THE WISDOM OF GOD

The church in Corinth was a church divided by its devotion to human philosophies and human leaders. It is for this reason that the apostle Paul reminded them in the first five verses of chapter 2 that he didn’t come to them using big words and persuasive arguments. Instead he chose to focus on the Gospel and allow the Spirit of God to work in great power in their lives.

The Gospel, which Jesus died, was buried and was raised from the dead, was Paul’s message and it is to be our message.

· In His death, Jesus bore the penalty of our sins;

· And in His resurrection from the dead; He secured for us eternal life (Roman 6:5-11).

In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, the apostle Paul emphasized two points:

1. God’s wisdom is NOT discovered through human effort
The Corinthians placed so much emphasis on their wisdom and ability to discover the meaning of life through their ability to reason. But the reality is this, the more value that man puts on his wisdom, the more foolish he becomes. The Bible tells us in Romans 11:34, “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” The point is that God is so exalted above man that we must acknowledge our dependence upon Him.

The apostle Paul explains it this way in . . .

1 Corinthians 2:6–9 (ESV) – “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’”

In the first part of verse 6, Paul says, “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom.” There are some who take what Paul says here to imply that there is a wisdom that is reserved for those who are super spiritual. But the context points to the mature as being those who have put their trust in Christ for salvation. It is to the followers of Christ that Paul imparts wisdom.

The wisdom that is from God is “is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.”

The Corinthians were proud of their intellect, but Paul says here that God’s wisdom is . . .

· “Is not a wisdom of this age . . .”

This wisdom is of the world.

James 3:15 (ESV) – “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

· “Is not a wisdom . . . of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.”

These rulers are the people that the Corinthians had put so much trust and confidence in. Paul says that these rulers are “coming to nothing.”

Matthew 11:25 (ESV) – “You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”

In verses 7-8, Paul says, “But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

The message of wisdom that is delivered to the saints is “a secret and hidden wisdom of God.” This wisdom is not a riddle that man can solve, but it remains hidden until God chooses to disclose it.

In 7b, Paul goes on to say that this wisdom “God decreed before the ages for our glory.” Before time began, God had purposed to bring His people to glory through the wisdom of Christ crucified.

In verse 8, Paul goes on to say that God’s wisdom is unknown to the wise of the world. The crucifixion is proof that they did not have God’s wisdom. In their ignorance they executed God’s Son.

In verse 9, Paul quotes from Isaiah 64:4. He says, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

The point that Paul is making is that the natural eyes, ears, and hearts of man cannot know or comprehend God’s wisdom. But to those who love God, He has revealed His wisdom.

Man cannot come to God on his own; but God has come to him. Paul tells us that God has sent His Spirit to reveal His wisdom.

2. God’s wisdom is revealed through His Spirit

The Holy Spirit has revealed God’s wisdom through revelation, inspiration and illumination.

· By revelation

The first step of the Holy Spirit’s transmission of God’s wisdom is revelation.

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 (ESV) – “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

In the first part of verse 10, Paul tells us that the only way for us to know and understand God’s wisdom is through the Spirit.

In the last part of verse 10 and in verse 11, Paul explains how the Holy Spirit is able to reveal to us God’s wisdom.

(1) “For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

The Corinthians considered Paul’s teaching to be “milk.” But Paul says that the “Spirit searches everything,” and the message of redemption through the cross comes from the “depths of God.”

(2) “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Here Paul uses the analogy that just as the only person who can truly know what goes on inside a person is that person; so only God knows the things of God.

It is for these reasons that only the Holy Spirit can reveal to us the wisdom of God!

· By Inspiration

1 Corinthians 2:12–13 (ESV) – “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

Inspiration is the process by which God’s Spirit reveals God’s wisdom to us. In verse 12, we are told that the Spirit that we have received is not from the world, but from God. God has actively worked through His Spirit so that we are enabled to “understand the things freely given us by God.”

In verse 13, Paul says that the truths of God are not taught by “human wisdom,” but they are “taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

· By Illumination

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV) – “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

It is possible to read and study the Bible and yet not be able to understand it. The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were highly trained in the Old Testament, and yet they completely missed its central message.

