Christian, You Belong to Believers in Every Place: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 6

>> This is our sixth, I think, final >> This is our sixth, I think, final session on 1 Corinthians 1:1-3. Paul, Paul, called by the will of God to be an called by the will of God to be an called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, apostle of Christ Jesus, apostle of Christ Jesus, and the brother Sosthenes, and the brother Sosthenes, and the brother Sosthenes, to the church of God to the church of God to the church of God that is in Corinth. that is in Corinth. that is in Corinth. And then he defines the church, those And then he defines the church, those And then he defines the church, those who are sanctified who are sanctified who are sanctified in Christ Jesus. in Christ Jesus. in Christ Jesus. Further, Further, Further, this sanctification is their calling, this sanctification is their calling, this sanctification is their calling, called to be holy, to be saints. called to be holy, to be saints. called to be holy, to be saints. And now comes this And now comes this And now comes this somewhat surprising somewhat surprising somewhat surprising identification of the saints, the identification of the saints, the identification of the saints, the Christians in Corinth, with all other Christians in Corinth, with all other Christians in Corinth, with all other Christians. Christians. Christians. Together with all those who in every place those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus call upon the name of our Lord Jesus call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Christ, Christ, both their Lord and ours. Grace to you both their Lord and ours. Grace to you both their Lord and ours. Grace to you and peace and peace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus from God our Father and the Lord Jesus from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ. Christ. I suppose what stands out most I suppose what stands out most I suppose what stands out most immediately immediately immediately is that here is that here is that here we are called by God, we are called by God, we are called by God, and here Christians themselves are doing and here Christians themselves are doing and here Christians themselves are doing the calling, the calling, the calling, calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus. calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus. calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus. That's no accident. That's no accident. That's no accident. I think he's drawing attention to the I think he's drawing attention to the I think he's drawing attention to the fact fact fact that lest we think that lest we think that lest we think that this calling, even though it is that this calling, even though it is that this calling, even though it is absolutely absolutely absolutely decisive decisive decisive in the voice of the sovereign God in the voice of the sovereign God in the voice of the sovereign God calling us into being as Christians, calling us into being as Christians, calling us into being as Christians, it never occurs it never occurs it never occurs without this also occurring. without this also occurring. without this also occurring. When we are called into being, the first When we are called into being, the first When we are called into being, the first thing we do is call upon the name of our thing we do is call upon the name of our thing we do is call upon the name of our Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. All who call upon the name of the Lord All who call upon the name of the Lord All who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved, it says in Romans Jesus will be saved, it says in Romans Jesus will be saved, it says in Romans 10 12 10 12 10 12 to 13.

to 13. to 13. So, our side of the salvation event in So, our side of the salvation event in So, our side of the salvation event in our lives is that we call upon the name our lives is that we call upon the name our lives is that we call upon the name of the Lord. It's like when you bring a of the Lord. It's like when you bring a of the Lord. It's like when you bring a baby into existence, baby into existence, baby into existence, "Lazarus, come forth." "Lazarus, come forth." "Lazarus, come forth." And the new person is created in Christ, And the new person is created in Christ, And the new person is created in Christ, the baby cries, right? If it has life, the baby cries, right? If it has life, the baby cries, right? If it has life, it cries. And what it cries is this it cries. And what it cries is this it cries. And what it cries is this call, call, call, "Lord, save me. Lord, I'm yours. Lord, I "Lord, save me. Lord, I'm yours. Lord, I "Lord, save me. Lord, I'm yours. Lord, I believe." believe." believe." So, these two calls So, these two calls So, these two calls always occur together. This one is the always occur together. This one is the always occur together. This one is the foundation of this one. foundation of this one. foundation of this one. But, what I mentioned at the beginning But, what I mentioned at the beginning But, what I mentioned at the beginning when I said it was somewhat surprising when I said it was somewhat surprising when I said it was somewhat surprising is this. is this. is this. The Epistle of First Corinthians, The Epistle of First Corinthians, The Epistle of First Corinthians, perhaps more than any other of Paul's perhaps more than any other of Paul's perhaps more than any other of Paul's letters, letters, letters, deals with specific after specific after deals with specific after specific after deals with specific after specific after specific specific specific problem problem problem uh uh uh in Corinth. In other words, it's it's a in Corinth. In other words, it's it's a in Corinth. In other words, it's it's a letter that is full of specific letter that is full of specific letter that is full of specific instructions to a church dealing with instructions to a church dealing with instructions to a church dealing with specific issues. And now he's saying, "I specific issues. And now he's saying, "I specific issues. And now he's saying, "I am writing this letter not only to you, am writing this letter not only to you, am writing this letter not only to you, but to you together with but to you together with but to you together with all those who are Christians in every all those who are Christians in every all those who are Christians in every place."

