Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Monday, 19 August 2024 08:26

A Journey of Grace
by Joey Carroll Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

Now that we have finished 1 John and have learned the truths that the Spirit of God communicated to the church through John, let’s start our second journey. This time, let’s walk through Paul’s letter to the church of God at Corinth. It is the book we are currently walking through on Sunday mornings.
I love the letter, even though the church at Corinth was filled with problems. I think the reason that I do enjoy it so much is because it is a letter that is marked by grace. Paul begins the letter on a note of grace, and he ends the letter on a note of grace. At the beginning of the very first chapter, Paul writes, “I thank my God concerning you for the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,” (1 Corinthians 1:3, NASB). And in the very last chapter, next to the last verse, Paul writes, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you,” (1 Corinthians 16:23, NASB).

But grace begins at Corinth long before the first chapter. In fact, it was grace that arrested Paul on the road to Damascus one particular day long before God ever sent the apostle to Corinth. On that day, Paul had not yet known grace. And apart from grace, he was doing what sinners do – rebelling against God. But for Paul it was a rebellion that was unmatched. Acts 9 tells us that Saul, later to be named Paul, had gone to the high priest to obtain arrest warrants to take to Damascus and arrest all those who professed faith in Jesus Christ. And on his way, a light flashed from heaven causing him to fall to the ground blind.

He heard a voice, the voice of the Lord who called him to faith, and he began following after the same Jesus Christ that he was formally persecuting.
Paul’s new life in Christ would be marked by two things, preaching and suffering. And by the grace of God, Paul fulfilled both of those purposes to the glory of God. It really is amazing how wonderful and powerful God’s grace is. When Paul began his journey to Damascus, he was going to arrest those who followed Christ, and by the time he arrived at Damascus, he so powerfully proclaimed the gospel message of Christ that others tried to arrest Paul and put him to death. Paul’s life was certainly all of grace. In fact, he will later say to the Corinthians, “I am what I am by the grace of God,” (1 Corinthians 15:10, NASB).

So this man, who was chosen by the grace of God, was later sent to that godless city, Corinth, to proclaim the same message of grace that had radically changed his life. But even the journey to Corinth was marked by grace. It was Paul’s second missionary journey that begins in Acts 15:36 and leads to the city of Corinth in Acts 18. If you find time this week, spend time there, and you will see how powerful grace is to accomplish the purposes of God.

But God didn’t send Paul to Corinth because they were inherently good people who had good hearts, but sometimes did some bad things. He didn’t send Paul to a people who simply needed dusting off and shined up for heaven one day. God, in His mercy and grace, sent His gospel to a terribly immoral and corrupt people from the heart. To get a good understanding of who the Corinthians were, you only need to read Romans 1:18-32. Paul wrote the letter to the Romans from the city of Corinth. The context for that letter to the Romans was formed by Paul walking around the corrupt city of Corinth.
If you follow along in the many weeks ahead as we explore 1 Corinthians, I hope that you will not only better understand God’s grace, but understand your desperate need for God’s grace as well.