Day By Day - 1 Corinthians 1
By Paul Rich
Opening thoughts:
Who were the Corinthians? It’s generally agreed that the church in Corinth was planted by Paul and was therefore young and, in many ways, immature. The city of Corinth could have been labelled Sin City as many of the issues in the city followed the people into the church. There was disunity, sexual immorality, debauchery, false teachings, spiritual immaturity and jealousy of other’s spiritual gifts. Yet, Paul’s salutation is to acknowledge the good he could see, their speech and their knowledge.
Point 1:
Paul was able to see past the obvious failings of his little church, and see the potential and grace of Christ’s Church. “I always thank my God for you . . .”. Paul knew that, like all of us, it is the work of Christ that renews our lives and changes us into His holy people. Without grace, how could any of us attain the glory of salvation?
I remember when I first came to Jesus and surrendered my life. My failings were too numerous to count but now, well, I’m sure there aren’t as many!
The Church of Corinth was blessed to have Paul as their apostle. He wasn’t looking at them and expecting perfection. He was looking to Christ to work that out, because, “in Him you have been enriched in every way . . . . He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
I need that assurance in my life. God is faithful.
Point 2:
Not everything taught in the Church makes sense to the outside world. I find it remarkable that God Almighty created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them. That He is a perfect God in which there is no sin or darkness. That man chose to break the close relationship with the Creator. That God provided the solution to fix that unfixable problem – for free. And yet, the world chooses to despise it. The Good News is a stumbling block and foolishness to them.
Maybe that’s why God has called us to be disciples. To put a human face to the message and to be a person with whom the unsaved can relate. To build a relationship in the human sense so that they can get a glimpse of what it’s about in the spiritual sense.
I came to know Christ in a church that had some very strong ideas. It was touted that unless you follow this or that belief, you are not a Christian. And some of the senior members were adamant. They felt it was their job to tell it! And if you didn’t take it, then it was your loss, for eternity. About the same time, I got involved in a prayer group that was led by a Catholic nun, and her mannerism was compassion and interest in people and their needs. She didn’t convert me to Catholicism but I could easily see who Christ was working through.
As we humbly work towards being the person Christ wants us to be, the power and the wisdom of God will shine through.
Point 3:
Who were you when Christ knocked on your door? I was one step short of a drug addict. I was homeless. I was jobless. I had no friends. And yet, Christ picked me up and set me to work that same week. I remember standing in front of the railway station, looking heavenward, and shouting over the loud hailer what a wonderful God I had found. The white object floating in the sky in the direction of my gaze turned out to be a rotten egg. I was only two or three days old in the Lord, and my natural response, without thinking, was, “God bless you”. That’s proof of God performing miracles in this day and age.
Conclusion:
We’re not there yet. This is a journey that will have its ups and downs. But don’t be harsh on yourself or others. Christ has begun a work and He will finish it.
It’s through Him that we are righteous, holy, and redeemed. So don’t be afraid to boast about Him, our Christ.
Opening thoughts:
Who were the Corinthians? It’s generally agreed that the church in Corinth was planted by Paul and was therefore young and, in many ways, immature. The city of Corinth could have been labelled Sin City as many of the issues in the city followed the people into the church. There was disunity, sexual immorality, debauchery, false teachings, spiritual immaturity and jealousy of other’s spiritual gifts. Yet, Paul’s salutation is to acknowledge the good he could see, their speech and their knowledge.
Point 1:
Paul was able to see past the obvious failings of his little church, and see the potential and grace of Christ’s Church. “I always thank my God for you . . .”. Paul knew that, like all of us, it is the work of Christ that renews our lives and changes us into His holy people. Without grace, how could any of us attain the glory of salvation?
I remember when I first came to Jesus and surrendered my life. My failings were too numerous to count but now, well, I’m sure there aren’t as many!
The Church of Corinth was blessed to have Paul as their apostle. He wasn’t looking at them and expecting perfection. He was looking to Christ to work that out, because, “in Him you have been enriched in every way . . . . He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
I need that assurance in my life. God is faithful.
Point 2:
Not everything taught in the Church makes sense to the outside world. I find it remarkable that God Almighty created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them. That He is a perfect God in which there is no sin or darkness. That man chose to break the close relationship with the Creator. That God provided the solution to fix that unfixable problem – for free. And yet, the world chooses to despise it. The Good News is a stumbling block and foolishness to them.
Maybe that’s why God has called us to be disciples. To put a human face to the message and to be a person with whom the unsaved can relate. To build a relationship in the human sense so that they can get a glimpse of what it’s about in the spiritual sense.
I came to know Christ in a church that had some very strong ideas. It was touted that unless you follow this or that belief, you are not a Christian. And some of the senior members were adamant. They felt it was their job to tell it! And if you didn’t take it, then it was your loss, for eternity. About the same time, I got involved in a prayer group that was led by a Catholic nun, and her mannerism was compassion and interest in people and their needs. She didn’t convert me to Catholicism but I could easily see who Christ was working through.
As we humbly work towards being the person Christ wants us to be, the power and the wisdom of God will shine through.
Point 3:
Who were you when Christ knocked on your door? I was one step short of a drug addict. I was homeless. I was jobless. I had no friends. And yet, Christ picked me up and set me to work that same week. I remember standing in front of the railway station, looking heavenward, and shouting over the loud hailer what a wonderful God I had found. The white object floating in the sky in the direction of my gaze turned out to be a rotten egg. I was only two or three days old in the Lord, and my natural response, without thinking, was, “God bless you”. That’s proof of God performing miracles in this day and age.
Conclusion:
We’re not there yet. This is a journey that will have its ups and downs. But don’t be harsh on yourself or others. Christ has begun a work and He will finish it.
It’s through Him that we are righteous, holy, and redeemed. So don’t be afraid to boast about Him, our Christ.
Posted in 1 Corinthians