Grace and Peace
1: 1-9
As one who speaks with authority DIG: Why might Paul stress that he is an emissary? Who was Sosthenes? What do you imagine happened to him since then? What is significant about how Paul addresses this church? Why does Paul thank God for the very things that are now a source of the problems he will have to address? How does Yeshua enable you to hold out until the end and thus be blameless on the Day of our Lord Yeshua? What does it mean to be “set apart by Messiah and called to be God’s holy people?”
REFLECT: Have you ever struggled to make the right choices? Are you ever tempted to make the wrong choices? Have you had issues in your life that you have had to deal with? Do you sometimes feel confused or have doubts about God or the Bible? Have you ever felt spiritually inadequate or inferior? Do you feel like you have been assaulted by a corrupt culture, or temptations that seem irresistible? Have you ever felt that, as a believer, you’ve failed? Then you have picked the right book! It was written for people like us.
We are set apart by Yeshua Messiah, and called to be God’s holy people.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians followed the customary letter-writing formula of his day. This template typically included the sender’s name and office (or his title), the name of the addressee, a personal greeting to the letter’s intended recipient(s), a wish for personal well-being, the main body of the letter (which in the case of several of Paul’s letters tended to be much longer than the typical letter), a farewell that often included a closing greeting, and well-wished to specific individuals, and sometimes the author’s signature.
Anticipating that portions of his letter would step on the toes of several of his readers, Paul immediately seized the initiative by stating right up front his credentials as an emissary appointed by YHVH. From: Sha’ul, called by God’s will to be an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua (see the commentary on Acts, to see link click Bc – Sha’ul Turns from Murder to Messiah). Therefore, his words carried the weight of divine authority (1:1a). Indeed, given the confrontational tone of his letter, Paul puts the readers on notice that his words carried the full endorsement of heaven itself.
And from brother Sosthenes (1:1b). Paul gave Sosthenes a ringing endorsement when he attached his name to his own. And rightly so. Sosthenes had a remarkable resume. He was instrumental in the founding of the Messianic community in Corinth, the story of which went like this: When Paul first entered Corinth during his second of three missionary journeys (see the commentary on Acts Bu – Paul’s Second Missionary Journey), he met Priscilla and her husband Aquila. They became good friends and associates in the tent making business. During his time in Corinth, Paul regularly testified to both Jews and Gentiles that Yeshua is the Messiah (Acts 18:5). The citizens of Corinth were so violently opposed to Paul’s preaching that they were going to beat him up. ADONAI had to assure him, “Don’t be afraid, but speak right up, and don’t stop, because I am with you. No one will succeed in harming you, for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10). This was a clear indication that there were a number of Corinthians who would receive Messiah in response to Paul’s preaching.
Paul might have been assured that no one would attack him, but Sosthenes was not so fortunate. When Paul was put on public trial for his preaching, a riot broke out. In an instant, Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth, was seized by the bloodthirsty mob and beaten senseless (see the commentary on Acts Cc – Many Respond to the Good News in Corinth). But Sosthenes later became a believer and Paul’s “brother” in the Lord. By adding the name of Sosthenes to his letter, Paul put the full weight of his partnership with this recognized and respected leader in the Messianic community at Corinth.14
To: God’s Messianic community in Corinth, consisting of those who have been set apart by Yeshua the Messiah and called to be God’s holy people – along with everyone everywhere (this refutes the view that Paul’s letters, since they were written to a specific congregation, do not apply to us today) who calls on the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, their Lord as well as ours (1:2). The Corinthians, in their recognition of Isra’el’s God and Isra’el’s Messiah, were to serve in the midst of pagans as a testimony and a witness of His awesome power.
Believers are set apart (sanctified) for YHVH, just as the utensils in the Temple. But precisely because we are set apart for God, we must also bear the character of God who has set us apart. Paul’s concept of holiness regularly involves observable behavior. That will be especially true in this letter, which is addressed to a congregation who is “talking the talk,” but not “walking the walk.” When Paul applies this language to the Corinthians, he is echoing God’s call to Isra’el. This is the first of many times in the letter where Paul implicitly addresses and describes the believers at Corinth – a predominantly Gentile group – as members of the covenant people of God. Therefore, whatever their background, they were now caught up into the story of God’s people . . . Isra’el.15 Is it not the same for us today?
