Get Right Church (Intro)

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Intro; Story behind the title of this series. It was stated this song get right church has an anonymous writer. I want to read this story about the writer. What was going on with this writer, that he was looking forward to leaving for ‘home’? It wouldn’t be hard to imagine someone not appreciating his surroundings, and longing for rejuvenation with a call to “Get Right, Church”. It’s a pretty common emotional state, this unhappiness with where I am, and imagining a place – perhaps where I once was – that is recalled affectionately. Good memories push out the less attractive recollections, so that unknowingly I create a vision of home that is perfect, too perfect perhaps. It’s really a reflection of hope, this yearning for home. But, why a train to take me there? Is that merely a method for transit to this place, or does it suggest other characteristics of this trip? Is the train armored, like the one shown here? What does this train trip offer that another way of journeying does not? What is this series supposed to do for this church? I want this series to speak to us all. I want us to hear God’s voice and listen to what He is saying to us Church. 3 things that this series speaks to us.

1. Speak to who we are. ( Knowing our Identity)

2. Speak to what we are doing. ( Allow His will to be done)

3. Speaks to where we are going( Let the word be our guide)

I want us to be like the kids on the trip. They ask all kinds of questions. Why are we going there? Do you really have to go? Are we there yet? I’m bored, when can we stop and get something to eat? Church these are the questions we need to ask for the direction of the Forest Park Church of Christ. If a letter from Paul was written to the church today what would it say? Paul did write a letter to the modern church and it's called 1 Corinthians. Obviously, every book of the Bible was written for all believers of all ages, so why would I single this book out as being the best for the modern church the city of Corinth may be the closest parallel to the United States and honestly we could say the same thing about Europe and Africa, Asia, Australia, pretty much the entire world, but why do I say that?

It’s easy to look over the specific issues Paul addresses and conclude that much of this letter is not relevant to us. We don’t participate in incest! We don’t fight over eating idol meat! Though we may not struggle with the same issues as the Corinthians, we might have a different set of issues to work on.

But Paul has much broader principles in mind. How do we get beyond our own individualism and consider our actions in light of how they affect others? “Is it wrong” or “do I have the right”. These are not the only questions we must ask. Questions like What’s our responsibility as the Church?

We know from this letter that Paul has written them previously (1 Cor 5:9). But we do not have that letter. Thus, 1 Corinthians is the first letter from Paul to the Corinthians to which we have access. First Corinthians is all about living like followers of Christ. A couple of years after Paul established a group of believers in Corinth, he received word that they were losing their way. In 1 Corinthians, Paul gives them practical advice on how to live as Christians in the midst of a culture that pressures them to compromise

Like the Corinthians, we live in a world filled with ideas and practices that are at odds with the gospel. Every day, we hear stories about what it means to be wise and spiritual based on our secular culture, and these often cause us to misunderstand our place in the world or distort the gospel for our own purposes (compare chs. 8; 10).

1 Corinthians 8.1-3

1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (NKJV)

We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

“ We know that we all have knowledge” This was a slogan used often by certain Corinthian believers ( I’m not going to say Christians) as an arrogant statement against weaker Christians. ( But I will say Christians here) Sometimes we can believe something so strong that we lose our Christian values and morals.

Paul challenges our desires to be sophisticated and powerful and shows them to be empty counterfeits.

(See also: Worldliness)

The world counterfeits every Christian grace, but never is able to produce a coin with the right ring.

Donald Barnhouse

This is why we have chose the title Get right Church, because we need to be grounded in truth and not feelings. When you hear feel good teaching or preaching it’s counterfeit

We are challenged to walk away from immorality and live as God’s people, empowered by the Holy Spirit (chs. 5; 12–14). We are to embrace the power of the resurrection and work for the Lord (1:2, 9; 7:17; 15). One of the subjects that Paul will address is spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit. We must truly understand who empowered us and use them for good works, to edify the body, and let God’s light shine in us. SO ARE YOU READY?

Let's jump into chapter 1 verse one, Paul was called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God and our brother Sosthenes to the church of God in Corinth to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be his holy people together with all those everywhere who called him the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours, grace, and peace to you from God, our father in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the opening lines of 1 Corinthians, Paul refers to his recipients as the church of God that is in Corinth, those sanctified in Christ Jesus, “saints,” and those who “call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:2 LEB). The phrase, “call upon the name of the Lord” is found frequently in the OT. It is used throughout the narrative of Genesis with reference to the places where the nomadic patriarchs called upon the name of the LORD during their travels Abraham in (Gen 12:8;And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD

“call on the name of the Lord” was not a private prayer, but a public proclamation. Abraham was evangelizing-telling others about the Lord. God had commanded abram to be a blessing to the nations ( Ge. 12.2) and he was doing it. The meaning “to Proclaim” or “Preach” is a Hebrew word. Allow me to provide a little more context. look at Genesis 13.4

13:1-4;Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the LORD. Ge 13:1–4.

21:33;  Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God, Ge 21:33.

26:25; compare Deut 14:23–24; 28:10;  Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you Deut.28.10). Duet.32:1-4

The idea of calling upon the name of the LORD is also reflected in the language of the psalms, albeit with different wording (Pss 79:6; Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.

80:18–19; 99:6; 116:4, 13). The writings of the prophets contain similar expressions (e.g., Isa 64:7; Zeph 3:9; Zech 13:9). The early Christians apparently continued to use this language as a self-designation for the people of God (e.g., Acts 9:14, 21; 22:16; Rom 10:12–14; 2 Tim 2:22).

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”, Ac 9:10–14. 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer in my name.

Living like the followers of Christ does not start in Corinth but it started in Genesis and continues to be the same concept for us all today. He is the same God Yesterday, today, and as Abraham said in Genesis 21:33 he is our everlasting God.

The letter names Paul as the author (1:1, 16:21), along with Sosthenes (1:1). Sosthenes, if the same person as mentioned in Acts 18:17 he was the leader of the synagogue and was beaten by the crowd after they could not get to Paul, Why because Paul went to the synagogue every day and Sosthenes allowed him to teach his poison. I can’t positively confirm this is the same person, but when you get some time to read (Acts 18:1-18), but it is unlikely – but not impossible – that this is the same person.

In Acts 18, we read that Paul was in Corinth during the time of Gallio, which history tells us was about 51-52 AD. He stayed there for about eighteen months during his second missionary journey.

A few years later (around 55 AD), in Ephesus on his third journey, Paul writes this letter to the congregation he had helped establish.

As with most of Paul’s letters, first Corinthians begins with an introduction of the author and the audience, but here he gives the longest description of the church calling them, sanctified, and holy, but why? Because this church was full of problems most churches were and still are, but Corinth was particularly problematic. The city of Corinth was Situated on a small stretch of land, connecting northern and southern Greece, and was a flourishing center of business and commerce in Paul’s day. At Its narrowest part, this stretch of land was crossed by a road over which vessels were dragged on rollers from one port to the other. This was in constant use as sailors could use to avoid traveling around the dangerous Greek shores. See traffic flowed from Rome to Asia through the Corinthian ports, and because they were a lot of travelers there were all the vices that followed. The city was so corrupt that the Greeks used to call any immoral person a Corinthian. Greek plays would always portray Corinthians as drunkards. Corinth was also known for its obsession with Sports the second most important sporting event after the Olympics with the Isthmus games, held every two years in Corinth. Isthmian Games, in ancient Greece, was a festival of athletic and musical competitions in honor of the sea god Poseidon, held in the spring of the second and fourth years of each Olympiad at his sanctuary on the Isthmus of Corinth. Legend attributed their origin either to Sisyphus, king of Corinth or to Theseus. Open to all Greeks, the Isthmian Games were especially popular with Athenians. The victors’ prize, originally a crown of dry wild celery, was changed to a pine wreath in Roman times, the pine being sacred to Poseidon. Athletes from around the region would gather in Corinth to compete in the games. Sports were so important that even after the Romans destroyed the city, athletes still came to the ruins to compete. Rome later rebuild the city in Corinth and became a prosperous city once again. The Greek culture returned, but it was mixed with Roman influences as a large number of Romans settled in the city as a prosperous business center, it attracted people from around the world, including a relatively large Jewish minority. The city was also home to a religiously and philosophically diverse culture the city boasted temples of Greek and Roman deities as well as foreign gods and goddesses as well. The City was also a major center for the worship of the ancient Egyptian Isis, the goddess of wisdom, and the mysterious Roman cult of mythroths, whose followers have initiated it through the obtaining of special knowledge and wisdom. Acts 18 tells the story of when Paul visited this pagan city. there he met a Jew name, Aquila, a native of Pontius, who recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them because he was a tent maker as they were. He stayed and worked with them every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Jews and Greeks alike came to faith in Jesus through the ministry of Paul, Timothy, and Silas.

