FIRST CORINTHIANSFIRST CORINTHIANS

How to Live in a How to Live in a Pagan WorldPagan World

11stst Corinthians 6:9-11 Corinthians 6:9-119 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Two Mega-ThemesTwo Mega-ThemesIn 1In 1stst Corinthians Corinthians

• Living as Christians in a Living as Christians in a pagan world.pagan world.

Two Mega-ThemesTwo Mega-ThemesIn 1In 1stst Corinthians Corinthians

• Living as Christians in a pagan world.

• Being the Church in a Being the Church in a pagan world.pagan world.

Being the Church in a Pagan WorldBeing the Church in a Pagan WorldNine Issues:Nine Issues:

1.1. IdentityIdentity 1:1-91:1-92.2. UnityUnity 1:10-171:10-173.3. MaturityMaturity 3:1-233:1-234.4. AuthorityAuthority 4:1-214:1-215.5. PurityPurity 556.6. OrderlyOrderly 11117.7. MinistryMinistry 12-1412-148.8. GenerosityGenerosity 16:1-416:1-49.9. DutyDuty 16:5-2416:5-24

Being the Church in a Pagan WorldBeing the Church in a Pagan WorldNine Issues:Nine Issues:

1.1. IdentityIdentity 1:1-91:1-92.2. UnityUnity 1:10-171:10-173.3. MaturityMaturity 3:1-233:1-234.4. AuthorityAuthority 4:1-214:1-215.5. PurityPurity 556.6. OrderlyOrderly 11117.7. MinistryMinistry 12-1412-148.8. GenerosityGenerosity 16:1-416:1-49.9. DutyDuty 16:5-2416:5-24

11stst Corinthians 1:1-9 Corinthians 1:1-91 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,

5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,

6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you,

7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(NKJV)

1. The Call of God Upon 1. The Call of God Upon Our LivesOur Lives• “To the church of God which is

at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” Verse 2

1.1 The Event: 1.1 The Event: ““Sanctified” “Sanctified” = separated

from all else for God’s exclusive purposes

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

1.1 The Event: 1.1 The Event: ““Sanctified” “Sanctified” = separated

from all else for God’s exclusive purposes

An action that was completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

1.2 The People: “Saints”1.2 The People: “Saints” • NAS95: “saints by calling”• Phillips: “called to be God's

men and women”

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

1.3 The Call1.3 The Call

• To call, invite, summon

• Verse 1, Amplified: “PAUL, SUMMONED by the will and purpose of God to be an apostle”

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

1.3 The Call1.3 The Call

• Counter-culture• Church = the people who have

been called out• A gathering of citizens called

out from their homes into some public place

• People who have been called out of the world as God’s special people

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

1.3 The Call1.3 The Call

• Christ-centered• Jesus, Christ, Him: 10 times

in nine verses

1. The Call of God Upon Our Lives

2. The Grace of God at 2. The Grace of God at Work in Our LivesWork in Our Lives• “I thank my God always

concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” vs. 4

2.1 Enriched

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• “That by Him you were made rich in everything--in all speaking and all knowledge” Vs. 5, Holman Christian Standard

2.1 Enriched

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• “That by Him you were made rich in everything--in all speaking and all knowledge” Vs. 5, Holman Christian Standard

• Amplified: “…in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning].”

2.1 Enriched

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• The Ability to Articulately Express the Truth

• The Ability to Deeply Understand the Truth

2.2 Confirmed

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you” verse 6

2.2 Confirmed2.2 Confirmed

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you” verse 6

• Jewish New Testament: “Indeed, the testimony about the Messiah has become firmly established in you”

2.2 Confirmed2.2 Confirmed

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• Gifted• “Therefore you do not lack

any spiritual gift…” verse. 7, NIV

2.2 Confirmed2.2 Confirmed

2. The Grace of God at Work in our Lives

• Gifted• “Therefore you do not lack

any spiritual gift…” verse. 7, NIV

• Waiting• “…as you eagerly wait for our

Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed”

3. The Faithfulness of 3. The Faithfulness of God Throughout our LivesGod Throughout our Lives

• “Who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” verses 8-9

• Vs. 9, Amplified: “God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on)”

3 Key Phrases

3. The Faithfulness of God Throughout our Lives

• “To the end” vs. 8

• Amplified: “And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication”

3 Key Phrases

3. The Faithfulness of God Throughout our Lives

• “Blameless” vs. 8

• Amplified: “He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”

3 Key Phrases

3. The Faithfulness of God Throughout our Lives

• “Fellowship of His Son” vs. 9

3 Key Phrases

3. The Faithfulness of God Throughout our Lives

• “Fellowship of His Son” vs. 9

• Amplified: “By Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

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