GRINDIT podcast

Paul tells the church at Corinth the power is in the cross of Christ. He says to the Greeks the cross is foolish and they refuse to believe while to the Jews, the cross is foolishness and they seek a sign to prove that it is true. This is nothing new for this was going on when Jesus was there among them performing miracles. There are so many people today trying to gain power, doing whatever they can to climb the ladder to get power. All they have to do is look to the cross and the gospel yet, they reject it. Sure they will climb the ladder and have power, even a lot of money, but like Jesus said, “What is your soul worth? You can gain the whole world and lose your soul.” Then what? When we take our last breath, none of that power will help us. When we cross into eternity, the only thing that will matter is Jesus and whether we had a relationship with him or not.

The first issue Paul brings up to the church at Corinth is their division. One thing we understand from what he says is these people are playing favorites. Someone shared the gospel with them and they were baptized by that certain person. Paul even shares some of their names! However, Paul tells them they are focused on the wrong person and their division isn’t necessary. They are to be focusing on Jessus, the one who died on the cross and saved them from their sins. He is the most important person and the others are not important at all.

When we studied Titus, Paul talked about the Holy Spirit being poured upon God’s people from the depths of God’s bosom and he said God gives His spirit “generously,” He gives an endless supply to His people! Why? So we can endure to the end as he leads us. There are people who teach we have nothing to do with our salvation and this is absolute false. Paul says, “and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Paul is talking to the church in Corinth, the ones he called “holy” at the beginning of the letter. He makes it clear that Jesus has the power to keep us and will keep us, if we keep in partnership with him. It’s called free will. If we look at other scriptures, they will support the idea. We will do a deep dive in this podcast...take a listen then share it with others!

Paul has just told the church in Corinth they are holy because they belong to Jesus. He then proceeds to tell them they have all the spiritual gifts they need as they are waiting for Jesus to return. We see these gifts mentions in chapter 12 and we will discuss these in more detail when we get there but we want you to know God has filled you with the Holy Spirit and through His Spirit, He has given you a gift to use to encourage others in the kingdom, to endure, and to bring God glory! What gift do you have to use? Are you using it? If not, why not?!?!?

Paul mentions to the church in Corinth that they are holy because they have called on the name of the Lord. Not only them, but people outside of Corinth, both Jew and Gentile. What does it mean to “Call on the name of the Lord”? Does that mean we can just call on Jesus and be saved? What about baptism? Is baptism necessary for salvation? Should I get baptized? We take a deep dive into these two very important questions and we aren’t regurgitating someone else’s teaching. We will bring you truth straight from the word of God because THAT is what matters!

Does God call us? Do we call on God? Is salvation only up to God or do we play a role? Where does baptism fit in that scenario? Does baptism even fit? Does it matter when it comes to salvation? Is the only thing we have to do is to confess Jesus and believe in our heart? We tackle these question in this episode.

The church at Corinth was jacked up in all kinds of ways...just like the church in our day! People make comments how they don’t want to go to “church” because it’s full of hypocrites. Churches are full of people...people are jacked up...we ALL need Jesus! However, the church in Corinth seemed to bring a lot of their culture into the church instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them but in all of that, Paul still tells them, “You are God’s holy people.” Despite being jacked up in all kinds of ways, they said “yes” to Jesus and his blood washes their sins away...just like you and me if we have said “yes” to him.

The church at Corinth was jacked up in all kinds of ways...just like the church in our day! People make comments how they don’t want to go to “church” because it’s full of hypocrites. Churches are full of people...people are jacked up...we ALL need Jesus! However, the church in Corinth seemed to bring a lot of their culture into the church instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape them but in all of that, Paul still tells them, “You are God’s holy people.” Despite being jacked up in all kinds of ways, they said “yes” to Jesus and his blood washes their sins away...just like you and me if we have said “yes” to him.

One of the things Paul wants the people of Crete to learn is to be generous givers. He tells Titus that he will soon be sending Tychicus or Artemas to take his place, and once they get there, Titus is to meet Paul in Nicopolis. But toward the end of the letter, Paul mentions two people, Zenas the lawyer and Apollos. He says they are basically traveling missionaries and they have needs that the church in Crete needs to meet by giving them what they need and be generous about it. He says by doing so, they will learn to “do good by meeting the urgent needs of others.” One way we can show Jesus to people is to be generous givers, like Jesus. He was always giving and we must do the same!

In many of his letters, Paul talks about how we are saved and he is clear: Not by our works but by God’s grace and His mercy. He talks about the Jews trying to convince the Gentiles they must also follow the law, including circumcision. The guy Paul is writing this letter to is a Gentile who is not circumcised which is living proof that God is moving in the lives of the uncircumcised Gentiles therefore, salvation has nothing to do with works. He tells Titus to not engage in any arguments with these people who insist on following the law, in fact, he tells Titus to warn them twice, and if they don’t listen, send them on their way and have nothing to do with them.