Reading and studying one chapter of the bible every day. Prayerfully study the whole 1st Chapter of the book of 1 CORINTHIANS .
December 11, 2024
? 1 CORINTHIANS 1
[4] I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,
[6] even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,
[7] so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[10] Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
[25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[27] But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
[30] But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption
Beloved of God peace be unto you.
When this epistle was written between 55-56 AD, what was going on?
?Corinth was a great city in Greece inhabited by people from different countries mainly Romans, Greeks and others.
?Idol worshiping had spread everywhere accompanied by their festivals that had become culture even some Christians participated, there was a great sexual immorality that was taken as normal. They took pleasure in hearing about the spirits of the dead, and they didn’t want to hear about resurrection. Sometimes people get out of paganism but it doesn’t get out of them. They hold on to that(lifestyle, customs, eating habits…).
?The rich were extremely rich, the poor were extremely poor and there were slaves.
These differences led to divisions. All those things had an impact on the church, and while writing to them Paul emphasized on providing solutions to all of these problems. This epistles give directives about supporting the service of God in Corinth and any other place where the church of God was.
1️⃣PAUL REQUESTS THEM TO KEEP FROM BEING LED ASTRAY(1Corinthians 1:1-9)
✍?The church in Corinth was mainly composed of gentiles. The last time Paul had visited Corinth he had done a great job. When he left some people came to disturb his work, they devalued him and the message he had given was impaired.
✍?The church had to avoid and be protected against false doctrines. By knowing that Christ died for them and that He is the one who sanctifies them. That they were called to be his partners.
2️⃣UNITY AMONG DIFFERENT PEOPLE (1Corinthians 1:10-16)
✍?God’s people’s power resides in their unity with God and with one another.
Christ is the vine, only branches connected to Him will bear fruits like his own(John 15). In everything they do they will spread the scent of Christ’s character.
?As different flowers making a clothe, make it look nice, as leaves of the same tree are not completely similar, likewise church members called by GOD for HIS WORK are different, and are given different talents.
➡Being different should not separate Christians, it makes the church more beautiful and strong.
3️⃣THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED BRINGS GLORY TO GOD ( 1 Corinthians 1:17-24)
✍?Christ crucified is the foundation of our hope, He is the source of all our joy. His death gave us life. The message of salvation freely given through faith in Christ crucified, those who perish perceive and continue to perceive it as foolishness. To the believers, Christ is the source of strength and wisdom.
4️⃣GOD’S MEASURES ARE NOT LIKE MENS (1 Corinthians 1:25-31)
✍?Because of men’s self exaltation, Christ chooses to use the humble. Those seen by the world as great are not the ones He chooses, He chooses those who will serve Him in humility, accepting God as the source of their strength and their leader.
? The Majesty of Heaven works by whom he will. His providence sometimes selects the humblest instruments to do the greatest work; for his power is revealed through the weakness of men. We have our standard of reckoning, and by it we pronounce one thing great, and another small; but God estimates not according to the standard of men; (The Great Signs of the Times, July 14, 1881)
⚠Dear Brethren, these admonitions do not only concern Christians from Corinth, they concern every one. The difference between skin color, power, education, gifts… should not separate believers, but should be their strength. If this unity is strengthened in church it will spread to the society, and Christians will surely be the salt and light of the world, from the source, Christ.
?GOD SAVE US FROM STRAYING TEACHINGS, AND GIVE US UNITY.?
Onward PILGRIM