This is the start of a Corinthians series that I pray continue as long as God wants. What better way to start than with Paul's greeting to us all.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the Will of God, and out brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ -- their Lord and ours:
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace is pure Love, Joy, and Mercy. Peace is contentment, a lack of turmoil, and rest. May they be to you from our Father in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Thanksgiving
I always thank my God for you because of His Grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way -- with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge -- God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
A series on the Church in Corinth seems fitting because the Church in much of the world now is very much like Corinth's back in the day. (Especially in America and Europe) Today we have much prosperity, but also a lot of complacency and immorality. The new age movement continues growing, but just like in Corinth, the Holy Spirit's influence grows too. And this is the source of Paul's thanks.
Paul's giving of thanks is always to God because he sees that all good things are from God. And His Spirit is very Good. Before he could give thanks for the Spirit he had to give thanks for the Grace that brings the Spirit. Paul thanks God for the Grace that He gave the Corinthians to bring them into His Kingdom. Jesus described the occasion of a sinner's repenting as a Joyful occasion that is celebrated in heaven by all who see it. In the same way I think we should celebrate and give thanks to God for the other saved people that are around us. Sing, shout, clap all you nations for the glory of God among you. His glory among us now is His Grace that saves us, and the Spirit it leads the way for.
Once saved, the Holy Spirit enters the new believer. It brings a hunger for God's Word, Will, Way, and Love. It enriches the believer and fills them with unexplainable gifts. The Corinthians were given gifts in speech and knowledge. They became a living testimony that Jesus Christ saves, and then brings evidence of Salvation through the works of the Holy Spirit. Paul gave thanks because they were an established church in a city of trade with all the world, and were showing the world that Jesus' Words were Truth. He was also thankful because it was evident that God did not abandon them despite the problems, but kept them firm in Him.
The Corinthians were practicing a lot of wrong teachings that are described in the rest of Corinthians, but they kept holding onto Jesus Christ. Paul gave thanks for this, because now there is an opportunity to teach them God's ways and encourage them to take the better paths. He starts the letter already thanking God that they will accept the lessons he hasn't even written yet and that they will hold firm to God. Paul has such confidence in God's power and Spirit among the Corinthians. God has taught me lately that the best way to show our faith in Him is to thank Him for His works among us before we even know what they are. Paul have a deep thankful faith in God's work among the Corinthians. Do we have that in His work here in our hometowns? Our states or regions? Our countries? Sadly I haven't had this. A big part of it I believe is because I haven't participated in it enough. Those who I see doing the work of God by His Spirit are the ones who have the confidence in God's work among peoples. Paul was thankful because he could see the reason to be thankful: God's Faithfulness.
Paul's involvement allowed him the first person experience of God Faithfulness among peoples. He grew thankful, willing to suffer, Joyful, and Loving through the Spirit as he went out to do its work in Faith. God has plans for each of us to fulfill through His Spirit. Paul knew what it was for the Church in Corinth and gave God thanks for it before he even started to write the plans out.
Giving thanks to God before we even begin to do the work God's prepared for us is key to its completion. That's the reason Paul's letters always have such thanks written in them. I am personally entering a time of change and preparation for a new chapter to do God's work. Wherever you are in that time, join me in giving God thanks for His Grace, His Spirit, and His work among us for His Glory.
Thank You For Reading
Long Live Jesus Chist
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment