Part 1: Remember God's Faithfulness

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 NASB95

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Introduction

Background of Corinth and the church

Illustration slide: Map

Port city:

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Corinth

Its location gave the city over trade and travel E and W by sea, as well as N and S by land

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Corinth

Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth in 46 B.C. as a Roman colony with the name Colonia Laus Julia Corinthiensis, and settled many Roman freemen there. Latin was established as the official language, and the Roman character of the city is reflected by the many Latin names in the NT (

Illustration slide: A place of many God and many lords

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Corinth

The most conspicuous landmark at Corinth was the Acro-corinth, a mountain to the south of the city. Reaching a height of 1886 ft (575 m), it was an ideal situation for a fortress that could control all the trade routes into the Peloponnesus. The temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, stood on its highest peak. The thousand female prostitutes who served there contributed to Corinth’s reputation for immorality

Illustration slide: Aphrodite (goddess of love) and Azclepius (god of healing)

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised Corinth

The temple of Asclepius [az CLAY pee us] the god of healing was built on the north edge of the ancient city.

Also other gods: Apollo, Zeus (and wife Hera), eventually Julius Caesar

The Apostle Paul (1:1)

1 Corinthians 1:1 NASB95

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

Paul was in Corinth for a year and six months (Acts 18)

Sosthenes had been the leader of the synagogue in Corinth. He was beaten by the Jewish leaders because of his affiliation with Paul, who evidently taught him the Gospel and was converted.

Paul emphasizes his call by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ: important bc his authority needs to be recognized.

But before getting into the problems he needs to address, he reminds them of 3 things:

Their Status Before God

His Prayers for Them

God’s Faithfulness Toward Them

1. The Corinthians’ Status (1:2)

1 Corinthians 1:2 NASB95

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

He reminds them of 2 things:

Sanctified

Note the verb tense: “who have been sanctified” - something past (already occurred); passive: something done to them

“Sanctified” (ἁγίζω, ἅγιος) = “holified”

In theology = “initial sanctification”

Their sanctification comes from being in Christ.

But Paul reminds them that they have also been called:

Called

Just as Paul was called, so also are the Corinthians.

This is a main theme in Paul’s letters and throughout the NT: Christians are the called of God.

Romans 8:29–30 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

“The called” are those who are God’s people who have been saved (justified) by Christ. (If we had time) we would see that “the called” are the ones who responded to God’s call by “calling on the name of the Lord” (see Rom 10:14)

That “the called” are those who are God’s people who have been saved (justified) by Christ

We see this even in 1 Cor 1:2: Paul says they are “saints by calling”

“Saints” = lit. “holy ones” - here it is more than merely “being set apart and saved.” It means to become holy in our character and behavior.

Illustration:

Dodge ball, baseball, or football

In a similar kind of way, God calls us to something specific: to be holy. Separate from the world and conformed to the image of Christ.

After reminding the Corinthians of their sanctification and calling, Paul informs them of his prayers of thanksgiving for them:

2. Paul’s Thanksgiving (1:3-7)

1 Corinthians 1:3–7 NASB95

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Interesting that Paul’s prayers are really additional reminders of who the Corinthians are as the called saints of God:

Grace

Typical opening of Paul’s letters, but it should never be overlooked.

Grace = “A favor bestowed when wrath is owed”

Peace = the ultimate fulfillment of our salvation

Enriched

“Enriched” (πλουτίζω) = “to make one wealthy, rich”

Note again the verbiage: “you WERE enriched” - past tense; passive also

And what were they enriched with? Everything!

Now we have to pause to think about this for a moment or we may come away with an incorrect understanding.

Some could take this to mean God gives us all kinds of wealth, cars, planes, houses, etc. But this is not the wealth Paul is referring to.

“Everything” refers to the grace and peace they have as a result of their salvation. That have everything they need (and, in fact, much more) in this life as the called out one of God.

We see that this is Paul’s contention because he tells them that “you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift. . . .”

There is sort of an irony here: the salvation they have in Christ—the very thing that gives them everything they need—has become for them a source of contention and division, which Paul will address later.

Not that the Corinthians were not just enriched but they have been confirmed:

Confirmed

1 Corinthians 1:3–7 NASB95

even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in [among] you

“Confirmed” = make good, establish => past tense again; passive again

Charles Hodge:

An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians Introduction to the Epistle. vs. 1–9

The gospel was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit to be true, and was firmly settled in their conviction.

But not only were the Corinthians saved by grace, enriched in everything, and the gospel and faith confirmed among them and in them, but they lacked nothing:

Not Lacking

1 Corinthians 1:3–7 NASB95

so that you are not lacking in any gift

Paul now turns to the present tense: you are now not lacking any gift—salvation, and probably even more to the point: spiritual gift.

Hodge:

An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians Introduction to the Epistle. vs. 1–9

The Corinthians had not only the inward gifts of repentance, faith and knowledge, but also those of miracles, of healing, of speaking with tongues, of prophecy, in rich abundance. No church was superior to them in these respects.

Illustration: US National Debt Tracker

https://watcher.guru/us-debt

Illustration: Cup overflows short vid

After Paul let’s the Corinthians into his prayer life and reminds them of God’s grace and riches, he moves on to remind the Corinthians of God’s faithfulness in all of his dealings with them.

3. God’s Faithfulness (1:8-9)

1 Corinthians 1:8–9 NASB95

who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

First, note the word “confirm” - Paul had already said that the Gospel call was (past tense) confirmed in them. Now he says that God will confirm them (future tense).

God will Confirm

God “will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Confirm” = establish, sustain

Paul is telling the Corinthians that God will sustain them in their salvation until Christ returns.

“The end” is a reference to the second coming; Paul uses it in this same letter in 1 Cor 15:24 in the same way:

1 Corinthians 15:23–24 “But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.”

Other NT passages use “the end” this way: Hebrews 3:6; 6:11; 1 Pet 4:7

God will keep Blameless

That God will keep them in their salvation is further explained in v8: “. . . who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Summary = God is Faithful!

1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB95

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God will do this! He is faithful. It is a promise.

Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

4. What This Means for Us

Remember Our Status

We are sanctified and called.

Positive:

We were sanctified when we were saved (initial sanctification)

1 Corinthians 6:11 “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

We are being sanctified (progressive sanctification):

2 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”

Negative:

When we fall short and sin, we are still sanctified and saved.

1 John 2:1–2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

We have grace and lack nothing, being confirmed in Christ.

Romans 10:12 “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.”

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

When we sin, stray, remember your status: you are a child of God.

What this means: our status/identity is not found in anything else but Christ’s calling and sanctifying us.

Remember God’s Faithfulness

God will confirm us to the end.

1 Peter 1:3–5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Romans 8:38–39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God will keep us blameless.

We do not keep ourselves blameless; the blood of Christ keeps us blameless.

Colossians 1:21–22 “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—”

What this means: you have no power to save yourself, so we can quit trying.