1 Corinthians 1:1-9

                                                         1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


Paul begins this chapter by greeting the church in Corinth together with his companion Sosthenes.  He is writing to believers who are living in a pagan context who have been saved from lives of egregious sin. However, the most serious of sins is no match for the power of God to work in our transformation and qualification for the work He has called us to.  Paul begins this letter by recognizing that work in the lives of these believers in Corinth.  The same can be said of God’s work in each of our lives.


A SANCTIFYING WALK: It may seem ironic to see Paul address this letter to those sanctified in Corinth and called to be saints.  We know that this church had some serious problems with immorality and other issues that seem very far from sanctified.  The work of Christ in our lives is one that is constant and for the “long haul.”  Paul knows that this church has issues, but he also knows that the Holy Spirit is really good at dealing with issues.  He makes grace and peace available to all who are in Christ.  Those who are called through faith by God’s grace into salvation are also called to sanctification.  We have been set apart from the world as saints and Christ has promised to conform us to His image.  That will be our eternal reality even if we struggle in our current circumstances.


A SATISFYING WORK: Salvation is such an amazing gift of God’s grace in our lives.  Christ provides us with forgiveness of sin and power over sin and goes so far as to send His Spirit to live in us to guide and equip us. Paul recognizes that the church in Corinth was filled with speech, knowledge, and every gift of the Spirit.  One of the greatest blessings we can experience is that of being productive.  Our sin reduces our productivity and enslaves us to a self-seeking activism that leaves us feeling tired and empty.  The Spirit restores us to the purpose for which we were created as servants and worshipers of the Lord.  Our greatest satisfaction is in doing the work of the Lord as an act of worship to the Lord.


A SUSTAINING WAIT: We will never be perfect or even completely whole this side of eternity.  We will have frustrations, failures, and mixed results in both our sanctification and our service.  However, despite our weaknesses, God is always faithful and has promised to sustain us for as long as we are in this world.  The reality is that we will not always be in this world.  Our time here is so short in comparison to the eternity that we will spend in His presence.  His sustaining grace will bring us to perfect sanctification, and we will rejoice in the most satisfying of all work for ever and ever.  This blessed hope should help us as we wait expectantly for His glorious return.


APPLICATION: Know that as believers we have been set apart from the world and we are called to live a life of sanctification.  Thank the Spirit for the gifts He has granted us and delight in using them for the glory of the Lord and growth of the kingdom.  Remember that God is always faithful even when we struggle to be so. Don’t lose hope but wait expectantly for His return and trust in His sustaining strength.

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