place." place." Which means several things. Now, I think Which means several things. Now, I think Which means several things. Now, I think the the implications are many for the the the implications are many for the the the implications are many for the the Corinthian Greek Christians hearing the Corinthian Greek Christians hearing the Corinthian Greek Christians hearing this. this. this. First, it means you are part of something you are part of something global and global and global and great beyond yourself. great beyond yourself. great beyond yourself. There are many other Christians like you There are many other Christians like you There are many other Christians like you who are called to be saints. who are called to be saints. who are called to be saints. Corinth Corinth Corinth is not special in being above others. is not special in being above others. is not special in being above others. Corinth is not special in being below Corinth is not special in being below Corinth is not special in being below others. So, Corinth, don't boast. others. So, Corinth, don't boast. others. So, Corinth, don't boast. Corinth, don't whine when you're Corinth, don't whine when you're Corinth, don't whine when you're criticized in this letter. This letter criticized in this letter. This letter criticized in this letter. This letter is for everybody is for everybody is for everybody as it applies to them, and it will apply as it applies to them, and it will apply as it applies to them, and it will apply to them in some way. So, when you get to them in some way. So, when you get to them in some way. So, when you get spanked in this letter, don't whine. spanked in this letter, don't whine. spanked in this letter, don't whine. Don't be self-pitying. Realize you're Don't be self-pitying. Realize you're Don't be self-pitying. Realize you're part of a larger group, and you all need part of a larger group, and you all need part of a larger group, and you all need these instructions.

these instructions. these instructions. And And And you Greeks who are so proud of being you Greeks who are so proud of being you Greeks who are so proud of being Greeks, don't boast because you are part Greeks, don't boast because you are part Greeks, don't boast because you are part of something greater. I think this word of something greater. I think this word of something greater. I think this word right here, right here, right here, "I am writing this letter to you "I am writing this letter to you "I am writing this letter to you Corinthian saints who are indeed called Corinthian saints who are indeed called Corinthian saints who are indeed called to be saints, who are chosen and to be saints, who are chosen and to be saints, who are chosen and sanctified in Christ Jesus." sanctified in Christ Jesus." sanctified in Christ Jesus." You are not unique. You are not unique. You are not unique. You are part of something else. All You are part of something else. All You are part of something else. All those who in every place, and yet, yes, those who in every place, and yet, yes, those who in every place, and yet, yes, all those barbarian places, all those barbarian places, all those barbarian places, all those places outside Greece that you all those places outside Greece that you all those places outside Greece that you think are lower than you. think are lower than you. think are lower than you. Anybody, anywhere who calls upon the Anybody, anywhere who calls upon the Anybody, anywhere who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus in every place, name of the Lord Jesus in every place, name of the Lord Jesus in every place, from any nationality, any ethnicity, from any nationality, any ethnicity, from any nationality, any ethnicity, any rank or class, any rank or class, any rank or class, are part of what you are, and you're are part of what you are, and you're are part of what you are, and you're part of what they are. part of what they are. part of what they are. You have one You have one You have one Lord. Lord. Lord. It isn't Caesar.

It isn't Caesar. It isn't Caesar. It isn't some Chinese Mongol Lord. It's It isn't some Chinese Mongol Lord. It's It isn't some Chinese Mongol Lord. It's not a a chieftain in Africa. It's not to not a a chieftain in Africa. It's not to not a a chieftain in Africa. It's not to change the time frame, a president in change the time frame, a president in change the time frame, a president in the United States. It is Jesus Christ. the United States. It is Jesus Christ. the United States. It is Jesus Christ. Your citizenship is with Christ in Your citizenship is with Christ in Your citizenship is with Christ in heaven. heaven. heaven. In other words, this this is a very In other words, this this is a very In other words, this this is a very clear warning against ethnocentrism, clear warning against ethnocentrism, clear warning against ethnocentrism, against nationalism. It's a warning against nationalism. It's a warning against nationalism. It's a warning against boasting against boasting against boasting in ourselves above other Christians. in ourselves above other Christians. in ourselves above other Christians. Rather, we are united with them Rather, we are united with them Rather, we are united with them under one Lord, under one Lord, under one Lord, Jesus Christ. And he's And stresses Jesus Christ. And he's And stresses Jesus Christ. And he's And stresses that. Both that. Both that. Both their Lord and ours. What What an their Lord and ours. What What an their Lord and ours. What What an interesting thing that he would add interesting thing that he would add interesting thing that he would add that. that. that. As if As if As if it wasn't obvious when he said, "In it wasn't obvious when he said, "In it wasn't obvious when he said, "In every place those who call upon the name every place those who call upon the name every place those who call upon the name of the Lord are to hear this letter or of the Lord are to hear this letter or of the Lord are to hear this letter or take this letter into account as well."

