"Grace To The End"; I & II Corinthians
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
September 1, 2012
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Introduction:September 1, 2012 "Grace To The End" I & II Corinthians Grace is an active, live ingredient, not a passive covering. Grace is the equivalent of an umbilical between the heart of God and the heart of the spirit man. It nourishes, even when the people of God are unaware of its actions. Grace delivers the sufficiency to overcome evil and grow the inner man toward the stature of Christ. Grace, however, refuses the company of the three confrontations Paul made with the Corinthian church: immorality, division and judgmental Pharisee-ism. Grace is never a covering for sin. Grace is the flow of the river of life, bringing the ingredients needed to sustain and cause growth in the believer. "By grace we are saved through faith." Grace gives birth to faith and faith gives access to Grace. "By grace" is a powerful attachment to the heart of the saint. When the soul and spirit awaken to Grace's provision, then songs of worship and praise come from once silent lips, testimonies pour out of soon-to-be prophets, pages fill up with writings from revelation's advances, while preachments find their expression in the moving of the Spirit. Grace never stops pouring out what is needed to expand man's vision and enrich his spirit. When Paul cried out for deliverance from his thorn in the flesh, God's answer was, "My Grace is sufficient." Although Paul wrote an epistle of confrontation regarding Corinth's three affronts, he wrapped it in declarations of Grace. Paul was growing in his ministry. This third set of writings, in the chronology of epistles, is nothing short of a rich clarification in his heart for what is important in the kingdom. When one reads these letters, there is a sense of, "Why should I have to deal with these temporal issues when there are so many life changing lessons to be addressed?" There is a sense of urgency in these two epistles toward, "Presenting what is really important for the saint to know." Alas, Paul knew his priorities. He did not live in a perfect world. Corinth was a city rife with sexual symbols and perverted religion. Prostitutes were used to worship pagan deities while the population practiced a form of sexual ritual that tainted every waking moment. Even the mosaic tiles that were used for sidewalks contained images of phalluses. Corinthians believed, while sexual congress was taking place, the gods hovered over and protected the participants; therefore, they used sexual symbols in moments of danger to guard against harm. Even greetings between citizens contained language and expressions of a sexual nature. It was out of this culture that a church was born. Grace reached down and saved the heart of men and women who turned from darkness to light. Grace poured into them the spiritual nutrients necessary to grow saints in a world of sinners. They grew in spiritual prowess, and Paul was the catalyst God used to bring a message of hope and change that was not a political ideology, but an inner resource given through Christ Jesus. Paul wrote Corinthians to affirm how it was God who established His beachhead in their hearts and through whom must come a witness that was holy and undefiled. The Corinthian church did not exist as a testimony of one man's message, but a fortress to which a crazed populace could run to find Grace. I Corinthians: Early on, Paul entered these epistles with declarations that built a wall to surround the three issues he wanted to confront. He surrounded them with teachings on Grace and how it works in the heart of the saints. These opening verses form a point of reference to be used in other parts of his treatise. As a matter of fact, Paul stacked one lesson atop another to build a wall of resistance to sin and error. It is a fact: God's Grace does a mighty work in the heart of the true believer. When received with gladness and acted upon, it will produce a wall of defense and fill one with Holy Ghost power. Its source is Jesus (v.4). "What grace does" is methodically enumerated by Paul who knew by experience its works.1 Corinthians 1:4 The Corinthians were "enriched in everything," with an overflowing of utterance and knowledge. (Note: Think on this one statement.) Is this not what is needed among our impoverished, Spirit-starved, congregation? There needs to be a massive prayer for the works of Grace to fill hearts and to enrich in everything by Him. Grace-filled speech is different from theology-filled teaching. Grace-propelled knowledge is exceedingly perceptive. (Think of the kind of Spirit knowledge that Peter experienced when he read the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira.) Lost to the modern church is this kind of Grace-Knowledge. (I was discussing with two missionaries, who were visiting in our home, this very issue. Where is the Spirit-knowledge that once characterized the saints at the turn of the last Century? They would get in the presence of someone and know their past and speak to their future. Grace enriched them in all utterance and knowledge. Their holiness prevailed against almost insurmountable odds [i.e.: John Lake, others].) (Note: Take into your heart, I Cor. 1:6, 7.) Grace engendered prophecy cries out a different message than is heard in modern times. ("The testimony of Christ" is the Spirit of prophecy.) Paul lived this testimony. He perceived his ministry to have the inclusion of sacrifice and he precluded he must become, in all things, like Jesus. Paul came short in no gift (including all the gifts of the Spirit outlined in this epistle). He excelled in the gifts because of Grace. He knew, in order to multiply his witness, he must teach this to others. Building upon what he wrote in Thessalonians (his epistle was circulated in Corinth), he declared that Grace is sufficient to bring them to the end and "confirm" them "blameless" in "that Day." Theirs was to be a true Grace-fellowship. Each should be able to see the Grace of God in the other. Because the focus in this study is Grace and the passages that point to it, we will simply expound on each successive passage as it appears in Paul's treatise, while noting the growth of intensity in each expression It is one thing to declare a truth; it is another to emblazon it with hot imperatives. (Note: Both Paul and Apollos had ministered effectively in Corinth, but because of pride and the spirit of elitism [expressed mainly among the Judaizers], there arose division among the congregants. I and II Corinthians, as a whole, continually addressed this and two other issues, while bringing together a mighty lesson about Grace.)1 Corinthians 3:10 Always, in the background of Paul's teachings, is an awareness of his Damascus road experience. He was never far away from appreciating God's Grace which turned him from a Saul to a Paul. At this point, Paul settled forever one of the basic tenets of ministry. All ministry is because of God's grace and it is never a personality issue. (We can only hope TBN and others can grasp this truth.) Here, the Apostle gave his initial teaching on what would be a major expression in his future epistle to the Ephesians. Paul (and other apostles) laid a foundation that others would eventually build on. There is only one criterion for building on their foundation, "Take heed how you build on it." Grace-filled structure is all that will be tolerated. Wood and stubble will not be tolerated. (The straw men, who are seeking to build "their ministries" today, should take heed. How dare they approach the edifice of Grace with unclean motives?) Personality cults are rampant today, as evidenced by smiling billboards and television/internet appeals. There is but one sermon to be broached for the local minister's gathering, "Take Heed, how you build, brethren!" Fortunately, these next passages explain things even better. How many of you know these salient truths apply to today? Boasting in men and their agendas has become the rule of the day. (Many years ago a graduate Professor, Dr. M. B. Wade, said, "One can accomplish a great deal in this world, if one doesn't mind who gets the credit." Among today's leadership Dr. Wade would have few takers.)1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Strangely enough, we now actually have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but we still have few fathers. Fathers care for their sons and daughters. They sacrifice themselves in order for their offsprings to have their expertise and knowledge. Encouragement and correction are their hallmarks. Such behavior costs and is the reason so few fathers exist! However, in the next set of verses, we hear Paul render a self appraisal rarely heard from church leadership. Truly, great men of the gospel are rarely moved by accolades - they are moved by the Spirit. I thoroughly attest that Paul believed the grace of God to be the determinate factor in His life. It is the determinate factor in all our lives, and we need to talk about its work in us, until a church awakens to the kind of Grace the early disciples knew best. (Notice Paul's use of conjunctions) The conjunction, "but," usually changes everything that precedes its use. It was Grace working in Paul which moved him to love his fellows to the point of wishing himself anathema. It was Grace working in him which moved him across seas and into countries barely known by his generation. It was Grace working in him, which moved him to abandon himself and yield only to the Son of God, so his testimony rang out, "For me to live is Christ!"1 Corinthians 15:9-11 This is what grace wishes to do with all of us: however, most of our stiff necked generation wants to rationalize Christianity to the point of oblivion. "What can WE accomplish" is spoken just before, "this is our agenda and plan." Paul abandoned his plans when the Spirit forbade. Paul went beyond physical capability to accomplish the mandate of, "Go ye." He never once considered himself. Grace does that for the man who testifies, "I am what I am, by the grace of God." Paul wished his hearers to grasp "the whole picture." He wrote the following passage in light of that wish. The fragmented picture often given the church today needs the teaching of Paul in order for the whole picture to be seen. The Apostle urged the Corinthians to review his circulated writings (James and Matthew had been written by this time and was known among them, as well as Galatians, I, II Thessalonians and perhaps Romans). The church today needs to know the vastness of God's grace flowing toward mankind. They need to know the difference between Calvary Grace and the cheap grace often preached. True grace expresses itself in God's love and mercy. True Grace is the flowing of the river of life toward people ordained of God to be His sons. It was this kind of Grace that caused the apostle to pen Ephesians with its many affirmations about the intent of God toward mankind. No person can read Ephesians Chapter one apart from its sealed qualities.2 Corinthians 1:9-14 The vastness of the grace of God ought to be praised and honored and glorified among all of us every day and especially on the Lord's Day. Is this not the message found below?Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul now gives one of the greatest appeals of his ministry. It is aimed at the heart of the church which was rocked by sin and division. (If any preacher wishes to address the needs of the modern church, let him begin with the preaching of these verses. Clergy must cry out, "Do not receive the Grace of God in vain.")2 Corinthians 4:13-15 In the passage above, I have underlined several principals that must be spoken universally to the church at large: the primary one is, "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections." Another is the appeal to "Come out from among them," which was a great necessity for those living in Corinth. (It is of utmost importance today as well ... lest grace be received in vain.)2 Corinthians 5:17-7:1 Next, Paul injected his famous "therefore," to call the church to order: Oh, it is time for us to cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness, but Paul did not end his work at this point-he went further. He called upon the Corinthian brethren to exercise grace and expand their reach to others. (The needs of others will always be met by those to whom grace is a major factor in their life. I like to think that God's plan is to meet all need through others. It becomes circular and returns by one's needs being met via someone totally outside the realm of one's acquaintance.)2 Corinthians 7:1 As Grace Gifts appear among the saints, sometimes it is expedient to review how those gifts operate in others and then desire for those same graces to work in us, in other words, "Grace calls one into greater Grace." Now comes what I term the "Great Grace Parenthesis." It is as if Paul intentionally started this treatise with grace market and closed it with the same.2 Corinthians 8:9 (Those offering takers who use this text out of context had best repent. Yes, giving is a part of this passage, but its main theme is the grace of God is what provides us with abundance and exceeds our limited view of His great power to provide.)2 Corinthians 9:8-14 Paul learned through a thorn in the flesh that God views His grace toward us to be all sufficient.2 Corinthians 9:15 What are you struggling with? His grace is sufficient. What is it for which you have need? His grace is sufficient. Yes, I know that sounds like glib advice, but we are challenged to learn more about His grace and the depth of its provision. Paul declared that his understanding of grace expanded and grew after this word came to him. Grace always causes us to grow.2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Paul's final word to the Corinthian church, and to all those who read his epistle, is "Be complete." Today, there is a sense of "undone-ness" and "loose-end living" prevailing in the "fractionalized church." Completeness seems an illusion, only answered by entering eternity. Not so! Completeness in Him is attainable now and should be the goal that ends aimless existence. Grace can bring all of us to the place of completeness even in this chaotic world.2 Cor 13:9 Paul called for "completeness in the middle of a degraded, sexual licentious culture." He knew that Grace was sufficient to sustain and keep them and us from the evil one. Grace is still able. Grace to declare, "Nothing will separate us from the love of God, no matter to what extremes one may wish to test it." Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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