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"Called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1

THE CALLING OF GOD

The Call of God was a precious teaching of the Apostle Paul. In many of his epistles, he would make mention of God’s calling. This was how Paul began writing his first Epistle to the Corinthian Church.

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through
the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.”
1 Corinthians 1:1

1. Our Common Calling

a) Often called “the hope of His calling” (Ephesians 1:18)

i) Salvation has many aspects.

ii) It is revealed to all who would seek the Lord.

iii) The Holy Spirit reveals many rich truths (Ephesians 1:15-19).

b) “To walk worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1-6)

i) In the unity of our faith.

ii) In the richness of our salvation in Christ.

iii) In the power that may be found in the Lord.

2. A special calling

a) To be a minister and a witness (Acts 26:16)

i) Paul began humbly in ministry.

ii) He served with Barnabas in Antioch, Syria.

iii) He went on to do Missionary work.

b) To be an apostle (1 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 1:1)

i) Paul was not one of the original Disciples whom Christ called to follow Him.

ii) He had violently and sinfully attacked the Church and the saints (Acts 26:9-11).

iii) But by the sovereign will of God, Paul became a wonderful apostle of Christ!

3. Who was Sosthenes?

a) Paul had Silas the prophet and Timothy his spiritual son who served with him in Corinth.

b) Sosthenes was actually a ruler of the synagogue in Corinth who was soundly converted.

c) He stood with Paul and consequently suffered for his faith in Christ. Paul and others were brought before Gallio the proconsul of Achaia. However, he dismissed the case against him.

d) Sosthenes was beaten severely by the irate Jews (Acts 18:17). He was rightly called “brother”.