Reveal Gathering

The city of Corinth is very similar to our culture today. A land filled of paganism, sinful desires, and selfish acts. In the same way, the church of Corinth struggles with things we still struggle with today. At the core, we all are born sinful humans. But the saving grace found in the Gospel brings us from our sinful nature into a new creation. In 1st Corinthians 5-6, we look at how we deal with our sinful past and look forwards to our holy future through Christ.

As Christians, we are all called by God. While all have a personal calling, all believers also share a same calling for the Kingdom. God has called all believers to witness and bring reconciliation through the Gospel. God has also called all to be humble and an example. If you want to be effectively used for God's Kingdom, it does not come only through talk, but from full authority of his power of the Holy Spirit.

In 1st Corinthians 3, there are two main questions that can be asked. How do we build the Kingdom? What does it mean that we are the temple of God? With Christ as the established foundation of our faith, the Gospel message brings unity and order to our lives. As our salvation being brought only by Christ alone, we are still called to have growth and sanctification in our personal lives through our character and content. For it is our personal character and content that will determine if we are true vessels and temples of the Holy Spirit.

Filled with their personal sins, the church of Corinth seemed to be influenced by the outside culture. Yet, as Paul continues to remind in his letter, the Corinth church was planted in that city for a divine reason. With the truth of the Gospel being the story and message of Jesus Christ, Paul retains that the Gospel Message is enough! At the same time, within the simple message of the Gospel, Paul begins to reference this "secret wisdom" of God, a wisdom found deep in the Kingdom of God.

Amidst all chaos, difficulty, and hardship, we find thanksgiving in all seasons.

We need to understand God's mercy. Mercy is defined as not receiving what we deserve. In result, the mercy of Christ imposes a power dynamic. If you forgive other you will also be forgiven, if you do not forgive, you also will not be forgiven.

No one is righteous not even one. Jesus is the only pure and righteous one, as He overcame all sin. Only through Christ are we a new, holy creation. Before Jesus, we are spiritually dead in our sin. After Jesus, sin no longer has any dominion over us. Yet, Jesus was not crucified, buried, and resurrected for us to keep on perpetually sinning just to have grace cover all. You have to kill the sin in your life or else it will kill you.

The law cannot save. The law can only provide direction of what it takes to live a life of perfect obedience. Yet, the law will never save because, Christ alone is our righteousness.

In one of the last letters scribed by Paul, he holds nothing back when writing to the church of Rome. Utilizing his letter to correct them, Paul divinely addresses the issues brought forth by a collection of Jews and Gentiles. In the book of Romans, Paul reminds us that whether Jew or Gentile, we are all sinners and in need of a Savior.