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1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9
PAUL, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS BY THE WILL OF GOD, AND OUR BROTHER SOSTHENES, TO THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CORINTH, TO THOSE SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS AND CALLED TO BE HIS HOLY PEOPLE, TOGETHER WITH ALL THOSE EVERYWHERE WHO CALL ON THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST—THEIR LORD AND OURS: GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I ALWAYS THANK MY GOD FOR YOU BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE GIVEN YOU IN CHRIST JESUS. FOR IN HIM YOU HAVE BEEN ENRICHED IN EVERY WAY—WITH ALL KINDS OF SPEECH AND WITH ALL KNOWLEDGE-- GOD THUS CONFIRMING OUR TESTIMONY ABOUT CHRIST AMONG YOU. THEREFORE YOU DO NOT LACK ANY SPIRITUAL GIFT AS YOU EAGERLY WAIT FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BE REVEALED. HE WILL ALSO KEEP YOU FIRM TO THE END, SO THAT YOU WILL BE BLAMELESS ON THE DAY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO HAS CALLED YOU INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
Not to gloss over one of the most heartfelt and sincere greetings one could possibly open a letter with, but the introduction Paul writes is, what one might call, a standard greeting. There are a few things worth mentioning as we prepare to set the stage for what is going to be a very instructional and correctional letter. Refer to the underlined sections of the above scripture.
It is important to note who Paul is writing to. Ask any public speaker what the most important thing about public speaking is and they will tell you, "to know your audience." In this case, Paul is creating his audience. That is, he is directing the letter to a certain group of people, namely Christians.
Does this mean Paul is not concerned about the unbeliever? Of course not! He is, however, very concerned about the believer. You see, an instructional letter about godly living written to anyone without the Holy Spirit is absolutely futile. Foolishness to be exact.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
And also,
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
No one, not even the best of us, are capable of living out the Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit. You cannot pour water into your gas tank and expect it to function. Paul's letter to the church in Corinth was meant to be read and followed by followers of Jesus Christ. You might ask, "Well then, how are new people going to get saved?" That is a good question. The answer is, people will be saved when they see Christianity being lived out as God intended.
You see, Paul could write a letter to unbelievers but to what end? The message of the cross, Christian lingo and spiritual explanation would only fall upon deaf ears. You don't fix the engine in your car and leave off the tires. Paul's logic is simple, if he can reach the existing Christians and conform them into the image of Christ, then the watching world will be reached not by word but by deed. How then can the Corinthian believer accomplish this "living out" of the gospel? Consider the second part of the underlined text in the opening scripture.
Paul is reminding them that they are possessors of the Holy Spirit and thus have access to not just one or two spiritual gifts, but all of them, at any given moment. Someone might say, "Well I was always told that we only have one or two spiritual gifts." True, to an extent. God uses your unique natural gifts that he created you with and pairs them up with a certain spiritual gift and together they enable the believer to fulfill the will and plan of God for your life.
Every person is created with certain gifts, talents, natural abilities, personalities and character. When those unique attributes are paired with a designated spiritual gift, the result is a life that pleases and serves God. But Paul claims that every spiritual gift is within the believer, and that is true. Every spiritual gift is there, but only one or two will be dominant and complimentary. I can recall many times I have had to exhibit gifts that were not at all in my comfort zone but God enabled me to call upon them for a specific time for a specific need.
Its like this new car I bought for my wife, it has so many features but we do not use them all, all the time. The back-up camera is only when she is backing. The navigation, for times she is lost (which is most of the time), heated seats, cold days only (jealous of her car yet?). But all those features are there, all time. (what is it with car references and metaphors today?)
So the next time you, the believer, think that you cannot volunteer for that ministry or do that task because it is not "my spiritual gift", remember you are endowed with all the gifts and as a true obedient servant we do not say, "Here I am Lord, use me according to my gift or talent or even desire, but according to your will."
As Paul ends this greeting he reminds his readers that God, and only God, will keep them firm until the end. The flowery gentle greeting is over and the letter of instruction to that church is about to begin.
Be Blessed
Not to gloss over one of the most heartfelt and sincere greetings one could possibly open a letter with, but the introduction Paul writes is, what one might call, a standard greeting. There are a few things worth mentioning as we prepare to set the stage for what is going to be a very instructional and correctional letter. Refer to the underlined sections of the above scripture.
It is important to note who Paul is writing to. Ask any public speaker what the most important thing about public speaking is and they will tell you, "to know your audience." In this case, Paul is creating his audience. That is, he is directing the letter to a certain group of people, namely Christians.
Does this mean Paul is not concerned about the unbeliever? Of course not! He is, however, very concerned about the believer. You see, an instructional letter about godly living written to anyone without the Holy Spirit is absolutely futile. Foolishness to be exact.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
And also,
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
No one, not even the best of us, are capable of living out the Christian life without the help of the Holy Spirit. You cannot pour water into your gas tank and expect it to function. Paul's letter to the church in Corinth was meant to be read and followed by followers of Jesus Christ. You might ask, "Well then, how are new people going to get saved?" That is a good question. The answer is, people will be saved when they see Christianity being lived out as God intended.
You see, Paul could write a letter to unbelievers but to what end? The message of the cross, Christian lingo and spiritual explanation would only fall upon deaf ears. You don't fix the engine in your car and leave off the tires. Paul's logic is simple, if he can reach the existing Christians and conform them into the image of Christ, then the watching world will be reached not by word but by deed. How then can the Corinthian believer accomplish this "living out" of the gospel? Consider the second part of the underlined text in the opening scripture.
Paul is reminding them that they are possessors of the Holy Spirit and thus have access to not just one or two spiritual gifts, but all of them, at any given moment. Someone might say, "Well I was always told that we only have one or two spiritual gifts." True, to an extent. God uses your unique natural gifts that he created you with and pairs them up with a certain spiritual gift and together they enable the believer to fulfill the will and plan of God for your life.
Every person is created with certain gifts, talents, natural abilities, personalities and character. When those unique attributes are paired with a designated spiritual gift, the result is a life that pleases and serves God. But Paul claims that every spiritual gift is within the believer, and that is true. Every spiritual gift is there, but only one or two will be dominant and complimentary. I can recall many times I have had to exhibit gifts that were not at all in my comfort zone but God enabled me to call upon them for a specific time for a specific need.
Its like this new car I bought for my wife, it has so many features but we do not use them all, all the time. The back-up camera is only when she is backing. The navigation, for times she is lost (which is most of the time), heated seats, cold days only (jealous of her car yet?). But all those features are there, all time. (what is it with car references and metaphors today?)
So the next time you, the believer, think that you cannot volunteer for that ministry or do that task because it is not "my spiritual gift", remember you are endowed with all the gifts and as a true obedient servant we do not say, "Here I am Lord, use me according to my gift or talent or even desire, but according to your will."
As Paul ends this greeting he reminds his readers that God, and only God, will keep them firm until the end. The flowery gentle greeting is over and the letter of instruction to that church is about to begin.
Be Blessed
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