Necessary Truth - 1:1-3

Introduction v. 1

Someone finish this phrase for me.

Just a spoon full of…

Sugar helps the medicine go down.

I was talking to someone awhile back who had to give their dog some medicine so they would hide it in a ball of peanut butter.

The same principle applies.

Something we will not enjoy is easier to face when we have something good with it.

A few month back we found out that our youngest, Andrew, was low on iron.

The doctor had us get him an iron supplement that is basically liquid vegetables.

Let me tell you, it is not the most wonderful drink in the world.

We started calling it his “yummy drink” and so he has been taking it pretty easily.

We have conditioned him, prepared him ahead of time to take the drink.

Why are we talking about these things?

Everything we have mentioned has one thing in common.

Good news can help bad news be easier to handle.

That idea is what lies behind the verses we will consider this morning.

Paul has introduced himself and Sosthenes in verse 1.

Paul is an apostle.

He was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.

The name “Jesus Christ” reminds us of three things.

1 - God the Son became Jesus the man.

2 - He is the Savior. That's what the name Jesus means.

3 - That He is the promised Messiah of prophecy.

That is who has called Paul to be an apostle.

An apostle is someone called to witness of Christ.

In its usage here it denotes a specific office that we only find in the first generation of the church.

Why? Because according to Acts 1:21-22 there are specific requirements to be an apostle.

Among those requirements are physically seeing the Lord and witnessing His resurrection.

No one living today can meet these requirements.

You can be an apostle in the since of witnessing of Christ, but that is a different thing than someone holding the office of an apostle.

We deal with this in a lot more detail in the message “Final Preparations” (part 3) preached on April 23, 2017. If you are interested, you can find that message on our website in the series on the book of Acts or I can make a copy of it for you.

Paul is an apostle by the will of God.

This was not something Paul chose, it was something God did.

He is addressing them along with Sosthenes who Paul introduces as “our brother.”

This man was known by the Corinthian Church. He is a believer.

Paul writes these things because he wants the church in Corinth to understand his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He did not make himself an apostle, he was called to it by the will of God.

This is important because he is going to address some sensitive and difficult topics.

This church needs to know that he is doing so with the full authority of Christ behind him.

Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Raise your hand if you really love to hear hard truths.

No one? Not many?

Paul is about to deal very directly and boldly with some areas of sin in the lives of the Corinthian believers.

He is going to call them to maturity and growth.

He is going to correct and rebuke them.

Before correction and rebuke, Paul reminds them of four powerful and necessary truths.

Because of the harsh tone needed at times, Paul moves from his introduction to these reminders.

We too will face correction and rebuke.

When facing correction and rebuke, there are four truths that anchor the believers soul.

Truth #1…

1. You Belong To God v. 2a

The first thing we are confronted with in verse 2 is the address “to the church of God which is at Corinth.”

There are a few things we need to address here.

First, what is the Church?

Church – ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) Assembly. Church. An orderly congregation specifically of those who trust in Jesus as the Messiah (or those who compose it).

Church – ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia)

A church is an assembly.

A church is not a building.

It isn’t about how we dress. It isn’t about our attitude or demeanor. It is about Christ!

We are His body.

Ephesians 1:22-23 says this (S).

Ephesians 1:22-23

Ephesians 1:22–23 NKJV

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

He is the head. We are His body. We belong to Him.

Paul writes here to the church of God in Corinth.

He is not talking about the building.

He is talking about the assembly. The people.

Paul is going to deal with them bluntly and directly. Before he does, he wants to remind them that they belong to God!

Acts 20:28 proclaims that God purchased the church “with His own blood.”

Go with me to 1 Peter 1:18-19.

1 Peter 1:18-19

1 Peter 1:18–19 NKJV

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

We have been redeemed, purchased, by the precious blood of Christ!

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

You belong to God.

Hear me please.

Are we going to fail? Yes.

Will we battle sin until the moment we die? Yes.

Knowing all of our faults, failures, and shortcomings; the God of all eternity still sent His Son to purchase us with His blood!

You have value because the infinitely valuable blood of Jesus was shed for you!

No matter how life comes at you. No matter what sin brings you down. No matter what struggles you battle.

YOU BELONG TO GOD!

Really quickly I want to answer this question.

What does it mean to belong to God?

It means He cares.

What does a parent do when a child is hurt?

Comfort, care, hold. Check to see if they are alright. Hurt with them.

God is our heavenly father!

If we come to Him, He does the same thing!

1 Peter 5:7 says casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!

You need to know who you belong to!

It means He corrects

Later, when you get home, I want you to look at Hebrews 12:7-11. We don’t have time this morning.

