Paul thanks God for what he has done

PAUL THANKS GOD for what he has done. 1 Corinthians 1.4-9
Always I thank my God for you, for the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus. I have good reason to do so, because in him you have been enriched in everything, in every form of speech, and in every form of knowledge, inasmuch as what we promised you that Christ could do for his people has been proved to be true in you. The result is that there is no spiritual gift in which you lag behind, while you eagerly wait for the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will keep you secure right to the end so that no one will be able to impeach you in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can rely on God, by whom you were called to share the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good Morning . . .
God did it again. He did what he said he would do. He took the grace extended through his Son, and through the Holy Spirit, and made it come alive in the Corinthian church. Later in this magnificent letter—chapters 12-14--Paul will develop understanding of the gifts of the Spirit, but here he alludes to them, in speech and knowledge, saying that every gift was already being used in this community of believers. We will learn that they were so blessed in their gifting, but they struggled mightily with the wicked Corinthian culture always nipping at their heels, her carnality infiltrating the church.

These Spirit-given gifts are imparted at the time of our conversion; we do not choose them, and they are not our own. Do you have the gift of encouragement? How are you using it to build others up around you? The church—the universal band of believers—needs you to exercise your gift to strengthen her and further her work in the world. As I type the word ‘universal’, I think of the day when all believers will surround the throne, praising God—that will be glory! Until that day, God sustains his children and equips them to build up one another as well.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, well aware of her gifts, challenges, and struggles; he had spent a year and a half there, teaching, ministering and establishing them in their faith. He lived with Priscilla and Aquila, fellow tentmakers, who had fled Rome because of the persecution there. (Acts 18) So he starts his letter expressing his thanks for what God had done in the people, before he adds the ‘but’. . .

Jesus holds the supreme position in this passage; in the first 10 verses of this chapter, Paul mentions Jesus 10 times. “Lord” is not his name—it is his title; “Jesus” is his Greek name, and “Christ” means anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word translated “Messiah”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcpLZgCwcEE&feature=related
“In Christ Alone”
In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All--here in the love of Christ I stand



In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid here in the death of Christ I live



There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ



No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘til He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand. . .



And there it is. . . until he calls us home, we will stand in him!

Christine

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