1 Corinthians 1:1-9

I. Authorship

1:1 Paul,

Any serious minded Bible person would have a hard time disputing Paul was the author of this letter to the church at Corinth. When he opens it up stating he it is me Paul. I am writing this letter to a specific place to a specific people for a specific purpose. Just in case you don’t know who I am, let me give you a little background.

I have been,

called by the will of God

Paul had been specifically called, effectively called, and miraculously called to faith and service to the Lord Jesus Christ. We know of Paul’s calling from?

Acts 9:3–6 ESV

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Acts 9:3

Luke records here the point at which Paul was called to salvation, called to faith, but we know Paul was also called,

to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,

of Christ Jesus,

What does it mean to be an apostle?

Apostle means : One who is sent. Paul was sent to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to who? The Gentiles and the Jews.

Acts 9:15 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

So as Paul opens this letter, he is asserting his apostolic authority to let the recipients of this letter know who he is and what he has been called to do.

Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Chapter 1

In this manner does Paul proceed, in almost all the introductions to his Epistles, with the view of procuring for his doctrine authority and favour. The former he secures to himself from the station that had been assigned to him by God, as being an Apostle of Christ sent by God; the latter by testifying his affection towards those to whom he writes.

Consider also, what it means to be called by the will of God. This means Paul didn’t just decide one day that I think I am going to kick my Pharisaical training to the curb and start an apostolic ministry. No God chose Him and called him as we saw in

Acts it is the work of the Triune God to call men to the ministry.

Jesus said in

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

However, he let’s them know he has a little help. He is not writing this letter alone. He reminds the church that he is being assisted by,

and our brother Sosthenes,

Sosthenes was a brother of Paul and the church, Luke records the event where Paul is brought before the tribunal and Gallio refused to judge Paul and the crowd in Corinth took Sosthenes and beat him.

Acts 18:17 ESV

And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Acts

After

Paul always recognized faithful brothers in the ministry, those whom he served with and bore the scars of ministry as he did. As great as Paul was in the building of the early church he always affirmed he was not alone, and desired to commend brothers and sisters who worked along side of him!

There is a little about the author, now let’s consider the

II. Recipients

Verse 2 make is clear who Paul was writing to. He was writing this letter to,

A. The Church at Corinth

Notice what he says,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth,

First of all he is writing to the church - an assemble of called out believers. Those who were gathering together as members of a local body. Those who worshipped, gathered to fellowship, and served together.

that is in Corinth,

This body was specifically in Corinth.

What did you learn about Corinth in you lesson?

It was located in Southern Greece

It was connected to Greece by a 4 mile wide isthmus

It was situated on a high plateau

It was prosperous trade city

It was known for being morally corrupt

But notice what else Paul writes about the church in Corinth.

to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,

in Christ Jesus,

Now if you have spent anytime in the book of 1 Corinthians, is your first thought, “those Corinthians were a bunch of sanctified brothers and sisters.”

What does Paul mean by sanctified?

Paul here means to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify. Paul is reminding the church at Corinth that they are those who have been sanctified, purified, and he re to be one who separate from that which is unholy, unrighteous, and sinful.

He is reminding them that they are not who they once were and are not to live in the way they once lived. They have been made anew.

But, don’t miss this, who is the means of their sanctification? Christ Jesus. They are set apart and purified in Him. Apart from Christ they are still slaves to sin, in bondage to the flesh, and have now hope of salvation of sanctification. But because of the person and work of Jesus Christ He separates the church from the wickedness of the world and reconciles them to a holy God. The Corinthians and every member of every local church today must remember Christ Jesus is the one who provides our Regeneration, Redemption, Salvation, Justification, Adoption, and our Sanctification! One day he will provide our final glorification.

When we consider the church at Corinth and the fact that Paul calls them those who are sanctified in Christ,

What are some of the things you think of when you consider the church at Corinth that might cause us to ask really??

Division, Drunkeness, Debauchery, Pride, etc....

Even Calvin writes,

Drunkeness

Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Chapter 1

It may perhaps appear strange that he should give the name of a Church of God to a multitude of persons that were infested with so many distempers, that Satan might be said to reign among them rather than God. Certain it is, that he did not mean to flatter the Corinthians, for he speaks under the direction of the Spirit of God, who is not accustomed to flatter.

Debauchery

Now we know that Paul is going to rebuke all of these sins throughout the letter, but he begins reminding them, remember who you are! Because of Jesus’ incarnation, taking on human flesh, living a sinless life, dying a sacrificial death, fulfilling a supernatural Resurrection and ascension, you have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Because of this salvation you are now sanctified in Him. Paul was certain even amongst the rampant carnality in Corinth there was a faithful remnant. Those whom God had chosen, saved, and sanctified.

