October 19, 2025 - 1 Corinthians 4-7

One verse in chapter four has always stood out to me:  “Who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive?  If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (4:7)  In these chapters Paul writes about his apostolic ministry and continues to address problems in the Corinthian church (immorality, lawsuits against fellow believers, and issues regarding Christian marriage).  In all this, it appears that, though much sin can be found among the Corinthians, they want to boast.  But boast in what?  Certainly not any self-righteousness.  Certainly not unity among the believers.  Paul has already written that he can boast in nothing but Jesus and the cross; that’s it.  And the salvation that comes with the cross is a salvation by grace.  The Corinthians did not earn it.  They did not achieve it by their own efforts.  Their salvation and standing before God was a gift.  Let there be no smugness.  No false righteousness.  No hypocrisy.  Let them let everyone else know they have been saved by the mercies of God and by nothing else.  Let them boast in that!  Praise to God alone!

We give thee but thine own,

whate'er the gift may be;

all that we have is thine alone,

a trust, O Lord, from thee.

May we thy bounties thus

as stewards true receive

and gladly, as thou blessest us,

to thee our first fruits give.   -- William Walsham How (1858)