Corinthians

Introduction

Good morning church and welcome to service this morning as we finally kick off our time in Corinthians. These past couple weeks we’ve discussed at length the discipleship process and what it looks like to be one and how we make them. I am so excited for this series because in some ways, its going to be like walking out the principles we’ve outlines these past weeks and layering them on living out these texts.

Full disclosure, this is cool. Fuller disclosure is is also resoundingly uncool. What do you mean you crazy pastor.

First, it is awesome because doing this effectively and regularly will awaken things inside of you that you have read about but maybe not experienced for yourself yet. Many in this room would echo this because they’ve seen it first hand. How reading the word, understanding it, and then tangibly and realistically applying it to your life can be one of the, seriously, most satisfying and fulfilling things in the Christian Life.

Secondly, it is very much not cool in that it will stretch you and mold you in ways that go beyond “uncomfortable.” You’ve heard “as Iron sharpens Iron so too one man sharpens another” right? I comes out of Proverbs 27:7. It really hits home if you watch the show forged in fire like I do. These burly bearded men using gigantic hammers to move metal and then shape it and sculpt it into a usable tool. The end product is awesome but that doesn’t mean i want to sign up to be the knife. It becomes a work of art but the process is destructive, violent, and painful if you’re the metal.

Brothers and sisters, in this process you and I are the metal. We are shapeless and without use until the skilled hands of the craftsman molds us and makes us into the image he has in mind. Its a painstaking struggle of a process but if you lean into it and not away, you will be remade into the image of Christ. So, are you ready to go!

Tension

Today we start, as all things must at the beginning. Anytime we get to a book of the Bible we want to unpack the context, the author, the audience, the occasion, and the setting so we can let the context breath and take in the whole picture.

For the book of Corinthians the process is exactly this. Corinthians gets its namesake from the place itself: The Greek founded, Roman conquered, and Julius Caesar Resurrected Port city of prosperity. Corinth sat at the southern part of Greece and because of it positioning it was pretty much destined for greatness.

1. The entire world’s economy required goods shipped via ships and, to get stuff into to the east and get stuff from the east you had to get it around the Greece Peninsula. There were basically 2 ways to do it.

Way 1: Was around the whole thing. This required you to go around the cape, which was so dangerous that sailors had some sayings about it, “Let him who sails around Malea first make his will.”

Or Way 2: was this cool little feature provided by a isthmus called Diolkos where, if your ship was small enough, it could be set up on rollers, hauled across the isthmus and relaunched on the other side. This took the journey around the cape of about a couple hundred miles and turned it into about a 4 mile journey. This was the home of the Corinth Canal and made Corinth a major artery for commerce and wealth in the region. As such, everything that needed to go anywhere likely came through Corinth, as well as all people from all places. It was a regular transportation hub. This made it the place to get world class Arabian Balsam, Phoenician dates, Libyan ivory, Babylonian carpets, Cilician goats’ hair, and Lycoanian wool. In fact, it was one of the only place you could find such treasures. It also, so happened to be a place that was widely known for the temple to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Her temple, perched high above on the accropolis had a harem of sacred prostitutes devoted to her worship a thousand strong. The night life is Corinth was so widely held to be a place of debauchery and drunkenness that the term to “korinthiazesthai” or to Corinthian-ize became synonymous with evil and lewd living.

To add to that Corinth’s history also sheds some light. An ancient Greek city, it boasted being the place that Greek Trireme’s, the war ships that put Greece on the map as a naval powerhouse, were originally made. However, as many civilizations did in those days, she fell conquered when Rome set it’s gaze on Corinth in 146. Left in a ruin for a hundred years, it was eventually rebuilt in 46 bc by Julius Ceasar. Now a Roman colony, it saw a new heightened form of prosperity as well as a melting pot of sorts for cultures all over the region. Roman veterans who served their time were allowed citizenship and to settle there with some land. With the commerce flowing again, merchants from all over came back filling up the city almost overnight. Many Jews came to call Corinth home too, looking to take advantage of the budding markets. Phoenicians and Phrygians from the east had populations around the city.

The Greek historian F.A. Farrar put it this way:

“This mongrel and heterogeneous population of Greek adventurers and Roman bourgeois, with a tainting infusion of Phoenicians; this mass of Jews, ex-soldiers, philosophers, merchants, sailors, freedmen, slaves, trades-people, hucksters and agents of every form of vice.” he characterized her as a colony “without aristocracy, without traditions and without well-established citizens.”’ (Barclay, 4)

In the middle of this city resembling a wild west gold-mining town mixed with Las Vegas’ reputation we insert one, Paul. Paul stayed here longer than any other city with the only exception being Ephesus. He stayed for 18 months and the very little that we do know about that 18 months is found, written by Luke, in Acts 18:1-17.

We know he stayed with with a couple named Aquila and Prisca. He preached in the synagogue there with pretty good success. Timothy and Silas arrived and hostility arose as the Jews kicked them out of the synagogue, so they took of residence with a guy named Justus, who just so happened to live next door to the synagogue and led the man Crispis to the Lord, who btw happened to be the local leader of that synagogue. After this, the Jews unsuccessfully tried to have Paul thrown out of town by manipulating a new Roman appointed governor named Gallio. He paid them no attention and ultimately, Paul left to go to Ephesus after a year and a half.

Why tell you all that? Remember context matters. We have a booming city with a past but no history that is exploding in growth. It flooding up with people from all over the world including a recent group of Jews who were kicked out of Rome by Emperor Claudius. A city with every imaginable sin and vice for sale on every street to any who had coin. And in the midst of all of the chaos, all this strife, all this opportunity and all this diversity of thought, region, nationality, and worldview, Paul plants a church by sharing the gospel and many hear its truth.

Many repent and put their faith in Jesus. Many are baptized and a new budding church is established that Paul personally invests in for 18 months. However, Paul was a globetrotter who was always on the move. Plant a church, help them get their feet under them, teach them the ways, then go do it somewhere else. As such, when he left, the cultural soup that the church was submerged in started to creep into the front doors. Jews, Greeks, and Romans were all struggling to walk in this new life following Jesus despite their old life’s influences, traditions, and teachings. It wasn’t an easy task for them, and its still not for us today. We all have a way of seeing the world and responding to it. We are all shaped by the environments we grow up in and when Jesus says something crazy like “you’ve heard it said love your friends and hate your enemies but I tell you love your enemies” your head is going to have some questions. Rightly so. Some lessons will be easy, like a duck taking to water, while some will change some of your core beliefs about the world. In that vacuum of leadership and struggle of newborn Christians we find the letters written by Paul to them some 3-5 years after having left. A letter sent to correct issues, teach truth, drive out confusion, and encourage the church.

Truth

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 (ESV)

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 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:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Pray

Exposition

Today’s passage breaks neatly into two sections, each with its own calling and teaching for us to digest.

Welcome to Christ’s church. vs 1-3

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 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:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice, first of all that Paul references himself, the author and the authority by which he is leading, teaching, preaching and even sending this correspondence is due to his position and duty as an apostle. Not just any apostle either. He is not here under his own authority nor by his own desire. He has been called out by Jesus himself. He’s been set apart for this and he means to see his task complete. He is joined in this letter by Sosthenes, who was a leader of the synagogue there and that Acts 18:17 tells us was beaten for his faith by the Jews when Galio refused to prosecute he and Paul.

Paul refers to himself by his calling and his job. And both of these things were done and continue in the name and authority of Jesus.

Notice secondly, that just as Paul refers to himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus, he refers to the church, not as “the church of Corinth” but as the “church of God that is in Corinth.” While this may seem inconsequential to you at first, think on this for a moment and realize what the difference is. Just as Paul is not just an apostle, a sent one, a called out one, but he is sent out by Christ, in Christ, for Christ’s purposes; this church is not just any church or a regional church, or another first Baptist church but the church of God that resides in Corinth.

It’s not their church. It’s not Paul’s church. They aren’t called according the will or purposes of Sosthenes or Crispus or Pricilla or Aquila or their Auntie Marge. This point if so simple that we could so easily go right over us but we cannot.

You see, brothers and sisters, just as they belonged to Christ’s church and not the other way around, we too must still remember today that this is still his church. And not just this congregation or this campus but “THE Church” is His church. Its not limited to buildings or borders, cultures or articles of corporation. If you are a bible-believing, Christ-following, disciple-making, church then you are HIS people.

The letter hammers this home further declaring that its recipients, those of Christ’s church, has been sanctified in Christ himself. The nature of the word sanctified (or consecrated in some translations) here means to be set apart for a Holy Task. Specifically it carries the connotation that it was made holy by the offering or sacrifice that was placed upon it. The Christian, therefore, had been sanctified by the sacrifice of Christ, set apart as Holy. This sacrifice marks them as one bought for by Christ but also being made into his likeness for His glory.

due to this act they are now called “saints.” Hagios. The picture here is like that of one who works in the temple, devoting their life and actions to the Lord. That is how God sees you. A further point that we will elaborate on later but simply state now: Quite calling yourself trash. If you are in Christ your new identity, which replaces all others is this word. This Hagios. This Saint that it’s talking about is you. Christ considers you to be a saint and perhaps its time you start believing him. More later but turn your eyes to verse 2.

Verse 2 ends in a rather strange but purposeful way as Paul, calls all us together under Christ’s Lordship. Christ is “both their Lord and ours.” No man, no church, has exclusive possession of Jesus Christ. Yes he is our Lord but he is also Lord over all men. And because of that we can have a unity that transcends what high school you graduated from or who you voted for. In fact, it goes beyond that to include those that outright dismiss his lordship. He’s your Lord even if you’d rather he wasn’t. God’s authority and sovereignty are intact no matter your opinion.

The Necessity of Thanksgiving. vs 4-9

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

3 things come to light as we consider the thanksgiving that Paul gives here regarding the church.

