God is faithful (1Cor 1:1-9)

The God of of the bible has gracefully shown himself to us that he is faithful. Throughout scripture, God is trustworthy.

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever and his faithfulness to all generations”. Psalm 100:5

“The works of his hands are faithful and just, all his precepts are trustworthy, they are established forever and ever. To be performed with faithfulness and uprightness”. Psalm 111: 7-8

God has never shown to be unfaithful or disloyal to his word, his people and in his actions. What he says will be, will come to fruition. Every promise he makes, he keeps. He has a clean record, because he is God. At the heart of his goodness bleeds steadfast love and faithfulness. 

Let us zoom in on the church of the saints in Corinth. Struggling with division amongst each other, theological confusion, immorality and idolatry. What is happening among the saints is potentially cringeworthy. Mention the church and you meet with a shamefully awkward silence. God’s people are a pillar and buttress of the gospel truth through their lives and conduct. The church of Corinth is anything but upholding the truth of the transformative work of the good news of Jesus.  

The saints at Corinth are showing themselves unfaithful to God in their divisiveness and ungodly living. They are taking on the likeness of the world than of their heavenly Father who has redeemed them from the world’s snares, the enslavement of sin and desires of the flesh. Instead of humility that comes with salvation through Jesus, the saints are fueled by pride. 

What is Paul’s response to all this?

One would have expected for Paul’s letter to start off with guns blazing. The saints have taken the God’s fulfilled work through Jesus in vain. This does not put the gospel in good standing. Paul could have come in with strong words and a firm hand of rebuke followed by discipline. However the reality is that Paul, undeservingly calls the Corinthians to remember that they have been called by God. They have been called away from evil and sin to  a holy and righteous life. Paul has set out in his letter to remind them of that and in addition gives thanks to God to the reality he has called the Corinthians. 

I can imagine the intensity among the believers in the church, before the letter was read. Fingers being pointed, nose in the air and side-glances from the people who “followed Paul”, feeling of inferiority brewing on the other side of the room. The guards and defenses on high alert awaiting Paul’s rod of discipline. On the contrary Paul quells the fire of their pride and defenses by reminding them of their lives under Jesus. He brings them low, he brings them to a reflective silence, for all are equal at the foot of the cross of Christ. And it is Christ whom Paul preaches. 

Paul treats them with grace as he reminds them of who they are. God has done the same with us through his son Jesus Christ on the cross in bringing enemies to reconciliation.

Paul goes on to encourage them of God’s faithfulness despite their sinfulness in equipping them as his holy people and sustaining them until the return of Jesus where they will stand blameless because they have been justified through Jesus Christ. 

Evil may have thought itself victorious over the Corinthians, but God through Christ has the last laugh. The saints remain his and he is faithful to keep them. God is good, he hates sin but he will never desert his beloved and called sinners, he remains faithful to them as he has promised generations ago that he will be their God and them his people. Paul’s letter is proof of that. God through his word, further sanctifies, matures, disciplines and corrects the Corinthian saints, God’s beloved people whom he wants to make his dwelling place and plans to have them in his eternal  kingdom. 

Let us take heart, that despite uncertainties, the fallenness of the world and sin that rages in and around us, God’s word given to us and Jesus’ finished work is sufficient to keep us. As he has called you, so will he enrich you and sustain you till the day the Lord Jesus Christ returns. He is trustworthy, he is faithful.