Do you know these 5 truths today?

So we turn the page from 1 Corinthians to the second letter so easily and we can miss the gap and the context which are so important. We will get to those as we continue to read over the weeks to come. The Holy Spirit will speak through the verses we read.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: ² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1 v 1-2)

From 1 Cor 5:9 the first letter was lost. Paul had written to the Church not to associate with those who claim to be Christian. The Holy Spirit did not preserve that letter which had been misunderstood. Paul had to write again (1 Corinthians) which was re-addressing what he had meant.

We will read later how he decided to make a visit to the Church in Corinth which didn’t go down too well and so he writes a third time and this was a severe letter (again we will get to that). Now this letter seemed to do the trick because there was improvement in the Church (again we will get to that) and so he begins to write his fourth letter (2 Corinthians).

Paul realises every word is scrutinised and so every verse is important for us. In fact in the opening 2 verses we have 5 important truths for us to know. Whether a new or seasoned Christian these are so important for us all.

• Know your personal divine calling and commission. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God – our identity isn’t found anywhere else but in the fact that we have a purpose, a calling and that it comes from God alone. Never let anyone diminish that in your life. Never be robbed of this. Even if circumstances change and though you may go through many challenges never give up on this truth, He called you and commissioned you.
• Know you’re not alone. and Timothy our brother. Your life is meant to be lived collaboratively. It doesn’t mean you have to travel with people with the same callings, Timothy wasn’t an apostle, but do make sure you have people who also know God’s calling and commission. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your purpose. Find that friend and they become far more, they become your brother/sister.
• Know the Church belongs to God. To the church of God in Corinth. We think we know it but right now especially in the Western Church this appears not to be so. Knowing the Church belongs to God means we will never abuse it. It doesn’t mean leaders are not strong, in fact Paul did send a severe letter, but they don’t crush, they don’t mistreat or belittle. At the same time we as believers must know we belong to God. We are not our own. So we live for Him. We don’t self-abuse.
• Know that we belong to a larger Church. together with all his holy people throughout Achaia. This was the Roman province which included all of Greece, a large area. If all you know is your own culture then you will not know much of God. We are so blessed in the Western Church that the nations of the world have come to us and they give us a global view of who God is and what He does.
• Know the power of blessing. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Be blessed and be a blessing is the key. We live in a world of anger and condemnation. It is so important that we know a) the unmerited favour of God as the foundation of our life (grace) and b) the reconciled relationship with God (peace).