The 42nd Bible Study Meeting 1       This sermon is taken from the evening sermon on July 24, 2010 during the 42nd Bible Study Meeting for All from Home and Abroad.   For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.    1 Corinthians 1:18       The Church Called into the Fellowship of Jesus Christ Let's take a look at First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9.   God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   It says, "by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son." Who is the word "His" referring to? It's referring to God. If we read this verse, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord," without much thought, we may simply think that it is about gathering together and having fellowship. We would interpret the passage according to the reality that we live in and according to our current situation. But in this passage, it mentions the word "you" and also the word "our." Who is this "you" and "our" referring to?Let's take a look at First Corinthians chapter 1 verses 1 and 2.   "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."   To whom? It says, "To the church of God which is at Corinth." Which church is this passage referring to? The clue that we are given is: "to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." It is referring to those who weren't originally sanctified, but became sanctified in Christ Jesus; those who weren't saints, but were called to be saints. In other words, this passage is referring to the people who were living in Corinth. This book is called the Letter to the Corinthians because these letters were written to the church of God which was at Corinth. But what does it mean when it says "the church of God which is at Corinth?" Some people may think, "The church of God isn't only in Corinth but in many other places. In the city of Seoul alone, you can see so many churches with a cross on it." What does it mean when it says "the church of God?" Let's go back to First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 9.   God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   The apostle Paul said, "by whom you were called," from the point of view of a Jew. Even amongst the Jews, he was an orthodox Jew and was originally a Pharisee. Although he was a Jew, he became an apostle for the gentiles. He wrote this letter as an apostle living during the times when the Church was growing. And he said, "you were called." The people he's referring to as "you" are the people who are part of the church of God at Corinth. Originally they weren't sanctified but now they have become sanctified and were called to be saints. Then it says, "Jesus Christ our Lord." The word "our" appears. The word "our" doesn't only refer to the Gentiles nor does it only apply to the Jews. It could apply to the Gentiles and the Jews. Whether you're a Jew or Gentile, this "our" encompasses everyone who firmly believes that they have become sanctified by the truth accomplished on the cross by Jesus Christ and were called to be saints. It's referring to the Church. Our Lord; the Lord who is the head of the Church. The words "our" or "you" aren't randomly used. The Bible is written with extreme precision. It first says "you were called" and then it says "into the fellowship." This Bible verse is talking about the time from when one is called upon and then becomes part of the fellowship. The word "called" could be interpreted as simply gathering together or meeting today and then being called upon the next day. We may think this way because we always get together and read the Bible in order to have fellowship. The English version Bible is saying that you were called and drawn into the fellowship. It is expressing that you were called into the fellowship and became a part of it. "You were called." While reading the Bible and trying to find some kind of answer, regardless of your efforts or understanding, have you experienced God planting the seed of His words-the words of life-into your heart while listening to His words with a humble heart? We, as individuals, know the answer because this is something that we personally experienced. We have been called upon. But this does not mean that a particular person was predestined or an individual was chosen. It is the Church that was predestined. The Church was called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ.   The Book of Corinthians: The Life of Those Called Upon Let's take a look at First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 2.   To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 2-3)   This letter is addressed to the church in Corinth and those who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ. When we read the Bible and come across the words like "you" and "our," we need the ability to clearly distinguish these kinds of relationships. Simply reading the Bible hundreds and thousands of time on our own as an individual will not give us this insight. We are able to see this when the work of the Holy Spirit that has been granted by Jesus Christ is being carried out within the fellowship according to the words of the Bible.Let's take a look at First Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31.   Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.  (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)   When it says, "either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God," it is referring to the different types of people living in this world. The Bible distinguishes people into three groups. The first are the Jews?the nation of Israel. They are the descendents of Jacob, who is one of the two sons of Isaac, who is one of the sons of Abraham. These people are called Jews. Then, "the Greeks." Greece is also known as "Hellas." Because the word "Greeks" is used in the book of Corinthians you may think that it refers to the people living in Greece. However, when you read other parts of the Bible, you can see that the word Greek is referring to the uncircumcised. In other words, we are able to see that this word is referring to all the nations that are not of the Jewish nation. This book in the Bible was written during the time of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire originated from the city of Rome, which is in Italy. The Empire expanded and ruled over the entire Mediterranean area and parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. But before Rome emerged as a nation, it was Greece that had control over the Mediterranean area, the Hellenistic Greek Empire. It was during this time period that people like Alexander the Great were present. The Greek culture, civilization and ideology were far advanced and subsequently, the Roman Empire's culture and ideology was greatly influenced by Hellenistic Greece. So at the time, the Hellenes, the Greeks, were considered as the representatives of the Gentiles as people who weren't Jews. It was during the time of the Roman Empire that Jesus was born in this world and was nailed to the cross and died. And several decades later, the apostles wrote letters to the churches saying, "either to the Jews or to the Greeks."Then we have the church of God. The "church of God" is distinguished as a group people and a nation like the "Jews" and the "Greeks." It's easy to understand categorizing the Jews as Jews and the Gentiles as Greeks since they dominated the culture and ideology during that time period. But what about the church of God? It's easy to read this passage and not take it seriously and gloss over it thinking, "I guess that's the case."  Using the terms "Jews," "Gentiles," and "the church of God" may not seem like a serious issue to us. However, when we carefully read the Bible from Genesis chapter 1 verse 1, we are able to see that this distinction is very important from God's perspective when He views the history of mankind. God created this world and started the history of mankind with "the church of God" in mind. And we know that He has conducted everything in order to achieve this result. It is difficult to understand the content of First Corinthians by simply reading it a couple of times. I have read First Corinthians several times and as I thought about the content and order of what was recorded in First Corinthians, there's something that I came to understand. First Corinthians enables us to understand what God has done for us. It talks about how we as individuals discovered God and what He has accomplished for us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to this world. We are able to learn about God's wisdom that is supplied to us through Jesus Christ and the Bible. As we live our lives as people who know this truth and live amongst people who have the same faith, we come to think about our physical bodies that were created in the image of God. And we think about matters concerning what to eat and drink. The First Book of Corinthians explains the issue of what to eat and what to drink with the communion service. And then it talks about having children and issues regarding sex. It also points out the problems that the people in Corinth had.  When you carefully read the letter that Paul wrote to the people in Corinth, as a born again person, we are able to see that the way we should live and act as Christians is clearly defined. And in this way the First Book of Corinthians continues on and talks about this one body. A physical body is also used to explain spiritual gifts and ministries. And it talks about love. At the height of these issues, it explains in great detail of the promise how we, who live in these corruptible bodies, will be drawn into the glory that Jesus obtained when He was resurrected. This appears in First Corinthians chapter 15. While we read through the First Book of Corinthians, we as individuals-who were born into this world as gentiles like the people in Corinth, who didn't know God or the Law and lived like an animal that was born to be devoured-came to hear these words that are addressed to us. It says, "you were called." Through the Bible, we received the title of being part of "those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."We have been accepted by God; and as individuals living in this world, the First Book of Corinthians explicitly provides us the answer to how we should live our lives. This book contains everything about the path of an individual's life. It also includes the last day when we stand in front of Jesus.   To Preach the GospelLet's take a look at First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 4.   I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (Verses 4-7)   The passage, "even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ," is like a one sentence summary of the entire book of First Corinthians. It will help you understand First Corinthians if you keep this order in mind. Let's take a look from verse 8.   [W]ho will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (Verse 8-10)   "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Verse 9 seems relatively easy to understand. You may think, "God has called us into this fellowship. Through the words of the Bible I realized Jesus' grace and I'm thankful to live together with the brothers and sisters." But we get caught on the next verse. What does it say? It says, "that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." But perhaps you're thinking, "I despise that person. He always says something that I d

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