What is God doing with the Corinthians? With Us?

1:4 - I thank my God always concerning you (CORINTHIANS) 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 concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.9God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

4:8- You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed,I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

6:2-Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competentto constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

6: 9-Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

9:23 - I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

11:19-For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

11:26-For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

15:22-25-For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,24then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

15:50-Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

What is God doing with the Corinthians? With Us?

ANSWER: God is molding a distinct people from the nations for His very own to represent Him and rule over His everlasting Kingdom with His beloved Son.

There are four conversions that God must make in His people for them to be fitting helpers for His Son in the Kingdom of God.

  1. God is molding a people absorbed with temporal values into those gripped with eternal values. (1 Corinthians 1-4)
  1. God is transforming a people immersed in injustices into those enthralled by God’s righteousness. (1 Corinthians 5-11)

Cf. Deuteronomy 4:5-9

Proverbs 1:3

Proverbs 2:9

Psalm 99:4

  1. The training ground for the future reign is now (1 Corinthians6:2-3, 1 Corinthians9:24-27)
  2. The divisions now are orchestrated by God for discrimination (1 Corinthians11:19)
  1. God is changing a people enamored with themselves into those who thrive on loving others. (1 Corinthians 12-14)
  1. God will exchange a people in corruptible bodies for incorruptibility (1 Corinthians 15)