Welcome To Corinth – It is situated on an isthmus. It is a very wealthy city and a remarkable place to live. It has many retired Romans living there. Many people are coming to Christ. It was immoral with so many soldiers and sailors. There were pagan temples to other gods. There was Apollo and Artemis. Homosexuality was widespread. A Corinthians was known to generally a wild person. Paul led the leaders in the synagogue to the Lord. The church was strong but Corinth was a scary place. Paul worked hard with other leaders. The church was also a shambles! Paul starts out in these describing the perfect church but goes downhill from here! People drank too much wine at the Lord’s Table and there were factions. Paul has to explain to them what the Church should be like as the body of Christ.

1. Paul’s greeting to the church (vs. 1-3)

Paul lets them know from the start that he has sent the letter.

• Called to be an apostle. Paul was an apostle through an unusual route. He has authority to say this message to the Church. The Church is God’s church and doesn’t belong to a denomination.
• Called to be His. We are called to be saints of God. It is not sometime we attain. You are if you are in Christ.
• Called to be holy. God wants to sanctify us and make us holy. We are the called out people of God. We should not forget who we are. We need a high vision of the Church, not low. Paul is a fellow saint.

2 – Paul’s confidence in the church (vs. 4-7)

Paul starts with the good news for these people. He has both bad news and good news for them in this letter, but as he always does, he starts with the good news, that which is true of them because they are Christians – regardless of how they are behaving. He lists for us some of the fullness of provision that they enjoyed because they were Christians.

• Blessed by grace (vs. 4). They are lifting their eyes from themselves or others. There is the grace of the lord Jesus. They belong to Him.
• Enriched by gifts. (vs. 5). Spiritual gifts have been dispensed across the Church. It is enriching them.
• Full of hope. They are not the finished product. God can change them into the likeness of Christ.
• Kept by His faithfulness. Christ will return. It is not about you. It is about Christ.

Categories: 1 Corinthians