The Grace of GOD

 033026 Meditational Nuggets from 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 KJV          

 The Grace of GOD 

“3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;”

1 Corinthians 1:1-8 KJV 

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

2 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:

3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ

The opening of First Epistle to the Corinthians . 

(1 Corinthians 1:1–8). 

It’s a greeting, but it’s packed with meaning about identity, grace, and assurance. Here’s a clear breakdown:

1. Paul’s Authority and Calling (v.1)

Paul the Apostle reminds them that he is an apostle “through the will of God.”

His authority doesn’t come from people, but from God’s calling.

He also mentions Sosthenes, showing Christian ministry is shared—not done alone.

2. Identity of the Believers (v.2)

The church in Corinth is described in three powerful ways:

• Christ sanctified His called people → set apart for God

• Christians are called Saints → not perfect people, but people called to live holy lives

• Church locality in its polity function as a part of a global true Christian family → connected with all who call on Jesus everywhere

This means Christianity is the body of CHRIST functioning all over the world with one purpose: to share the gospel of Redemption through CHRIST, death burial and resurrection. 

3. The Blessing: Grace and Peace (v.3)

“Grace” = God’s unmerited favor

“Peace” = inner wholeness and reconciliation with God

These always come from:

• God the Father

• The Lord Jesus Christ

 This shows the unity and divine role of Jesus Christ alongside the Father.

4. Gratitude for God’s Work (v.4–6)

Paul thanks God—not the people—for what they have.

They are:

• Enriched in speech (“utterance”) → ability to speak truth

• Enriched in knowledge → understanding of the gospel

• Empowered by faith → the message of Christ is real in their lives

Their growth is evidence that the gospel is working in them.

5. Spiritual Gifts and Expectation (v.7)

The Corinthians  “come behind in no gift”

→ The church is spiritually equipped and lacking nothing needed.

But they are also:

• having within them the power of CHRIST’s Spirit, and

• hopeful for the future return of Christ

6. Assurance Until the End (v.8)

This is one of the most comforting parts:

• God will “confirm you unto the end” blotting out all sins that disabled them from godly living

• So that they will be blameless on the day of Christ.

The focus is not on their strength—but on God’s faithfulness.

7. The continuity of the church (v8) “unto the coming of Christ.”

Even though the Corinthian church had many problems (which Paul will address later), he begins by reminding them:

• Who they are → sanctified, called, gifted

• What they have → grace, knowledge, spiritual gifts

• What God will do → sustain them to the end

Before correcting people, Paul affirms their identity in Christ.

This teaches an important principle:

Growth in the Christian life starts with understanding what God has already done in you. We fail, we fall, we forget sometimes who are we in CHRIST. But GOD’s sustaining grace will lead us find our way back to CHRIST and keep on forming us into perfection until that day He will bring us home. 

Let each one of us be encourage to fill our hearts, mind and souls of CHRIST’s strengthening words. 

1 Corinthians 1:9-16 KJV 

“ 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.”

Here’s a clear, verse-by-verse breakdown of 1 Corinthians 1:9–16 (KJV) so we can really see what Paul is addressing and why it matters:

Verse 9 — Called into Fellowship

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Paul starts with a foundation:

• God is faithful — everything rests on Him through Christ, not people.

• GOD in the Name of JESUS CHRIST’s Believers are called into fellowship with Him, not into loyalty to human leaders.

The church’s identity is Christ-centered, not personality-centered.

Verse 10 — A Call for Unity

“…that ye all speak the same thing… no divisions… perfectly joined together…”

Paul pleads for:

• Unity in teaching (“speak the same thing”)

 • understand that No divisions (no factions or camps)

 • united with Same mind and judgment (shared spiritual direction)

This doesn’t mean uniform personalities—it means unified spiritual agreement around Christ and truth.

Verse 11 — The Concerned Problem Identified

“…by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.”

• Reports reached Paul (likely through Chloe’s household).

• The issue: contentions (arguments, rivalry, internal conflict).

 The church members from the house of Chloe wasn’t united—it was fractured internally. This deliberately addresses that disputes inside the household often leads to faction which is the crack that leads to division. 

Verse 12 — The Catastrophe of Divided Loyalties

“I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”

Four factions appeared:

• Paul — founder of the church

• Apollos — eloquent teacher (Acts 18:24)

• Cephas (Peter) — prominent apostle

• “Christ” group — possibly claiming spiritual superiority

Even saying “I am of Christ” here may reflect pride, not humility.

They turned spiritual leaders into identity labels, which eventually have led to idolatry. 

Verse 13 — The Core Question

“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you?”

Paul uses sharp questions:

• Christ is not divided — so why divide His body?

• Crucified on that cross was Only Jesus  — not Paul or any leader

• Baptism is in Christ’s name, not a preacher’s

This cuts to the heart: Loyalty to leaders must never replace loyalty to Christ.

Verses 14–16 — Why Paul Baptized Few

“…I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius…”

Paul explains:

• He baptized only a few:

• Crispus

• Gaius

• Household of Stephanas

• Why? To prevent people from saying:

“I belong to Paul because he baptized me.”

Even the ordinances Christ commanded like baptism can be misused to create division. So church, beware!

These passages  warns us believers about church division and misplaced identity, teaching us that:

1. Christ is the center- Not pastors, teachers, or leaders.

2. Division often starts with pride- People elevate personalities instead of truth.

3. Extreme Spirituality can be misused- highlighted herein is this issue: even baptism became a badge of superiority.

4. Faithful Unity matters deeply to God- The church should reflect oneness in Christ.

Let this Simple Takeaway beware us believers: 

“Don’t build your identity around people—build it around CHRIST. For only CHRIST JESUS’ Name open the door of Heaven”

1 Corinthians 1:17-24 KJV 

 “17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

These are the most powerful passages in the New Testament. Let’s break it down clearly so you can see the flow of Paul’s message and what it really means:

🔹 Verse 17 — The Priority: The Gospel, Not Human Method

Paul says Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize, and not with “wisdom of words.”

