"Who makes you to be different from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Cor 4: 7)
Paul here asks the Corinthians what to him, are extremely important questions. They all have to do with the subject of credit - who deserves it, for what and why. Lets's examine it closer.
Paul understood that the believers in Corinth were indeed "different" from other people. Evidently they themselves felt the same thing about themselves, although they and Paul had a very different understanding about who or what that "difference" was attributable to. Paul asks them, who it is that is responsible for their being "different". Please notice, he does not say, "What makes you different from another?"
Where is the difference between these two questions? It is a huge difference! If Paul had said "What makes you different from another?", then the "difference" could have been attributable to something- some quality within they themselves, for which they were either solely or at least partly responsible. That quality, perhaps their wisdom, prudence, discipline, diligence, willpower, morality, spirituality or commitment - whatever, could have been the answer to the question. But Paul did not ask them this question!
Paul did ask, "Who makes you different?" Thus, Paul understood that it was someone outside them, not something within them which was entirely responsible for their being "different" than other people. Thus, the answer to the question of WHY WE BELIEVE must be examined in this particular light as well.
Paul will now ask a second, obviously rhetorical question. What did these believers in Christ at Corinth possess which they did not first receive? In other words, they possessed qualities or attributes which they did not of themselves or by themselves produce. Paul is writing to and about believers in Christ here, and his concern here is not the colour of their eyes or their natural physical abilities or personalities. He cares nothing for worldly attainments in this question, nor worldly accolades. His question is spiritually-based, concerning their relationship to and with Jesus, which is Paul's only concern. It is in that context this obviously rhetorical question is asked.
What is the answer then? Obviously, the answer is "nothing". These believers in Christ to whom Paul writes possessed nothing pertaining to their spiritual relationship to and fellowship with Christ, which they did not first receive. That is, they were not responsible for anything that enabled them to know, perceive, recognize, discern and appreciate - hence BELIEVE in who Jesus was, what He did for them, and why they needed Him! They indeed possessed saving faith in Jesus Christ, but they had not produced it. They had an awareness of who Jesus was and insight into spiritual things, but these had been "given" to them.
Could they not at least "take credit" for their choice to "accept" what was being "given"? Paul's final question here will answer that for us as well.
"To those who have obtained a like precious faith with us"
Peter wrote his second epistle "To those who by (or 'through') the righteousness of our God and saviour have obtained a like-precious faith with us..." (2 Pe 1: 1). What makes this so significant to this particular question and study is the word which Peter, by inspiration chose to use here for "obtained" or "received" as in some English translations. It is the Greek word "laxousin". It is found in only 3 places in the New Testament, with this being one of the three. It means "to lot, to alot, to determine by lot". It is entirely passive. The "receiving" which was done by those to whom Peter writes was not an active thing they assented to. Peter did not use either of the words, "lambano", "aireomai" or "airitizo", all of which denote an active action on the part of the recipient to "choose, to accept, to prefer, to take for one's self."
Thus, Peter did not write to "those who had chosen, accepted, preferred, or taken to themselves this like-precious faith" which he and the other disciples also possessed. Rather, the word Peter here used, was deliberate on his part. It clearly expressed the idea of Divine sovereignty in and over the question of how and why these believers to whom he wrote, came to obtain this "like-precious faith" which they did possess, but did not produce. For they had been "alloted" this faith from and by God, and His righteousness.
Peter no doubt called to mind his own profession of faith in Jesus Christ many years earlier, which Jesus had noted was the direct by-product of Divine revelation having been granted to Peter. (Matt 16: 17). "Flesh and blood" had nothing to do with the understanding and faith Peter possessed but did not produce. Peter had not been commended by Jesus for his wisdom, prudence or diligence in this matter. Rather, he had been pronounced "blessed" by and from the Father, Jesus said.
Paul also clearly understood this singularly important truth. His last question to the Corinthians in this verse, clearly spells this out.
Clearly, these believers were doing something which many, too many in Christ's church do. They were assuming credit - in the causational sense, for what they only ought to have given thanks for! By "boasting" Paul means, "taking credit" as if they were by and of their own ability or power responsible for it. This "boasting" was an offence to our holy Lord, else why prompt Paul to address it in this context?
Clearly both the Spirit who prompted him, as well as Paul himself wanted them to know and understand that God expected them to be thankful for what they had received from His grace, not proud, boasting as if they were in some way responsible for it. James said that affirming what one will or will not do the next day, month or year, without a sincere acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God over our lives is "arrogant and evil boasting" (Jas 4: 15 - 16). If God considers such assumptions pertaining to natural matters such "arrogant boasting" when done without due regard for His sovereignty over them, how much more then is it "arrogance and boasting" when we, like the Corinthians were doing, assume credit for ourselves, for both how and why we believe, rather than also humbly acknowledge God's grace and mercy?
Why Do We Believe?
Since it is clear that we who do believe, do so, while others - many others, do not, we must ask, Why? Clearly we who believe in and serve Jesus have made what is by all accounts the "better choice" than our fellows who have and do not do so. That is not in dispute at all. The real question is, why?
Logically, there can only be one of three possible answers:
The first one is what this web-site is all about - sovereign grace. It is what I have come to see with such clarity and perspective. The second one is a view held by some "radicals" in the 'free-will' camp. The third represents what is undoubtedly the view assumed by the majority of those who on the one hand recognize what Jesus said about the necessity of the Father's "drawing" of anyone before they can come to Him in faith, and what they assume is true of "free-will".
