What Christ Brings

1 Corinthians is a book about finding glory only in the Lord. This becomes obvious by the last verse of chapter one. While some people find glory in power, some in what they can do or get away with, and still others find glory in looking good, looking smart or looking spiritual, the Apostle Paul encourages this church with problems to think differently.

A good teacher helps people understand what is right before they tell them error or problems. Paul is doing that throughout this book.

Theme: Whatever is going on, God is faithful, and Jesus Christ is Lord.

Thankfulness 4-6

1 Corinthians 1:4 (NKJV)

I thank my God always concerning you …

for grace given from God 4

1 Corinthians 1:4 NKJV

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

Why is it that some people can’t stand to see others do well? The cry for total equity these days is evil. When God gives to you, WE ALL can rejoice in that! This goes for material and spiritual matters.

Grace changes everything! The Grace of God works outside the realms of normal. It is more abundant than we think and ALWAYS free.

for enrichment 5

1 Corinthians 1:5 NKJV

that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

in speech/ the ability to communicate a message

Not gibberish or uninterpreted “tongues”

in knowledge

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (1108. γνῶσις gnṓsis)

clear and exact knowledge which expresses a more thorough participation in the object or … subject

You have experienced the difference good sound teaching makes! This church will continue to provide that.

Confirmation /sustained/ verified 6 & 8

1 Corinthians 1:6 NKJV

even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

1 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV

who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being sustained by God an not by the effort of a person.

Colossians 2:6–7 NKJV

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

We are thankful for each other and even the things we have been blessed to own. However, NOTHING compares to the thankfulness we enjoy in knowing Jesus Christ has us in His hand, and His hands are in the Father’s. We know nothing can take us out of such a wonderful spiritual blessing.

Giftedness 7

1 Corinthians 1:7 NKJV

so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

of gifting

Not lacking. We will get to issues on spiritual gifts later in this book. They are given by the Spirit - not claimed by people with strong desires. Jesus knows what His Bride needs, and He will see to it that she has it. We can count on this in the days ahead.

of hope

Hope of Christ’s return! Are you eager?

Romans 8:23 NKJV

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:25 NKJV

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Blamelessness 8

1 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV

who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Right now we may have our struggles to live righteously and blameless inn practical ways, but the moment Jesus returns, that is no longer a problem!

Blameless = Not guilty and more!

unaccusable - We recently studied this trait in Titus on Wednesdays when we were looking at the qualities of Pastors. In this verse, Paul writes to a church that has lots of problems. This quality will be found in believers when we stand before Christ. It is important we live this way now, but today’s passage is another passage that reassures us that our salvation is all of Christ.

Fit for the big day. Confirmed Reservation for the big event. Confirmation of Eternal Security!

to the end! To eternity and beyond!

I know that you can get your airline tickets, concert tickets, drivers licence and many other things on your phone these days. I do that sometimes. Others, my wife, like to have a print out in their hands. I understand.

To those who like something in your hand, I say, pick up your Bible. The New Testament often tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ has booked our place at the marriage supper of the lamb and our home in heaven. It is confirmed! He has this! Don’t worry! Make sure you have believed on His finished work, and not yourself, and your reservation for “the day” is confirmed.

1 John 5:13 NKJV

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Faithfulness 9

1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

What we enjoy from this verse is available to us because of who God is at His very core! God is faithful!

Called

By the one who is in His very nature FAITHFUL

Called towards something - a fellowship

Fellowship

Fellowship with “Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 John 1:3 NKJV

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: Whatever is going on, God is faithful, and Jesus Christ is Lord.

Today we looked at 5 short verses that mentioned one or another members of the Trinity 11 times. Do you remember when we were studying our church Series? The church is all about God! This is truth. In good churches and those with lots of sin - it must be about God getting the glory!

“As Christians, one of the strongest rebukes we can have when we sin is to be reminded of who our Father is. And reminding ourselves of whose we are should be one of our strongest deterrents to sin. Remembering our position can compel us to improve our practice.”—John MacArthur

1. Two weeks in a row we have talked about grace given to us. How is grace enriching you today?

2. Do we see our giftedness as bringing glory to the Lord or to ourselves?

3. Because God is faithful, and it is He who has called us, How do we express our eager waiting for His return?