Before Paul took the Corinthians to task for their failures as believers, he carefully and lovingly reminded them that they were believers. They belonged to ADONAI and to each other in a far-reaching fellowship. That in itself should have been a rebuke to them, and no doubt pierced the consciences of those who were the least bit spiritually sensitive. In 1:2-9 Paul summarizes their position and their blessings as believers in Yeshua Messiah, as children of God. It’s as if he were saying, “Look at what you are! Look at what you have!” Only then does he say: Nevertheless, brothers, I call on you in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to agree, all of you, in what you say, and not to let yourselves remain split into factions but be restored to having a common mind and a common purpose (1:10).16
Consistent with the letter-writing formula of his day, Paul next inserted a warm, friendly greeting to his readers: Grace to you and shalom from God our Father. However, unlike the typical letter writers of his day, Paul highlighted two unique words: grace and shalom. Paul’s greeting is widely and correctly recognized to include a combination of traditional Greek and Jewish terms. Normally, Greek letters of that time only included the salutation chairein, or “greetings,” which Paul replaced with the similar sounding chairs, or grace. He then attached to this eirene, or peace, the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the TaNaKh) equivalent of shalom. And the Lord (Greek: kurios) Yeshua the Messiah (1:3). The declaration of Yeshua Messiah, Isra’el’s King, as kurios, would have separated the Corinthian believers from those who would insist that Caesar was the world’s lord.17
Grace: This is a great word for all believers. It resembles the usual Greek greeting, but there is a world of difference between “greetings” (Greek: chairein) and grace (Greek: charis). By using the word grace, Paul reminded his readers that they were the recipients of God’s undeserved, unearned, and unlimited favor, which He gives abundantly to every believer. So central was grace to Paul’s personal experience that he used it 87 times in his 13 letters. Personally, Paul never lost the wonder of a holy God who loved, forgave, and blessed a sinner like himself. He wanted the believers in Corinth to experience the same thing.
Peace (Shalom): Shalom speaks of the practical result of God’s grace in our lives. Peace is the usual Hebrew greeting. But the Hebrew shalom means more than “peace” does in English. It doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of strife, but the presence of positive blessings. It implies the prosperity of the whole person, especially his spiritual prosperity.18 Shalom transcends our circumstances and is anchored in our intimate relationship with ADONAI. That is God’s shalom, which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7a), the shalom conferred upon the Corinthian believers, and upon us as well.
Past benefits of grace: Paul recognized that in spite of the problems that he would have to address in his letter, the Corinthians were still people who had experienced the spiritual blessings of ADONAI. Thus, Paul said: I thank my God always for you because of God’s love and kindness given to you through the Messiah Yeshua . . . indeed, the testimony about the Messiah has become firmly established in you (1:4 and 6). In other words, they weren’t the same people anymore. Their old ways of life, marred by the sinful choices that they had regrettably made, no longer existed. They, who were dead because of their sins and acts of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1), were made alive (15:22). They had been given a brand-new life, a brand-new start, so much so that it was like being born all over again. Their many sins – past, present, and future – were then removed from them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). YHVH had buried their sins in the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). Ha’Shem even went so far as to say: I, yes I, am the One who blots out your offenses for My own sake; I will not remember your sins (Isaiah 43:25). Now that’s grace!19
Present benefits of grace: Their problem was not that they lacked spiritual gifts. Paul told them that they had been enriched by God in so many ways, particularly in power of speech, depth of knowledge. As a result, they were not lacking any spiritual gift (1:5 and 7a). Their problem was how those gifts should function and how to discern the true gifts from the false ones. This was especially true regarding the gift of tongues. The Corinthian believers of the first century were not unique. Believers today face similar problems. We are saved and have the Ruach Ha’Kodesh as a guarantee (Second Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14). We have certain spiritual gifts, but we struggle with the flesh (see the commentary on Romans Cb – The Inner Conflict). No spiritual gift can guarantee that we win the struggle once-and-for-all in this life. The only way we can win consistently is to walk by the Ruach, and then we will not carry out the desires of the flesh (see the commentary on Galatians Bv – Walk by the Ruach, and Not the Desires of the Flesh).20
Future benefits of grace: They were eagerly awaiting the revealing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, which would enable them to hold out until the end and thus be blameless on the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah (1:7b-8). ADONAI’s grace not only provides past and present benefits, but also future benefits. God has saved us by His grace; He presently empowers us with gifts of His grace, and He guarantees the final fulfillment of His grace. The best is yet to come. We are grateful for past grace, we seek to be responsible in using present grace, but our greatest joy is looking forward to future grace.
The Greek word apekdechomenous (eagerly awaiting) means to wait with eager anticipation, and also activity. It is not idle, passive waiting, as when sitting on a street corner waiting for a bus. It involves working while we wait and watch and hope. We know that ADONAI takes care of His own. We wait eagerly, but not anxiously. We live in a hopeless world, and often we cannot help grieving for it, just as Yeshua grieved over Jerusalem (John 13:34). But the world’s hopelessness does not steal our joy, or our hope. We can say with Paul, “And this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me” (Second Timothy 1:12). That Day is the revelation of Yeshua Messiah where He will be clearly seen in all His blazing glory (see the commentary on Isaiah Kg – The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Bozrah).
