(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

Paul's salutation describes three distinguishing features of the Christian. It also hints at the big problems in the Corinthian church that Paul will address later, namely, disunity and the displacement of Jesus Christ from the centre.

(B) What all Christians should feel: called.

Paul writes of himself: Paul called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. v1. He also says of the Church of God in Corinth ....... called to be holy. v2.

(1) What does it mean to be called?
If I read in my newspaper: 'David Beckham called up to play for England'; I would know immediately what this meant - selected, invited and, depending upon his acceptance, appointed to play football for England. So Christians are:

(a) Selected. This selection is not arbitrary or unconditional any more than Freddy Flintoff's selection to play cricket for England. Before a young man is called up to play cricket for his country he is groomed for the task. He has to have certain qualities that fit him for the honour of representing England.

God prepares some for salvation. It is only when the fields are ripe unto harvest that any reaping takes place. It is only when the seed falls into good ground that it eventually bears fruit.

A Christian, like Paul, who has a special work to accomplish will be groomed for it. There were very few who could have done what Paul did. In the Old Testament people like Moses, Joseph and Esther were carefully prepared for the work God wanted them to do.

(b) Invited. A footballer who receives the call to play for England does not have to accept the invitation. If he has been properly prepared he almost invariably will but none the less the decision is taken freely.

God does not force anyone to be a Christian. C. S. Lewis was prepared slowly and inexorably for salvation but when he made the decision to let God into his life he reckoned that he was a free agent. This is what he writes of his conversion in, 'Surprised by Joy': I was going up Headington Hill on the top of a bus. .... I became aware that I was holding something at bay, or shutting something out. .... I felt myself being, there and then, given a free choice. I could open the door or keep it shut. ... You could argue that I was not a free agent, but I am more inclined to think that this came nearer to being a perfectly free act than most that I have ever done. Necessity may not be the opposite of freedom ...

Moses undoubtedly received a powerful call at the burning bush! God said to him: "So now go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Ex3v10. Moses was invited to be God's spokesman and his people's great deliverer. But Moses was in no hurry to go back to Egypt! He said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." v13. He never did agree to do what God asked but in the end he sets off to consult with his brother Aaron - a decision he made of his own free will.

Paul had a wonderful experience on the road to Damascus but he, like every Christian, had to freely submit to the mind and will of Jesus. This is evident from the question he asked: "What shall I do, Lord?" Acts22v10. Within three days of his conversion Paul was acquainted with his special ministry - to take the gospel to the Gentiles. It was a commission he willingly embraced.

(3) Appointed. The young cricketer who is prepared for, and invited to, play for England will only be appointed to the team if he accepts the invitation. His change of status depends upon the invitation being accepted. The task of representing your country is daunting but it becomes easier once you are part of the team!

Entry into the family of God depends upon accepting the invitation to believe in Jesus. We are appointed Sons of God and servants of Christ through faith in his name. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God. John1v12. This is a dramatic change of status and dispels many of the fears and reservations that church attendees have before becoming committed Christians.

(2) Called for a purpose
A cricketer selected for England will be called up for a purpose. He will be expected fulfil the general purpose of representing his country to the very best of his ability but he may also be given a specific task to perform. Many years ago David Steele was chosen to play for England to blunt the West Indian pace attack.

Christians are called by the will of God for the general purposes of:

(a) Witnessing. Jesus said to his disciples: "You will be my witnesses." Acts1v8. Today I gave a tribute at the funeral of my friend and fellow Christian, Henry Underwood. He witnessed by possessing most of the fruits of the Spirit. Henry was, for example, a joyful, incorrigibly happy man. He was thankful for all God gave him - his wife, home, garden, allotment, church, friends, family and faith. He was content. Sometimes his wife, Jesse, would chide him: "Henry you're too content." However Paul was quite right to write to Timothy: Godliness with contentment is great gain." Henry was especially thankful for the love he received and he received much. Whenever I visited, Henry was always so pleased to see me. He loved to hear well of his fellow Christians. His face would light up whenever I gave a good report of this brother or that. I invariably came away from his home the better for seeing him. Henry made his small corner a brighter place.

(b) Serving. Jesus also told his disciples: "Now that I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet; you also should wash one another's feet." Jn13v14. Henry served his Master, his church and fellow Christians. For 32 years he was our church treasurer. Over a lengthy period Henry and his wife were also responsible for seeing that our visiting speakers were entertained. Innumerable itinerant preachers enjoyed hospitality in their home. For eighteen months Henry and his wife came two mornings a week while I was at work to care for my invalid father. He was glad to do this for his former pastor in his weakness. What a blessing that was for my father and what a help it was to me during a very difficult episode of my life. I shall always be grateful.

(c) Interceding. Jesus encouraged his followers to intercede by saying: "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." Jn16v23. Henry Underwood spent the last four weeks of his life in hospital, scarcely able to speak, slowly dying. During that time our church made many intercessions for Henry and his wife. Jesse has just phoned to thank me for the tribute at his funeral. She said Henry's four weeks in hospital were very precious and during them God supplied all her need. There is no doubt that God raised up people to help her during a time of peculiar stress and difficult. He is no man's debtor.

(d) Glorifying. Jesus said of his disciples: "And glory has come to me through them." Jn17v10. It seems impossible for us to glorify Jesus - the radiancy of God's glory and the exact representation of his being... . Heb1v3. However, my old friend Henry glorified Jesus because he showed what the Saviour could do in the life of one of his disciples.

(a) To a special sphere of service. For example Paul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles and Barnabas was chosen to accompany him on his first missionary journey.

I was called to work for 20 years at a Christian Summer Camp as the sports organiser. My brother Paul has been called to pastor an inner city church in Clapham, London, for over 30 years. Others are led to make special abilities available to the Developing World for limited periods each year. There is a huge variety of different callings of this sort!