In verse 14, Paul says that the natural person . . .

· Is unable to grasp the things of the Spirit, because they are foolishness to him;

· Is unable to comprehend spiritual truths because they do not have the Spirit to illuminate it for them.

In verse 15, we find a contrast between the natural person and the spiritual person.

· The natural person is unable to accept the things of the Spirit, but the spiritual person is able to evaluate God’s wisdom, because the Spirit of God guides them;

· The natural person is unable to comprehend spiritual truth; but the spiritual person is only concerned with God’s assessment of his life.

In verse 16, Paul reminds us that the spiritual person is able to understand the mind of the Lord, because he has the “mind of Christ.”

The Folly of the Cross

As we read through the Gospels we find many truths that are key to living, and yet it is the cross that is the central message that we have been called to deliver to mankind. If you take out the message of the cross, then the Christian church has no message. It is the message of the cross that reconciles us to God, transforms our lives, and calls us to sacrificial living!

As we look at 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, I want us to see three lessons that are learned through the message of the cross.

1. Man is defined by his response to the Cross

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) – “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

We tend to describe people based upon their ethnic group, their physical make up, their personality type, their economic status, etc.… But the Bible describes us by one of two defining characteristics:

(1) Those who are perishing, and

(2) Those who are being saved

This characteristic is determined by their response to the gospel.

· Those who see the cross as nonsense, they are on their way to ultimate ruin.

· But to those who respond to the cross with repentance and faith, the cross is the power of God that is effective in bringing about salvation in their lives.

Not only is man defined by the way he responds to the cross, but also it is . . .

2. Man’s wisdom keeps him from God

1 Corinthians 1:19–21 (ESV) – “For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom . . .”

In verse 19, the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14, to show God’s sentence against human wisdom. God says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.” The word “wisdom” here describes the ability to acquire and discern truth without God. Then He says, “The discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” This speaks of man’s ability to understand the meaning and importance of something.

Man is inclined to try and solve their own problems and fight their own battles in their own ingenuity and in their own power. But when it comes to our sin problem, our efforts keep us from God and the salvation that He offers.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

In verse 20, the apostle asks four rhetorical questions that remind us how puny we are in God’s presence.

· “Where is the one who is wise?” This refers to the Greek philosopher.

· “Where is the scribe?” This refers to the Jewish teachers of the Law.

· “Where is the debater of this age?” The men of Corinth loved to sit around and debate the various philosophies of the day.

· “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” Paul is asking them where has all the clever arguments and impressive speeches got them.

We could ask the same question today. Where have our philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, economists, scientists, and statesmen – brought us?

Paul continues in verse 21, “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom.”

Left to ourselves, we are not able to find God. Our self-sufficiency and wisdom stands in the way of us coming to know God.

We can be the smartest person in the room and yet our wisdom still will not lead us to God!

3. God has provided a way of salvation

1 Corinthians 1:21–25 (ESV) – “ . . . it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

In the first part of verse 21, the apostle Paul says that man’s wisdom keeps Him from God. But in the last part of the verse, he says that it is through the foolishness of the message of the cross that those who believe are saved.

In verses 22-23, we are given the reason that the people struggled with the message of the cross.

· For the Jews, Paul says that they “demand signs” and that the cross is a “stumbling block.” Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, the Jews were constantly demanding that He would show them a sign to validate Him and His message. Jesus told them in Matthew 12:39–40, “No sign will be given . . . except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” He also says that for the Jews the message of the cross was a “stumbling block.” To the Jews a crucified Messiah was the ultimate scandal. They understood that a man hanging on a tree was a sign of being cursed by God (Deut. 21:23).

· Paul goes on to say that the Greeks seek after “wisdom” and the cross to them is “folly.” For the Greeks nothing was more important that the pursuit of wisdom. The message of a crucified Christ was nothing but superstition.

To those who are seeking signs the cross is a stumbling block, and to those who seek after wisdom the cross is foolishness!

In verse 24, Paul says that for those who believe in God’s Son, the crucified Christ is both “the power of God” and “the wisdom of God.”

