December 18, 2023 -- I Corinthians 1:1-9 -- Noel: Come and see what God has done--calling sinners to be saints in Christ

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I Corinthians 1:1-9 ESV

This is a staggering opening. Let me quickly explain. The Corinthian church had members who were divided about who was the best preacher, and if they should even listen to Paul. They welcomed a man who was shacked up with his step-mother (for shock value Paul wrote it “has his father’s wife"). The people of that congregation, what a raucous lot they were, they were going to court and suing one another. The rich got drunk before communion time and didn't leave much for the poor members among them.

Look how Paul addresses them in our passage: "the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus—he is aware that the grace of God is continually being given to them in Christ Jesus. He knows that even a church as wrong-headed as this one obviously is, can be surrounded by the grace of God and has the necessary gifts to be sustained in Christ until the day of the Lord—that is, the Day when Christ returns.

The people were “enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge”. For this reason Paul is confident he can write to them openly and at times harshly, because he is a addressing people who are sanctified in Christ and called to be saints. This calling touches every part of their lives. This calling to be saints means as often as sins are pointed out, they will learn once again to repent, to go to Jesus for cleansing and His Spirit will renew in them the sanctifying work (that is holy-making) which is theirs in Christ.

The fact that Paul openly addresses the sins of this congregation means that these sins do not go unchallenged or unchecked. As they are still assembling for church, they are being confronted with the purifying work of Jesus. They are prepared to hear hard words, correction, and reproof—more than that, it is obvious they respond to it as well. Here is proof, in Paul’s next letter we read that the man who had been living with his step-mother repents of this relationship has broken it off. Paul urges the congregation to restore him in love (II Corinthians 2:5ff). Here on earth the church will always be broken, struggling with sins and in need of the glory of Jesus Christ’s reconciling blood and work. Now, when your heart is most tender, at this Christmas season, hear the word of the Lord and turn from sin. Welcome repenting sinners back into the fold; and encourage each other in Christ to be enriched in Him in every way.

“My security as a Christian does not reside in the strength of my faith but in the indestructibility of my Savior.” —Sinclair B. Ferguson

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! Great and sweepingly powerful is the salvation You have brought Your people in Christ Jesus—born a baby, about to return in power, judging the nations as the King of Glory. Blessed are You, Spirit of God, conquering stubborn hearts, breaking the strongholds of sin and bringing this new life in Christ to every believer. Prince of Peace, rule in our hearts. Sustain us, Spirit of God, in the blessedness of Jesus so that by His work we will be guiltless on the Day of His return. Build up Your people throughout our land so that families may once again be the basic building blocks of our society bringing to the nation a strong, godly influence. Amen.

https://youtu.be/Pr2RG-xR2lA?si=J781VHO8Gh_fhOuj Prince of Peace

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