Today we start 1 Corinthians. Chapter 1 and verse 1 reads.
1Cor.1:1] Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Paul, a chosen vessel of the Lord, an Apostle. Paul will use Jesus’s name 10 times in the first ten verses.
1Cor.1:2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
To the church of God and not some man. For the Lord is the only one we are to worship.
1Cor.1:3] Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The two are mentioned here, the Father and the Son.
1Cor.1:4] I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
[5] That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
But by them both we have knowledge. Let’s go to Proverbs and read chapter 1:5-7.
Pro.1:5] A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
[6] To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
[7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Fear is Revere. So, we see that through them both, Jesus Christ and the Father, we are given knowledge. Given to those that seek his word. Back to 1Cor. And verse 6 reads.
1Cor.1:6] Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
This is very important to understand. Let’s go to Revelations and read 19:9-10.
Rev.19:9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
[10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, let us never forget that. Back to 1Cor. And verse 7 reads.
1Cor.1:7] So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We wait patiently in these end times, the generation of the fig tree.
1Cor.1:8] Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
How in the world can we have so many different churches after reading this? Denomination means to divide, as Christians we have divided ourselves from the Lord, not just each other.
1Cor.1:11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
[12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
[13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
We have but one church and that is Jesus Christ. We have his word, though it has been perverted in these newer translations. This is why I always try to get back to the manuscripts as much as I can.
1Cor.1:14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Paul sounds a little mad, and I can understand that. There are many different churches and they are not teaching what they are supposed to teach. Many of us have seen in our own churches over the years how there can be clicks and such.
1Cor.1:16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
We need to teach Christ crucified. Why? For the repentance of sins.
1Cor.1:18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is this written? Let us go to Isaiah 29 and read verse 14.
Isa.29:14] Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Back to 1Cor.1 And verse 20 reads.
1Cor.1:20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Are you being taught by a Christian? Are they teaching you the truth? Can you ask them questions? Always check your teachers.
1Cor.1:21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
The stumbling block is Jesus Christ. The reason can be seen in most churches today that teach the rapture theory because they lead their church right into the hand of Satan when he comes first. The true Christ comes at the 7th. trump, Satan comes at the 6th. trump. But for the Jews, they crucified him.
1Cor.1:24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
For the Elect, his chosen.
1Cor.1:25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
To be chosen and called makes an elect. The Lord uses the meek to confound the mighty.
1Cor.1:27] But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
[28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
[29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.
[30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
[31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
This is written in Jeremiah chapter 9:23, and it reads.
Jer.9:23] Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
[24] But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Always better to be on the side of his grace. Be a delight to the Lord. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible