SERMON: “Thankful Even for Corinthian Saints” (1 Cor. 1:4–9)
“Thankful
Even for Corinthian Saints”
(1 Cor. 1:4–9)
Series: “1 Cor: Holiness from Messes” #3 Text: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9
By: Shaun Marksbury Date: Sept.
21, 2025
Venue: Living Water Baptist Church Occasion: AM Service
I.
Introduction
Many of us have struggled some recurring sin or
adversity. Sometimes it may be a
temptation that we don’t want that comes back to haunt us. Sometimes, it’s a person who always seems to
push the right buttons. Too often,
though, we think about fleshly solutions for solving these problems, which can
cause turmoil in our hearts and conflict in our church. As Christians, we should instead be resting
in God’s grace to overcome our hardships.
If we were to identify a church full of Christians with deep
and recurring problems, it would be the church at Corinth. Last time, we noted all the problems that the
Corinthian culture had, and how believers were carrying some of them into
the Corinthian church. As a result,
these Christians were acting in fleshly ways, and this was leading to fights
and divisions among the body.
We might expect Paul to open with a fiery rebuke, but we
would be surprised. The Corinthian
church may have problems, but as one commentary notes, “Paul looks at the
Corinthian church as it is in Christ
before he looks at anything else that is true of the church.”[1] He focuses on God’s grace, for it’s what has
brought them as far along as they’ve come, and it’s will carry them the rest of
the way.
Paul sets a standard here for all of us. No matter the problems we face as a church,
we should begin by thanking God for His grace we see in each other. First, we’ll note that we should be thankful
for the gifts of God’s grace (vv. 4–7); He has given to us salvation,
enrichment, confirmation, and even provision for our present need. Second, we’ll note that we should be thankful
for the faithfulness of God’s grace (vv. 8–9) — it will carry us until the
end. Let’s consider the first of those.
II.
First, We Should be Thankful for the Gifts of
God’s Grace (vv. 4–7)
I thank my God
always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all word and all knowledge,
even as the witness about Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not
lacking in any gift, eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Again, it might be surprising to hear Paul write that he’s
thanking God concerning them. We might
think that he would be pulling his hair out with all the stories of their
divisions and disobedience to God! Yet,
he saw that God’s grace was active in their church, and he chose to focus upon
that.
Of course, it was common in that day to open a letter with
some thanksgiving, but Paul turns this toward God.[2] In fact, Paul’s thanksgiving for them is the
point of this whole section, and vv. 4–8 are one sentence in the original
language.[3] He speaks with a bit of kind hyperbole when
he says he is “always” giving thanks for them, but there’s no doubt that he
does as often as he can. This means that
his regular thoughts about the troubled Corinthian congregation were thankful,
not frustrated.
How can that be? We
read here that his thoughts were focused upon God’s gifts of grace given to
them. The tense is important here: Paul
is describing something that is in the past for Corinthian believers, gifts
that have already been granted to them.
He says that he is thanking God “for the grace of God which was given
you.” In other words, he is thanking God
for what God has already granted them: grace.
It’s worth considering what these gifts of grace are. They could change how we think about others,
but more importantly, they can change what we think about ourselves. These gifts of grace will help us to handle any
issue we face in our own lives. So, we
will consider firstly that these gifts result in salvation and enrichment (vv.
4–5), secondly, in confirmation (v. 6), and thirdly, in present provisions (v.
7). Let’s consider the first of these.
A.
Firstly, God’s grace granted salvation and
enrichment (vv. 4–5)
God is the giver of grace, and He’s already granted it. We often define grace as “unmerited favor,”
and that’s how Paul often uses it. In
other words, this is God’s blessing upon us that we never earned.
Consider how Paul describes it in Ephesians 2. In vv. 1–3, in brief, he says that all
believers were dead in transgressions and sins, following the world and the
devil, formerly conducting ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, and by nature were
children of God’s wrath. Yet, he then
turns to the mercy and love of God in v. 4.
In v. 5, he says that we may have been “dead in our transgressions,” but
He “made us alive together with Christ.”
Then he says those all-important words: “by grace you have been saved.” This isn’t something we earned, but it’s
something that God has freely chosen to give to us.
The Corinthians were sinners before they heard the gospel,
but the grace of God turned them into saints.
The Lord brought them from death into life. And even though they still don’t live perfect
lives, they are alive because of the grace of God in salvation. Just as they couldn’t earn this salvation by
their merit, they can’t now lose their salvation through their bad works.
You might wonder how salvation can come so freely, but it
isn’t free. The grace of God is found
“in Jesus Christ.” Jesus died on the
cross, paying for all the sins of the Corinthians and all who would
believe. It wasn’t a free salvation, but
the debt is paid in the one who was crucified, buried, and raised on the third
day. Jesus Christ is why, even if
believers have some things wrong, like the Corinthians, they still have God’s
grace.
So, the grace of God is seen primarily in salvation in Jesus
Christ. That’s not everything we could
say about grace, though. In Titus
2:11–13, Paul explained that God’s grace brings salvation, but it also instructs
us that, “denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” The fact that the Corinthians have God’s
grace means that they can begin to live differently, reflecting a holiness from
their Lord Jesus Christ. Messy saints
can be holy ones.
God’s grace is more than salvation, then — it enriches our
lives. This is Paul’s next point in v.
5. He begins with the word “that,” meaning
that this is the outworking of God’s grace. He says they are enriched (made wealthy)[4] “in
everything,” suggests God’s grace is comprehensive and enriches in every area
of life. Maybe you think there are parts
of your life which are off limits to God, but God’s grace can enrich and
transform all the nooks and crannies of you heart and life.
Specifically, Paul zeros in on two areas which were
important to any Corinthian[5] — “in
all word and all knowledge.” The term “word”
here likely means speech or utterance,[6] encompassing teaching,
evangelism, prophecy, and daily communication. This outward expression begins with confessing
Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 12:3) and extends to edifying speech in the
body. That means that, when Paul later
corrects their abusive speech (e.g., chs. 12–14), he grounds his correction in God’s
grace, not further works of their flesh.
This challenges us, because our words should reflect Christ’s
enrichment, not division, but we have His grace already there to help us
correct course.
They also had enrichment in “all knowledge.” This refers to inward understanding of God’s
truths,[7]
including biblical and prophetic insights. The Corinthians valued knowledge highly, but the
way they used it sometimes, it puffed them up (1 Cor. 8:1). Yet, Paul thanks God for it being in them as a
gift of grace, because true knowledge can humble people before God. In our lives, when knowledge leads to pride, the
answer isn’t to get rid of knowledge — it’s to remember that knowledge comes
from the grace of God.
In summary, vv. 4–5 show God’s grace granting past salvation
and enrichment. Yet, these have ongoing
effects in their lives. Let God’s grace fuel
our thanksgiving: God enriches us in Christ for His glory, which He then proves
to us.
B.
Secondly, God’s grace granted confirmation (v.
6)
Paul continues, writing that “even as the witness about
Christ was confirmed in you.” The phrase
“even as” connects this verse to the enrichment of v. 5, showing how it continues
and evidences God’s work. Paul says this
grace has been confirmed in them, though it may be a bit confusing as to what
he means.
He writes of the “witness” or “testimony concerning Christ,”
which can mean a few things. It could be
what Christ said He accomplished, it could be an internal testimony they have
about Christ, it could be testimony about their Christian witness others have
seen, or it could be the gospel witness proclaimed by Paul. It seems that the best way to understand is
with the latter option. In other words,
Paul “witnessed” or preached to them about Christ, and they believed, which was
a confirmation.
Understand that people only believe when Holy Spirit opens
hearts to the truth. As one commentary
explains, “First, the privilege and the responsibility of the preacher is to
uncover and explain all that is ours in Christ; secondly, bare preaching is not
adequate — it must be confirmed (more literally ‘secured’) in the lives of the
hearers, and that requires the work of God’s Spirit, bringing conviction,
illumination and faith.”[8] While it’s true that there are false
professors among them like tears, this only happens in the environment where
true professors of Christ grow up like wheat.
Paul found genuine believers in Corinth in abundance, so Paul has reason
to give thanks for them. That they
believed is evidence of their conversion.
This gives us a different way of considering one
another. Sometimes, we can be too
focused on divisions in the body of Christ.
Theology and doctrine are important, and there are certain dividing
lines we can’t ignore. Yet, when we find
true belief in someone else, our first instinct should be to rejoice and praise
God. Indeed, we may need that drive toward
unity more in the coming days ahead.
God gave the Corinthians new hearts and placed His Spirit
within them, and it was evident. They were
confirmed in that they are new creatures in Christ, with the ongoing work of
the Spirit in their lives. As such, they
have a present grace active in their hearts for the others. Let’s consider that together.
C.
Thirdly, God’s grace grants present provision
(v. 7)
Paul says, “so that you are not lacking in any gift.” The outcome of their confirmation was the abundant
provision of Christ. To say that they
are “not lacking” is another way of saying that they have more than everything
they need[9] — they
abound in gifts.
Now, there’s usually one thing we think of when we talk
about gifts, and that’s the spiritual gifts.
More to the point, we might think of some of the miraculous sign-gifts
they were abusing, which Paul needed to address in chs. 12–14. Yet, he says here “any gift,” and this word
can go beyond the spiritual gifts to include the gift of redemption itself (cf.
Rom. 5:15–16). Though this may look forward
to Paul’s discussion of spiritual gits,[10] Paul is simply saying here
that they have every gift from God they need.
This will have effects on how they live and operate. For instance, God provides every needed gift
for the church’s mission. We can see
that His gifting had personal effects, as well, as they “early waited” for
Christ’s return. Think about that — the
church that sometimes had people promoting personal agendas still prioritized
the return of Christ. That is evidence
that God is at work within them!
In fact, eager expectation of Christ’s return marks healthy
faith. In trials, this hope sustains us,
and we see that it is also a gift of God’s grace in our lives. If we get too worried, too anxious, and we
find that we’re not prioritizing Christ in our lives, then we should pray to
ask that God grant us more grace.
Indeed, we should consider how the grace God has already granted us has
brought us so far.
That’s what Paul sees in Corinth despite its problems. He knows God has carried them from their
initial belief to this point. And, if
God began that good work, Paul knows He’ll complete it. God has not only given grace, He’s also
faithful, leading us to another reason for thanksgiving:
III.
Second, We Should be Thankful for the Faithfulness
of God’s Grace (vv. 8–9)
who will also
confirm you to the end, beyond reproach in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called
into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul is really saying two things here that are important for
us. First, God has given them what they
need until the end, and second, they will also have a sustaining grace from
Christ to make it to the end. They need
not fear falling away one day — the Lord will ensure that their faith
perseveres.
Does this mean that they will never struggle with sin and
doubt from time to time? Of course
not! Still, it will be through these
struggles that they come to a better place of faith. The Lord will work in their hearts and
through their fellow saints to bolster them.
Paul’s inspired words through this letter, for instance, will help
disciple them until the end. The Lord
will work His grace to ensure that their confirmed faith continues.
The fact that they believe is evidence already that this is
true. In Romans 8:29–30, Paul says, “Because
those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to
become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn
among many brothers; and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those
whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also
glorified.” In Philippians 1:6, Paul
says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ
Jesus.” The God who gives gifts of grace
will ensure that believers make it until the end, blameless and without
reproach.
God is faithful, v. 9 promises. This is also something worthy of praise and
thanks before God! We can know that our
faith will last until Christ returns. If
we’ve heard the call of the gospel in our hearts, we heard it by God’s grace,
and He is faithful to carry us to the end.
We can encourage ourselves and each other with this thought — we will
make it by His grace, no matter what doubts may plague us, and what worries the
devil may whisper in our ear, we will remain in fellowship with the Son.
IV.
Conclusion
Just as God’s sustaining grace for the Corinthians led Paul
to thank God, His sustaining grace in our lives should also lead us to thank
God.[11] We should be encouraged by what God has
already done in our hearts and take courage that He will carry us through. We need that hope when times are rough and
the battles seem long. Rest in the grace
of Christ which began a good work, knowing God is faithful to bring it to
completion.
In the context of this letter, we should also consider
something else. There will be times when
we’re being attacked by fellow believers.
It’s easy to respond in kind and divide into factions. However, we should look for God’s grace first
in their lives and thank God for it, following Paul’s example. That means that we have common ground and
unity that goes beyond a temporary division, and God’s grace will ultimately be
what that person needs to be changed. It
also puts us in the right frame of mind before we handle any conflict.
[1] David Prior, The
Message of 1 Corinthians: Life in the Local Church, The Bible Speaks Today,
(Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 23.
[2] John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael
S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R.
Grigoni, and David Bomar, Faithlife Study
Bible, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 1 Co 1:4.
[3] Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The
Pillar New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 62–63.
[4] Barry, et. al., 1 Co 1:5.
[5] J. I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, and Ajith Fernando, Eds., ESV Global Study Bible, (Wheaton, IL:
Crossway, 2012), 1607.
[6] Barry, et. al.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Prior, 25.
[9] This is a figure of speech called litotes. Ronald Trail, An Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 1–9, (Dallas, TX: SIL
International, 2008), 25.
[10] Ciampa, 65.
[11] Andrew David Naselli, Romans–Galatians, 2020, X, 227.