Paul in Corinth (7)

Pray Psalm 51.10-13.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

Sing Psalm 51.10-13.
(Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
Create in me a clean heart, renew me from within!
Take not Your Spirit from me because of all my sin.
Salvation’s joy restore, LORD, and keep me in Your hand;
thus shall I tell Your strong Word to sinners in the land.

Review Acts 18.1-18, 24-28; meditate on verses 9 and 10.

Preparation
1. How long was Paul in Corinth?

2. Why did he stay there so long?

Meditation
Paul spent a little more than 18 months in Corinth, doing the work which resulted in “many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized” (v. 8). A church took root; rather (as we shall see), a series of house churches, probably spread around the city, began to meet, worship, and learn what it means to be the Body of Christ. The several house churches were one church in Corinth, and for the time Paul was with them, everything seemed to go well.

But when Paul went to Ephesus, troubles began. He wrote 1 Corinthians to address certain issues, difficulties, and questions that were brought to him by visitors from Corinth. The tone of 1 Corinthians, with its focus on division, immaturity, immorality, neglect, and other matters, is stern and demanding. Paul expected better from these people he had served for a year and a half, and he let them know he was disappointed.

But like a loving shepherd, he also walked them through their difficulties, reminded them of the grace of God, pointed them toward the Lord’s return, and urged them to stand firm in the faith.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians for two reasons. First, he had told the Corinthians he would come to visit them, but he was unable to do so. They deserved an explanation. Second, he rejoiced in the Lord at how they had received his first epistle and took the occasion of 2 Corinthians to focus on their growth in the Lord and participation in the worldwide Body of Christ.

We’ll be looking carefully at each of these beautiful epistles. Let’s ask the Lord to speak as clearly and powerfully to us through Paul’s words as he did to those first believers in Corinth.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
It is good for us to understand the man behind this mission to begin the churches in Corinth. This is a man with whom the Lord spoke, saying to him: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, for I AM with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18.9, 10).

Later in Acts 23.11 God said to him, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” God was mindful of the hardships Paul had already faced, and would continue to face for his witness and faith. And He was ready to remind him of His Presence with him, to encourage him.

Paul was not trapped by his past—the past that was so full of hatred and cruelty toward the church. He felt God’s forgiveness and was able to move forward to do the good work God had prepared for him to do (Eph. 2.10). So much so, that he was able to say about himself, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23.1).

Paul’s love for God, his love for others, and his courage to do the work to prove it, is a life and attitude to be imitated (1 Cor. 11.1). He was aware of the potential earthly consequences that might befall him, and yet he said, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20.22-24).

That attitude is the key to peace with God. Period.

When we stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless us, waiting patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in His mercy is going to give us (Jude 21 TLB), and serving Him in our Kingdom work, daily following Him, we have nothing to fear.

As we set out to learn and live the truths of 1 and 2 Corinthians, we know that we are filled with the same Holy Spirit that filled Paul; and we serve the same God. We are loved and cared for by the same Savior (Heb. 13.5, 8); and we are given the same work instructions that every believer in eternity past, present, and future has received—believing this promise, prompting us to finish our race with joy.

The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath us are His everlasting arms (Deut. 33.27).

For reflection
1. Later in our study, Paul will instruct us to “imitate” him. What do you see thus far in Paul that is worthy of imitation?

2. Paul was not trapped in his past. Why do we want to be free of our past as well? How can we do that?

3. It’s clear Paul cared about the Corinthians. How do you show the people in your Personal Mission Field that you care for them?

The Lord knows those that are his, yea, and those that shall be his; for it is by his work upon them that they become his. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Acts 18.7-11

Pray Psalm 51.14-19.
Pray that God will move all His people to repent of the sins of complacency, self-centeredness, division, and more. Call on Him to cause His Spirit to stir within for revival, renewal, and a great worldwide awakening of faith in Jesus.

Sing Psalm 51.14-19.
(Aughton: He Leadeth Me)
Deliver us, from guilt, O LORD, You Who have saved us by Your Word;
and let our tongues Your mercy bless, and sing of Your great righteousness!
Refrain vv. 15, 18
LORD, open now our lips to raise to You sweet songs of joyous praise!
Thus let Your favor on us fall, and build and strengthen Zion’s wall!

No sacrifice, no offering would You have us, Your people, bring;
but broken spirits, cleansed of lies, and pure hearts You will not despise.
Refrain

Now build Your Church, raise high the wall of those who on Your mercy call.
And take our lives and let them be sweet sacrifices, LORD, to Thee!
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore 

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available free by clicking here.