Thank you Father God for this time that we have to spend together to read and study your word rightly divided, in particular today as we continue to study 1st Corinthians. Thank you Father that because of Christ's death, burial and resurrection as atonement for our sins, believers are now saints and I pray that we will all learn how to live a more holy and sanctified life for your glory. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus's name we pray amen.
1st Corinthians 1:2-3
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 their's and our's:
The Corinthian church is the most carnal church in the Pauline epistles. Yet, they are still believers and Paul says that they "are sanctified in Christ Jesus". Believers are sanctified the very moment that they believe the gospel. Sanctified means "set apart; as well as "holy".
That being said, because we are saved, we should live a certain way. God's word rightly divided also teaches us to live godly. We do good works as believers because of the grace of God by us allowing Christ and His word to live in and through us, not in order to try to earn our salvation or to try and stay saved (we are eternally secure no matter what). It is also the grace of God that teaches us godliness. The Corinthian believers were taking advantage of their salvation and living for the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit, which is living unto God. And, even though they had many apostolic/spiritual gifts (mainly speaking in tongues) they were not always using those gifts in edifying ways. Instead, divisions were among them and they were boasting in carnal lifestyle choices as well.
Also, the last part of this verse says "their's and our's:" As we learn to rightly divide the scriptures, we come to understand the dispensational changes that occurred in the book of acts. "Theirs" is in reference to the believing remnant of Israel (the little flock) from the Kingdom program. "Ours" is referring to the body of Christ in the current mystery program. At this particular time, their were still kingdom believers who had worshipped alongside the dispensation of grace believers. All of these believers called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and were sanctified. The kingdom program was put on hold, but these believers still needed to gather with other believers. Eventually, the kingdom believers died off. God will resume His program with Israel after the rapture. Today, only the mystery program is in effect until the rapture. One day all believers from both programs will be gathered together in one during the dispensation of the fulness of times.
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven [the church the Body of Christ and the Holy Angels], and which are on earth [kingdom believers and all of those in the prophetic program]; even in him."
Ephesians 1:10 KJB
"5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: [this marks the beginning of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which was shown to John to encourage him about the believers future]" -Rev 10:5-6
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers have peace with God now and for eternity because of His amazing grace. It's always important to think over and really meditate on this. Paul says this or something similar in every epistle to remind us that we are now sons of God and we have peace with God now and forever!
Homework: Read 1st Corinthians chapter 1. Look for key words and repeating words. Go on the Websters 1828 dictionary online and look up the definitions of these words.
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