1 Corinthians 1:3

Introduction

Grace

1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is the Apostle Paul’s normal greeting in his church letters. However, this does not mean that his greeting was received the same way in each church. Environmental and spiritual conditions on the ground will determine the author’s intent and the audience’s reception of the greeting. I can say to two people that I am praying for them. Based upon what is going on in their lives, my intent and their reception may be different.

For example, In Galatians 1:3 Paul wrote to the churches of Galatia that had wolves come in attacking the very foundations of both grace and peace. He wrote: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.” His intent and their understanding may have been completely different than the church in Corinth. In Galatia the focus would have been on the preeminence of grace as a means of salvation without any contribution from our works. And, how that peace follows grace. In Corinth, with the varied factions that in a spiritual way violently tore the church apart, the focus would have been on how God’s grace unites us together in peace.

Chrysostom lived in the 4th century wrote in his Homilies of Paul to the Corinthians 1:3: “If our peace comes from God’s grace why are you so proud, since you are saved by grace? How can anyone find grace with God, except through humility.”

Paul’s intent could have been: as grace and peace comes from a united God, allow yourselves to be a conduit where grace and peace flows from a united body.

After all, in Pauline theology God’s grace is so much more than “unmerited favor, but also refers to God’s transforming power.” In the 1990’s, several political and civic enemies came together in unity to support a stadium sales tax in Hamilton County (Southwest Ohio) in order to keep the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds in Cincinnati. If these usual enemies can unite over a sales tax increase then how much more should Christians who attend the same church and have been transformed by the same power of God’s grace come together in unity.

Evidence of God’s grace is peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is (Galatians 5:22–23) love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Peace does not exist when there are competing factions within the assembly.

Within the grace part of the greeting there are two highlights:

The source of grace and peace. Grace and peace that transforms a person’s life comes from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. As we look through the prism of our transformer, there are two rays of light beaming for us to see.

First, grace and peace comes from an infinite power source. Paul had no worries that grace and peace would one day be completely exhausted. God’s tank that has His grace and peace will never be diminished in both quantity and quality. If we are not spiritually experiencing grace and peace in our church or individual life then the root cause is not God has none to dispense. God has an infinite amount of grace and peace. Grace and peace are experienced within the sphere of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” Sanctification is in the sphere of Christ!

1 Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;” God’s grace given by Jesus Christ. The word “by” is the same word for “in” in verse 2. God gives grace when we are within the sphere of Jesus Christ.

There is a story that is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), regarding a rich young ruler who wanted eternal life on his terms but not Jesus’. After he left, Jesus said to His disciples (Mark 10:25) “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” His disciples were shocked by this comment, wondering who can be saved (Matthew 19:25). The wondering was answered by Jesus: Matthew 19:26 “...With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” The source of grace and peace comes from the impossible God.

I enjoy the Mission Impossible movies. The main character Ethan Hunt works for the IMF. The IMF stands for the Impossible Mission Force. They are the only ones who can stop a nuclear war or a terrorist attack. Though the IMF in the Mission Impossible movies is fictional, there is a factual unit called the Godhead that succeeds in impossible missions each time a sinner is saved by grace.

Our salvation by grace is one of the great wonders. The writer of Hebrews refers to our salvation as a great salvation (Hebrews 2:3 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”). The “great salvation” is a miracle of miracles, and wonder of wonders. God did the impossible.

O For a Thousand Tongues

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread thro' all the earth abroad the honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, 'tis music in the sinner's ears, 'tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me.

To God all glory, praise, and love be now and ever given by saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven.

You can sense Paul framing the greeting in the form of a question: If you have been delivered from your sins then why are not you being transformed by the one who transforms? Why does your church family not see or experience grace and peace flowing from you? The Israelites knew that Moses had met with God because of a transformed appearance. In like manner, people should know that we are in communion with God by having a transformed life that exalts grace and peace.

When we exude grace and peace, we are glorifying the source of grace and peace: God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The opposite is true: when we fail to discharge grace and peace, we belittle or diminish God! I have to be careful not to spend so much time looking at others failing to dispense grace and peace, that I decline to examine whether or not I am a dispenser of grace and peace. This is likely Paul’s reference point in 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Paul is not saying that he can lose his salvation. The section’s theme is witnessing. As Paul witnesses to others, he has to make sure that he does not slip up or be infected by the apathy or carelessness he sees in Christians, so he does not disqualify his witness. Therefore, Christians who do not spend sufficient time with Christ will not emanate grace and peace to others.

Peace

The Corinthian church did not have much peace. They were divided over teaching leaders, tolerant of sin, suing believers, confused over marriage and singleness, not edifying one another, and marginalizing the Lord’s table. Paul knew the fix was peace that comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Two points of emphasis:

God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have perfect peace between themselves. Paul wrote: (Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The peace within the Godhead is much beyond our limited human comprehension. However, it is a peace that we can experience. In another place, Paul wrote: (Colossians 3:15) “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” The word “rule” speaks of an umpire who makes calls that define plays. Paul says “let the peace of God” define your relationship with your church!

God is the author of peace and He is peace. I am not sure if anyone knows how many people attended the church in Corinth. Regardless of how big the church was, there was enough ethnic and economic diversity that led this church down an awful path of warring with one another. If God is the author of incomprehensible peace then why did not this church enjoy that peace? Ephesians 6:10–12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The answer is they were fighting a battle that they could not win because they were not strong in the Lord, fighting in their own strength, and not equipping themselves with the whole armor of God. The result was the church in Corinth was being swallowed up by the corrosive and divisive character of Satan.

Twice Paul refers to the Gospel as the Gospel of peace:

Romans 10:15 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The inner working of the Gospel is peace. Peace with God and peace with others. In his greeting to the Corinthian church, Paul gets back to the basics, you need to be reminded of the Gospel. As we journey through this epistle, we will be reminded time after time that the corrective action is not a complicated solution, but simple solutions that flow from the Gospel of peace.

I mentioned in an earlier sermon: instead of this church influencing her community, she was being influenced by her community. Instead of the Gospel of peace influencing the church, the divisive gospel of Corinth was.

Conclusion

Paul wrote in Romans 11:11 “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” He was speaking of the Jews stumbling over the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul asked: did they stumble for the purpose of falling down? His answer was an emphatic no! Their stumbling opened the pathway for the Gentiles to hear and receive the Gospel of Peace with the purpose of provoking them to want what the Gentiles have. The question that was asked in the Bible Study was if a Jew visited your primarily non-Jewish church, would they be envious of what they see and hear? Would they want what we have based upon your contribution to the song service, giving, preaching and fellowship. Would they know that God was in this building because of your activity? Would they see unity or factions? Would they see indescribable and divine love and peace?