God Will See to It That We Arrive Guiltless at Christ’s Coming: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 6

>> This is our sixth and I believe final >> This is our sixth and I believe final session on 1 Corinthians 1 session on 1 Corinthians 1 session on 1 Corinthians 1 4 through 9. 4 through 9. 4 through 9. I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was because of the grace of God that was because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. given you in Christ Jesus. given you in Christ Jesus. That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, him in all speech and all knowledge, him in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was even as the testimony of Christ was even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed among you. confirmed among you. confirmed among you. So that So that So that you are not lacking in any gift. you are not lacking in any gift. you are not lacking in any gift. Indeed, now Indeed, now Indeed, now the aim of that the aim of that the aim of that strong confirmation strong confirmation strong confirmation of your eternal enrichment in every way of your eternal enrichment in every way of your eternal enrichment in every way and not lacking any gift is so that your and not lacking any gift is so that your and not lacking any gift is so that your waiting for Christ would be totally waiting for Christ would be totally waiting for Christ would be totally confident. confident. confident. Waiting eagerly and confidently for the Waiting eagerly and confidently for the Waiting eagerly and confidently for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. And revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. And revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then he gives two more reasons then he gives two more reasons then he gives two more reasons for why we can wait so confidently. One, for why we can wait so confidently. One, for why we can wait so confidently. One, he will Christ will confirm you to the he will Christ will confirm you to the he will Christ will confirm you to the end guiltless in the day of our Lord end guiltless in the day of our Lord end guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Jesus. Jesus. In other words, Christ will undertake In other words, Christ will undertake In other words, Christ will undertake and and and other texts say God the Father does it. other texts say God the Father does it. other texts say God the Father does it. He does it through the Son. We'll see He does it through the Son. We'll see He does it through the Son. We'll see that in just a moment. So Christ that in just a moment. So Christ that in just a moment. So Christ confirms us to the end guiltless. So we confirms us to the end guiltless. So we confirms us to the end guiltless. So we don't need to be afraid that this don't need to be afraid that this don't need to be afraid that this waiting is going to abort in the end and waiting is going to abort in the end and waiting is going to abort in the end and we find ourselves waiting in vain and at we find ourselves waiting in vain and at we find ourselves waiting in vain and at the end we get rejected by the Lord the end we get rejected by the Lord the end we get rejected by the Lord Jesus at his coming. That's not going to Jesus at his coming. That's not going to Jesus at his coming. That's not going to happen for Christians because happen for Christians because happen for Christians because Christ confirms, makes firm to the end Christ confirms, makes firm to the end Christ confirms, makes firm to the end of Christ's coming of Christ's coming of Christ's coming our faith so that we are found guiltless our faith so that we are found guiltless our faith so that we are found guiltless in Christ at the day of the Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 3, 2 Thessalonians 3, The Lord is The Lord is The Lord is faithful. faithful. faithful. He will establish you and guard you He will establish you and guard you He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. against the evil one. against the evil one. May the Lord direct your hearts to the May the Lord direct your hearts to the May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of love of God and to the steadfastness of love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. This is how the Lord does it.

Christ. This is how the Lord does it. Christ. This is how the Lord does it. He is faithful. He is faithful. He is faithful. Christ is faithful. God the Father is Christ is faithful. God the Father is Christ is faithful. God the Father is faithful. faithful. faithful. And he establishes us and he guards us And he establishes us and he guards us And he establishes us and he guards us against the evil one. against the evil one. against the evil one. He directs our hearts to the love of God He directs our hearts to the love of God He directs our hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness. This is what and to the steadfastness. This is what and to the steadfastness. This is what he does in order to confirm us to the he does in order to confirm us to the he does in order to confirm us to the end or 1 Thessalonians 3, "May the Lord end or 1 Thessalonians 3, "May the Lord end or 1 Thessalonians 3, "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for make you increase and abound in love for make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all one another and for all one another and for all as he as we do for you so that he may as he as we do for you so that he may as he as we do for you so that he may establish your hearts blameless establish your hearts blameless establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at in holiness before our God and Father at in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus." So, the coming of our Lord Jesus." So, the coming of our Lord Jesus." So, here's the establishment in here's the establishment in here's the establishment in blamelessness just like we have here, blamelessness just like we have here, blamelessness just like we have here, confirm you to the end guiltless. confirm you to the end guiltless. confirm you to the end guiltless. And he does it by making us increase and And he does it by making us increase and And he does it by making us increase and abound in love to one another. In other abound in love to one another. In other abound in love to one another. In other words, he not only keeps us in the words, he not only keeps us in the words, he not only keeps us in the faith, faith, faith, he secures the fruit of that faith in he secures the fruit of that faith in he secures the fruit of that faith in love for others.

