The Author and Finisher of Our Faith
..... If you’ve already read our previous posting on the spiritual test, and the ‘comments’ that were posted afterward, you know the results of the test by now. So below is the proper reading of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, with the ‘missing points’ restored and emphasized:
.... "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
.... What we’d like to show you is that the chief testimony of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 doesn’t have to do with blessings, it doesn’t have to do with an appeal for unity, and it’s not talking about spiritual gifts. The central focus is on God’s Son, Jesus Christ! In fact, let’s arrange these points chronologically to illustrate this testimony properly:
..
.... Paul tells us in verses 9, 1 and 2 that we were called into the fellowship of God’s Son, Jesus. As soon as we bowed the knee and confessed Him, and the testimony of Christ was confirmed in us, we were enriched in every way – in all utterance and knowledge – by Jesus. Now Jesus is the one who has done this. The grace of God was given to us by Christ Jesus; Jesus is going to confirm us in the faith; Jesus Himself is going to keep us blameless in the faith until the day when He, Personally, returns, in the day of His revelation, to present us to Himself.
.... Paul tells us in verses 9, 1 and 2 that we were called into the fellowship of God’s Son, Jesus. As soon as we bowed the knee and confessed Him, and the testimony of Christ was confirmed in us, we were enriched in every way – in all utterance and knowledge – by Jesus. Now Jesus is the one who has done this. The grace of God was given to us by Christ Jesus; Jesus is going to confirm us in the faith; Jesus Himself is going to keep us blameless in the faith until the day when He, Personally, returns, in the day of His revelation, to present us to Himself. ..
.... From one end to the other, from the time we are called until the time He returns, Jesus is the answer. In other words, the true testimony of this passage is that Jesus Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith, and He is everything in between!
.... From one end to the other, from the time we are called until the time He returns, Jesus is the answer. In other words, the true testimony of this passage is that Jesus Christ is the author and the finisher of our faith, and He is everything in between!
.
.... Now who agrees that this should be the subtitle of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9?
.... Now who agrees that this should be the subtitle of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9?
To proceed to the next lesson, click here
Daily Bible Reading: Luke 19
posted by loren at 12:43 AM
5 Comments:
In the first year that I was a Christian, I read the entire Bible at home, between myself and the Lord, without attending church. Everything the Lord taught me during that time was very Christ centered. Then I started attending church in 1980.
Two years later I was reading this same passage, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, and I just didn’t get it. I complained to the Lord that I just couldn’t see the flow, the continuity of this passage. It was then that He showed me that I was leaving Jesus out of my understanding. Talk about a humiliating revelation! I had begun in such a Christ-centered way, and to my sorrow I found that the church that had gotten me off track again. So I flunked the spiritual test, but it set a new resolve in me and God used this passage to bring a reformation to my life.
It’s hard to explain the way one feels at that point. I knew the Bible very well. I often spoke to cultists, and had never lost an argument with them, or even a point of an argument. But now I was no longer sure I had interpreted any of it correctly (like John 5:39,40).
So I returned to the Scriptures, seeking their testimony of Jesus and refusing to settle for anything less. Yet it was a long time before I had a breakthrough, and I was getting discouraged. But what a delight when that breakthrough came!
I lived on that breakthrough for awhile, then another finally came. And then another. And now they started coming more quickly because they related to each other. Finally I reached the point where I felt I had beaten the curve, and at that point I looked back at the subjects that had given me the breakthroughs:
All of those subjects were described in the Scriptures as ‘elementary’, ‘foundational’, ‘the first thing I taught you’ or something else to show their role as a very basic subject, and finding the testimony of Jesus was the key to understanding them all (1 Cor 3:11). So if your walk with God is not necessarily Christ centered, let me assure you that you will never break into this realm unless you return to the basics and begin there. And if you’re a new Christian, you might as well start there now, and do it right in the first place.
By
loren, at 7/26/2005 12:50 AM
Hey thanks Loren. I really appreciate your humble spirit. Indeed we must be Spirit Led. I am so glad that you are reaching on the other site and not just stating facts as some other sites do. Yes I am the same Brian by the way. Did you ever check out my brothers site? www.bradlee.com? Thanks also on the correction, will correct. I'm just a sloppy ol truck driver...ha ha thanks
By
Bhedr, at 7/26/2005 8:41 PM
By the way brother.. where do you attend church now or where is the ekklesia in your area. What do you think of the Calvary Chapels?
By
Bhedr, at 7/26/2005 8:42 PM
Hi Brian,
Yes, I checked out your brother's site last time. I think I lost track of you since then. Don't know much about the Calvary Chapels, we attend a small non-denominational church in Tulsa. But, there are plenty of those in town.
By
loren, at 7/26/2005 10:38 PM
Do a quere on CSN radio. They are likeminded in many areas. A mix of Arminians and Calvanist. Can you believe that? Will check out Sufferings and the Glory soon.
I am a local trucker now. I used to run over the road but it took to much out of me. It was the hardest I've ever worked in all my life.
By
Bhedr, at 7/26/2005 11:40 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home