As we start into the fall, we are moving out of Romans and into Corinth. Paul wrote his letter to Rome from Corinth. Corinth was one of Paul’s most vital churches and one with a host of issues and challenges. As one wanders through Paul’s letters to Corinthians, it is mentoring of the highest order.
Paul attacks the most personal issues in the church. Paul directs the Corinthains back to the Lord and their purpose time and again. He knew this church had the potential to change lives all over the world.
Paul starts the letter out a bit differently than most of his other letters. He announces that the letter is to the Corinthians, but also to all people everywhere who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ—there Lord and ours. Corinth was a vital Roman Seaport. People from all over visited the city and the Church at Corinth was an evangelistic church. So, as the letter and its teachings were shared, Paul’s letter literally had the ability to be taught all over the known world.
Additionally, The letters to the Corinthians have been shared all over the world as part of God’s message to us. The issues that Paul raises in the letters to the Corinthians are ones vital to all Christians; especially today. We Are to be a church united. We are to flee sexual immorality. We are to work as a family and not sue each other over differences. We are to accept the gifts God gives us with humility and use them with Love. We are to keep the main thing the main thing…Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, as Paul starts the letter, He does so with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that God has given this church grace, and that grace highlights God’s desire to be in relationship with us. He is also grateful that god has empowered the church with every spiritual gift. Finally, Paul is grateful that God will hold the church, and He will help them to stand firm until His return.
We should also be grateful. We should be grateful to be in relationship with the Lord. Additionally, we should remain grateful that God grants us spiritual gifts so that we can equip, lead and build His kingdom until His return.
Finally, we should be grateful that God’s spirit indwells us and assists us as we face the spiritual battles that encompass our lives. He tells us to trust Him; to hold on and stand firm. As we do, the Lord has already won the victory, and He will continue to carry us through until we join the Lord or until He returns.
God Bless You
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Walking With God 