Introduction: "Jesus, Yes! The church, no!"

Remember when that slogan was popular among young people in the '60s? They could have used it with sincerity in Corinth back in A.D. 56, because the church was in serious trouble. Sad to say, the problems did not stay within the church, they were known by the unbelievers outside the church.

To begin with, the church at Corinth was a defiled church. Some of its members were guilty of sexual immorality, others got drunk, and others were using the grace of God to excuse worldly living. It was also a divided church, with at least four different groups competing for leadership (1 Cor. 1.12). This means it was a disgraced church. Instead of glorifying God, their selfishness was hindering the gospel message from being accepted.

Paul first tackled the serious problem of defilement, even though he said nothing of the problem itself. He reminded the members of their high and holy calling and position in Christ. He described the church that God sees, and then he described the church that the unsaved see. Note four things:

1. Set apart by God. Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 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: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Enriched by God's grace. Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
3. Expecting Jesus to return. So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
4. Depending on God's faithfulness. Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.