How do we think of the Church? And what about Church problems?
1. The Church of God. (v2). Church in Corinth established by Paul (Acts 18:9,10) God had people there who were not converted yet. (v9 - God's call). Its future is secure. God was the one who was at work in Corinth. (a) Rejoice for any true Christian Church (4) (b) Our first allegiance is with God. (Acts 4:19).
2. The Church of God in Jesus Christ. Each of the 9 verses refers to Jesus, as He is central to the Church. The problems at Corinth, was that they put themselves first rather than Jesus.
3. Applications:
(a) Any true Christian Church is the 'The Church' of God. We are a complete entity. Christians belong to 'the Church', we are 'the church'.
(b) All true Christian Churches are united with other churches. (v2). If Christ is Lord in any Church, then we can rejoice with them. Unity is focused in Christ, not just because we call ourselves Christians.
(c) Definition of a Christian (v2) - holy. (also v8 - blameless). We are to live by the moral standards of the Bible, and not the morals accepted in our wider society.
