Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-91 Corinthians 1:1-9
The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the
Corinthians
1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: coming: Gr. revelation
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Topic: Examining the characteristics of the true Church
In 1 Corinthians, we learn much about the reputation of Church at Corinth. They were spiritually blessed by God (1 Corinthians 1:5,71 Corinthians 1:5,7
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: coming: Gr. revelation
), they had it all (spiritual gifts in chapter 12), they were spiritually proud, they were carnal minded, and they were spiritually divided. In this first epistle, Paul had some tough things to say to the church, through the Spirit of God, but he prefaces these words by reminding the Corinthians who they really were in Christ.
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- Christians are the Church of God
- They have a geographic address (1 Corinthians 1:21 Corinthians 1:2
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
)
- The Church which is “at Corinth”
- 1 Corinthians was written to God’s people who gather in Corinth
- Written to those who were called upon by God to represent Him in that place
- God is in the business of establishing churches in various places around the world to represent Him.
- They have a spiritual address (1 Corinthians 1:21 Corinthians 1:2
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
)
- The church was “in Christ”
- The Church of God consists of those who have been sanctified in Christ
- When Christ sanctified them, they changed
- 1 Corinthians 6:111 Corinthians 6:11
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
tells us what they were – they were just like everyone else in Corinth, sinners
- When God called them all of that changed
- Verse 2 – “They called on the name of the Lord.”
- Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- We must be called by God in order to be in the Church of God.
- We must be cleansed by Christ in order to be in the Church of God.
- Both must be true!
- Are you a member of the Church of God?
- This does not refer to local church membership or affiliation
- Have you experienced the call of God?
- You can know that God is calling you by
- An awareness that you are not right with God
- Feelings of guilt and remorse for sin
- Desire to trust Jesus as Savior
- Do you have a spiritual address?
- Jesus will save you if you call on His Name
- It is the promise of God!
Dr. Taylor attended Bob Jones University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible. He pastored in Greeneville, Tennessee and in 1974 founded the Campus Church of Pensacola Christian College. In 1988 he became the pastor of Colonial Hills Baptist Church where he served faithfully for 20 years until retiring in 2009. Dr. Taylor and his wife, Joan have three sons and eight grandchildren.
