Righteousness, Sanctification, Redemption – The Presidential Prayer Team

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. – 1 Corinthians 1:30

The world often marks success by the amount of personal glory and fame someone obtains in life. It is also part of human nature to want admiration or praise for a job well done. A life following God tends to challenge these ways of thinking.

At the end of the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul reminded the church of the incredible work that Jesus did for the world. He brought God’s wisdom to humanity, which often contradicts the world’s “wisdom.” Jesus also served as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for the world.

Righteousness not only declares a person “not guilty,” but also brings a positive credit, as well. It means that the deeds and characteristics of Jesus are accounted to a person. Sanctification, on the other hand, refers to a person’s behavior. It separates people from the world and brings them closer to God. The third thing, redemption, is a word that came from the slave trade. It refers to a person who has been purchased and given permanent freedom.

All three qualities from Jesus are not found by focusing on yourself, but instead focusing on Him. And as Paul exhorted the church, God did it this way so that He would get the glory. As you pray, praise God for the work He did through the Messiah. Ask the Lord to give the nation’s leaders a heart focused on Him, rather than their own fame and glory.

Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:30

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Romans 1:18-25

¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²²Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

²⁴Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.