Called Holy

How can you call yourself a Christian when you live like that?

When I was in the Army, I met many different people from various areas, ethnicities, cultures, and religious backgrounds. I was surprised one day to come in from working on my tanker to find a large group engaged in an intense religious discussion. There were a couple of atheists who were asking some questions. To my surprise, of about fifteen people in this conversation, all but two claimed to be Christians. These were the same soldiers who were drunk the night before, who cussed in nearly every sentence, and generally acted much in opposition with what the Bible tells us a follower of Christ is supposed to look like. It was interesting to listen to them try to defend their beliefs when they really didn’t I thought, how can you call yourself a Christian when you live like you do? Then, I questioned my own life - would they say the same about me?

The same question could be asked about the church at Corinth. In the New Testament, we have two letters written by Paul to the church at Corinth, although based on these letters we can conclude that there are at least two more letters that have been lost to history. The letters to Corinth are the longest epistles we have from Paul. He wrote to correct and instruct the church on how to live as God has called them to live. Paul sought to teach them how to live counter to their culture.

Much like the Corinthians and the soldiers I mentioned, many modern Christians’s lives are more like the world than Christ. God has called us to live counter to our culture. This morning, we are going to begin to study the book of 1 Corinthians. I am titling this series “CounterCulture: Christian Living in a Secular World.” I believe that much of what Paul has to say to the church at Corinth can be applied to the church today.

Background

The city of Corinth is located on an isthmus with a connection to the Peloponnesian peninsula and Greece mainland. Shippers would come to the isthmus from either side and transport goods across the land to save time. Due to having two shipping ports, Corinth became a prosperous city under the Greeks, but it was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC. It was reestablished as a Roman city by Julius Caesar in 44 BC, with Romans soldiers being deeded 6-7 acres. Under Roman rule, Corinth once again flourished into a booming trade center.

The apostle Paul first came to Corinth around 50 AD. During the 18 months Paul was there, he founded the Corinthian church, which was comprised primarily of previously pagan Gentiles, although there were likely some Jews in the church as well. Most of the church members were likely of low social status, but there were some persons of rank among the believers, which may have led to some of the issues the Paul addresses in this letter. Paul goes to great lengths to pastorally and theologically guide the church from their pagan past to their Christian present and the glorious future. Paul calls the Corinthian church leave their old lives behind and become counter-cultural.

The introduction of Paul’s epistle sets the stage for the rest of his letter. Although he has some difficult situations to address, he reminds the Corinthian church that their identity is found in Christ Jesus and not the secular world.

1 Corinthians 1:1 CSB

1 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sosthenes our brother:

You are Called to Transformation

Paul begins by introducing himself as an apostle of Christ. This is different from Paul’s normal introduction. Normally Paul introduces himself as a slave or servant of Christ, yet to the Corinthians he introduces himself as an apostle. Why does he do this? Remember, he founded the church and knows many of the members of the church. They know who Paul is. Many have enough respect for Paul that he is confident enough to call them to imitate him twice in this letter. While it’s possible some were questioning his authority, it is not likely in this situation. I contend that he wanted to remind them of the change that had been wrought in his life by the will of God.

Remember Paul’s past. Paul, whose Hebrew name was Saul, was a Pharisee. He was zealous for God, but he did not understand that God the Father had revealed Himself through Jesus of Nazareth. He believed Jesus was a blasphemer and he sought to destroy all who followed after the “cult of Jesus.” But when Saul was on his way to Damascus to apprehend and kill the Christians in that city, Jesus appeared to him. Paul’s life was radically changed. He was transformed from prosecutor of the church to proclaimer of the gospel. Notice I said he was transformed, not that he transformed. This was not something that Paul did, but it was something that God did in Him. God changed Paul. He transformed Paul. If he can transform Paul, he can transform you, too.

Paul was writing to this church full of people with a unrighteous past. Listen to what he tells them later in this letter:

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 CSB

9 Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, 10 no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Notice he said that they were like this. They had been saved. They had been washed. They had been sanctified. They had been justified. They had a pagan past, but they didn’t have to let their past dictate their present or their future. Paul had a past, but he didn’t continue to live as he had before meeting Christ. He didn’t let his past hinder him. If anything, he used his unrighteous past to prompt him into greater reliance upon the power of the Holy Spirit to work wonders in his heart, his mind, and his soul.

Maybe you are here today and you have a past that you can’t seem to move past. This whole letter is concerned with helping the church members move from the sinful past (and present) into a life of righteousness. Yes, you can be saved, heaven-bound, and still live like hell, but I would question why your life isn’t changing to become more like Jesus. He loves you enough to accept you as you are, but he also loves you enough that He doesn’t want you to continue to wallow in the filth. He wants you to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Paul was transformed by the power of Christ Jesus. He was called an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will. You also can be transformed by the power of Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:2–3 CSB

2 To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours. 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are Called to Holiness

Notice that even though many of the church members were living like hell, Paul still noted that they were Christians. The were ἅγιος. Most translations use the word saints, but the most apt translation is holy. These former pagans have been sanctified by Christ. He made them holy; therefore, they are holy, even if their lives are not currently reflecting their holiness. This holiness is not by anything that they have done, but solely on the past work of Christ Jesus. He made them holy by His death and His resurrection from the dead.

The fact that they are holy means that they have been called out from among the rest of the people to be set aside for a purpose. Have you ever received notice that you had jury duty? You had been called out from among the population as a special representative of the people to judge according to the law in a specific case. In Greek cities, there was an assembly, an ἐκκλησία, of men called to conduct political meetings or to judge in the cases in court. Paul says that these brothers and sisters in Christ had been called out in a special ἐκκλησία. This assembly was not for man, but for God. They had been called out by God to be set apart for His purposes. Church, you have been called out from secular society.

In becoming a Christian, you have surrendered yourself to be used by God however He chooses to use you. Bill Bennett says surrendering to God would be like taking a blank piece of paper and signing your name at the bottom, then asking the Lord Jesus Christ to fill in the rest. Have you surrendered your all to Jesus? If not, do so today! He has done the work and you get the credit!

Paul reminded this local church that they were called holy. The problem is that they weren’t living as holy. They were living as the world. In some cases, even worse than the world. But they had been called out to live holy. Church, you have been called out to be holy as God is holy.

1 Peter 1:15–16 CSB

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Paul also reminded the church that they weren’t alone in this call. There were others who had also been called to holiness. While you are called to holiness, you aren’t called to isolation. God has called many people to be His possession. As this church was experiencing all manner of division, Paul reminded them that they are united with other believers in the Lord’s call. Friends, we cannot live the Christian life alone. We need to be unified with other believers to share the glories and the burdens. Paul wrote to the Romans:

Romans 12:15–18 CSB

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Friends, my grandfather has been put off of church for decades because the last church where he was a member was full of divisions. Members fought viciously with one another. There was a lack of Christian love. There was a lack of unity. There was a lack of living lives of holiness in that church. Let that not be said of us. You were called to unity with the believers “in every place,” for Christ is both their Lord and ours.

To this church rife with conflict, Paul adds not only grace, but also peace as a blessing upon them. They have experienced the grace of God, but because they are living like the world and not like the Word, they are missing out on His peace. Church, if we are to experience the peace of God, we must first experience His grace, then we must live according to the holiness He has granted us. You are called to holiness.

1 Corinthians 1:4–5 CSB

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.

God has Enriched You

Notice that Paul’s thanksgiving is not for what the people in the church have done or are doing. His thanksgiving is firmly resting in the work of God. He is the one who has shown grace to them. In these next few verses, everything about the church is not focuses on what they have done, are doing, or will do, but solely upon the work of God.

Notice Paul says that God has enriched them. He has granted them everything they needed. Jesus, God in the flesh, left His glory to come to earth as a man, who humbled himself to death on a cross so that we may be glorified with Him. Jesus took on poverty to enrich you and me. He took His perfection, His righteousness, and placed it on those who have called on His name. He became sin who knew no sin so that we might become His righteousness. If you are a believer, if you have surrendered to Jesus, God has enriched you immensely.

The church in Corinth apparently had an issue regarding speech and knowledge. They were moved by great rhetoric, but great rhetoric doesn’t mean that it is a word from the Lord. In fact, often times it isn’t. But God had provided for them the message they needed: the message of His grace found in Jesus Christ. You need nothing more, but God gives more. He provides good gifts for His children.

1 Corinthians 1:6–7 CSB

6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is Providing for You

The testimony of Jesus should have been evident in these believers, but they were living more as a testimony to the world. It was no fault of God’s though. God provides evidence of the believer’s sanctification by granting spiritual gifts by His spirit among His children. He ensures that the church has whatever she needs. Jesus taught:

Matthew 7:9–11 CSB

9 Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

These Corinthians believers may have felt like they were missing out on something. Maybe their new pastor wasn’t as good at rhetoric as Apollos. Maybe he didn’t have the theological knowledge of Paul. Perhaps he didn’t have the experience of Peter. Paul assured them that there was no gift they were lacking. God was providing all that they needed.

Church, we have various needs in our church right now. We need someone willing to work with our youth. We need people aside from Nicole who willing to work with our children. You need a pastor. We see the needs, but God has provided. He has granted the gifts of the Holy Spirit to each believer. Some just need to lay aside their pride and be willing to do the work. There is nothing that we lack that God has not given in this present time.

God provided a past enrichment and a present giftedness, but we, like the Corinthians, “eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore Paul writes also of our future standing:

1 Corinthians 1:8 CSB

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

God Will Perfect You

I prefer the more literal translation of the New American version:

1 Corinthians 1:8 NASB95

8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul said that Jesus will confirm them blameless at the end-goal of His return. The aren’t living as blameless right now. In fact, Paul has a lot of issues to address. But in the end, they will be blameless, not because they earned it; because Jesus said so. He earned it. Right now He says that they are holy, but there is a discrepancy between what they are and how they live because of the presence of sin. Believers are free from the power of sin, but not the presence of sin. But one day Christ will return in power and in glory. He will set all things right. We will be free from the presence of sin.

Our bodies will be glorified just as Christ’s resurrected body was glorified. We will be free from the effects of sin. All who have called upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be perfect and blameless. Though there was much sin that Paul would accuse the Corinthian church, though there is sin that you and I can rightly be accused of now, on that day, we will no longer be able to be accused. Sin will be abolished forever and ever!

This confidence is not found in us, but solely in what God has done for us. Look at how Paul wraps up his introduction:

1 Corinthians 1:9 CSB

9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

You are Called into Fellowship

If you were to look at this in the Greek, you would read the word faithful first. Faithful, God is. It’s emphatic. All of these promises don’t rest on what we do, but on what God has done on our behalf through His Son. This is covenantal language from the Old Testament. God was faithful to Israel, even when they rejected Him. Even when they rebelled against Him, He was faithful. God is worthy of our belief, our trust, and our devotion because He is faithful to us. Our hope is not grounded in what we do, but in the work of God.

He saved us through Christ Jesus. He transforms us by the power of His Spirit. He calls us to join Him in His work, providing all that we need to complete the work He has given us. All because He desires to be with us. You are called into fellowship with God through His Son. That doesn’t mean eating a meal. It means to participate or share in Christ. We must live with the end in mind. You must live in fellowship with Christ.

Your eternal destiny should affect your temporal biography. You must live according to who you are: Called Holy by God.