Download Study Materials
Boasting in the Lord (3 things)
He never lost sight of one simple truth – the Gospel is all about Jesus Christ!
1st – Boasting is foolisness… vs. 16-21
Paul goes on to boast about his ministry… vs. 16-17
He acknowledges that God does not condone boasting about our accomplishments…
The reason is because we have nothing to boast about – all we are comes from God!
Our salvation was a free gift – we received it by grace through faith – we did not earn it
When we get to heaven there will be no boasting – because we did nothing to be saved
Ephesians 2:9 – “Salvation is not a reward… so none of us can boast about it.”
But since the church in Corinth received the boasting of the False Teachers…
The church thought they were ‘wise’ to listen to the foolish boasting of the Judaizers!
As they rattles off their credentials – their degrees from impressive universities…
The church was ‘happy’ to have these great men a part of their congregation…
All the while these men brought the church into bondage – made them slaves…
They devoured the church – stole from the church – slapping them in the face…
The whole while praising themselves – boasting in their wisdom and knowledge…
We do tend to pay attention to people we think are rich / educated…
James 2:3,6 – “[We] give special attention and a good seat to the rich person… [But] isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?”
We forget that these are the same people who take advantage of us!
People suck up to political leaders – movie stars – who care nothing for them…
People worship cult leaders – who only want to control them – take their money!
What are we saying is most important in life – what do we value in others…
Is what is it most important how much money / education someone has…
Or is the most important thing their walk – their faith in God…
Do not respect someone because they are rich or have a degree…
You respect someone because of his or her love for Jesus Christ!
Paul had never boasted before – To his shame? – Because he was he was not great?
Using GREAT sarcasm – Paul showed the foolishness of the church…
The church liked to listen to boasting – so Paul would also be foolish and boast…
So that he might be able to show them the true character of these False Teachers…
2nd – The boasting of Paul… vs. 22-29
Paul boasted he was greater than the False Teachers by asking two questions…
1st – Are they Jews… vs. 22
The Judaizers claimed to be superior because they were from Israel…
They were holding their heritage – children of Abraham – over the gentile churches…
But Paul was also a Hebrew – he was also a child of Abraham – and it meant nothing…
Philippians 3:5-7 – “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews… But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”
Salvation is not based on who are – it is all about whom we know!
God does not care if we are Jew or gentile – Filipino or Mexican – Galatians 3:28
No matter who we are the only way we can be saved – is by faith in Jesus Christ!
2nd – Are they ministers of Christ… vs. 23-28
The Judaizers saw themselves as THE ministers of Jesus – above everyone else…
Paul was a far greater minister – but did not show it through his credentials…
He would instead show his calling though what he suffered for Christ – 3 things…
1st – Paul was constantly trouble with others because of the Gospel…
He was thrown in prison AT LEAST five different times…
Arrested in Philippi – Acts 16 – when Paul healed the demon-possessed girl…
He was arrested in Jerusalem – Acts 22 – when he went into the Temple…
Arrested in Caesarea Maritime – he stood trial before Felix / Festus / Agrippa…
He was sent to Rome – where he stood trial before Caesar Nero – Acts 28…
And he was arrested a final time in Rome – and was beheaded – II Timothy 4:6
Five times Paul was scourged with 39 lashes…
Scourging was a Romans interrogation method – meant to illicit a confession…
The prisoner would be tied to a post – with the back bent over and exposed…
39 lashes from a 2’ leather whip – imbedded with metal/bone/glass…
It would tear the back open – ripping flesh and muscle – exposing to the bone…
Many prisoners would not survive the scrounging – trauma / blood loss
The reason for 39 lashes – mercy – the Law demanded 40 – Deuteronomy 25:3
Three times Paul was beaten with Rods…
Only one beating is recorded in the Bible – Acts 16:22...
It was an illegal act – Paul was a Romans citizen and had not been accused…
Yet instead of being bitter or angry – he and Silas sang praise songs in prison!
God sent an earthquake that broke the chains – and opened the prison doors…
It is easy to get angry / frustrated when life takes a hard turn – things go wrong
We tend to think – Lord if you get me out of this – I will praise you…
But it is when we are willing to praise God in the difficulties – God sets us free!
Once Paul was stoned to death – Acts 14:9…
The people of Lystra thought Paul was the Greek God because he healed a man…
When Jews came from nearby – they convinced to people to stone Paul to death
But after they left – Paul got back up – and went back into the city!
I have to think that Paul’s past might have inspired him…
Paul knew God had forgiven him when he helped to stone Steven – Acts 7…
So he also had love and compassion on those that had tried to kill him….
People may attack us – give us a hard time – but only because they need Jesus…
We were just like them before the Lord came and saved us…
All the more reason for us to share the good news of the Gospel with them!
The way to find out how valuable something is – how much would you pay for it…
If you are only willing to pay 10P for a ring – it is not worth very much…
If you are willing to pay 10,000p – then it is a very valuable piece of jewelry…
Paul was willing to go to prison – scourged and beaten – even stoned for Jesus!
It is easy to received praises for ‘serving the Lord’ – that costs us nothing…
But how many people are willing to go to prison in order to ‘serve the Lord’…
How valuable is the Lord to us – what are we willing to give up for Jesus!
2nd – Paul was in CONTSANT danger because of the Gospel…
Paul was shipwrecked three times – Acts 27…
The most common form of travel in Paul day – getting around by boat…
I have traveled a lot by plane – if it crashed even once I might not get back on…
But Paul did not have one ‘crash’ – but three – and he still kept going…
Nothing was going to keep him from reaching out with the Gospel…
He was in danger of robbers – as much a danger then as it is today…
When you are traveling in unfamiliar territory – men will try and rob you…
I had a good friend doing missions work in the mountains of Nepal…
Robbed by the Communist rebels – pretended he did not know the language…
He was in constant danger by the Jews – everywhere he went they tried to kill him
Forty Jews even took a vow not to eat till Paul was dead – Acts 23:12
There are few things that will inspire more hated in men – than love for Jesus…
The more we stand for Christ – the more others will come against us…
He was in danger from the Gentiles – Acts 19:28-41…
Paul ended up causing a riot in the theatre of over 25,000 people in Ephesus…
He tried to go in and preach Jesus to the enraged mob – friends kept him out…
If he had gone in the crowds would have beaten him to death!
He was in danger in the wilderness – and in the cities…
There was no place Paul was safe – no one he was safe from…
Everywhere Paul went – everyone Paul met – sought to end his life!
Not the least of these was these False Teachers!
How important is it to share the Gospel…
Often people turn back from sharing Jesus just because of little incontinences…
It is raining – I do not want to get wet / there is a basketball game on TV…
People need to hear the Gospel – even if they don’t want to hear about Jesus…
If they do not receive Jesus – the other option is hell – so we need to tell them!
The worst they can do is kill us – then we go to heaven (not a bad thing)…
In most cases the worst thing that happens if we preach Jesus – made fun of…
Keeping people from Hell is worth a little ridicule – worth being made fun of…
We are talking about men’s eternal destination – people are worth fighting for!
3rd – Paul suffered for the sake of the Gospel…
He was constantly tired – rarely did he get good nights sleep…
He suffered from hunger / thirst – often with not enough clothes to keep warm…
II Corinthians 4:17 – “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Following Jesus is not a guarantee we will not go through suffering in this life…
But it turns out to be just the opposite – Jesus guarantees suffering – John 16:3
But it turns out – they are just little problems – in the light of eternity!
On top of all this was the daily care for all the churches of God!
There wasn’t one need – one suffering believer – Paul did not hurt for
Not one ‘little lamb’ led away from the Lord – that did not anger Paul…
Paul was a true shepherd – he did everything because he loved God’s people!
The mark of a true shepherd/pastor – someone who lives to care for the sheep…
John 10:11 – “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
3rd – Boasting in the Lord… vs. 30-33
If Paul boasted – he would not boast about his greatness…
Instead he would boast about his suffering – to show how weak he was!
Because the Gospel message was not about how Paul could save men from sin…
The Gospel is all about how Jesus came to save them!
Men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
The problem is men cannot save us – and even the best of them will fail us…
It is only when we point others to Jesus we really give them the answer…
Our opportunity – responsibility – it to be a billboard that says, ‘this way to Jesus’!
From the very start of Paul’s ministry – Paul preached Jesus…
Right after Paul was converted – Acts 9 – he began to powerfully preach Jesus…
The result was the governor of the city of Damascus wanted to imprison and kill Paul
Acts 9:24 – “They watched the gates day and night, to kill him…”
So Paul was lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape…
From the very beginning of Paul’s ministry – right up to the very end…
Leave a Reply