This sermon (1 Corinthians 1: 1 - 3) was preached at West Ewell Evangelical Church, Surrey, on Sunday 6 June 2014.
In Acts 18: 1 – 22, we read of the visit of Paul with Silas and Timothy to Corinth. Paul spent 6 months in tent making, and by preaching and teaching. Both Jews and Greeks were converted to the Kingdom of God during this time.
Corinth was a dysfunctional church, but we need to look at ourselves before pointing the finger to them – the Church today is not exactly perfect and will not be until we go to be with the Lord.
Corinth contained fertile land: olives, grapes, dates and other fruit. The city was proud and wealthy, and it was a commercial centre (for it was at meeting point of trade routes). It was very much like UK, where wealth puts us top 4% in world just by being born here. The result has been conceit, thinking we know it all, and making our own pronouncements like they really matter (e.g. particularly celebrities like the recent Elton John outburst on lack of same-sex marriages in church). We should be more concerned to give pronouncements based on God’s infallible and timeless Word.
On the Accorinth (a hill of 500 ft. above the city), there was the temple and statue of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and fertility. This cult dominated social and religious life of city.
When we look at social and religious life of Corinth, it was not too different from our nation, especially when you consider the low public and private morals in both societies.
The message in this letter is not a man’s thoughts from self-styled teacher or self-appointed Christian worker, but Paul had received direct revelation from God as mentioned in Galatians 1: 15 – 24.
The letter was co-authored with Sosthenes (who was/had been chief ruler of the synagogue - Acts 18: 17), who was Paul’s colleague as they worked together in the cause of the Gospel. The Church belongs to God and they (Paul and Sosthenes) showed harmony that proceeds from God which was absent from the Corinthian church
While Paul was at Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey, Chloe’s family (1: 11) came to him and informed him of the immorality and dissension in the Corinthian church. At almost the same time, three members of the same church wanted advice on marriage, things sacrificed to idols, spiritual gifts, and charitable collections.
1. Called to be holy
We are called to be separate/set apart – separate from sin, all that against God’s character.
Sainthood is not a rank in Christianity (like a general in the army), but what all Christians are called be.
We are told to be:
· Exclusive: we are told in the Bible that there is no other name by which we can be saved (Acts 4: 12); Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life – there is no other way to the Father (John 14: 6).
· Inclusive: the offer of salvation for all people as Church is made up of redeemed sinners.
There is nothing that we can do for our works illustrate our deficiencies, as illustrated elsewhere in the letter – in fact, the church at Corinth had been engrossed in unholy deeds.
The words ‘to be’ are missing in the original. Our status is that of people ‘called holy’, which can only be so by the finished work of Jesus on the cross, covered by His righteousness. Are we aware that we are called holy?
Sanctification is not an attainment, but what God calls people so that they can start walking with Him. God covers them with robe of righteousness attained through finished work of Jesus. We need to stop often to think and thank God for the work He has begun in us.
In holiness is a long process for we need to have decisive break with unbelief and sin, and start with new way of faith and obedience – commencing at the foot of the cross.
It is most important for people to be, as they to grow in Jesus, rather than what they do, although inevitably one will lead to the other.
Oswald Chambers wrote in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’: ‘There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship with a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfil His purpose through your life.’
The problem with Church in UK is that there are that not many Christians who are disciples, willing to to work out what it is to be holy. The task takes time and effort. We need to get away from books, DVDs and programmes as the only source for discipleship (as good as these may be) and start to get alongside one another, to walk with each other and encourage one another in the faith.
As we have already seen, Paul had unique divine commission from God and he had not made up the Gospel. The principle is that he too needed people to encourage him in his walk with God.
If we think that do not need to learn anymore and to move on in God, then it is the sure sign that stagnating and indeed going backwards in our Christian life as God always wants to show us something new, to develop our characters, to transform our minds so that our thoughts conform to His thoughts.
Unknown Anglican bishop once stated: ‘You know, wherever the apostle Paul went, there was either a revival or a riot. Everywhere I go, they serve tea.’ The implication is that the impact we have depends on how close we are to God.
2. Calling on the Lord
'Ekklesia' is the Greek word for any secular assembly. The word was used of rioters in Ephesus (Acts 19). The same word was used in Septuagint (the Greek translation of what we know as the Old Testament) for the assembly of Israelites, The word was subsequently used by the apostles as assembly of God’s people, a unique usage as God is in the centre.
Church is not social club, an opportunity to enjoy the service or even to undertake ‘Christian duties’ (whatever that might mean). However, it is the gathered people to call upon the Lord.
Philip Yancey wrote: ‘For whatever reason, God now reveals himself not through a pillar of smoke and fire, not even through the physical body of His Son in Galilee, but through the mongrel collection that comprises my local church and every other gathering in God’s name.’
We need to be radical in what we think Church is and what God wants His Church to be and do.
It is Illustrated by the Oscar-winning 1954 film ‘On the Waterfront,’ starring Marlon Brandon. One of the key characters is a priest, Father Barry (played by Karl Waldon), who encouraged the dock workers to stand up against the corruption of the union bosses. One docker, Kayo Dougan, is prepared to testify against the violence and extortion. But the day before he is due to appear in court, an ‘accident’ happens at work and he is killed by falling cargo. The priest comes to bless Kayo’s body and delivers a great sermon to the dockers. Someone in the dock shouted aggressively, ‘Get back to your church, Father.’ The priest replied, ‘Boys, this is my church. And, if you think Christ is not down here on the Waterfront, then you’ve got another guess coming.’
We do need to be concerned about social justice – but more importantly, we need to be concerned about people's need to turn to Jesus to be set apart for Him and to call upon Him.
I asked recently in housegroup: ‘What do we need from church?’ However it was wrong question as it focused on us. The Church needs to be:
- People gathered to call upon Jesus.
- Have eyes focused away from us and onto God.
In times of adoration, it is easy for us to slip from petitioning God to petitioning Him with our concerns very quickly. Our problems and situations will be put into perspective if we called on Him and appreciated Him for who He is, not for what He can and will do for us.
The Church is not this building for it will be demolished in the last days (2 Peter 3: 10) – but the Church is the people calling on God.
The Corinthians were arrogant and considered themselves superior because they lived in the capital of the region of Achaea. Likewise, we can be proud about Christian heritage, good deeds, or length of service in the church. However, Paul highlighted common spiritual origin with all other people who have to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation (Romans 10: 13), which is foundational.
We are sinners saved by grace. It is all about Jesus for He initiated our relationship by dying for us. All too often we switch the focus on ourselves (e.g. our walk with Jesus when we should be reliant on His strength and aware that He initiated that walk and continues to walk with us)
Paul saw the centrality of God as he wrote in Romans 15: 5 – 6 – ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’
We should be praying with expectation. An example is in Acts 12, ‘Peter was in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him’ (verse 5). The result was that Peter was released from prison and God’s name glorified.
We may not face persecution, but we will experience other prisons: emotional, mental, physical, spiritual. God wants you released from these prisons and He knows what your prisons are.
You may have been captured in them for long or short time. You may be content to stay in our prisons out of complacency/sense of comfort zone/sin or a combination of these - but Jesus wants to lead us forward, regardless of how old we are (examples: Abraham and Moses). He wants us to call on Him and walk His walk so we become more separate from the mindset, methods and ways of the world.
God does not want ‘revolving door’ Christianity where have the same experience time and time again but He wants us to call on Him to have ‘escalator’ experience when go up to new heights with Him.
We shall look at this further in Part 2.