In verse 25, Paul brings his argument to a close by grounding it in this reality: God is both wiser and more powerful than mere humans.

CONCLUSION

In this world there are only two types of people.

1) Those who are perishing

2) Those who are being saved

Which are you?

Let Us Come Together

Pastor John MacArthur in his commentary on 1 Corinthians writes, “Few things demoralize, discourage, and weaken a church as much as bickering, backbiting, and fighting among its members.” When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth they were a church that was at war with one another.

In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, the apostle Paul not only identifies the problem of divisions in the church, but he also reminds them of three specific truths that should put an end to their infighting.

1. We are in this TOGETHER

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

As Paul confronts the believers in Corinth, He doesn’t approach them as a taskmaster, but as a brother.

Paul’s appeal contains three commands that are all linked together.

1) “I appeal to you . . . that all of you agree.”

Literally the command is to “speak the same thing.” The idea is that we are to live in harmony with one another.

Unity is crucial if we are going to be a healthy, and growing, Great Commission church.

2) “I appeal to you . . . that there be no divisions among you.”

The word “divisions” means to rip or to tear. The picture is that of a garment being torn apart. The apostle tells us not to allow any divisions to be among us because they will tear us apart.

3) “I appeal to you . . . that you be united in the same mind and the judgment.”
The word “united” means to “knit together.” It was used to describe the process of repairing a fishing net that had been torn apart.

The apostle isn’t calling for uniformity of thought and action, but oneness of spirit. It is this oneness of spirit that binds us together as the body of Christ and allows us to effectively complete our God given purpose.

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

In this life we are in a constant battle against the Devil, the world and the flesh. It is for this reason that we must grasp the truth that we are in this battle together!

2. We are ONE in Christ

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 (ESV) – “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

In verses 11-13, the apostle Paul confronts the specific issue that is dividing the church in Corinth. I think it is important to point out that Paul doesn’t use an unnamed source to confront them. He tells them “it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people.” To do other wise is just to entertain idle rumors.

So what is causing the rift in the church? They were divided over personal loyalty to people and personal preference. Some said, “I follow Paul,” others said, “I follow Apollos,” some said, “I follow Cephas,” and others said, “I follow Christ.” It was this self-centered pride that had caused a divided church.

What are the things that divide the church in America today?

• Worship style
• Tradition
• Age differences
• Ethnic differences
• Economic differences
• Minor doctrinal issues

In verse 13, the apostle asks a series of rhetorical questions that bring us back to what’s really important. He asks, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?””

The answer to each of the questions is NO! Jesus is not divided; Paul has never been crucified for anyone; and no one was ever baptized in his name.

The central principle that is taught here is that we are one in Christ!

Romans 12:5 (ESV) – “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

When we quarrel and fight, we reflect a poor image of the Lord to a world that desperately needs to see Jesus!

3. We are bound by one PURPOSE

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 (ESV) – “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

Paul’s point here is not to take away from the importance of baptism. In fact Jesus commanded us to “Go . . . to make disciples . . . to baptize and to teach” (Matt. 28:19-20). He is simply pointing out that our priority is to preach the gospel.

There are many things that we do as a church that are important, but none of them surpasses the importance of sharing the good news that Jesus came to take away the sins of the world.

It is easy for us to get caught up in the things that make us different, but for the sake of the world, let us commit to focus on the task that our Lord has given us!

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

CONCLUSION

The process of seeing this church revitalized is not an easy path. Along the way there are going to be many opportunities for us to become cross with one another. It will be in those times that we will be faced with a choice: we can either chose to divide up into factions or we can chose to stay committed to the Lord, to each other and to the task that He has given us!

Let us remember the lessons of 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

1) We are in this together

2) We are one in Christ

3) We are bound together with one purpose

God is Faithful

The philosophy of many who live in our country today is that God is an impersonal being who created the world, but has little interest in their daily lives. The Bible teaches that God is not only the Creator, but He is personally involved in His creation and is a giver of gifts. 

