1 Corinthians 1:1

1 Corinthians 1:1 says, Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,  As always, Paul identifies himself to those he is writing to .  We do not know much about Sosthenes, except he was with Paul and accepted by Paul as a brother in Christ.  When we read things today that are written about God, we need to make certain that we know who it is that is writing them.  Not everyone who writes about Who God is and what He wants from us is a born-again believer in Christ.  Paul said he was called to be an apostle, and we need to be sure that if we are reading things written about God that they are written by someone who is God's servant through a call and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  If what is presented is not consistent with the teachings of the Bible, we need to avoid it.  That would include what I write.  If anything that I say goes against the teachings of the Bible be certain that what I write is wrong.  Verse two adds, 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:  Paul's letter had a specific group that it was addressed to, but it had a universal message.  Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, those who were sanctified in Christ Jesus.  This is what the church always was and always will be, and that is a group of sinners saved by grace.  Paul expanded his audience to include all who called upon Jesus as Savior and Lord in every place.  That would include us today as followers of Christ.  Verse three continues, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one way that we can find peace, and that is through the grace of God.  When we are living under the Lordship of Christ, we can really know peace, no matter what may be going on around us.  Verse four states, I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; Paul was always thankful for his fellow believers.  This should be our attitude as well.  We should always lift each other up in prayer and never let little disagreements come between us.  We are to be united in our love for Christ.  Verse five adds, That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;  Paul's prayer was that they would be enriched in everything by their salvation and the lordship of Christ.  We today should always be enriched by our relationship with Christ.  This does not mean materially enriched, but spiritually enriched.  Verse six continues, Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: Paul prayed that their salvation might be confirmed. Salvation is more than just saying the right words.  Salvation brings a change of heart that should be confirmed in our lives always.  Verse seven says, So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul prayed that the followers of Christ around him would use their spiritual gifts.  When all believers use the spiritual gifts that God has given them, then the gospel can be spread effectively.  We are called to be at work for God while we await the return of Christ.  Verse eight adds, Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, when He returns, will confirm us for all time, and if we are following Him obediently, He confirms us daily.  Again, this does not mean that one day we are God's and the next day lost to Him, but that we can be effective or ineffective in our witness for Him.  Verse nine continues, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  We can always rely on God to be faithful to us.  We have an everlasting fellowship with God through Christ.  This alone should cause us to rejoice every day.