You are not lacking in any spiritual gift
Tue, 14 February, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge– 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you– 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today we begin Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. Paul begins in his standard way, by telling them who he is, who he is writing to, and then a prayer for the people to whom he is writing.
What do we learn from this?
Paul tells us that the church in Corinth is enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge, and that they are not lacking in any spiritual gift.
God works in and provides for His church. He is active in bringing His people into obedience to His word, and He is gives the church what they need. Paul will use the analogy of a body, where the different members of the church are different body parts. Each has a function and a purpose. The individuals of the church don’t all have the same roll, but instead each provides something necessary that would be lacking without them.
No matter what my part is to play in my local church, I am needed. And as I fail to be a part of my local church, I am denying them the skills and talents God has given me to be used in the local church. I have a responsibility before God to fill the roll God has for me in my church. God has given me the ability to fill this roll to meet the need. I owe it to God and to my fellow church members to do what God has given me to do within the church.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Paul tells us that as a member of His church, you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. As we serve God in His church, we grow in our sanctification (our obedience to Him), and we also grow in fellowship with Jesus Christ, who is the King and Head of His church.
