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"The grace of God which was given to you..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:4

GREETINGS

It was normal for people to send greetings at the beginning of a letter. We see this in Paul’s letters to the different churches.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God
which was given to you by Christ Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 1:3-4

1. Grace and peace

a) These are normal things to wish people with.

b) They also reflect the thoughts and feelings of the Apostle Paul.

i) Grace was a special word that Paul personally experienced much of his life.

ii) It was natural for him to wish that others would experience God’s grace.

iii) Peace was another special word employed.

iv) This was typically a Jewish greeting but it was very much an apostolic greeting as well.

c) The source of this two-fold blessing was traced to:

i) God the Father

ii) The Lord Jesus Christ

2. “I thank my God always”

a) The practice of consciousness of being thankful to God was very real in Paul’s life.

b) He did not take the grace of God for granted.

c) It is good to cultivate this sense of thanksgiving to God.

3. “Concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus”

a) The grace of God is often seen in the following: –

i) Salvation

ii) Blessings in life

b) By Christ Jesus

i) Paul’s Christology was intact.

ii) It was through the Lord Jesus Christ the grace of God is made available.

iii) He is the Mediator of the New Covenant and all its attendant blessings.