Grace was Productive
Living it out Together - 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsGod's powerful love saves you, transforms you, empowers you, and preserves you to the end.
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Corinth
Corinth
Grace is Productive
Context:
State of Corinth, where was Corinth, what was it like, what was Paul’s relationship to them?
Word of God
Word of God
Why is this letter relevant to me today?
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
word of God is living and active.
so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
“the Spirit of God does the work of God through the word of God” - Matt Chandler
“the Spirit of God does the work of God through the word of God” - Matt Chandler
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
- every word of scripture is God breathed, and good for preparing us for every good work.
- every word of scripture is God breathed, and good for preparing us for every good work.
So what we have here is not just a letter from Paul to the Corinthians, what we have here is also a letter from God to us. God’s word in scripture is effective, it’s transformative in nature, and this letter is meant to transform our lives. This letter also starts out with inspiring words for believers in Christ, messy believers like you and me. Paul reminds us of who we are in Christ. What God has done for us, in us, and what He will bring to completion.
Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother: To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother: To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Past - Christians had these 3 things happen, He did something for you, in you (personal call), and you responded (called on His name, resulted in life change towards holiness)
By God’s will - He did not see value in God or the work and come to it, God planned and executed His mission to save Paul for a purpose.
v2
The beginning of Grace
Ekklesia - called out people, this was not an evangelistic letter, this was a relational letter of correction. A loving letter intended to steer God’s people to a life that revealed God’s work in their lives, allowed God’s work through their lives, and resulted in joy and experiential relationship with God.
Followers of Christ are:
Sanctified
Sanctified
- not process but the transition from lost to found. Made possible through Jesus work on the cross.
Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Called
Called
- your specific calling,
And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach—and woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
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“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
A ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.” “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.
What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
What are some spiritual gifts that you have observed, either in your life or others?
God created individuals, and interacts with us as individuals. You matter with specificity. He had you in mind when He came and died, and rose again. Though there is a general call that all may respond to there is also a specific call in your life that you may either accept or reject intimately.
What is the ultimate goal of God's grace for us?
What is one thing you can apply to your life this week from this text?
Responded
Responded
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
Our response is nothing short of devotion. The result of our salvation is grace and peace. Grace in our standing with God, no longer guilty and sentenced to death, but declared innocent and righteous. Peace, not quiet or absence of struggles, but shalom: a fullness of life, fulfillment, real joy and purpose now while we await the new reality. In the mean time:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The continued work of Grace
4-9 work of the Spirit
Enriched
Enriched
v2:4-5
Enriched in every way! - everything about you is made better as a result of following Christ.
fruit of the Spirit -
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
“If we are not changed by grace we are not saved by grace.” - A.W. Tozer
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
peace
Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.
Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Do everything in love.
john 14:23-27
These characteristics describe a person who has received peace. If you have been changed by grace you have received peace and that changes everything! Being saved doesn’t just mean I go to heaven when I die but everything about me is qualitatively changed now. This powerful peace is also not meant to terminate on me but to radiate through me.
Confirmed
Confirmed
6-7 do not lack any Spiritual gift
The Spirit confirms we belong to Jesus, empowers us to put to death sin in our own lives, and to build up His church, and save the lost.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,
The Spirit confirms we belong to Jesus, empowers us to put to death sin in our own lives, and to build up His church, and save the lost.
Word of wisdom (; )Word of knowledge (; )Faith (; )Gifts of healing (, ; )Working of miracles (; )Prophecy (; ; )Discerning of spirits (; )Tongues (; )Interpretation of tongues (; )Helping ()Administration (; )Ministry/service (; )Teaching (; )Encouragement (; )Giving (; ; )Leadership (; )Mercy (; )Apostleship ()Evangelism (; )Pastoral guidance ()Grace (; ; ; )Willingness to face martyrdom ()Intercession ()Hospitality ()Celibacy ()
Don’t stifle
1 corinthians 16:13-
Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
1 thess 5:19-22 - hold fast to what is good and abstain from what is evil.
- hold fast to what is good and abstain from what is evil.
Test and discern
“If what happens makes much of Jesus and stands in alignment with his word it’s from the Spirit.” - Chandler
3. Future - where does His Grace get us, what is its goal, completion.
Strengthened
Strengthened
8-9
, ,
and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29, 37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, 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 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
empowered to the end.
Eternal life can’t be killed!
so that you will be blameless
“eternal security” debate. Those whom the Spirit has genuinely indwelt will experience transformation. Those who begin this process can rest assured that God will be faithful to complete it. Of course, such verses provide no assurance for professing believers who have never shown any evidence of the gifts of the Spirit. Eternal security is not a doctrine to be applied glibly to all who have claimed to be Christian, however superficial their commitment has seemed to be.
Blomberg, C. (1994). 1 Corinthians (p. 41). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
light on a hill, salt of the earth
light on a hill, salt of the earth
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
? God will finish what He started.
God will finish what He started, and involves us along the way.
If you are a believer in Christ, a follower remember the amazing mercy and love God as expressed for you by sending Jesus to live, die, resurrect, and empower you. He has kept His promises from the beginning, and we are living in expectancy of the fulfillment of the rest of His promises for us. Live in light of His love and promises for you.
If you realize you are not a follower of Christ, maybe you have believed He exists, but have never taken that step to fully surrender your life, your dreams, desires, pains and follow Him. Then this is your moment, He is calling you! When asked by His disciples when the kingdom was coming in , Jesus responded only the father knows, not even Jesus. So don’t presume you have time, don’t miss this chance to receive the joy and peace that God desires you to have.
ref
“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone.
Matthew 24:
“Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—but only the Father.
Mark
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Questions:
What are some differences between the context we live in now in State College and Corinth?
What are some similarities between the context of this book, and the things Paul is addressing in the church and our context?
How does Paul describe the church? Who is he specifically writing this letter to?
Why is it important that we know this book is written specifically to Christians, not unbelievers and not merely people professing faith, but true followers of Christ?
What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
What are some spiritual gifts that you have observed, either in your life or others?
What is the ultimate goal of God's grace for us?
What is one thing you can apply to your life this week from this text?