(b) To make a crucial contribution. Ananias was given the responsibility of restoring Saul's vision and laying hands on him so that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, he also baptised Saul in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We know nothing more of Ananias than this. He made his crucial contribution and then disappears from the sacred record. See sermon on Acts9v10to19 for further details.

I have never been head hunted or especially wanted by anyone for anything. But, I have been called by God to witness, serve, intercede and glorify him. So has every Christian. This should strengthen and empower us.

(C) What all Christians should be.

We should be:

(1) Member's of God's gang.
It is very strange that Paul uses a word for the body of believers (ecclesia) that was used by the Greeks in a secular context to refer to clubs, associations and secret societies. The word, ecclesia, is translated church in the N.I.V. I think the secular nature of the word might be better expressed by gang.

So what can we say about God's gang. The very word, gang, suggests it was an informal gathering of people that lacked the hierarchies, structures and ritual of organised religion. There were no priests, traditions, customs or ceremonies in the early church. The gang leader was God. He was in charge and he gave the church its essential unity. It is important to bear in mind that the church does not belong to a denomination, to a pastor or to its members. The church belongs to God. God's gang has local expression. There may be one vast universal church but a gathering of Christians in a particular place is also God's church. Paul writes to: The church of God in Corinth. v2.

(2) In a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Paul identifies three characteristics of this relationship:

(a) Christians belong to Jesus. Paul was writing to: those sanctified in Christ Jesus. This means that all who follow Jesus are set apart and owned by him. As the apostle affirms later in this epistle: You are not your own, you were bought at a price. 1Cor6v19.

(b) Christians are dedicated to Jesus - called to be holy. v2. We have been set apart to devote ourselves to Jesus - to worship, honour and obey him. Christians are dedicated to Christ as Samuel was dedicated by his mother to the Lord. Hannah said: "So now I give him to the Lord for his whole life he shall be given over to the Lord." 1Sam1v28. As a consequence the boy ministered before the Lord. 1Sam2v11.

(c) Christians depend upon Jesus. Paul includes in the universal church all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean to call on the name of Jesus.

Sometimes I get a call as preacher. A church secretary phones me up: "Mr X has had to cancel his engagement at short notice - can you help?" I still get a call as cricketer: "JR we are desperately short on Saturday - can you play?" I am quite often called as friend: "John, do you mind taking me to the doctor's surgery at 10am on Thursday?"

So when we call on Jesus by name we call on him as Saviour or Lord or Great High Priest or Shepherd or Friend. That is all it takes to be a Christian - to depend wholly on the many capabilities of Jesus.

(D) What all Christians should have: the right approach.

The ideal mindset of the Christian is to be seen in the salutation of Paul. We should be:

(1) Courteous.
The Christians at Corinth were a very wayward lot. Some of them had a low opinion of Paul. But Paul courteously greeted them as brothers.

There is something very offensive about discourteousy. In my Daily Telegraph today there is an article about a policeman who got into trouble for making offensive remarks about a lesbian Police Superintendent. His outburst was triggered by the Superintendent's failure to acknowledge him at a party notwithstanding they had worked together for 20 years.

We should greet with warmth all brothers and sister in Christ who are known to us. Failure to do this is a very, very sad reflection upon ourselves. As entries in the 'Love One Another Steeplechase' we fall at the first fence!

(2) Generous.
Paul accepted that the Corinthians, in spite of their numerous imperfections, were Christians. They were in a relationship with Jesus and belonged to the family of God. As we shall see in the next exposition, Paul was prepared to give God thanks for the Corinthian Christians.

We need a generous spirit to show appreciation and give encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ. (See exposition on Mt6v22to23: The Generous Spirit.)

Paul wished the Christians at Corinth: Grace and peace ... from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I like what Rev. H. Bremner wrote in the Pulpit Commentary many years ago: Grace and Mercy are twin sisters sent forth by Love to bless sinful men. They come to us hand in hand, alike yet different. Grace looks upon the guilty and speaks words of pardon; Mercy looks upon the miserable and stretches out the hand of pity.

(3) Positive.
Paul commenced his epistle to the Corinthians cheerfully and positively. This is an example I need to follow. I went to see three old friends yesterday and was keen to tell them my tale of woe. Things had not gone well since Christmas. I had attended 8 funerals in three months. My knee was playing up and then last week I had Winter Vomiting Sickness. Did my friends want to hear about Winter Vomiting Sickness - no they did not! It is a pity to commence a conversation with a groan. We sometimes have cause for sorrow; but we have always cause for joy if we are in Christ. Glumness and dismalness are not the chief Christian graces although some seem to think they are. We are not looking forward to a funeral but to a wedding - the wedding feast of the Lamb.

(4) Inclusive.
Paul addresses all the Christians at Corinth - not just the rich but also the poor, the wise and the unwise, Jews and Greeks, the famous and the obscure, the talented and the untalented.

Our love can easily become cramped - restricted to our little circle. We love the lovely but not the unlovely, those we agree with but not those with whom we disagree, those that love us but not those who despise us, those we respect and admire but not those for whom we have no respect or admiration.

John tells us in his gospel: For God so loved the world .... God's love includes everybody and our love should certainly include all our fellow Christians and not be restricted to a likeminded clique.

(5) Prepared to put Jesus in his rightful place.
In the first 9 verses of 1Corinthians Jesus is named 10 times. This is because the Corinthian Christians were going badly wrong in displacing Jesus to the periphery of church life. Jesus needs to be at the centre of our church and our lives. He is the one whom we serve and to whom we should witness naturally and without embarrassment. Yet it is just so easy for Jesus to be usurped by other things - personalities, the exercise of spiritual gifts, the form of service, style of worship, disputes about doctrine and individual needs.