head Covering 2. The Eternal Principle Behind the Cultural Question - 1 Corinthians 11:3: "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God." - Genesis 1:26-27: "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.'" - 1 Timothy 2:12a: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” - 1 Corinthians 11:11-12: "Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God." - 1 Corinthians 11:14: "Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering." - Romans 1:26: "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature." 3. The Practical Application to the Eternal Principle - Ephesians 5:21-26: "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” - Ephesians 5:32-33: "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

1 Corinthians: The Choice for God’s Design for Marriage and Sex

March 3, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 7:1–5, 1 Corinthians 7:8, Mark 10:6–8, 1 Corinthians 7:33–34, 1 Corinthians 7:7

The Answers for Sexual Confusion are Found not in the Cultural Chaos, but in the Divine Design. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (NIV) “Now the matters you wrote about; It is good for a man not to marry.” (NIV- 1973) 1 Cor 7:1-5 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (KJV) Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” The Decision: 1 Cor 7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. The Design: "Each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband." Genesis 4:19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Mark 10:6-8 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. The Duty: 1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 1 Corinthians 7:33-34 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. (NIV) The Delight: 1 Corinthians 7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. Application to: A. Desired Singleness B. Single, Desiring to get Married 1 Corinthians 7:39b “she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? C. Married: Proverbs 5:15-19 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

1 Corinthians: The Choice for God’s Design for Sexuality

February 25, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 6:18–20, Romans 6:1–4, 1 Corinthians 6:15–20, 1 John 1:8–9, 1 Corinthians 5:9–10

The Higher Calling 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Genesis 2:25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Sex Was God’s Design and Sexual Fulfillment is Done God’s Way. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1. The Problem a. Absent Truth b. Flawed Grace Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 2. The Truth Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. Genesis 2:24-25 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 3. The Grace 1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 4. The Balance Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. Genesis 39:12 She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than burn with passion. Proverbs 5:18 May our fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

1 Corinthians: The Choice to Gather and Bless others

February 18, 2024 • Eddie Bowman • 1 Corinthians 14:1–5, 1 Corinthians 12:21–31, Hebrews 10:24–25, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 14:13–17

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:24) 1. The Caution for Individuality For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. (1 Cor. 14:13-17). “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the Church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophecy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the Church may be edified.” (1 Cor. 14:1-5). When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the Church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the Church and speak to himself and to God. (1 Cor. 14: 26-28). 2. The Call for Community The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:21-31) Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

1 Corinthians: The Choice to live freely for Christ

February 11, 2024 • Eddie Bowman • 1 Corinthians 10:23–24, Romans 6:1–7, 1 Corinthians 8:4–8, 1 Corinthians 10:18–21, 1 Corinthians 9:24–27

1. The cultural view of freedom “I have the right to do anything,” you say - but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” - but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1) 2. The legalists view of freedom We know that “an idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” ( 1 Cor. 8:4-8). But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 6:7) Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. (1 Cor. 10:18-21). 3. The Gospel view of freedom Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

1 Corinthians: The Choice for Unity Around the Cross over Division Around the Self

February 4, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Corinthians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11–17

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (NIV) 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Divisions Due to Selfish Decisions Always Deal Destruction. 1. The Causes of Selfish Division 1 Corinthians 6:1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2. The Consequences of Selfish Division 1 Corinthians 6:7a To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 3. The Cure for Selfish Division 1 Corinthians 10:24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 1 Corinthians 6:7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians: A Higher Calling

January 28, 2024 • Steve Hinton • 1 Corinthians 1, 2 Corinthians 5:20–21, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, 1 Corinthians 10:24

1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 25, 27-31 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. (NIV) The Choices and Consequences. They needed to be reminded of who they were and that God’s wisdom glories over the wisdom of the world. 1. Their Position in Godly Wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2. Worldly Wisdom. Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. James 3:13-16 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (NIV) For Personal Profit For Personal Power For Personal Pleasure For Personal Piety 3. Godly Wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. (NIV) 4. Our Path in Godly Wisdom. 1. Choose to Surrender to Christ. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 2. Choose to Remember Your Identity. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 2 Corinthians 5:20a Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 3. Choose to put Others First. 1 Corinthians 10:24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 4. Choose to Play the Long Game. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (NIV) 5. Choose to Look up. 2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (NIV) There will be Eternal Results: Rejection: 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord. Embracing: 1 Corinthians 2:8-9 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him. There has always been a choice: Acts 7:22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. (NIV) Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. Some Famous Wise Men Choose Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” There is now the choice before you.