Lesson 2: Where Do I Stand with God? (1 Corinthians 1:1-9)

Read and view reference materials:

·         1 Corinthians 1-9 Commentary (Calvin)

·         1 Corinthians 1-9 Sermon (Piper)

·         Thank God (1 Corinthians 1:1-9) Krell

 

Consider 1 Corinthians 1.  Paul was called to be an apostle by the will of God.  Paul was what he was because of God, by His call and His will.  In the same manner, you and I are what we are by God’s call and His will.

 

Consider who you are??  Do you see God’s call and His will evident in your being?

 

The church in Corinth was wracked with issues and problems.  Favoritism, immorality, prostitution, lawsuits between members, and contentious differences of understanding on the roles of men and women, Christian liberty, etc.  Yet Paul calls them saints and reminds them of the grace of God that was given to them and the resulting gifts and testimony that is theirs because of God’s grace.

 

John Calvin wrote this, “2. To the Church of God which is at Corinth. It may perhaps appear strange that he should give

the name of a Church of God to a multitude of persons that were infested with so many distempers, that Satan might be said to reign among them rather than God. Certain it is, that he did not mean to flatter the Corinthians, for he speaks under the direction of the Spirit of God, who is not accustomed to flatter. But 40 among so many pollutions, what appearance of a Church is any longer presented? I answer, the Lord having said to him, “Fear not: I have much people in this place” (Acts 18:9, 10;) keeping this promise in mind, he conferred upon a godly few so much honor as to recognize them as a Church amidst a vast multitude of ungodly persons. Farther, notwithstanding that many vices had crept in, and various corruptions both of doctrine and manners, there were, nevertheless, certain tokens still remaining of a true Church. This is a passage that ought to be carefully observed, that we may not require that the Church, while in this world, should be free from every wrinkle and stain, or forthwith pronounce unworthy of such a title every society in which everything is not as we would wish it. For it is a dangerous temptation to think that there is no Church at all where perfect purity is not to be seen. For the man that is prepossessed with this notion, must necessarily in the end withdraw from all others, and look upon himself as the only saint in the world, or set up a peculiar sect in company with a few hypocrites.”

 

Memory Verse: 1st Corinthians 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

 

Check yourself:

  • Do you have love? 
    • What defines you?  Your abilities, knowledge, even your faith…or does your love serve as the foundation upon which any other attributes rest?

 

  • Evaluate the evidence.  What course of action do you need to pursue?