“Called to be Saints” 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Corinth, a city in Greece, was important in the ancient Roman world. Its two huge harbors made it an ideal center for trade and business dealings, contributing to its wealth and influence. It was a cosmopolitan city, bringing about a multicultural population, and had a reputation, even by the pagan standards during New Testament times, as a center of moral decay and depravity.

Nonetheless, the Apostle Paul established a church right in the heart of this sinful culture. He stayed there for about a year and a half then appointed a godly man named Apollos to oversee the church. But the church became a loose caboose! The new professing believers were baptized and added to the church but had much to learn about Christian behavior.

Here’s what was happening: Except for a few solid members, the church at Corinth was straying from the Scriptures. Cutting corners and compromising on the Christian life; it was as if many had their own version of this newfound Christianity and lived as it suited them. Several issues in the church had to be corrected.

One was the place of women. Evidently, some of the women were out of line and were disrupting worship services, which led to division and disunity.

The Lord’s Supper was being perverted by some. To correct this Paul pointed out the true nature and meaning of it. Those of you who faithfully attend this ordinance know Pastor always reads from the book of 1 Corinthians and explains how this church mishandled the Supper.  The gift of tongues had become a source of disorder and confusion in the church. Paul sought to correct their use and understanding of all spiritual gifts by emphasizing how Christlike charity toward one another superseded them all!

The church was even divided about the resurrection of Christ! Paul dealt with this important subject at length in chapter 15.

Moreover, some members were causing division by assuming self-appointed leadership and teaching roles; shrugging off the Scriptures, and submitting their opinions and viewpoints on different doctrines. (We know from the Scriptures that you cannot merge individual philosophy with doctrine. Add to that the Spirit of God NEVER leads contrary to the Scriptures!)

Compromise and division were prevalent in the church and it was becoming unruly. They challenged all forms of authority, not the least of which was the authority of the great Apostle Paul! It was as if they thought, “We know what Paul taught when he was here-but that was then and this is now…”

On top of all this mayhem, the members had issues with each other. Such was their lack of consideration and brotherly kindness that they regularly dragged one another before the local magistrates on petty complaints! Thus, the confusion inside the church was taken out into the public arena, (Cringe!) where, no doubt, observers would be thinking, “And they say we’re the heathens!”

It would be tempting for us to look back and say, Wow! The church at Corinth! What a disaster! ” However, these problems were not unique to that church-(consider the churches Christ rebuked in Revelation) or that century and still exist today! Human nature does not change, so the Lord’s churches are subject at times, to the same… hmmmm, how should I put it? The same encumbrances and impediments. I use these words because the church is hindered and thwarted by those who claim to be saved but whose behavior reveals a life inconsistent with the Scriptures.

So, as would be expected of a good man of God, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Paul had to rebuke certain individuals at Corinth against having a superior opinion of their own perspectives and assessments versus the Word of God thus, he instructed the high and mighty ones to examine themselves and consider their ways. He was shocked at their reckless behavior, maintaining the Lord’s church should be a place of peace; considering its Founder is the Prince of Peace.

Now, addressing the church in person would have been ideal, but Paul was in Ephesus at the time, a city on the west coast of Turkey-about an 8-day journey by sea-350 miles from Corinth.  Additionally, sea travel was dangerous. For these reasons, it was not just a matter of running over to Corinth. Thankfully, there were some sound, faithful members of the church alerting Paul to what was going on and how the situation was breaking their hearts.        The household of Chloe was one, Fortunatus, Stephanus- you’ve heard the names. How would you even begin to write a letter to a church that was divided, immoral, reckless, and worldly? So many issues to address! How does Paul begin?

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul opens the letter by addressing it to the church of God, reminding the church that this is the Lord’s church- let me be clear about that. This is not “your place” to behave as “you please”.

Secondly, and very importantly, Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are sanctified (set apart) in Christ now and called to be saints—the pure ones, morally upright and blameless. In other words, those who possess excellent testimonies for Christ. The greatest consideration and effort of a Christian’s life is that we love God above all, which will be evidenced by our obedience in keeping his Word. It is the lifelong work of the believer to seek to do these things. The grace of God and his workmanship in our lives ought to be evident.

Down through the ages the godly saints who have gone before us understood the high cost of compromise. The Bible teaches the implications of compromise are far-reaching.

Compromise, in any form, will do three things:

          A. It will dishonor God, and His Word–

Compromise begins the process of moving away from the Word of God. Which begs the question: Why would a Christian ever want to do that?

          B. It will undermine the testimony.

If a Christian’s life does not demonstrate the beliefs he professes, anything that comes out of his or her mouth concerning spiritual truths is up for debate! I mean, consider the unbelieving world can no longer see Christ, but it does see those of us who bear His name.

          C. Compromise harms other believers, particularly the newly saved.

Newborn believers have so many questions. Everything in their world is new and fresh and full of promise. And how very disappointing and awkward it is for good, solid, seasoned Christians to be put in a position where they have to explain why “Sister Superior” and “Brother Bologna” act like they do when they profess to be Christians!

So when you read the book of First Corinthians you conclude that Paul’s remedy for all of the dishonor, disorder, and disobedience was to get back to the Scriptures; the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.

At the onset of the fresh new year before us, it is a good time for Christians to consider the same. We should know and love the Word of God. Saturate ourselves with it so we do not dishonor the Word of God. We cannot read it enough. Christ said in Matthew 4:4-

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Amen.

The Word of God is our source of strength and faith. We need its wisdom, its leadership, its instruction in righteousness and comfort. The Word of God will ground you! It reins us in, establishes our goings, and decontaminates our thoughts! It is not everything God knows (To be certain!), but it is everything he wants us to know about “all things that pertain to life and godliness…”2 Peter 1: May the Lord bless our every endeavor as we strive to be faithful to him as we seek to fulfil our life’s greatest purpose in Christ-Called to be saints.

Thank you so much for reading,

Liz