The Church at Corinth was a key church with significant
problems in a major city full of gross immorality. The question addressed in First Corinthians is: How does the church live out the holiness of its calling, both
internally and externally, in order to testify to the truth of the gospel in a
city where everything they claim to believe runs cross grain to the culture in
which they live and in which they were raised? To put it in simpler terms, how is the church to function in an ungodly world?
The Church in Corinth had been called out of a culture of
greed, immorality and self-indulgence unto holiness, unity and love. In
practice they still looked much more like the city they came out of than like
the called out ones they were. They were a gifted church, but not a holy
church. They were a blessed church, but not a church of blessing. Much of their
culture had penetrated their church and diluted the gospel message and the
impact of the church on the city. So, how does the church live out the holiness
of Christ in a culture which is running cross grain to their faith? How do we,
as Christians, live in an ungodly world? What does the culture of Christ look
like in contrast to the culture of a world that does not know God?
Where do you begin when addressing and issue like that? The
Apostle Paul began by spotlighting their position in Christ. At the core of the
problem, and emerging repeatedly throughout this letter, is the problem of
pride and selfish self-indulgence. It seems to seep into everything they do.
The cry of our culture, “But what about me?” is the distinguishing
characteristic of the Corinthian Church. In light of that Paul begins his
letter by jerking them back to reality, reminding them that they are a very
blessed and gifted church, but that they are not the source of their own
giftedness. God is the only source. Their gifts and their blessings are the
direct result of the grace and faithfulness of the God who called them out of
sin and into holiness.
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