Lets examine the last two:
If either option #2 or #3 is correct, then it does not matter in principle what the ratio is (whether 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 90/10 etc.) As long as there is any degree of split here between God's role and our own, for both why and how we came to saving faith itself, then to whatever degree our own willpower, wisdom or effort played in the equation of why we believe in Jesus, to that degree, we could legitmately "boast" about it (which means to take credit for it). But if Paul is adamant on anything pertaining to the fact of our being saved, it is that no one has any grounds for boasting in or about anything of themselves - their wisdom, willpower or works. Here are a few samples from Paul's writings, which reveal his understanding on this crucial theme: "That no flesh should boast in His presence" "If Abraham our forefather was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but no before God"; "Not by works of righteousness which we had done, but by His mercy, He saved us" ; "Not of works, lest anyone should boast" ; "But God forbid that I should boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"; "Now if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strongman in his strength"
God's word is plain, that we are not to "boast" about our wisdom, strength or riches! Our only acceptable boast before God therefore, is in He Himself and what He has wrought for us, on our behalf in and through Jesus and His cross. "As is it written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord'", Paul would tell the Corinthians (1 Cor 1: 31). This truth that we are not to boast in our own "wisdom, strength or riches" is speaking of more than mere physical qualities though! Paul himself would write to the Galatians, "But God forbid that I should boast in anything, except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Gal 6: 14). Please notice the word "anything", for it leaves nothing out! Since Paul did not feel it appropriate to assume credit (or "boast") in anything of himself - which would include any 'wisdom, prudence, diligence , choice or effort' he made, then the only option is to give all thanks and credit for both why and how we who believe do so, to God!
"There is none who understand, do good, or seek God"
We're told plainly in scripture, "There is none righteous, no not one. There is none who understands, none who does what is good. None who seek God." (Rom 3: 10 -12). That being true of all men apart from God's intervention and enablement of and by His grace, the only way for anyone who now does "understand", "seek God" and "do good" in His sight, would be by means of, or because of His grace...alone! This is fundamentally why in the verses preceding (1Cor 1: 31), Paul would state matter of factly - and O how this truth needs to dawn upon all our hearts who profess to know and love Him - "So that no flesh should boast before Him, It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus..." (1 Cor 1:29b - 30). Notice carefully, it is because of Him that we who are "in Christ", are so.
Why would Paul say this? Surely, if Paul understood there to be a mixture between God's part and ours. for how and why we came and come to be "in Christ", he would have here mentioned it! Surely he could easily have made even a passing remark to the Corinthians about the role their own wisdom, willpower or works played in the fact of their salvation. But he did not! Rather, what he did, was to state the matter powerfully and precisely; "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus." Paul does not say (as many assume he means, "Because of Him you were given the option of being in Christ"). Not at all! Paul states the fact of their salvation, and in this passage most certainly and concisely states it is because of God in its entirety! In fact to turn around and suggest that it was a "mix" - to whatever degree, between God's will and grace and human will and strength would be an immediate and profound contradiction to the truth he is expressing, which is that "No flesh should boast in His presence" (because no one has any legitimate right for so doing).
Summary:
Conclusion:
Do you pride yourself on your own wisdom, willpower or works, for why you chose the narrow way, while others in their ignorance choose the broad way? Do you pat yourself on the back for your sound-judgment to accept the offer of eternal life, while others are clearly too dull to do so? Do you rest in the fact that you were humble enought to ask God's mercy and accept His Son's atonement, while others are too proud and stubborn to do so? Do you comfort yourself in the fact that your heart was by your own choice and effort "soft and responsive" to God's offer in the gospel, while the heart of others is obviously hard?
Or do you, in utter humility, recognizing that you were "dead in sin" and "depraved" in sin - lost and undone, helpless and hopeless in and of yourself, give sincere and frequent thanks to God for His grace and mercy to you? By means of which alone, you were able to believe and are thus "in Christ"? Do you recognize that if indeed you now "see" the truth, it is because "God commanded the light to shine in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus"? (2 Cor 4: 6 ). If your heart is soft and tender to God, do you thank Him for "giving them (you) a heart to know me" (Jer 24: 7) , and for "taking out of your flesh a heart of stone and giving you a heart of flesh"? (Eze 36: 26). If you now perceive and recognize who Jesus is, do you thank God for the gracious enabling He "granted" to you to be able to do so? (Jn 6: 44, 65; Matt 16: 17). Do you thank God for His choice of you for salvation? (2 Thess 1: 13) Or pride yourself in your choice of and for Him?
The answer to these questions will reveal the state of your heart and "boast".
By the way, if you believe that you are saved by either your own "free-will" or by some mixture of God's and your own, then there is no way that you - if you are consistent with your own view - can honestly not assume personal credit in some way, for why you are saved and others are not! Since you believe that God sincerely offers His salvation to all alike, and does all He can for each person, short of "forcing them to come", to make it possible that they can be saved, then in the final analysis, it is solely each one's own wisdom, willpower or works which brings them to Christ. For manifestly, if God has given the same degree of "grace" to everyone, but not all are saved by it, then in fact the "difference" for why that is, and so, the "difference" for why we who are saved are so, is not God and His grace alone, as Paul plainly taught. It is rather we ourselves, our own wisdom, willpower or works.
So who is correct? Paul, who insisted such things are not true of ourselves who are "in Christ"? Or those who pride themselves in themselves, who truly see themselves as "better" than other sinners, for they had the wisdom and willpower to both see and choose the "right"? May God grant all who read this true wisdom - the beginning of which is always "the fear (reverence and acknowledgement) of the Lord"!
In His grace alone,
Adapted from: "God I Thank You That I Am Not Like Other Men: Exposing The Pride Inherent In The Free-will Model Of Salvation", (c) 2007, by: John M.Platanitis
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