Being in Christ means possessing God's wisdom and having all things, which makes human divisions and worldly wisdom insignificant.
Paul's teaching, as explained by Les Feldick, contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world. Being in Christ gives believers access to God's hidden wisdom, which the world considers foolishness. This position in Christ makes all things belong to the believer, nullifying the importance of human leaders and earthly distinctions. Les emphasizes that this wisdom is not from human intellect but is a gift from God.
1 Corinthians 1:30 — This verse directly states that believers are 'in Christ Jesus' who is made unto us wisdom from God, directly addressing the significance of being in Christ.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul contrasts the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world. He writes in 1 Corinthians 1:19-20, 'For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?' Paul goes on to explain that the world by its wisdom did not know God, and it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Corinthians 1:21). Paul further states that believers are in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Additionally, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 says, 'Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.' This shows that being in Christ grants believers ownership of all things, making human leaders and divisions irrelevant.
Les teaches that the main theme of 1 Corinthians is the contrast between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men. He emphasizes that human wisdom, including all philosophy, literature, and art, amounts to nothing in God's eyes; it is vanity (Clip 0). Les explains that Paul did not come to Corinth with excellence of speech or human wisdom, but with the simple message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Clip 2). Les points out that Paul speaks the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom that God ordained before the world for our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew (Clip 3). He illustrates this with Paul's confrontation with the philosophers at Athens, who called him a babbler, but in reality, it was the philosophers who had nothing but babble while Paul had the words of life and wisdom (Clip 5, Clip 6). Les emphasizes that being in Christ means believers have all things: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present, and things to come (referencing 1 Corinthians 3:21-23). This truth dismantles the divisions among believers based on human leaders. The significance of being in Christ is that believers are filled with God's wisdom, not human wisdom, and this wisdom makes them fools for Christ's sake in the eyes of the world (Clip 7).
Paul writes that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, quoting, 'He taketh the wise in their own craftiness' and 'The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain' (1 Corinthians 3:19-20). Les connects this to Psalm 94:11, 'The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.' He emphasizes that human wisdom, even all the great philosophy and literature, when shaken up and sorted out, amounts to nothing in God's eyes. In contrast, what the world considers foolish—the preaching of the cross—is the power of God to save (Clip 0, Clip 4).
Paul did not come to Corinth with excellency of speech or wisdom, but with Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Les points out that at Athens, the philosophers called Paul a babbler, but in reality, the opposite was true—Paul had the words of life and wisdom, while their philosophy was empty babble (Clip 5, Clip 6). Paul spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery, hidden from the princes of this world, which they did not know (1 Corinthians 2:7-8).
In 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, Paul writes, 'Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.' Les teaches that this verse shows that in Christ, believers possess everything, including all human leaders and the world itself. Therefore, divisions over Paul, Apollos, or Peter are meaningless because they all belong to the believer. This truth brings unity and removes the basis for glorying in human leaders.
Human Wisdom Is Vanity
Les teaches that human wisdom—philosophy, literature, art—amounts to nothing in God's eyes; it is vanity and will go up in a puff of smoke.
The Main Theme of 1 Corinthians
Les agrees that the main theme of 1 Corinthians is the wisdom of God set apart from the wisdom of men; he stresses that only wisdom from God makes us usable.
Paul's Example
Les shows Paul didn't come to Corinth with human wisdom or eloquence but determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, illustrating that human wisdom is not what matters.
Hidden Wisdom Revealed
Les explains that Paul spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery, hidden from the princes of this world, which is now revealed for our glory.
Wisdom vs. Power of God
Les connects the destruction of the wisdom of the wise to the fact that the world by wisdom knew not God, and stresses the importance of the cross.
World's Confusion of Babbler
Les notes that Paul was called a babbler by the Athenian philosophers, but in reality Paul had true wisdom while their philosophy was empty babble.
The Real Babble
Les reiterates that at Mars Hill, Paul was the one with words of life and wisdom, while the philosophers had nothing but babble, reversing the world's assessment.
Fools for Christ's Sake
Les teaches that we are fools for Christ's sake in the world's eyes, but that is the foolishness of the preaching of the cross, and believers are wise in God's eyes.
1 Corinthians 1:19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
This verse shows God's assessment of human wisdom as something He will destroy and bring to nothing.
1 Corinthians 1:20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Paul asks rhetorical questions to show that God has made human wisdom look foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
This verse contrasts the world's failure to know God through wisdom with God's use of preaching to save believers.
1 Corinthians 1:30: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
This key verse states that believers are in Christ, and Christ is made wisdom to us, which is central to the question.
1 Corinthians 3:19: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
This shows the contrast between human wisdom and God's perspective.
1 Corinthians 3:20: And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Paul declares that the thoughts of the wise are vain, reinforcing the worthlessness of human wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:21: Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
This verse directly addresses the issue of glorying in human leaders, stating that all things belong to believers.
1 Corinthians 3:22: Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
This lists what believers own in Christ, including all leaders and even life and death.
1 Corinthians 3:23: And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
This concludes the thought, showing the believer's ultimate belonging to Christ and God.
Psalm 94:11: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Les references this verse to support the idea that human thoughts are vanity, as Paul also says in 1 Corinthians.
According to Paul, being 'in Christ' means that a believer is identified with Christ and receives from Him wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). It also means that all things belong to the believer, including human leaders, the world, life, death, present, and future (1 Corinthians 3:21-23).
The Bible says that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Human thoughts are vanity (Psalm 94:11). God made foolish the wisdom of this world because the world by wisdom did not know God (1 Corinthians 1:20-21). Instead, God chose the foolishness of preaching to save believers.
Being in Christ makes divisions over human leaders meaningless because all leaders, including Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, belong to believers (1 Corinthians 3:21-22). Since all things are ours, there is no basis for glorying in one leader over another.
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