God Is Faithful — 1 Corinthians 1

0:02 Alright. Thank you for leading us in in worship. Beautiful, beautiful songs. It's nice to be learning new songs. Won't you agree?

0:11 Yes? Amen? You can move your head. Yes. Okay.

0:14 Alright. Thank you. Open your Bibles to first Corinthians chapter one. First Corinthians chapter one. We're gonna read the first nine verses.

0:27 And as we read the passage, I want you to notice and see who can discover what it is. Something is mentioned in every verse. It is repeated over and over again in every single verse. So pay attention as we're reading and see if you can discover what it is. First Corinthians chapter one one through nine.

0:50 Alright. So let's look at the word of God. Paul called an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother, to the church of God who is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling with all who in every place call upon the name of our lord Jesus Christ, their lord and ours. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord Jesus Christ. I thank my god always concerning you for the grace of god which was given you in Christ Jesus.

1:29 That in everything you are enriched in him, in all speech, and all knowledge. Even as a testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you. So that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our lord, Jesus Christ. God is faithful through whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ, our lord.

2:07 Alright. It was pretty obvious as we read the text. What what was in every verse? What was in very verse? Yes.

2:13 Christ. Christ. That's right. Christ. Either Christ or him or Jesus Christ our lord.

2:19 Every verse had that in there. Right? Did everybody, anybody else catch that? Yes. Well, read it again next time.

2:26 Pay attention. You're gonna see it's in every verse. Alright. And as we're gonna do a little bit of expository teaching, you'll you'll understand that yes, indeed, it is in every verse. Alright.

2:37 So, Paul was on a second missionary journey. They were doing mission work and and as that they were doing mission work, he was in Thessalonica. The experience there was good and that they saw many people come to Christ. But after that, they they beat him as you remember and the Lord saved him from the prison. But he was whipped and and suffering.

2:59 Then he went down to Athens, and in Athens, it was not a great experience. They had some get saved, however, so in that regard, it was okay experience, but it it was difficult. And and as he's arriving in in Corinth, he's thinking, man, this is crazy. It's as if, I were to take you to Las Vegas, Nevada where it's Sin City. You approach there.

3:24 It it was full of... Well, there was there was three ports, and and ships would come in from from everywhere to Corinth. And so with that, it it brought Greeks and Romans and Italians and orientals, sailors, and refugees. So there was all kinds of people there, all kinds of languages and cultures all came in to to the Corinth, and that place became pretty wild. In fact, they say that there was a a bar, if you will, a a tavern in every corner.

3:58 So can you imagine? That that was a... It was pretty pretty nasty. It had a a 20,000 people theater, and they would have athletic competitions, and and it was similar to the Olympics in Athens. Probably, they say only second to to that.

4:15 But when you have times in every corner and people from every culture all coming together in one place, you're gonna have chaos. And so look, if you were looking to sin, that was the place to go. Anything you could look for, a warrant, desire, it was there. And so in fact, when people would would gonna go party, if you will, they would go, let's go to Corinth. Let's go party.

4:38 And so it was a it was a terrible place. And Paul said that he went there and he was trembling. He was shaking. He was, man, I I don't know how they're gonna receive the gospel as I go there, and and he was he was trembling. It it was intimidating to go there, but that's where he went.

4:55 And so as he preached the word of God, many people did come to Christ and they started an assembly, a a a church if you will. And as he's preaching the word and and teaching, more people are joining in, and he was there for a year and six months. And if you go back to Acts and read, they were... He was there a little bit longer. So probably be a year and six months to two years, he was there.

5:18 So not only did he preach the word and and started to disciple and build up the church, but he was there for two years teaching them and making disciples, building them up in the faith. So you would think that after him being there that long, so that there will be mature, strong believers, but the opposite was true. At the time of the writing of this book, there were probably four or five years saved. So the the oldest believer would probably be four and a half, years a believer. So they were still relatively young.

5:52 However, to pause a minute in chapter three, he says that, I would like to talk to you more spiritual things, but but I can't because y'all are very carnal. So when you would look at this church, Paul described it himself as being a very cardinal church. They were very fleshly. They hadn't grown or matured in their faith. Right?

6:14 So what... Think about this church though. Okay? So you're looking at a church that... By the way, the air condition is really cold.

6:22 Isn't it? I'm glad I'm moving around. I'm I'm... Where my fingertips are frozen. Alright.

6:26 So as you're looking at this church, I mean, you're looking at all kinds of backgrounds. You had Romans. You had orientals. You had all kinds of vices come in. So people were saved from all kinds of backgrounds.

6:39 Alright? So you had drunks getting saved. You had people who were practicing homosexuality because it says in chapter six that they were saved from those kind of background. You had thieves getting saved. You had lawyers.

6:53 There was a lot of people doing lawsuits inside the church. I'm assuming there was a lot of lawyers there. Right? So there there was backgrounds. And you know what I'm thinking?

7:02 When when we get saved, we bring all our baggage with us too to the local body, don't we? Yes. Amen? Yeah. It comes with us.

7:09 I'm sorry. But when the Lord saved me, I have an anger problem, or or I have a... I I used to steal, or I used to drink or whatever it was. And so the lord, in his plan, saves people from all kinds of backgrounds and brings them together in a local body. Right?

7:26 So bringing together all those cultures and backgrounds was was pretty crazy. And Paul had a hard time getting these people to mesh and to mature. It it it was it was hard on him. Alright. So so these people were then...

7:41 They were having problems with divisions, with immorality, with marriage issues, suing one another. They were having problem with freedom issues, with the Lord's supper, with their spiritual gifts, with the women draw, with the resurrection. I mean, you name it, then this church had problems with it. And so Paul's writing to to try to help them grow in their faith. Now, having said that, let's start with verse two.

8:33 That's right. You are believers and when you're a believer, you are set apart for god. God saves you and it's a god who does that. He sanctify you, set you apart for his work and and for his use. Now, whether you allow him to use you the way he wants to use you or not, that's up to you.

8:51 But did he call you? Did he sanctify you? Did he sanctify us? Did he sanctify these people in this church with with all of their struggles? Yes.

9:00 He... Yes. He did. As you read, this passage, it kinda makes you feel good because you're like, man, sometimes I feel like I'm such a failure as a Christian. I've been saved three or four years, I still can't get past certain issues.

9:12 I've been saved twenty years, and I'm still struggling. I've been saved forty years. Remember a brother came to me one day. He said, look, brother. I've been I've been saved forty two years.

9:23 I know the bible back and forth, but but I still can't control my anger. In fact, I start cursing. When every time I get mad, I start cursing at my kids. And like, wow. Let's pray, and and let's see if God can help us and give us victory.

9:37 And so that's what this was. It was everyday believers struggling with everyday life. Right? Just like us. And...

9:47 But he says to them, you're sanctified in Christ. You're a saint by calling with all who in every place call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ, their lord and ours. So not only are you a saint because you got saved, the lord set you apart for his use. But everywhere in the world right now, people are set apart for god and being used by god for his glory. Isn't that great?

10:08 Everywhere in the world. Men and women with all of their defects, with all of their issues, with all of their struggles as Christians, they're set apart for god and and and they're being used by god for his glory. And so, I like Romans eleven twenty nine. The gifts and the calling of god are irrevocable. Also, second Thessalonians one eleven, that our god may count you worthy of your calling and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.

10:38 And so this is what Paul is praying. Look. God set you apart. You're a saint by calling. He wants to use you, and that's my prayer that God would use you and that you'll be worthy of that calling.

10:50 Ephesians four one put it this way, I entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. So we've all been called, every believer. Whether you're struggling or not, whether you're having a victorious walk right now or or you're not having a victorious walk, whether right now you're you're you're in full of the power of the holy spirit and being used by him or you're in a moment where you're down and you're low and you can't seem to get up and and get past that struggle. Either way, God has called you, and he wants to use you for his glory, which brings us to verse four. Look at what Paul says.

11:29 I thank my god always concerning you for the grace of god which was given you in Christ Jesus. So, as he looks at their life and right now, he's looking at a bunch of carnal Christians fighting with one another, suing one another, doing all that stuff but he goes, you know what? When I look at you, said, man, the grace of god. The grace of god. Why are we saved?

11:51 Why are we here? Because of the grace of god, right? And so, it's god's unmerited, unearned, undeserved, unpayable favor. Their testimony was not very commendable. The way they live their lives, their daily lives was very short of the calling.

12:09 However, grace would not be grace if it would earn or deserve. The grace of god was given. Grace is the free gift of god of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life to undeserving people. We all fall short and we all need to be saved by grace. I like the way McCartney puts it.

12:31 Grace can only operate. I'm I'm sorry, can can operate only where there is sin. Once in Christ, the grace of god is ours. And so Paul looked at their lives. He goes, look, I can't deny.

12:44 We're all saved by grace. Everyone of you are saved by grace and you've been called by god regardless of how you're living right now. Now after he said that, you're saved by grace, undeserved, unmerited, even though you have a calling and God wants to use you. I hope you're using and exercising that calling like you should be. You've been set apart for God, but you're still saved by the grace of god and notice the next thing he says in verse five, that in everything you were enriched in him.

13:28 There you go. That's a true man. True. Alright. I'm a tell you what alone is.

13:32 Alright? Now I want you go home today. I I I know you shouldn't talk about that when you're preaching, but here you go. Alright. The History Channel.

13:39 Click on alone. And I'm gonna tell you what it is because it has everything to do with what what this is. Right? So what it is is they get 10 people, highly skilled in in hunting and and fishing and survival. Right?

13:52 10 people, they set them out in Alaska, and they had to survive. The one that last the longest wins $500,000. And they had one they had one before that that whoever could stay a hundred days in Alaska would win a million. Right? So only 10 people qualify.

14:11 Now here's the thing. You only get 10 items, period. 10 item, and you're all alone. You you don't get a cell phone. You don't get anything.

14:21 10 items, and you're set out in the middle of nowhere, and you have to... You know, you you better get an act because you're have to cut wood and make your little house and all that. And so what happens as you're observing this is that, like, I only have 10 items. Normally, with all of my equipment, I can hunt and fish and do, but I only have 10 items. So one guy was fishing all day, and when he got back, some mice had eaten the string off his bow and arrow, and he could no longer hunt.

14:46 He only had a little thing. What's gonna do? Chase a deer down? Right? So the guy had to quit.

14:52 He called in. I I... They only have a radio to bail. Right? And and and then what you see is other people are are trying, and and they catch a few fish, and they're struggling, and they start to lose weight.

15:02 And lose weight, then you start getting sick. And twenty days later, they're like, oh, man. I can't take that. I'm starving. And they call in, and they quit, and then they start falling one by one.

15:12 Right? Until the last one stands. So what am I trying to say? They they don't have what they need to survive. If they had what they needed, they could survive.

15:18 You agree with me? Alright. Now, see, when when the lord saves you, he gives you everything you need. Look at verse five. That in everything, you are enriched in him, in all speech, in all knowledge.

15:31 Wow. So when the Lord saves you, he doesn't say, hey, look, I'm saving you. Good luck. I hope you make it. You know, I mean, you're saved by grace, but if you don't live for me, no.

15:42 I... Not only do I save you, but I equip you. I enrich. I give you everything you need so that you can live the life of Christ. And whenever I stumble, I'm not using everything God gave me so I can live for him.

15:56 So it's on me. Right? So in three ways, he specifically zeros in on on on what he's trying to say now. In speech, to reach the world, to speak him, to give the gospel, to give testimony, to praise him. Look, god gave you a mouth so you can praise him and worship him as we did this morning right in the lord's supper and and every day, you can praise him with your mouth, talk about god, and talk about Jesus.

16:20 So, you have a speech. Then, knowledge. God enables us through his word to be able to know what to say and what to believe and so praise god for his written word that gives us knowledge so that we can be used by god and he does use us, right? Yes, he does and then, finally, notice that he gives us spiritual gifts. Verse six, even as a testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you so that you are not lacking in any gift.

16:49 In fact, some some commentators say the Corinth church had too many gifts. And then they went crazy with them. They didn't know how to use them. And and they were just doing it for their own pride and for their own craziness. But every believer has a spiritual gift and pauses.

17:04 It's obvious y'all are saved because you have so many spiritual gifts. And then he writes them a note to show them how to properly use their spiritual gifts. Right? And so what he says, look, when the lord saved you by grace, you didn't deserve it, you didn't earn it. It was a gift of god.

17:19 Yes, you sinful man. He saves you and through all your struggles and everything you're doing, he enriches you, gives you everything you need so you can live his life. He gives you speech and he gives you knowledge and he gives you spiritual gifts and the spiritual gifts are are for the building up of one another but not just for the building up of one another because you have the gift of evangelism is to draw others to Christ and bring em in. But they're to be used for God's glory. So, it is our responsibility then to use our spiritual gifts so that we can bless one another so that we can draw others to Christ.

18:11 Now you're not being used by god too much. You're very carnal right now, but I pray that you will get to the point where you are being used by god. But god's grace is so great. He saved you warts and all. Now not only did he save you, but but but he he enriched you.

