To Know Christ
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2
We’ve been talking about resolutions for five weeks!
We started with the invitation to a “redo.” New year, new you. Born again, new creation!
But there is one aspect of resolutions that we haven’t addressed. And interestingly it’s the most obvious one. So obvious I almost missed it! At the heart of this word, of this whole concept of “resolution,” is the search for a solution. It is literally to “re-solution” a problem.
Going back to some of the top ten resolutions that people make in North America- if you want to get into shape, there’s a solution- exercise. If you need to lose some weight there’s a solution- calorie restriction. If you want to get closer to family or friends, there’s a solution- prioritize the relationships that matter most.
Today we are going straight to the capitol “S” solution. The big solution to all the big problems. In Lord of the Rings speak, this is the “One Ring to Rule them all” resolution:
1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”
Paul is telling them, and’s telling us, that to get this right, to understand, embrace, embody this, is the solution to all of life’s problems.
If you get Christ right, you get life right.
If you get Christ crucified right, that is, to understand what happens through his death, burial and resurrection, that is the solution.
He died on a cross to atone for the sins of the world, including yours.
He rose from the grave. Resurrection! He secured victory over sin and over death.
Therefore he is Lord. And therefore we can be saved!
If you think your biggest problem in life is being single, you’ll think the solution is getting married.
If you think your biggest problem in life is poverty, then you’ll focus all you attention and energy on making money.
If you think your biggest problem is weakness, you’ll tell yourself the solution is strength, power, influence over others.
If you think your biggest problem is obscurity, being unknown, unseen, you’ll put all your energy into being seen and celebrated.
We will focus on best energy and effort on that which we think is our biggest or most pressing problem.
The problem is disconnection.
We are disconnected from God and community and the world and even ourselves.
And the solution is Christ, who connects us to God.
Who connects us to one another as the gathering, the church.
Who connects us with our very self.
Who sends us out into the world to make more connections!!
The problem is disconnection.
The solution is connections.
And connected means to know, to truly KNOW Jesus.
To know in this context wasn’t simply knowledge of or about something or someone. I know of Joe Biden, but I don’t know him, and he doesn’t even know of me. But I know my friends, I know my family. I know intimately and personally and experientially and relationally my wife. Our knowledge of and about each other runs deep. We know the good and bad things about each other. We know and are known by one another.
You might know about God, but do you KNOW God as your heavenly father?
You might know about Jesus, but do you KNOW Jesus as your savior.
You might know about the Holy Spirit, but do you know the power of the HS living in you?
Today I simply invite you to “re-solution” your life. Discover, or rediscover the solution. To make the resolution to know Jesus Christ, and him crucified. To know Jesus, the Son of God who came to live so that we might know him, know him so that me might live. Jesus the son of God who was crucified so that we could be free, and sets us free so that we can die to ourselves. Resolve to know Jesus.