In Paul's letter to the church in Corinth he reminded them of four things that God had given them as saints for which he was thankful. 

1 Corinthians 1:4–9 (ESV) -- "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶ even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

1. God has given His GRACE

In verse 4, Paul wrote that he always gave thanks to God for the "grace of God" that was given to them in Christ Jesus. Grace is the undeserved and unmerited kindness and mercy of God that is given to sinners through the work of Jesus on the cross. 

It is God's grace that removes our guilt. The Bible teaches that we stand before God guilty and helpless, and because God is just, He cannot just turn His head and ignore our sin. The Bible teaches in Romans 6:23 that, "The wages of sin is death." But in His great love for us, God sent His Son to bear the penalty of our sins on the cross. It was there that God poured out His judgment upon our Savior. 

It is God's grace that removes our obligation. Because of our sin the wage that we had earned was death. Death speaks of eternal separation from the God who created us in His image. God's grace isn't received as a result of us being good. It is a free gift. If we could pay God back for the grace that we have received then it would no longer be a gift, it would be a loan (Romans 4:4). 

We have not received God's grace because we are good, and it isn't through our goodness that we retain God's grace. It is a free gift that is received by faith. 

2. God has given His RICHES

In verse 5, Paul wrote that they "were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge." The word "enriched" means to be caused to become very wealthy. It is in Christ, that we have been given everything that we need to live life to its fullest (2 Peter 1:3). 

Here Paul gives two specific things that we have inherited from Jesus: (1) We are enriched with "all speech." God has empowered us to speak for Him. This doesn't mean that we will be eloquent, have an extensive vocabulary, or an attractive personality. What it does mean is that when we speak up for Him, that he will use us in our uniqueness. (2) We are enriched with "all knowledge." This doesn't mean that we will know everything, but that He will give us all that we need to speak effectively for Him.

3. God has given His GIFTS

In verse 7 Paul writes, "So that you are not lacking in any gift." Later in this letter Paul will give more details about the gifts that God has given. Here I will just say a couple of things about the gifts. (1) The gifts were given primarily to build up the church. (2) Since we aren't lacking in any gift, then we don't need to look for some other gift to make us complete or to make us more spiritual.

4. God has given us HOPE

We live in a hopeless world, and often we cannot help but grieve over it. But the world's hopelessness should not steal our joy. In 1 Corinthians 1:7–9, the apostle reminds us of four truths that should give us hope despite the circumstances that are going on around us.

1 Corinthians 1:7b–9 (ESV) -- "As you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

(1) Jesus will be exalted

• When Jesus was came the first time, He came as a suffering servant to take away the sins of the world. But on that day, He will be crowned "Lord of lords and King of kings" (Revelation 17:14).
• Over the last 2,000 years their are many who have mocked Him and His name, but on that day "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2:10).
• On that day, Jesus will receive the glory, honor, and majesty that He is due (Revelation 4:11; 5:12).

(2) God will sustain us until the end

The word "sustain" in verse 8 means to increase in inner strength. The Bible teaches that God has placed His Spirit in us to strengthen and empower us until that day (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 4:30). It is for this reason that we can rest in the truth that our security isn't based in us being holy. Our security rests in God's faithfulness. 

(3) We will be found guiltless on that day

The apostle reminds us in verse 8 that on the Day of Judgment that those who are in Christ will be found "guiltless." We will not be found guiltless because of who we are, or because of what we have done. We will be found "guiltless" because of who Jesus is, and because of what He has done for us. 

(4) We are called to fellowship with the Son

The word "fellowship" in verse 9, means partnership. It speaks to the intimate relationship that we are to enjoy with our Savior and Lord. Jesus told us in John 15, that we are to abide in Him. 

In Christ we have been given everything that we need to live life and to establish His kingdom on earth. Let us live for Him not out of guilt or obligation, but because of the depth of the love that He has poured out on us!

Praying for your Pastor

I read this on the Together for Jesus blog (t4g.org) this morning and I know that I would love for my church family to pray these over me. 

1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God.

2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

3. That [your pastor] would be a useful servant of the Lord, that he would know and love God's word, God's people, and God's kingdom; that he would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell's gates.

4. That [your pastor] would study, practice and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

5. That [your pastor] would love to pray, because he loves to commune with his God, and that he would be a man of prayer, characteristically.

6. That [your pastor] would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that he would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

7. That [your pastor] would be holy unto the Lord. That his tongue and heart would be wholly God's.

8. That [your pastor] would be kept from pride, and especially spiritual pride. That the Lord himself would be gracious to slay pride in him, and that your pastor would endeavor to always be putting pride to death, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

9. That God would give [your pastor] guidance as to where to focus his efforts in ministry.

10. That He would protect [your pastor] from himself, from the enemy of his soul, and from all earthly enemies.

11. That no decision which [your pastor] ever makes or desire that [your pastor] ever pursues would restrict his ability to pour his whole soul into the Gospel ministry.

12.That many would be converted and many built up under [your pastor]'s ministry, to God's glory alone.

13. That the Lord would bless [your pastor]'s wife, [. . . ], with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

14. That God would make [your pastor] a decent husband and father.

15. That [your pastor] would be a good friend to his wife, and love her self-sacrificially,

16. That [your pastor] would be a good daddy to his children. That they would love God, their parents and the church.

17. That [your pastor] would be a testimony in the home so that his wife might be able to respect him when he is in the pulpit, and so that [your pastor] will be able to feed her soul, along with the rest of the congregation.

Building Community

To truly understand the book of 1 Corinthians, it is important that you know a few facts about the city of Corinth during the first century.

• It was a large city. During the time that the apostle Paul lived in Corinth it is estimated that there were between 100,000 to 300,000 people living in the city.
• It was a prosperous city. Due to its location on a major trade route and because it was a port city there was a lot of cash flowing in the city.
• It was a diverse city. Again, because of its location and because of its great wealth, people from all over the world gathered in Corinth.
• It was a religious city. Among the temples that you would find in Corinth would be temples to Aphrodite, Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes, and Isis. The Pantheon a temple that was built to "all the gods" was also in Corinth.
• It was a cultured city. Corinth boasted a theater that would seat over 14,000 people and it was the host for the Isthmian Games. The Isthmian Games were held every other year and they rivaled the Olympic Games. The most outstanding athletes of the ancient world would compete in these games.
• It was a sinful city. Because of its wealth the city had become very materialistic. It was also known for its drunkenness and its sexual immorality. There were over 1,000 temple prostitutes from the temple of Aphrodite working the streets each night.

To be honest the first century city of Corinth looks a lot like America in the twenty-first century.

It was to this city, that the apostle Paul was called by God to preach the gospel. For a year and a half, the apostle lived and taught here and many were added to the Kingdom of God. The sad thing is that three years later this once growing church was now filled with problems. It is for this reason that First and Second Corinthians were written. 

In First Corinthians 1:1-3, the apostle Paul introduces his letter by reminding them of the authority by which he wrote and also who they are in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV), the apostle writes, "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes." There is much that could be said about this verse, but the thing that I want to point out is that Paul was called by God to be an apostle. He wasn't called by his momma, the church, or even his own desire. He was called by God, and it was by God's authority that he gives these instructions to the church.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV), Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

We are told in verse 2 that the audience for this letter is the church. The question for us is what is the church? The Greek word "church" literally means "called out ones or the ones gathered together with a purpose." So a church can simply be defined as a community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are committed to carrying out His will one earth. 

In verse 2 we find a four-part description of the church:

1. The church is a divine community. Paul wrote this letter to "the church of God." In a day where there is so much confusion about who runs the church, let this verse settle the issue once and for all. The church belongs to God! 
2. The church is a local community. Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth." When the church gathers it is a physical reflection of God's presence on earth. There are many in our day, who believe that there is no need to attend church. They are a part of the universal church and the church is all around them. The problem with this understanding is that God created us to live in relationship with Him and with one another. To just be a part of the universal church requires no commitment, no accountability and no real sacrifice. 
3. The church is a unique community. He goes on to say, "To those sanctified in Christ Jesus." The fact that we are "sanctified" means that we are set apart and we belong to God. It is this relationship with God that impacts how we live and what we live for. We are to live godly lives and we are to be busy carrying out His purposes!
4. The church is a universal community. "To those . . . called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours." Although the church is local, it's also universal. To be universal means that it includes all believers. In those times that we begin to think that the universe revolves around our church, this is a reminder that we are just one small piece of God's Kingdom. In those times that we feel overwhelmed by the culture around us, this is a reminder that we are not alone. 

