1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Let’s go!
1 Corinthians 1:1a (NIV)
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,…
On verse 1: Paul begins his letter by introducing himself as someone who is “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”. What is an apostle? An apostle is someone who is gifted and chosen by God to plant and start churches. Paul was confident that God had chosen him as part of His will to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. The fact that Paul believed in his calling was a huge reason for his success. When you know what God has put you on this earth to do, it gives you purpose, power and perseverance like nothing else can.
Similarly, you too are called by God. At THRIVE we describe your God-given calling this way: you are called to be alive, which means you’re here to worship Jesus. You are called to be expectant, which means to grow into a Christ-like disciple. You are called to be involved, which means you’re here to serve with your talents. You are called to be out loud, which means you’re here to lead others to Jesus. You’re called to be united, which means you’re here to love the family that Jesus started called His church. Alive. Expectant. Involved. Outloud. United. AEIOU. No matter what your personality or your unique set of giftings, no matter where you go or what else you do in life, you are called by God to be an AEIOU leader in God’s kingdom.
1 Corinthians 1:1b (NIV)
1…and our brother Sosthenes,…
On verse 1b: No matter where Paul ministered, he always did so not alone but in partnership with others. Here Paul mentions his teammate Sosthenes, who is likely helping him transcribe this letter to the church in Corinth. From Paul we learn the importance of teamwork in God’s kingdom. You weren’t made to follow and serve Christ by yourself. You were made to do so as part of a larger team.
1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours:
On verse 2: Here Paul describes the addressees of his letter, namely, “the church of God in Corinth” which he started. He describes them as “sanctified” (that is, made holy and righteous in God’s sight) in Christ Jesus. He also describes them as “called to be holy”. Is Paul being redundant here? No. “Sanctified in Christ Jesus” means that through faith in Jesus Christ’s shed blood on the cross, these Corinthian Christians, even though they were life long sinners, were declared holy, righteous and acceptable in God’s sight. So “sanctified in Christ Jesus” is a reference to their legal standing in God. “Called to be holy” refers to their practical God-given mission in life, which is they were chosen by God to live set apart for God.
Likewise, if you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you too are “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be holy”. Because of Jesus, legally speaking you are already righteous and acceptable (“sanctified”) in God’s sight. At the same time, because of Jesus, practically speaking you are also called to live a life that is set apart for God, one that honours Jesus more and more (“called to be holy”). The first part, being sanctified, is what God does for us. The second part, “called to be holy” is something we do in response to God’s calling and in cooperation with the Holy Spirit working in us.
1 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
On verse 3: Praise God that in Jesus Christ and God the Father, we have received and continue to receive amazing grace and a peace that passes understanding.
1 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)
4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
On verse 4: Despite being aware of numerous problems in the church in Corinth, notice how Paul begins his letter. Rather than beginning with complaining or criticism, Paul begins with thanksgiving. No matter how frustrated Paul was at some of the problems and people in his church, he starts by saying, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (v4). Paul began by focusing on the good.
That’s a great lesson for us too. No matter how many problems surround you, like Paul choose an attitude of gratitude. For as long as we live on earth, there will always be good things AND bad things going on at the same time – things to be thankful for alongside things that frustrate us; things to celebrate alongside things that aggravate us. The question is: what will you focus on?
If all you focus on are the problems, you will be depressed and others will get depressed being around you. But if you choose an attitude of gratitude and focus on the good, it will keep you afloat and help you to enjoy life even when certain problems make you want to sink. Thankfulness will keep you centered around what’s most important and will help you be clear-minded in tackling the challenges you face.
Like Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Are you surrounded by problems today? Choose an attitude of gratitude. What can you thank God for today?
1 Corinthians 1:5-6 (NIV)
5 For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge–
6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
On verses 5-6: One of the big areas of controversy in the church in Corinth was concerning spiritual gifts, that is, special abilities that God gives to His people when they come to faith in Jesus Christ. The church in Corinth was especially focused on the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophesy. That is likely what Paul is referring to here in verse 5 – “in Him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking [referring at least in part to the gift of tongues] and in all your knowledge [referring at least in part to the gift of prophesy]”. Though these spiritual gifts had become an issue of controversy and division in the church in Corinth, here Paul reminds his church that they “have been enriched” by these gifts. In other words, as controversial as these gifts can sometimes be, never forget that spiritual gifts are a great blessing from God.
1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
On verse 7: Spiritual gifts had become such a focal point for the church in Corinth that many in that church were focusing so much on the gifts that they stopped focusing on the Giver of those gifts. Here Paul reminds the church in Corinth that they “do not lack any spiritual gift”, that is, they do not need to live as if they are in constant need and search for gifts that they do not have. While spiritual gifts are a great blessing from God, they are not the be all and end all of the Christian life. We must be careful not to focus so much on the gifts God gives that we ignore the Giver of those gifts.
1 Corinthians 1:8 (NIV)
8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On verse 8: In a time when the Corinthian church was shaken by controversies, arguments and division, Paul reminds them that Jesus is keeping them strong and blameless till the end. What can we learn from this? Not only is Jesus the giver of every spiritual gift, but verse 8 tells us that Jesus is also the one who keeps us strong, firm and blameless before God. Since it is Jesus who keeps us blameless in God’s sight, it’s a reminder that even when I fail to hang onto God, God is hanging onto me.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
On verse 9: You and I weren’t just made to be gifted, empowered and sanctified by Jesus. Verse 9 tells us that you and I were made for a loving relationship with Jesus (“fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”). In addition to being the giver of every spiritual gift and the one who keeps us strong and blameless in God’s sight, Jesus is also the lover of our soul.
Jesus, thank You for being the One who calls me to a life of purpose, the One who sanctifies and makes me holy, the One who gives me gifts by which to know You and serve You, the One who keeps me strong and blameless before God till the end, and the One I was made to know and love intimately. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
