(1 Corinthians 1:4-9)….4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
Being thankful is something we all struggle with from time to time, yet being thankful is something God wants from His saints (us) all the time. It is having the sense of gratitude that our Lord wants in us, being ready to acknowledge it at every turn of life. It is the sacrifice that should come from our lips (Psalm 116:17) (Hebrews 13:15) at every moment we can. It is even the duty of the believer to be thankful for what God has done in the calling of another believer (saint) (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Paul was continually thankful for what God had done for the all the saints (believers) in Corinth, especially for the grace of God that was given to them by Jesus Christ. And here we are, you and I have been given that same grace in Jesus Christ. What is grace? It is unmerited (undeserved favor with God), and it has been given to us in salvation (Romans 11:1-6) (Ephesians 2:1-10). It has been given to us in eternal life (1 Peter 1:13). What a tremendous gift, right? Are we as thankful as Paul for the grace of God that was given to us by Jesus Christ?
Because of the Lords grace towards us, every believer in Christ has everything the Lord has, we are in need of nothing (1 Corinthians 3:18-21) (Ephesians 1:3) (Colossians 2:6-10) (2 Peter 1:2-4) (2 Corinthians 8:9). We have been enriched in all utterance, as it says in our verse this morning (v.5). There is no believer that cannot speak on God’s behalf (1 Peter 3:15). We have been enriched with all knowledge (John 17:3) (Philippians 3:7-11). So you see, God has made Himself known to us, not just so we can have a relationship with Him, or fellowship with Him, but so we can speak for Him. We cannot talk about what (or Who) we do not know!
By the grace given by God, the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them (and us). The testimony of Christ is the Gospel of Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ bears testimony to….His deity, His incarnation, His obedience, His suffering and death, His resurrection from the dead, His ascension to heaven, His intercession for the saints, His redemption by his blood, His justification by his righteousness, His atonement of sin by His sacrifice, His complete salvation by His obedience and death. Are these things true? How do we know? They are confirmed, made certain, by the agency of the Holy Spirit who has sealed us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14).
My fellow brothers/sisters in Christ…..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…..
Are you thankful to God this day for His grace towards you, and towards others whom He will pour out His Salvation? Being thankful that God is enriching you and other believers today in our knowledge of Him? Oh there is nothing that should come from our lips but praise for those whom He has saved, from those who are growing in His word (Bible). What are you doing with the grace He has shown you?