1. Paul had made certain claims and assertions regarding what would happen if and when these men and women would follow Christ in his gospel truth.

Of these claims he now is proudly boasting that God brought them to fruition. The evidence, the fruit is written all over them. Encouragement yes, but also proof of the power and work of Christ among them. He speaks of this testimony being confirmed as he was able to preach of the great offerings Christ gives to those that will but follow him.

To be open, fair, and honest, this is struggle of balance that still exists in the church today, and one that we often feel ill-equipped to pull off with success. I’m speaking of preaching but doing so in a way that doesn’t laud easy beleivism, prosperity, or, as one author coined, “Moralistic, therapeutic, deism.” The belief that God is out there, somewhere. And Basically, he wants me to be good and to be happy. As long as I’m mostly good and pursuing happiness, he is pleased. To be fair we have become a bit hawkish today and rightly so as the last couple of decades saw preaching that turned God into a divine vending machine who would grant your every material wish and financial desire. As such, the pendulum swung the other way and we hard-lined again into speaking on the hardships and sacrifice that Christ demands of his followers. But we must remember to tell the story of Jesus is to tell the whole story friends. Yes it is sacrifice and pain and persecution. But to deny the reality of the enrichment and joy and peace that Christ brings about is like making kool-aid without the sugar. Sure you can drink it but it feels like something is missing. Paul preached the goodness of God and the benefits of following Christ. He sold the Corinthians this Christ, him crucified, and also the blessings he would bring to their lives. Now he sits back, a salesman yes, but one whose claims have been all proven and justified. He wasn’t selling snake oil but the truth founded in faith in the risen savior.

2. Paul references gifts that have been bestowed. Firstly, the obvious and lavish gift of salvation but also the gifts by which a man might rise us and be of worship and use for his kingdom. Whether that be music, or teacher, or service, or a craftsman hands, all might be applied to the task of living for Christ daily and praising him all the while. Such gifts were and are still given to us today. For much the same reasons and purposes. That we, like they, would use the sweat of our brow, the words from our mouths, and the content of our hearts to raise Christ high for all to see and appreciate.

3. There is coming an end. Paul’s reference to the revealing of Jesus Christ and the day of the Lord are both themes that were carried widely in the early church. The day in which Christ would return and set it all right. When the old would make way for the new. The English poet Caedmon drew a picture in one of his poems about the day of judgment. He imagined the Cross set in the midst of the world, and from the cross there streaming a strange light which had penetrating X-ray quality about it and stripped the disguises from things and showed them as they really were. (Barclay, 12)

Landing

So as we consider these themes and the messages for the text for today, we will come the application portion that we will try and accompany all of our messages but with an agenda. You see, we are called to be disciples. A disciple is a man or woman who doesn’t just want to learn from their teacher but who apprentices him. We are Jesus apprentices. But we are also called to be disciples who make more disciples. For these reasons our applications will have those two goals in mind.

Starting off we want to expand and Idea and its application within our theology. Theo- meaning God and ology- meaning the study of.

This is was and will always be Christ’s Church.

Let that first click into its proper place within your mind bu then allow it to take its place in your heart. We must, I must, you must remember that we serve at Christ’s pleasure and by his authority. So my disciples. My brothers and sisters. Are you taking too much ownership of a church that isn’t yours to own. You belong to it not it to you. Yes we are a family of faith, yes you have a part to play, and yes we join you in celebrating your fellowship and participation with us but remember who calls the shots. This should color the ways in which we lead, teach, preach, pray, vote in business meetings, and decide the course of how we obey. We come to vote not our will but as a voice of wisdom and love devoted to seeing Christ’s will done. For those making disciples, call out and challenge these things within those you invest in. Are they more concerned with their will than their savior’s? Do they want their way more than any other thing? Call them to seeing the truth and putting it into practice.

Salvation, Spiritual Gifts, Peace, Hope, Sanctification: They are all gifts from Jesus. Say thank you with your life.

All of this summed up in the first opening lines of the greeting to a letter? but yes, its all there. So disciple, are you sufficiently thank-filled for the source of literally all the blessings you have? Has gratitude become a deep and abiding part of your time with Jesus? Are you actively participating in the process of Christ remaking you in his image? Are these things evident in the lives of those you are investing in? Do they know where their hope comes from? Do you hear them say things that cause you to question if they are living for Christ?

A quick list of assignments and conversations that could help you utilize these lessons and put them into practice some way this week.

1. Write a hand written letter of encouragement to a mentor or spiritual leader to meant something to your life thanking them for the influence they’ve made on you.

2. Make a mental or physical list of the times you think or say something about Christ’s bride, the church, that reveals your desires/preferences/problems with it, instead of His priorities.

3. Spend some time in prayer this week contemplating the following question while giving God praise for the current life he’s blessed you with. “Where would you be right now if you never knew Christ?” How does that impact your view of the fact that scripture now says Christ views you as a Saint?

4. Give yourself a score 1-10, 10 being all in-no reservations on the following question: “How is your participation with the spirit’s work in your life right now to make you holy?”