Mar 16, 2026

GOD, WHO HAS CALLED YOU, IS FAITHFUL

Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Key verse: 9

NIV

chapter 1

1. Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2. To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours:

3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.

5. For in him you have been enriched in every way - with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge -

6. God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.

7. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

8. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

10. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

11. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

12. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

13. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14. I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

15. so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

16. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)

17. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Paul opens with a reminder and a blessing. He reminds the Corinthian Christians that they are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be Jesus’ holy people, and in equal standing and fellowship with all who call on Jesus Christ as Lord. Paul blesses them with grace and peace. Although deeply flawed by sin, Paul grounds them in their identity as Jesus’ people. Do you only see yourself through your sins and problems or through how Jesus calls you and sanctifies you?
Paul also prays for them. He thanks God for enriching them in every way and giving them every spiritual gift they need. Their new lives in Christ testify to the work of Christ in them (6). As they await Jesus’ second coming, Jesus keeps them firm to the end. God is faithful. Praise God who is faithful to his children!
The first problem Paul addresses is their quarreling. They quarrel over human loyalties and who baptized them. However, they are not Christians because of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas. They are Christians because of the gospel of Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the dead. Instead of dividing over human leadership, they must repent and be united under the cross of Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being faithful to sinners like me. Help me to remain in fellowship with you and with others by the power of the cross.

One Word: Trust God who is faithful

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