Setting Up Saying Hard Things (1 Corinthians 1:1-9) – Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians might be the hardest and most pointed letter he wrote. There are a number of issues that they need to deal with (1 Corinthians 1-6) and a number of questions they are confused about (1 Corinthians 7-16). But, before Paul started to deal with all the problems he did some things to make his message a little more receptive. This offers us some principles that we might want to implement before we jump straight into correcting others:
- Get Another Respected Believer On Board (1 Corinthians 1:1)
1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Sosthenes was a leader at the synagogue in Corinth (cp. Acts 18:17) and was beaten for his acceptance of the Gospel message. This would have been a man that was a part of the Corinthian body and someone who the church would have likely respected. Being able to have his name as a part of this letter would have kept the people as writing the letter off as only Paul’s opinion. Having the support and agreement of other mature believers will give more weight when we have to say hard things and makes it less of a personal affront.
- Acknowledge That We Are a Spiritual Family (1 Corinthians 1:2)
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Paul acknowledged that the people he was speaking to were followers of Jesus and were a part of the same family as he was. Before we point out what brother or sister is doing wrong we should take the time to point out that we are all serving the same master and are a part of the same family.
- Express Thankfulness for the Them Being a Part of the Family (1 Corinthians 1:3-4)
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
Paul constantly thanked God that He had moved in the hearts of these people. He thanked God that a number of Corinthians had surrendered to the gospel. When believers don’t quite act the way they should it can be frustrating, but when we remember how awesome it is that they are no longer lost it can soften our hearts.
- Acknowledge the Growth That Has Occurred (1 Corinthians 1:5-6)
5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
Paul had seen change and growth in the Corinthians. Though they were far from perfect and Paul was going to address that acknowledging that growth has happened and is continuing to happen give both parties hope that it can continue.
- Acknowledge that God is Working on Us Till He Returns (1 Corinthians 1:7-9)
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul acknowledged that God would be working in hearts till his return. It is good to point out that we never really reach full maturity until Jesus makes his way back. This helps the audience to not receive the exhortation too negatively and should remind the disciple-maker to be patient.
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