1 Corinthians 1 (1)

Pray Psalm 132.13-18.
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
He has desired it for His dwelling place:
“This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
There I will make the horn of David grow;
I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

Sing Psalm 132.13-18.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
God dwells among us, and He will forever, to meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior—Beloved, eternal light and resting place.
His foes are banished from His Presence ever, but we shall reign with Him before His face.

Read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 1.1-3.

Preparation
1. How did Paul refer to the believers in Corinth?

2. What did he intend for them in his letter?

Meditation
In Ephesus (1 Cor. 16.8), Paul received a visit from three members of the Church in Corinth. These—Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Cor. 16.17)—were probably leaders in the community. They came with a list of questions the Corinthians wanted Paul to address. But Paul also learned from them that the fabric of church life in Corinth was beginning to fray.

Paul put his epistle in context. All understood that God had called him to the apostolate. His words carried the authority of God. He was joined by Sosthenes, one of their own company who had accompanied Paul to Ephesus (v. 1). Thus, both the apostle and a member of their own community agreed together on the content of this letter.

Next, he reminded them of who they were: set apart (“sanctified”) as “saints” and part of the worldwide Body of Christ (v. 2). That would be the foundation of all he had to say to them. They had a position to honor and maintain, and others beyond Corinth were looking to them as brethren, “all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord”.

Finally, Paul wished grace and peace for the Corinthians, which he knew only “God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” could grant them (v. 3). He would have some difficult things to say in this epistle, but he did not want to be misunderstood: Everything he said was by the grace of God and intended for their peace.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
Paul is taking up the mantle of Elijah, Elisha, Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and a plethora of other prophets who “had some difficult things to say” to their letters’ recipients.

Their work was not like that of the 1967 self-help book by Thomas Harris, I’m OK—You’re OK. No, they had important things to convey. Making the people feel all squishy inside, about how well they were doing, was not one of them. Why perpetuate wrong thinking? Why not try and help?

“Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.”
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27.5, 6, 17).
Paul, as did all the others, wanted to preserve proper Kingdom/Church living through its godly participants.

“A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well” (Prov. 25.26).

That “faltering” participant was not one others would find winsome and appealing, nor would they follow him to the next murky, polluted water hole. He wanted to sharpen them, not dull them with unworthy platitudes. Are pastors today guilty of telling their flock “You’re OK” when they’re clearly not OK?

What the Corinthian church needed (as do we) were people, like David, who asked:
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face” (Ps. 24.3-6).

Turns out, everybody doesn’t get a trophy.

“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint” (Is. 40.31).

“I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4.7).

So, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…” (Heb. 12.1, 2). Taking up the mantle of all those who have preceded us in the work; as we, too, are called to be saints, sanctified to do the will of God (1 Cor. 1.1-3). Forgiven and growing daily unto His likeness (1 Cor. 13.12).

For reflection
1. What do you hope to gain from our study of 1 and 2 Corinthians?

2. What does it mean to you to be “sanctified” and a “saint”?

3. How will it be evident today that God has called you to be sanctified?

Grace signifies the free favor, mercy, and compassion of God, by which he freely pardons sins without our contribution of good works, accepts us ungrateful sinners, and proclaims us righteous and heirs of eternal life. Peace signifies spiritual and physical blessings; certainly, it includes the gift of the Holy Spirit, peace of conscience, renewed righteousness and life, gladness in God, and the inheritance of eternal life. Tilemann Hesshus (1527-1588), Explication of 1 Corinthians 1:3

Pray Psalm 132.8-12.
Pray that God will grow you in the righteousness of Jesus and fill you with the joy of His salvation. Renew your commitment to Him and His covenant, and call on Him to prepare you for the day ahead.

Sing Psalm 132.8-12.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Arise, O LORD, come to Your resting place; Your holy Presence meet with us in might.
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace, and we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face, but look upon us in Your holy light.

Remember, LORD, the oath You swore to David; do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor, if he shall keep My cov’nant evermore,
and walk within My testimonies ever, thus he shall ever rule by Israel’s LORD.”

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.