Pride

Now we know that Paul is going to rebuke all of these sins throughout the letter, but he begins reminding them, remember who you are! Because of Jesus’ incarnation, taking on human flesh, living a sinless life, dying a sacrificial death, fulfilling a supernatural Resurrection and ascension, you have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Because of this salvation you are now sanctified in Him.

Notice what else Paul says, the church at Corinth was, not only are they the church of God, sanctified in Christ Jesus, they are

called to be saints together

Notice next, the church is called.

Here we must keep in mind there are two aspects of this call.

There is the external call; this is where those in Corinth heard a gospel preacher proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. The good new of who He is and what He has done that they might be saved. These sanctified brothers and sisters had been presented with the reality of their sin, the wrath of God they were under because of their sin and the hope found only in Jesus Christ. This must happen before anyone can come to faith. They must hear the gospel message. This is God’s ordained method of calling His elect, His church to come to Christ in repentance and faith.

What is the issue here? Many times this external call goes out, no one comes! This call is often mocked and rejected. Men and women often hear this call and refuse to repent and turn to Christ.

That is why the second aspect of this call is crucial. This is the internal call or effectual call! This is when the preacher calls, and that call is followed up with the divine call. This is that moment at which the deaf here, the blind see, and the dead come to life. God supernaturally enables dead men and women to understand their depravity, and coming damnation apart from saving grace. They recognize that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father apart from Him!

Not only have these brothers and sisters in Corinth been called, but they were called to be saints together.

What does MacArthur teach us about saints in or SS book, on page 6?

Paul reminds the church at Corinth they are called as the “set apart ones” the “holy ones” who are called together. I don’t know if Paul was trying to use a play on words here but it is interesting that God’s church is called to be separate together in Christ Jesus! We come out of the world, out from under the bondage of sin, and we come together in Christ! The church of God is supernaturally separated from the enemy of God, theologically bound together in the Son of God that we might by the power of the Spirit of God grow into the conformity of Jesus Christ the Son of God!

The New Bible Commentary 1:1–3 Authors and Recipients

Their status as ‘holy ones’ or ‘saints’ is given not because of their holy deeds—in fact, some have engaged in unholy ones (5:1; 6:1, 16; 8:10; 10:8, etc). It is acquired solely because of what Christ has done, (cf. 1:30). Paul

And who

Here is why this letter is so important for us, it wasn’t written for the church in Corinth alone! Paul makes sure to add I not only write to the church in the city of Corinth but,

B. The Church in Every Place

He writes to Corinth along,

with all those who in every place

Paul covers people group and proximity in this statement. He say, there are brothers and sisters outside of Corinth who are members of the church of God. They reside in every place, there are saints everywhere the gospel has been proclaimed and the church has been established, and how do we know? Because they are those in every place who,

who in every place

call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

The church of God, the called, the sanctified, and the saints are marked by our common confession in the Lord Jesus Christ! We proclaim that He is,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

Lord - kurios, master, despot, sovereign One!

Jesus - Jeshua, Savior, Yahweh is salvation!

Christ - messiah, anointed One, Sent One, sent and anointed by the divine power of the Godhead.

Paul says, this Lord is bother their Lord and ours.

both their Lord and ours:

both their Lord and ours:

This proclamation of Jesus as Lord brings to mind Paul's declaration to the Ephesians,

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul then provides his signature greeting!

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

and peace

Paul desire for the church at Corinth to receive the unmerited favor of God the Father. He desires for them to experience peace with God through the Prince of Peace the Lord Jesus Christ!

from God our Father

Now, consider what we know about the church of Corinth what areas might they need grace and peace?

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was division among them,

There was sin among them,

There was pride among them,

What is the only thing that will overcome these issues in the church? Grace and Peace from the Lord Jesus Christ!

So far we have consider the Author and the Recipients of the letter to the Corinthians. Next let’s look at,

III. Paul’s Gratefulness for the Church

A. Paul gives thanks for God’s Grace Given to the Church.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you

to my God

Do you see Paul’s love for the church, his heart fro the church? He was constantly thanking God for the saints as Corinth. Even though they were a mess....Even though he has to rebuke and exhort them, he loves them and is thankful,

always for you

because of the grace of God

This why we ought to all be so thankful for the body of Christ at Pray’s Mill. You know what we are a mess…We are made up of a bunch of sinners, who are all growing ni our sanctification and we should thank God everyday that he has called us and providentially placed us among those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Paul when he consider the grace,

that was given you in Christ Jesus,

It caused him to go to the God of the church and thank Him for calling them out of darkness into His marvelous light. He thanked God for transferring the Corinthians out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son! What an awesome gift of grace!

in Christ Jesus,

Paul doesn’t stop there,

B. Paul Gives Thanks for the Enrichment of the Church.

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all,

Now I want to see who have been in their book this week.

