Expression of Thanks
Reasons for Thanksgiving • Sermon • Submitted
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Scriputure
Scriputure
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord
The thanksgiving portion of the letter opening (1:4–9) extols God’s grace given in Christ and God’s faithfulness to establish his people blameless on the Day of the Lord. Everything is positive with no hint of the problems plaguing the Corinthian church and the confrontation to come in the letter’s body. Paul’s first concern is praise since God’s actions in Christ elicit nothing less than unqualified gratitude and confidence. He and they are both recipients of God’s grace, fully equipped to be God’s people in the world until the return of Christ. Pervasive references to God and Christ in the letter opening disclose Paul’s rich theological framework that informs the letter as a whole. Key themes touched on in the letter opening are a precursor of things to come.
– Our lives are a testimony (4-6)
– Living the Life (7-9)
1. Paul is thankful for the testimony of what is happening.
2. He is grateful that many are living for Jesus; and more so that they are testifying.
Corinth was loaded with issues and really had some problems to it.
The Corinth church was adversely affected by the immoral environment found in the city.
Division in the Church in Chapter 1-4
Moral Disorders in the Church in Chapter 5
Litigation in Heathen Courts in Chapter 6
Issue with Marriage in Chapter 7
Discussion Concerning Food Offered to Idols in Chapter 8-10
Women praying and prophesying with heads uncovered in Chapter 11
Use of Spiritual Gifts in Chapter 12
Doctrine of the Resurrection in Chapter 15
The Collection for the Saints in Jerusalem in Chapter 16
V.7
Sanctified i.e., set apart for God’s possession and use. 1 Cor 6:11
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
This was true of the Corinthians because of their position in Christ 1 Cor 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
in spite of their blatant imperfections.
i.e., spiritual gift 1 Cor 12:4-11
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Spiritual gifs are abilities that God gives believers in order that they may serve Him. Every Christian has at least one gift 1 Peter 4:10
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
At Corinth all the various gifts were found within the group.
- What is important for us to recognize?
1. We exist for the pleasure of a God who chose us to be saved.
2. We exist to be thankful in everything we endure; even the rough times.
3. We exist because Jesus makes us complete; it is Him we serve.
V.8
Confirm = guarantee. The Corinthians had God’s guarantee that they would be in Christ’s presence when He returns and that they would then be blameless. This assurance is based on the wonderful fact that God is faithful v. 9
Main Points
Remember, our treatment from God is unmerited and undeserved (grace)
We have been granted the privilege of testifying and serving
The output of God’s Spirit in us is the witness that we show every day
It is because we serve a mighty God that the bad times are opportunities
-- If we live a life that glories God we will show others what we have
- The testimony of the disciples is confirmed in who WE are right now
-- Because of who Jesus is, we can display a sense a pride in how we live (v6)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
-- If Jesus is truly “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), then we’ll live it
- To have our testimony confirmed means that we live how we are taught
-- If we will live how we are taught, then we’ll be willing to give everything we are
It is in this giving that we truly LIVFE how God intends us too
- We must live a life that seeks to give glory to Jesus in everything we do
The fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
Gifts of the Spirit (Isa 11:2-3): wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord
In Closings
Paul reminds them (v7) that they have already received everything they need
-- And we too have already received what Christ has promised to give us (v8)
Jesus is the one who brings us strength (Phil 4:13); there is nothing we do
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
But we are to be blameless before the Christ; the sovereign God
We are then made righteous before a King who accepts no excuses
God’s faithfulness is not in question; it is assured throughout history
So, Paul writes with the knowledge of the entire OT prophets in full view
-- Not only does He know the Law; he lives with the fulfilled Law in Jesus
Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law (Matt 5:17); to fulfill its promise
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
- What is important for us to recognize?
1. We exist for the pleasure of a God who chose us to be saved.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
2. We exist to be thankful in everything we endure; even the rough times
3. We exist because Jesus makes us complete; it is Him we serve