love for others. love for others. Here's a picture of it in Hebrews 13. Here's a picture of it in Hebrews 13. Here's a picture of it in Hebrews 13. "Now may the God of peace who brought "Now may the God of peace who brought "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood great shepherd of the sheep by the blood great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with of the eternal covenant, equip you with of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good everything good everything good that you may do his will working in us that you may do his will working in us that you may do his will working in us that which is pleasing in his sight that which is pleasing in his sight that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory through Jesus Christ to whom be glory through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever." So, God through forever and ever." So, God through forever and ever." So, God through Christ equips us Christ equips us Christ equips us and he works in us what is pleasing and and he works in us what is pleasing and and he works in us what is pleasing and thus he confirms us thus he confirms us thus he confirms us to the end. You can see the connection between You can see the connection between how the Father does it and Christ the how the Father does it and Christ the how the Father does it and Christ the Son does it here in this prayer. Son does it here in this prayer. Son does it here in this prayer. So, Paul is praying to God, that's who So, Paul is praying to God, that's who So, Paul is praying to God, that's who you pray to. you pray to. you pray to. It is my prayer that your love, I'm It is my prayer that your love, I'm It is my prayer that your love, I'm asking God that your love, that he would asking God that your love, that he would asking God that your love, that he would cause your love to abound more and more cause your love to abound more and more cause your love to abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment so with knowledge and all discernment so with knowledge and all discernment so that you may prove what is excellent and that you may prove what is excellent and that you may prove what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of so be pure and blameless for the day of so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of Christ, filled with the fruits of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness that come through Jesus righteousness that come through Jesus righteousness that come through Jesus Christ.

Christ. Christ. So, the Father fills us with the fruit So, the Father fills us with the fruit So, the Father fills us with the fruit of righteousness, keeps us pure and of righteousness, keeps us pure and of righteousness, keeps us pure and blameless for the day of Christ, and he blameless for the day of Christ, and he blameless for the day of Christ, and he does it through does it through does it through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise Jesus Christ to the glory and praise Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. So, all of that So, all of that to draw attention to draw attention to draw attention to the argument in verse 8, that this to the argument in verse 8, that this to the argument in verse 8, that this confident waiting is based on Christ's confident waiting is based on Christ's confident waiting is based on Christ's and God's and God's and God's work to confirm us to the end, guarding work to confirm us to the end, guarding work to confirm us to the end, guarding us, directing us, preserving our faith, us, directing us, preserving our faith, us, directing us, preserving our faith, and causing us to walk in paths of and causing us to walk in paths of and causing us to walk in paths of righteousness through Christ righteousness through Christ righteousness through Christ so that we are found guiltless so that we are found guiltless so that we are found guiltless on the day of Christ. And then he adds on the day of Christ. And then he adds on the day of Christ. And then he adds one more argument. God is faithful. God is faithful. By whom you were called into the By whom you were called into the By whom you were called into the fellowship of his son. So, there's a fellowship of his son. So, there's a fellowship of his son. So, there's a connection connection connection between the calling between the calling between the calling into the fellowship of the Son and our into the fellowship of the Son and our into the fellowship of the Son and our arriving safely arriving safely arriving safely guiltless guiltless guiltless before the Lord Jesus.

before the Lord Jesus. before the Lord Jesus. And that link And that link And that link is the faithfulness of God. is the faithfulness of God. is the faithfulness of God. God is faithful to the promise implicit God is faithful to the promise implicit God is faithful to the promise implicit in the call. What is that? Here it is in in the call. What is that? Here it is in in the call. What is that? Here it is in Romans 8. Romans 8. Romans 8. Those whom he predestined, he called. Those whom he predestined, he called. Those whom he predestined, he called. And those whom he called, he justified. And those whom he called, he justified. And those whom he called, he justified. And those whom he justified, he And those whom he justified, he And those whom he justified, he glorified. Those are promises. Those are glorified. Those are promises. Those are glorified. Those are promises. Those are absolutely sure links. absolutely sure links. absolutely sure links. Every called person, he says here, Every called person, he says here, Every called person, he says here, is justified. Every justified person is is justified. Every justified person is is justified. Every justified person is glorified. No dropouts in this chain glorified. No dropouts in this chain glorified. No dropouts in this chain between between between predestination, calling, justification, predestination, calling, justification, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. This happens at the and glorification. This happens at the and glorification. This happens at the second coming. second coming. second coming. Justification secures that we are found Justification secures that we are found Justification secures that we are found blameless, and the called are always blameless, and the called are always blameless, and the called are always justified. justified. justified. That link right there is guaranteed by That link right there is guaranteed by That link right there is guaranteed by the faithfulness of of God.