MacArthur asks this question,

In what ways have the Corinthians been enriched by Christ

in him

in all speech and knowledge--

Paul says in Christ you have been blessed with the gift of speech and knowledge. In other words, God has gifted you with teachers who not only have the knowledge and wisdom to teach, but they also have the gift of speak, proclaiming, and communicating this knowledge.

Why do you think Paul starts out commending the Corinthians on the gift of teaching they had recieved in Christ?

Later in the letter remember, Paul is going to have to correct the Corinthians on their abuse of the gifts and their misunderstanding of the priority and purpose of the gifts. He reminds them of the place and priority of prophecy or preaching! This is the gift of the church that should be utilized most and front and center in the life of the Church! Why, because is builds up the body while tongue speaking builds up the one speaking.

The goal of the pastor elder is to present the church blameless at the return of Christ. They way this is to be done is primarily through the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures and Paul says, you have been enriched by these gifts, use them!

Next,

C. Paul Gives Thanks for the Testimony of the Church

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed in among you--

was confirmed in among you--

What great testimony of the church, that Christ was confirmed among you—

Paul says you are known as a church of whom Christ is in the midst. When the community sees you they see you as a body whom looks like Christ, preaches Christ, and points others to Christ!

This should be the desire of each and ever member of God’s church. That when someone say’s I am a member of Pray’s Mill the say, that church loves Jesus!

Consider a contrast, the message to the Church at Ephesus in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:2–4 ESV

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Revelation 2:2-

Do we often consider not only what the apostle Paul would say about us? Or what the Lord Jesus Christ would say about us?

Would Jesus ask us as he did Peter?

Do you love me?

Do you love me?

Do you love me?

Remember what Paul writes toward the end of the letter?

1 Corinthians 16:21–22 ESV

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

-21

So he opens this letter writing to the church of God with encouragement and affirmation of their testimony of Christ confirmation in them, but he closes with a warning of a lack of love for the Lord!

Paul moves from the testimony of Christ’ s enrichment to an

Eschatological encouragement,

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

7 so that you are not lacking any gift

as you wait for the revealing of

Paul says remember the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. He has enriched you in all these gifts and done so that you might be found faithful when He returns! While you are waiting wield the Sword, use your wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures and Preach the Christ who is our only hope revealed in these Scriptures!

our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul continues proving encouragement through Christ’s enrichment, Christ’s eschaton, and now through endurance Christ provides.

He reminds the Corinthians, Jesus Christ is He, who will sustain you to the end. He calls the church at Corinth to be faithful, to recognize how God has gifted them in Christ Jesus and he will ensure that when he returns, those who are His will be found,

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

who will sustain you

to the end

guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

guiltless in the day of

Finally,

our Lord Jesus Christ.

D. Paul Gives Thanks for God’s Faithfulness to the Church

Notice how he closes this paragraph, before he begins to appeal to the brothers at Corinth.

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

by whom you were called

into the fellowship

In Paul’s thanksgiving prayer, he closes by thanking God for his faithfulness. Why did the church experience all of these blessings and promises even in spite of unfaithfulness?

Because God is faithful! He has promised His Son and those who trust in Him that all of those whom are His will not be lost. All of those who were chosen before the foundation of the world, called, and justified would not be cast aside!

of his Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:29–31 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:

Those in Corinth who have called on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ could be assured that God is faithful to fulfill His promise of salvation!

Romans 10:9–13 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Here is the great news of the gospel, the Corinthians are not the only ones who are elected, enriched, look to the eschaton, and endure to the end because of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Every one in every place who calls on the name of the Lord can trust in trust that God is faithful, that he will keep his own. That he will preserve us to the end.

We can all say with Peter,

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-

What a blessed Hope we have in Christ Jesus! Do you love Him? Do you love His bride?

Remember,

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Are you ready to gather with the sanctified brothers and sisters, the called saints? Do you have a desire to come together as those with a common confession in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Let’s go to this great God and Savior and pray that he would be honored during our worship this morning!