Context No. 4067 of 4322 · 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:1-9: in context

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2to the assembly of God which is at Corinth—those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours: 3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge— 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you— 7so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul opens his letter to a troubled and divided church, and before he addresses any of their problems, he begins with thanksgiving and assurance. He thanks God for the grace given them in Christ, notes that they are not lacking in any spiritual gift, and then gives a promise that anchors everything: God will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ; God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son.

Two things stand out. Our security rests on God's faithfulness, not our own. Paul does not tell the Corinthians they will make it because they are strong or consistent; they were, in fact, quite a troubled church. He tells them God is faithful, and God will sustain them to the end. The one who began the work in them will complete it. And the goal is glorious: to be presented guiltless in the day of Christ. There is deep assurance here for believers who fear they will not hold out. Our perseverance does not finally depend on our own strength, which fails, but on the faithfulness of God, who called us into fellowship with his Son and will keep us to the end.

When I fear I will not hold out to the end, do I rest not in my own strength but in the faithfulness of God, who called me into fellowship with his Son and has promised to sustain me guiltless to the day of Christ?

Sources

1 Corinthians 1:8-9: "Who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son."
1 Corinthians 1:4: "I always thank my God concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6: "He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."