The basic idea in this passage is that if we have human father’s who correct us, we must expect our heavenly father to do the same.

A father disciplines his children.

Not because we want to punish. But because we want to train. It's about protection.

For example. If our child keeps running into the street, we will discipline them to stop.

Why? Because they will get hurt!

That is the same idea behind how God deals with us.

He is not keeping us from fun or enjoyment, He is protecting us from danger.

It means He commands.

God gives us direction for life!

Several times in Scripture we are told “this is the will of God.”

Imperative commands make up much of Paul’s writings.

This is Paul’s first reminder. His first truth.

You belong to God.

This is a necessary truth we anchor our souls in!

Because I belong to God, I can live with boldness.

This gives me confidence in my parenting. In my relationships. In my marriage. In my daily life.

I belong to God. Because I am His I am safe in His care.

Truth #2…

2. Failure Doesn’t Change Your Position v. 2b

As Paul continues to address the recipients of this letter he says, “to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus.”

Sanctified – ἁγιάζω (hagiazo) To make holy. To be sanctified. To be or become as dedicated to God; either in distinction, in devotion, or in moral purity. Verb, perfect, passive, substantival participle, plural, dative, masculine.

Sanctified – ἁγιάζω (hagiazo)

This word is a perfect passive verb.

Passive means that when Paul says they are sanctified that sanctification is an act of God.

They did not sanctify themselves.

That it is in the perfect tense means that the sanctification in question was accomplished in the past with ongoing results.

This is a positional truth.

Meaning, it is a truth in relation to our standing before God. It is not necessarily something we experience.

We are sanctified in our position, we are being sanctified in our practice.

We have been declared holy, dedicated to God, and set apart for His use.

This takes place in Christ Jesus.

We must remember that Paul is writing to the Corinthian church because they have failed miserably.

But that doesn’t mean they are no longer sanctified positionally!

Let’s illustrate this.

Have someone come up and put on a shirt that says “sanctified” on it.

Now, if we spill something on this shirt, does that change what it says?

What if they fall down? Does that change what it says?

That is like our standing before God.

Our failures do not change our standing, our position, before God.

Why not? Because of what Paul says here. Our sanctification is in Christ Jesus.

Does Jesus change? No!

Therefore, our standing in Him will not change.

I want us to go to just one passage that emphasizes this truth. Romans 8:35-39.

Romans 8:35-39

Romans 8:35–39 NKJV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet 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 principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God because it is in Christ Jesus our Lord and He doesn’t change!

Failure doesn’t change your position.

It changes fellowship, not standing. We will address that more fully as we go through this letter.

The reality that nothing I do will change my position in Christ challenges me to live authentically.

What do i mean?

I can show my imperfections because they will not lead to rejection.

Exposing my imperfections gives greater opportunity to change and grow.

Being secure in Christ, I serve with passion.

Truth #1. You belong to God.

Truth #2. Failure doesn’t change your position.

Truth #3…

3. Failure Doesn’t Change Your Purpose v. 2c

Four very challenging words come next. “Called to be saints.”

This word “called” is the same word used in v. 1 referring to Paul’s apostleship.

We have been summoned by God to behave as saints.

“Saints” shares a root with the word translated “sanctified” that we just looked at.

We are called to live out in practice what is true of our position.

We are sanctified. Now we must live sanctified lives.

This is practical. Paul is calling the Corinthians to live as those set apart for the exclusive use of Christ.

What is very important to remember is that the Corinthian believers were not living like saints.

That’s the whole reason for this letter.

But.

Paul doesn’t address that yet.

He will. But first He wants to remind them of who they are. He wants them to grasp this changeless truth.

You have been set apart in Christ Jesus. You have been called to be a saint. Nothing can change that!

Before you deal with areas in your life that may not be right, get this down in stone.

You belong to Jesus.

You have been chosen by Him.

You have been washed, sanctified, and purified.

You have been called, justified, glorified in Christ!

We just saw in Romans 8 that you are eternally secure.

Before you can live how you need to live you must know who you are!

Please know that I am not giving permission for failure.

What we must understand is that failure does not change our purpose!

You have been called!

You are sanctified and you have been called to live it!

Go with me to Ephesians 4:1-3 where Paul addresses the need to walk worthy of our calling.

Ephesians 4:1-3

Ephesians 4:1–3 NKJV

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We have been called to be saints. Walk worthy of that calling.

Being secure in Christ, I pursue holiness.

What does that look like? Paul just described it.

Humility, kindness, patience, endurance, pursuing unity and peace.

Holiness is not just something we will gain in heaven. Holiness is a goal we pursue in the present.

Truth #1. You belong to God.

Truth #2. Failure doesn’t change your position.

Truth #3. Failure doesn’t change your purpose.