The  Meaning:

• Paul is not minimizing baptism, but correcting misplaced focus.

• The power is not in eloquence, philosophy, or clever speech.

• If the proclamation of the message depends on human brilliance, it weakens the true power of the cross.

• 🔹 Verse 18 — Two Pronounced Responses to the Cross

“The preaching of the cross is… foolishness… but… the power of God.”

There are only two reactions:

• ❌ To those who are perishing → foolishness

• ✅ To those being saved → God’s power

 The same message, different hearts. To them who don’t believe, it is foolishness. To all who believe, it pardon sins, gives us power, peace, protection as well as provision. 

🔹 Verses 19–20 — God Preeminently Opposes Human Pride

Paul quotes from the Old Testament (Isaiah):

• God will destroy human wisdom

• The “wise,” “scribe,” and “disputer” represent intellectual pride

Human intelligence, philosophy, and debate cannot discover God on their own.

🔹 Verse 21 — God’s Providential Way of Salvation

“The world by wisdom knew not God…”

Key truth:

• Humanity failed to find God through its own wisdom.

• So God chose something that seems “foolish”:

preaching a crucified Savior

Salvation comes through faith, not intellectual achievement.

🔹 Verse 22 — Two Perpetually  Different Expectations

Paul identifies two groups:

• Jews → want signs (miracles, proof)

• Greeks → want wisdom (philosophy, logic)

 Both miss the point because they are seeking God on their own terms.

🔹 Verse 23 — The Problem with the Cross

“We preach Christ crucified…”

• To Jews → ❌ stumbling block (a crucified Messiah didn’t fit expectations)

• To Greeks → ❌ foolishness (a dying God seemed irrational)

 The cross offends both religion and intellect. The religion just made it a part to attract believers. The intellect called it the deed of a fool.

🔹 Verse 24 — The Powerful Revelation to the Called

“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”

To those who are called (responding to God):

• The cross is not Christ’s weakness

• It is God’s way to prove His power

• It is God’s true wisdom

Paul is teaching a radical truth:

• God does not save through:

• teachings from human intelligence

• topical religious signs

• theoretically impressive speech

• God saves through:

• the shed blood of the crucified Christ

• the saving knowledge which is received by faith

The Core Message : 

What the world calls foolish, God uses to reveal His greatest power. Let nothing or no one keep you away from accepting the gift of salvation provided by GOD through CHRIST JESUS. For if you miss the point of His saving grace, no sacrifice is able to save you from the imminent destruction which is sure to come. 

Accept JESUS CHRIST as your personal LORD and Savior.

Believe thar He alone is able to save you from eternal punishment of sin.

Call upon His Name in your committed, consistent prayers. 

Be saved today and be blessed forever!

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 KJV 

 “25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

One of the most powerful passages in 1 Corinthians 1, comes from these verses 25–31, where Paul shows how God completely overturns human thinking about strength, wisdom, and status.

Digging through it clearly and deeply comes these concluding messages:

🔹 Verse 25 — God’s “Foolishness” vs Human Wisdom

“The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Paul is speaking ironically: God is never foolish or weak. But even what appears foolish (like the cross) is far greater than human wisdom.

The cross looked like defeat…

…but it was actually God’s greatest victory.

🔹 Verse 26 — Who God Calls

“Not many wise… mighty… noble…”

Paul reminds them:

• Most believers were not:

• intellectually elite

• politically powerful

• socially important

This gives us understanding, that Christianity did not spread because of human greatness, but by God’s grace.

🔹 Verses 27–28 — God’s Upside-Down Choice

“God hath chosen the foolish… weak… base… despised…”

This is a repeated emphasis:

• Foolish → confounds the wise

• Weak → overcomes the strong

• Lowly → defeats the powerful

• “Things which are not” → bring down “things that are”

God deliberately chooses what the world rejects. 

Why?

To expose the emptiness of human pride and systems. That no matter how a man think highly of himself, his limitations is revealed through GOD’s Sovereign will and ways. 

🔹 Verse 29 — The Main Purpose

“That no flesh should glory in His presence.”

This is the reality: No one can stand before God and say, “I earned this.” Salvation leaves no room for boasting.

🔹 Verse 30 — What We Receive in Christ

“Christ Jesus… is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”

This verse is our richness. 

In Christ, believers receive:

• Wisdom → True understanding of God

• Righteousness → Righteous standing before God

• Sanctification → Being set apart and transformed

• Redemption → Freedom through a paid price

Everything we need spiritually is found in Christ—not in ourselves.

🔹 Verse 31 — The Only Right Boast

“He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Instead of boasting in:

• sufficiency in intelligence/literacy

• success

• status

We boast in what God has done in our lives. For all things even the things we call our own will expires. What remains with us even if we depart, is the wisdom we have in CHRIST. 

These teaches us radical truth:

God doesn’t operate by human standards. He chooses the unlikely, He removes all human pride. He gives everything through CHRIST. 

All glory belongs to God alone.

So, If you feel unqualified, you are exactly the kind of person God uses. If you feel  you are without strength, God’s might revealed in your weaknesses. If you feel you are not significant, God surely is able to make you especial. 

Your value is not in what you are…but in being CHRIST’s beloved Redeemed One. 

This is how the grace of GOD works in us. 

Let all glory, honor and praises be given to the only wise GOD who enable us to become among His beloved daughters and sons. 

Good morning! 🙏❤️