18:26 He gave you everything you needed so you can live his life. Speech, knowledge, spiritual gifts. Hopefully, you are using them. And and notice what he says then. You you are not lacking in any gift awaiting eagerly the revelation of the lord Jesus Christ.

18:43 So, in other words, we work while we wait. While we're waiting for Jesus to return and rapture us, we work, we serve, we use our spiritual gifts. We have that calling from god. We have the enabling from god and we're serving and and worshiping him. Alright.

18:57 So awaiting eagerly the revelation of the lord. The unveiling. When we're gonna see the lord Jesus Christ in all of his splendor in all of his glory. I like the way first Thessalonians chapter one and verse nine and ten puts it. You turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

19:15 And to wait for a son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead. That is Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Yes, because when he raptures us and the wrath of god unleashes in the world, he's gonna deliver us from that. But, MacArthur says, there's five reasons to eagerly await for the revelation of Jesus Christ. Number one, Christ will finally be exalted.

19:43 Aren't you tired of hearing people curse his name and slam his name constantly? So is he. And the time is coming. Secondly, we eagerly await him because Satan's gonna be defeated. I can't wait till they throw him in that pit for a thousand years.

20:00 And then finally, he's gonna let out... Get be let loose just for a little bit and then he's gonna eternally be condemned to hell. Then there's gonna be justice for the martyrs. Judgement of of Christ rejecters and ultimately, heaven to those who believe. So we're we're working while we're waiting for the Lord Jesus to be revealed.

20:23 Verse eight, who shall also confirm you... Look at look at this. We shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wow. So, yes, those believers who were still not maturing like they should've, They were still carnal.

20:42 They were still struggling with vices and and with issue that they brought so much baggage into the church, and the church had to... Paul had to deal with them and help them get past all these issues that they were having. And yet, he says, but I thank God that he is faithful to his word. He's gonna confirm you to the end. Wow.

21:04 Because again, when he saves me, he saves me warts and all. He knows what he's getting. And once he saves me, the grace is mine and it's never gonna leave me. He's gonna confirm me to the end. He's gonna work with me whether I work a little or not use my gifts or I work a lot and use my gifts.

21:24 Regardless, he saved me by his grace and set me apart. He's gonna confirm me into the end. Not only that, but he's gonna present me blameless. Look at their text. Blameless in the day of our lord Jesus Christ.

21:41 Colossians one twenty two, he has now reconciled you in a fleshly body through death in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. You know what that means? That that means that not not right now because right now, I'm not beyond reproach. Right now, I'm not blameless. Right?

22:00 Who can say that beyond reproach are blameless right now? But we are holy and we are blameless and we are beyond reproach in our position in Christ. But when that day comes, he's gonna say, there he is, father. Here he is, holy. With my new body, with my new nature, he's gonna present me absolute perfection.

22:33 He will began a good work and you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. Yes, the church was full of of issues. And and many people still couldn't get past some of their vices. However, god never stops working. Amen?

22:50 He he's not done. He's still working. He's still using the holy spirit and using messages and using brothers and sisters to help me grow in my faith. He's gonna keep working into the end. Aren't aren't you glad he doesn't give up?

23:07 Have you given up on anybody? I have. But God never gives up on you. Wow. Jude 24, to him who was able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in his presence the in the presence of his glory blameless.

23:43 What a powerful statement about our god. He's faithful. He's going to confirm me to the end. He's gonna present me blameless. He's faithful.

23:52 He he called me into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ, our lord. Wow. I get to enjoy fellowship with Jesus and so just for your information, there's fellowship with the father. First John one three. There's fellowship with his son right here, first Corinthian one nine.

24:10 And there's fellowship with the holy spirit, second Corinthians thirteen fourteen. So what does this tell me? That Christ is interested in my life. He doesn't give up on me. He wants to have fellowship with me and intimacy.

24:26 And I get to enjoy that. God is faithful. He called me into this fellowship. First, Revelation three twenty says that he's knocking at the door. He wants to come in.

24:36 He wants to dine. He wants to spend time with you. Wow. What a what a what a blessed savior we are. What a great salvation we have.

24:46 How blessed are we to be in Christ? Father, thank you for your word. Bless it to our hearts. Thank you. Oh god, for your grace.

24:56 Thank you lord that you kept working on these people in spite of other issues and other defects and other problems. You kept working and you're gonna work to the end. Thank you, Lord. That you're gonna present us blameless. But right now, we can enjoy Jesus and have fellowship with him.

25:14 Be with us as we go home now, we pray. In Christ's name, amen.