We look for the coming of our Lord for at least five reasons:
First, it means Messiah’s exaltation: That Day will bring His long awaited and eternally deserved exaltation. Yeshua will finally be crowned: Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14). He has been generally neglected, humiliated, despised and rejected for over 2,000 years since His First Coming. However, His Second Coming will end all that, for at that time every knee will bow – in heaven, on earth and under the earth – and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is ADONAI (Phil 2:10-11a). He will not come the second time to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28), but in His full glory and honor and majesty (see the commentary on Revelation Ce – The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David Has Triumphed).
Second, it means Satan’s defeat: Messiah’s return will bring the Adversary’s final defeat, humiliation, and punishment, which he deserves, just as Yeshua deserves, and will then receive, His exaltation. The Serpent will no longer be the ruler of this world (John 14:30), or the Ruler of the Powers of the Air (Ephesians 2:2). He will be bound for a thousand years, released for a little while, then chained and thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity (see the commentary on Revelation Fm – Satan Will Be Released from His Prison and Will Go Out to Deceive the Nations).
Third, it means justice for the martyrs: The Lord’s return will bring retribution against all who have persecuted and afflicted God’s faithful people. In his vision of the seal judgments, John saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been put to death for proclaiming the Word of God, that is, for bearing witness. They cried out in a loud voice, “Sovereign Ruler, Ha’Kadosh, the True One, how long will it be before you judge the people living on the earth and avenge our blood (see the commentary on Revelation Cp – The Fifth Seal: I Saw Those Who Had Been Slain)? Vengeance belongs to Ha’Shem (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19), and when the Son returns, YHVH will exercise that vengeance – long deserved and delayed. For it is justice for God to pay back trouble to those who are troubling you, and to give rest along with us to you who are being troubled, when the Lord Yeshua is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels (Second Thessalonians 1:6-7). They fully deserve it.
Fourth, it means judgment for those who have rejected Messiah: Yeshua’s return will mean judgment for all who have rejected Him. John wrote: Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books according to what they had done (see the commentary on Revelation Fo – The Great White Throne Judgment). The Lord is coming to judge those who have rejected Him, for they deserve it.
Dear Awesome Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your great love and justice. Your awesome love welcomes all who come to You as their Lord and Savior. Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Your justice bends over backwards to offer salvation to all who repent and turn to You. For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Yet if someone chooses to not love You but to love themselves the most – then You will give them what they have chosen – wrath and eternal separation. He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36).
Please bring circumstances and friends into the lives of my friends and family who do not yet love you as their Lord. May a friend share with them about your great love. May they see how awful things are getting in this world and recognize their need to turn to God for His love and help. Please remind them that this world will soon be over and the choice of heaven or hell can only be made before death and is a forever choice! It is appointed for men to die once, and after this judgment (Hebrews 9:27). This world’s pleasures are but a vapor and the next world’s pain is eternal. Help us to know how to share about you with our family and friends. You are worthy of all worship! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
Fifth, it means heaven for those who have accepted Messiah: For all those who have believed in the Lord Yeshua Messiah, His coming will mean heaven for all eternity. Unlike Satan’s defeat, justice for martyrs, and judgment for those who have rejected Messiah, our gift of heaven will be totally undeserved. That is because we are under God’s grace. In ourselves, we deserve the same fate as they received; but in Messiah we are granted forgiveness, redemption, holiness and everlasting life (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer) in the presence of the unfading glory of our Lord.
When Yeshua returns He will enable them to hold out until the end and thus be blameless before His heavenly Father. When we enter heaven, we will not have all our sins and shortcomings flashed before us for everyone to see, as we sometimes hear in popular theology. For there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with Messiah Yeshua (Romans 8:1). Messiah will announce before the eternal throne of God that we are now counted as being blameless.
We are sure of His grace – past, present, and future – because God is trustworthy: it was He who called you into fellowship with his Son, Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord (1:9). When ADONAI calls someone to salvation, He is faithful to that call. As a result, our future glory at Messiah’s appearing is certain, for those whom He thus determined in advance, He also called; and those whom He called, He also caused to be considered righteous; and those whom He caused to be considered righteous He also glorified (Romans 8:30)! If He called us when we were lost and wretched, He surely will not cease to be faithful to that call now that we have come into fellowship with His Son. We entered the Kingdom by grace and we will be kept in the Kingdom by grace.21
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