1 Cor 1:1-9 (Pt 1)


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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