take this letter into account as well." take this letter into account as well." He underlines it. Both their Lord and He underlines it. Both their Lord and He underlines it. Both their Lord and ours. We have ours. We have ours. We have one one one Lord. Lord. Lord. We are subjects of the one Lord, no We are subjects of the one Lord, no We are subjects of the one Lord, no matter matter matter what place we come from. If we are what place we come from. If we are what place we come from. If we are calling upon the name of the Lord, we calling upon the name of the Lord, we calling upon the name of the Lord, we are one are one are one people. people. people. So, I think uh those two things So, I think uh those two things So, I think uh those two things especially are being accomplished with especially are being accomplished with especially are being accomplished with these words, namely to point out that these words, namely to point out that these words, namely to point out that this call and this call are this call and this call are this call and this call are complementary. This one is God's and complementary. This one is God's and complementary. This one is God's and it's the foundation of this one. They it's the foundation of this one. They it's the foundation of this one. They never occur apart from each other never occur apart from each other never occur apart from each other because when this one happens, it because when this one happens, it because when this one happens, it secures that this one happens. secures that this one happens. secures that this one happens. And the other is to bind the Corinthian And the other is to bind the Corinthian And the other is to bind the Corinthian Christians and all of us together with Christians and all of us together with Christians and all of us together with all those everywhere in every place of all those everywhere in every place of all those everywhere in every place of every nationality, every ethnicity to every nationality, every ethnicity to every nationality, every ethnicity to bind them together and say, "You're not bind them together and say, "You're not bind them together and say, "You're not special in being above, you're not special in being above, you're not special in being above, you're not special in being below. The problems I'm special in being below. The problems I'm special in being below. The problems I'm going to address in your letter are going to address in your letter are going to address in your letter are common problems around the world. And common problems around the world. And common problems around the world. And so, consider yourself a joyful part, a so, consider yourself a joyful part, a so, consider yourself a joyful part, a humble part humble part humble part of the global church of of the global church of of the global church of God, God, God, those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints."

and called to be saints." and called to be saints." And I suppose before we leave, And I suppose before we leave, And I suppose before we leave, let me just say one word about this cuz let me just say one word about this cuz let me just say one word about this cuz it's in every one of Paul's letters. it's in every one of Paul's letters. it's in every one of Paul's letters. We've talked about it often. We've talked about it often. We've talked about it often. At the beginning of every letter, all 13 At the beginning of every letter, all 13 At the beginning of every letter, all 13 letters of Paul, letters of Paul, letters of Paul, he sends grace he sends grace he sends grace to the church. And at the end of every to the church. And at the end of every to the church. And at the end of every letter, he says, "A grace letter, he says, "A grace letter, he says, "A grace be be be grace be with you." be with you." It's grace with at the end, it's grace It's grace with at the end, it's grace It's grace with at the end, it's grace to at the beginning. to at the beginning. to at the beginning. I think that means that as you read this I think that means that as you read this I think that means that as you read this letter, grace from Jesus will be flowing letter, grace from Jesus will be flowing letter, grace from Jesus will be flowing to you from God the Father and the Lord to you from God the Father and the Lord to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus. Grace Jesus. Grace Jesus. Grace will be coming to you. And I think when will be coming to you. And I think when will be coming to you. And I think when you read this letter or when you do look you read this letter or when you do look you read this letter or when you do look at the book with me, at the book with me, at the book with me, grace is flowing to us. I know it is to grace is flowing to us. I know it is to grace is flowing to us. I know it is to me. I can taste it as I prepare these me. I can taste it as I prepare these me. I can taste it as I prepare these and as I give them, grace from Jesus is and as I give them, grace from Jesus is and as I give them, grace from Jesus is flowing to us through the word. Then, at flowing to us through the word. Then, at flowing to us through the word. Then, at the end, when we close the book and go the end, when we close the book and go the end, when we close the book and go out to live our lives, the grace that we out to live our lives, the grace that we out to live our lives, the grace that we received goes with us.

received goes with us. received goes with us. And what he did in the word through the And what he did in the word through the And what he did in the word through the word. word. word. He continues to do He continues to do He continues to do in us. So, as you go with me forward, in us. So, as you go with me forward, in us. So, as you go with me forward, receive grace, receive grace, receive grace, receive peace receive peace receive peace from God and the Father through from God and the Father through from God and the Father through First Corinthians.