Good morning. Last time we finished the book of
Romans, and today we start the book of first
Corinthians. My Bible says that in Paul’s day
the city of Corinth had a population of about 250,000 free persons, plus as
many as 400,000 slaves. Paul starts out like he does a lot of times listing his
credentials. Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. As
was the custom, he starts the letter with his name instead of having it just at
the end. An apostle was a messenger, or one sent by some one or group. Paul
says that he was sent by Jesus according to the will of God – he did not go out
on his own. We now find out to whom he wrote this letter. To the church of God
which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints
by calling, with all in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, their Lord and ours. My Bible says that the term “church of God“ was
only used by Paul and only in one place in Acts, here, and one place in second
Corinthians. Legally we were sanctified at rebirth, but experientially it is
worked out in our lives until we die. We were not called to be ain't s; we were
called to be saints. Father thank You that we were called to be something
special. Help us to show that specialness every day in our lives so that we may
bring others into Your kingdom
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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