God. God. That can be true. That link is That can be true. That link is That can be true. That link is absolutely sure absolutely sure absolutely sure because God is faithful. That's what because God is faithful. That's what because God is faithful. That's what Paul is saying here. God is faithful Paul is saying here. God is faithful Paul is saying here. God is faithful by whom you were called. So, if you were by whom you were called. So, if you were by whom you were called. So, if you were called, you are going to be glorified. called, you are going to be glorified. called, you are going to be glorified. That is, at the day of the Lord Jesus, That is, at the day of the Lord Jesus, That is, at the day of the Lord Jesus, you are going to be found justified, and you are going to be found justified, and you are going to be found justified, and you are going to be found glorified you are going to be found glorified you are going to be found glorified in him. in him. in him. Here's a link that Paul uses elsewhere Here's a link that Paul uses elsewhere Here's a link that Paul uses elsewhere between faithfulness and calling. Now, Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify may the God of peace himself sanctify may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. you completely. you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body May your whole spirit, soul, and body May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless be kept blameless be kept blameless at the coming at the coming at the coming of the Lord Jesus. of the Lord Jesus. of the Lord Jesus. He who calls you is He who calls you is He who calls you is faithful. faithful. faithful. He will therefore surely He will therefore surely He will therefore surely do it. That puts it all together.

do it. That puts it all together. do it. That puts it all together. So, So, So, he called us. he called us. he called us. His faithfulness guarantees that he will His faithfulness guarantees that he will His faithfulness guarantees that he will surely do it. What is the it? Keep us surely do it. What is the it? Keep us surely do it. What is the it? Keep us blameless, that is, blameless, that is, blameless, that is, confirm us to the end. confirm us to the end. confirm us to the end. So, summing up then So, summing up then So, summing up then what we have seen what we have seen what we have seen in this passage. That's the first argument for why we can That's the first argument for why we can wait wait wait eagerly. eagerly. eagerly. Wait eagerly and confidently for the Wait eagerly and confidently for the Wait eagerly and confidently for the revealing of our Lord Jesus. revealing of our Lord Jesus. revealing of our Lord Jesus. And then there are two other arguments And then there are two other arguments And then there are two other arguments for why we can wait confidently. One is for why we can wait confidently. One is for why we can wait confidently. One is that he confirms us to the end that he confirms us to the end that he confirms us to the end guiltless. guiltless. guiltless. And the other is that he's faithful. And the other is that he's faithful. And the other is that he's faithful. And those whom he called, he always And those whom he called, he always And those whom he called, he always keeps.

keeps. keeps. Thus underlining the fact that he will Thus underlining the fact that he will Thus underlining the fact that he will confirm us to the end guiltless in the confirm us to the end guiltless in the confirm us to the end guiltless in the day of Christ. So, I think day of Christ. So, I think day of Christ. So, I think this section this section this section argues for a confident waiting. argues for a confident waiting. argues for a confident waiting. This section argues for a confident This section argues for a confident This section argues for a confident waiting. waiting. waiting. And so, Paul is saying, "You And so, Paul is saying, "You And so, Paul is saying, "You Corinthians, Corinthians, Corinthians, you are you are you are and you have every warrant to be and you have every warrant to be and you have every warrant to be confidently, eagerly waiting confidently, eagerly waiting confidently, eagerly waiting for the Lord Jesus. for the Lord Jesus. for the Lord Jesus. You're going to make it guiltless. You're going to make it guiltless. You're going to make it guiltless. The faithfulness of God and the call of The faithfulness of God and the call of The faithfulness of God and the call of God guarantee it. God guarantee it. God guarantee it. And And And the testimony of Christ the testimony of Christ the testimony of Christ that secured your riches in every way that secured your riches in every way that secured your riches in every way which include which include which include being an heir of God and inheriting being an heir of God and inheriting being an heir of God and inheriting everything he has in the future everything he has in the future everything he has in the future has been has been has been confirmed.

confirmed. confirmed. You are being confirmed. It has been You are being confirmed. It has been You are being confirmed. It has been confirmed. confirmed. confirmed. You may wait confident ly. You may wait confident ly. You may wait confident ly. And when he sees that oh, how thankful And when he sees that oh, how thankful And when he sees that oh, how thankful he is.