In verse 3, the apostle Paul concludes introduction with these words, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the common greeting that Paul uses in his letters (Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2), and it summarizes the gospel. Grace is God's work in us through Christ where He gives us what we don't deserve, (i.e. salvation, sanctification, a right standing before Him, etc.). And peace is the fruit of God's grace. It is God's grace that brings us into a harmonious relationship with God and with one another. 

As we continue our journey through First Corinthians these basic principles will impact all of the apostle Paul's instructions to the church.

The Problem with Religion

In Jonah 3, we find that Jonah preached an eight-word sermon and the people of Nineveh believed God, they humbled themselves before God and they turned from their wickedness. God looked upon their repentance and showered them with His mercy and grace. Jonah's response to God's mercy? We are told in Jonah 4:1 (ESV) "It displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry." This man of God who had experienced God's grace was now angry that God had shown grace to the Ninevites. 

The problem with Jonah is that he was eat up with religion. When I read Jonah 4:2-11, there were three things that stood out to me. 

1. Jonah's prayer revealed his disease (Jonah 4:2-4)

• Jonah was an idolater. In Jonah's prayer in verse 2, Jonah uses the words "I" or "my" five times. An idol is anything that we love more than God. For Jonah, his idol was self. All he cared about was what he thought was important. 
• Jonah was ignorant. In his prayer Jonah blamed God's character for why he disobeyed Him. He said that it was because God was "gracious," "merciful," "slow to anger," "abounding in steadfast love," and "relenting from disaster"  that he chose to run away. Jonah had no problem receiving God's grace and mercy, but he was disturbed by the fact that God could care about the Ninevites. 

2. God's provision reveals God's lesson plan (Jonah 4:5-9)

Jonah acting like a spoiled child, storms out of the city, builds himself a booth and sits down in its shade waiting to see what God would do. In verse 6, we are told that God appoints a plant to provide Jonah shade to "save him from his discomfort." God's gift of this plant is a reminder of His grace toward Jonah.

In verses 7-8, God appoints a worm to come and attack the plant, so it dies. The next morning, God appoints a "scorching east wind" to blow on him and the sun beat down him until he felt faint. Jonah prays to die. God's destruction of the plant and the scorching east wind are reminders of God's judgment.

3. God's question reveals Jonah's heart (Jonah 4:10-11)

In Jonah 4:10–11 (ESV), The Lord says to Jonah, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

God's question revealed that Jonah cared more about his personal comfort than he for the spiritual welfare of an entire city. It also reveals the deep compassion that God had for these who were His enemies. I am so thankful that God has compassion on His enemies. The Bible says in Romans 5:10 (ESV), "While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son."

    As we consider the lesson of Jonah, it applies both to our personal lives as well as to the life of the church. I encourage you to pause and consider these questions.

1) On a personal level, the book of Jonah forces us to examine our own personal struggle with God. The truth is that we are more like Jonah than any of us would like to admit.

·   What has God called you to be or do that puts you into a contest of wills with Him?

·   What is it that God has called you to do that has set you to running away?

·   Is there an area of your life that you have refused to surrender to God?

·   Who is it that you have resisted loving or caring for because their values, beliefs, or lifestyles you find at odds with yours?

2) The book of Jonah also challenges us as a church. Will we choose to stay in our holy huddle, when the next play calls us to energetic evangelism and costly mission?

·   What traditions or customs have we placed before our calling to make disciples of all nations?

·   What excuses have we made for why we can’t have impact on our community?

·   What would happen if today we made a conscious choice to love our city and the neighborhood that God has placed us in with the same kind of love and compassion that He has for them?