Truth #4…

4. Unity Is About Jesus v. 2d

Paul ends verse 2 expanding his address to all believers.

READ.

There is a significant usage of the name of Jesus here.

Not "the Lord Jesus Christ" that we will see in v. 3. Paul wants to emphasize unity. He is our Lord.

You are not saved alone.

You have been saved to be part of the body of Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of all believers of all times from all places and of all types.

Jesus is Lord of all.

Jesus is our Lord.

We are unified in Him.

This does not mean that you must look exactly like other Christians.

Unity is not about dress codes.

It is not about Bible translations.

Unity isn’t about music style, hymnals vs. projectors, chairs vs. pews, or what kind of children’s ministry we have.

Unity is about Jesus!

All those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation are unified in Him.

We are not perfect. Yet.

We are unified.

Imperfect but still on task.

What is our task? We are calling on Him.

We are looking to Jesus for our salvation.

We are living with Him as our Lord.

He is the master. He is the ruler. He is the one who directs our lives.

Our mission as His body, as His saints, as those sanctified in Christ Jesus; is to proclaim the good news of His death burial and resurrection as we live for His glory.

Unity is about Jesus.

Paul reminds them of this reality because this is the problem they had.

They had allowed secondary issues to disrupt their unity in Christ.

People of God. This is exactly what is happening across the world.

The secondary issue of masks or no masks, of outdoor vs. indoor church, of social distancing vs. no social distancing.

These secondary issues are dividing the body of Christ!

These things ought not so to be!

We are the body of Christ!

We have been called to live as saints of Christ Jesus, calling on His name!

Don’t be distracted by secondary issues.

I really want to drive this home. Because global pandemics are not the only reason we divide the body of Christ.

Go with me to some passages in Timothy and Titus.

1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; 6:3-5

1 Timothy 1:4 NKJV

nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

1 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 NKJV

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

2 Timothy 2:14-16a; 2:23-26

2 Timothy 2:14–16a NKJV

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

2 Timothy 2:23–26 NKJV

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Titus 3:9-11

Titus 3:9–11 NKJV

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Scripture is clear. We dare not be distracted by things that don’t matter.

Unity is maintained by focusing on Christ.

Don’t get into debates over useless topics.

We remember our unity in Christ and live for our mission.

Along with these thoughts is the idea that the Corinthian church was not alone. They serve Christ alongside all others who claim Him!

This means that their actions and activities have far reaching effects.

The same is true for us.

We do not serve Christ alone. We serve Him with all who in every place call on His name.

How we behave as a church affects others.

As we wrap this up we’re going to look at verse 3.

Conclusion v. 3

READ v. 3

This is how we accomplish everything Paul has said.

Having reminded them of these very important points, He ends by pointing them toward the grace and peace of God.

Grace is so very important.

Ephesians 2:8-9 declares to us that we are saved by grace through faith.

1 Peter 5:12 reveals that it is also grace that enables us to stand.

We are saved by grace and we live by grace.

Apart from the grace of God we can do nothing.

Peace.

At salvation we are granted peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we grow and progress in the Christian life we experience the peace of God.

Grace and peace come from God and Christ.

There is no other source of grace and peace.

We will only live out what Paul mentions here if we find our grace and peace in God through Christ.

Grace and peace will be needed to get through what Paul’s about to say.

To stand firm in Christ we need His grace.

To know my position and purpose even in the midst of failure I must live in the grace and peace of God!

Unity in the church demands grace and peace.

This grace and peace comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The God we serve became a man named Jesus.

He lived a perfect sinless life, and He died on the cross as our Messiah, our atoning sacrifice.

He is the Christ. The promised one, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World.

He is our Lord. Our master. Our ruler. He speaks and we obey. He commands and we do it.

You will notice that this week we don’t have a commitment.

That’s because this week I want us all to focus on these truths. To rest in them. To believe them. And to allow them to change our lives.

In your personal life this week know that you belong to God. You are His and He loves you. He cares for you. He corrects and He will direct your life.

In your parenting I want you to know that failure doesn’t change your position. You are a parent because God has chosen you to be one. You are the best father or mother for your children.

In your marriage, know that failure doesn’t change your purpose. We are a picture of Christ and the church. Our purpose is for others to see Jesus in our relationship.

In your friendships we need to live out the reality that unity is about Jesus. We don’t need perfect agreement, we need Jesus. We need His grace and peace.

We close with four exhortations.

Because you belong to God, live boldly.

Because you are sanctified, live passionately.

Because you are called, live holy.

Because Jesus is Lord, live faithfully.

As we work our way through 1 Corinthians, we will be confronted and corrected.

May our souls be anchored in these truths.