The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

John Farley
Pastor Teacher
Sunday,
August 9, 2020

Chosen People Ministries

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

1CO 16:19-24

The beloved community where all things are done in love.

Rivalries, selfishness, arrogance.

There is a “he”
among the “you”.

You belong to a wider community -
an extended family,
if you will.

The Bible names four churches that Paul founded in Asia:

Ephesus, Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

 

COL 4:13

Let’s have a short visit with Aquila and Prisca.

ACT 18:1-3

They first met Paul when he came to Corinth.

 

They opened their home for church meetings in Ephesus and in Rome.

ROM 16:3-5

The capital cities of three Roman provinces: Italy, Achaia, and Asia.

 

1CO 16:19-20

They greeted the Corinthian church with warmth and affection.

Paul then asks the saints in Corinth to greet one another. With a holy kiss.

ROM 16:16

Peter called it a kiss of love in 1PE 5:14.

1PE 5:14

It was an expression of respect, friendship, love, and peace among the saints.

You had a community that was divided.

It would indicate that they were willing to start healing the rift.

 

1CO 16:21-24

Paul often took the pen to write a short note at the end of the letter.

 

It breaks the string of statements he makes concerning “you” -greetings to the saints.

He is warning them about an individual among them who rejected their Lord.

He was an unbeliever. He was not in Christ.

Paul pronounces a curse on such an individual.

anathema =
“given over to divine condemnation”.

GAL 1:8-9

Here in Galatians the one to be accursed is anyone who preaches a false gospel.

These are false brethren, brought in to put the saints in bondage.

Anyone who has no love for the Lord is an unbeliever.

Paul would never pronounce a curse on a believer.

And all believers love the Lord.

All those who have been justified -and all believers have - love God. ROM 8:28-30)

1PE 1:8-9

1CO 16:22-24

Maranatha.

O Lord - come!

Death will be swallowed up in victory.

Paul began with grace (1:3-8), and he ends with grace.

He expresses his love for each one of them.

He had a fatherly love for them all (4:14-21).

It’s ours now.