Hello Church

Intro: The Church- we all think we know what we mean when we say that word. Our English word comes from the German - ‘Kirk”

Many will think of a “place.” A building. A place where we may have a lot of memories.

The word church in the Scriptures, which jesus used only 2 times, and He used the word Kingdom over 100 times, but that word church, that is the Greek word - ἐκκλησία “eklesia” is made of two words - “ek” meaning out or out of and “kaleo” which means - to call. So church simply means the called assembly or the - the “called - out.”

We have spoken about this before - The church is a people - not a place.

We know that with our heads but I am not sure that we always have that in our hearts.

Plus we have the “church - local” and the “church-universal.” There is only one church of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have seen the church take a dramatic change in the last almost 40 years as I have been in ministry. And in the last 10 years even a more dramatic change.

God has led us to the Church at Corinth. Corinth had a sin problem. A sin of not letting go of the old life that they once lived. A life of debauchery.

God sends the Apostle Paul to Corinth and begins a church there. Now he is writing them to correct some problems with their sin.

Paul: The One Sent

“Paul” this is how Paul begins every letter because it is the custom of the day.

Then as many times - defends his apostleship.

1 Cor. 15:3-11 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

Paul was commissioned in person by Jesus . Jesus appeared to Paul - Jesus in all of his glory - So powerful it blinded Paul and He told him that He has called him to go and speak in his name. God sent Annanias to pray for him. and the rest is history.

And he was called by the “will of God” - This was not Paul’s idea at all - remember he was the church’s #1 enemy.

The he mentions a brother in Christ that was head of the synagogue in Corinth and that was beaten by the Gentiles (maybe even some of them who are now believers) that was recorded in Acts 18.

The Church: The Ones Called Out

Paul is writing to a particular church in a particular time but we believe that this is the word of God - relevant to us today. This is the church of the pas but as we mentioned - we have the church local and the church universal and the church eternal.

Those who are sanctified - set apart as a different people - the word here is ἁγιάζω (hagiazō) set apart

see 1 Cor. 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

We are going to see that although they are these people - they were not a perfect people - Paul writes them to encourage them.

Paul reminds them that they are the “saints” of God This is what they have been called to be. You will see Paul use this word - “called” and “call” over and over again through his letters.

Along with all those in the “church universal” - those everywhere who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord - this was dangerous talk in this day. He is our Lord and their Lord as well.

Paul is telling them they are not on their on. Think about all the churches that Paul writes to.

Jesus: The Lord of All

Jesus is Lord over all the Church -

Paul gives them that from him he can greet them with this common greeting from Him - but it is very uncommon-

Grace - he is saying this as a blessing - God’s gifts are blessings. Most of all our salvation that we have in him.

This gives us the peace - that “shalom” that we have that all is well even when not all is well.

Paul gives them the assurance of that shalom - that peace they have even though they have a lot of of wrong stuff going on.

Look who it is from- God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God our Father and Christ our Shepherd.

John 10:28-30 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.””