Verse 8 Crispus the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord and many of the Corinthians, who heard Paul believed and were baptized one night the Lord spoke to Paul and vision, do not be afraid keep on speaking do not be silent. For I am with you and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city. So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. After 18 months, Paul felt the urge to get traveling again a few years and a few church plants later, Paul received word that all was not well in Corinth. The church was divided there were reports of gross immorality. Believers were suing each other. There was talk of idolatry and confusion about spiritual gifts. Some were denying the resurrection of Jesus. Now Paul is going to spend a large portion of this first letter sorting out the church, but before he jumps into correction, he first reminds them of who they are in Christ

Verse 2- to the church of god in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people together with all those everywhere who call them on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Paul Calls them sanctified, they were sinners, but God was working on them, he calls them holy, because no matter how messed up they were God had set them apart for His glory. Paul even thanks the Lord for them, the very church that later he says, brought him much sorrow.

Verse 4, I always thank my God for you, because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus, for in him, you have been enriched in every way with all kinds of speech, and with all knowledge, God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful who called you in fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Despite his becoming rebuked, Paul, first thanks God for the church he doesn’t commend them directly, but rather he boasts about what God has done in the church. God‘s work was evident in the Corinthians, even with their sins, and wacky theology. God was still among them, equipping them, and protecting them.

So when I look at the church here in America and the world, I know that I can trust that God is able to do the same. We’ve got a lot of issues in the church today and will get into some of them as we explore this book but the church is still God's chosen people and he will keep us firm to the end.

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 1)

6 just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed in you, 7 so that you do not lack in any spiritual gift as you* eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called to fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

What are the blessings imparted by the Gospel?—The blessings which the Gospel—I. Imparts:

1. An enlightened mind,

2. An awaiting spirit;

3. Security

4. Continued preservation of believers

5. The Ultimate acceptance.

What’s our application?—(1) Be thankful if you are partakers of this grace; (2) Be careful to walk worthy of it; (3) Remember in Whom is all your strength.

Closing

Rail transport has been on planet Earth for many centuries, though its full potential became evident in the 19th Century, particularly during the U.S. Civil War. Moving large amounts of materiel made trains essential for effective and long-term military campaigns that needed consistent resupply. Perhaps these facts about them were what influenced the writer, whoever he was, to include a train in three of the verses of ‘Get Right, Church’. Did he live near a train station, perhaps daily observing the habits of a train? They pick up people – ‘I’m goin’ home on the morning train…’(v.2) – or they get loaded with various cargo – ‘back, back train gotta get your load’… (v.4). Either way you imagine it, a train doesn’t leave with a single passenger or just a few pieces of cargo. Scores of people and-or thousands of pounds of materiel depart on any one train. A train might not always be on time (v. 3), but no matter when it arrives, lots of travelers and various cargo go out within that string of cars pulled by a locomotive. So this anonymous author was thinking of a crowd going in the same direction, with the same objective, the same hope. Were they struggling with their circumstances (v.1) – Get right church? Most attribution lines for this old song mention its origin as ‘traditional spiritual’, suggesting that the song’s words gestated and were born among a black, African-American culture in the South. Many of this genre’s first collection (Slave Songs of the United States) were first published in 1867, a time when railroads were making the U.S. a continental nation. Was home somewhere far from where this author and his generation wanted to be? A train could take them all to this distant place, the motivation they needed to stay together and remain alert for its arrival. If this author was indeed from a slave culture of the South. To get right, would be to gather as a people and proceed joyfully. The destination might never have been seen before, but that didn’t stop someone like Abram from setting out from where he’d lived for so long and traveling to such a place (Canaan -- Genesis 12). I’ve never been to where I expect ‘home’ will be, probably not more than three decades from now. Can you see it, even if you’ve not been there?