#434 (9/9/21) - HE WILL KEEP YOU TO THE END - (1 COR. 1:8)

This week our devotions are based on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.

'He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.' (1 Corinthais 1:8)

HE WILL KEEP YOU

The Lord will provide all that we need to be strong and faithful to Him. We all experience weakness, temptation and failure, but God will always restore us and help us. The race of life is long and we may wonder sometimes if we can make it. However, the Father gives His Spirit so as to sustain us and make us flourish. He said these words to His people,

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.’ (Exodus 19:4)

'Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation.’ (Isaiah 12:2)

The Lord carries us each day. He sustains us. He walks with us.

TO THE END

‘The end’ and ‘the day of our Lord Jesus Christ’ is His coming again. He is coming to restore all things and destroy all sin and demonic powers. This is our great hope. This is what we are waiting for. This is our eternal destination and vision. If you have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you will be there! He will keep you firm in faith. We believe in the doctrine of ‘the final perseverance of the saints’; all true Christians will be kept faithful to the end. Charles Spurgeon wrote,

‘God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside His mind from us, has us always before His eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon His people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; He always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest. In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us--we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye.’ (C. H. Spurgeon)

Are you trusting that God will keep you faithful to Him and His gospel?

Are you assured of eternal life purely by receiving Jesus?

Who do you know anyone that needs God’s strengthening at the moment? Spend some time praying for yourself and others out of this wonderful text.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

2. Icebreaker

How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week?

3. Recap of Sunday's message - please share in your group

On Sunday we began a new series in 1 Corinthians entitled 'Becoming love'. A central idea in the book of 1 Corinthians is the importance of learning to live a life of love.

The title of Sunday's message was, 'GOD IS FAITHFUL TO FINISH WHAT HE BEGINS'.

Please read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.

Paul begins this challenging letter with an encouragement to remember God's grace and faithfulness. This is a rich text and here are few points from it:

i) He chose us in Christ - The term 'sanctified' means to be chosen by God as His treasured possession. Something that's key to remember and needs to be re-said all the time is that God chose us and saved us in Christ at our worst. We were 'dead in sin' but God saved us through the cross without any reference to our good works. It's all in Jesus who is mentioned at least 8 times in these 9 verses!

ii) He is transforming us - The term 'holy people' means to have a new way of living that is pleasing to God. God has given us His Spirit and is changing us. We read that 'in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge.' God is transforming our way of speaking and thinking.

iii) He gives us all that we need - God promises that 'you do not lack any spiritual gift'. God is faithful to finish what He begins in us and the church by providing all of the spiritual gifts that we need for our edification.

iv) God is faithful - We are weak and faltering, but our Father is faithful to finish the work He began in us. A wonderful phrase is 'God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son.' 'Fellowship is an unbreakable parnership - like a perfect marriage. God will never give up on His people. Let's be encouraged to trust God to provide all that we need as we seek Him for growth.

Discussion questions

1. Did God speak to you, or what do you plan to do in response to Sunday's message?

2. Do you have any questions about this text?

3. Count up how many times Jesus is mentioned in these 9 verses. How can one be certain of being saved - loved, forgiven and certain of eternal life?

4. Giving thanks is an important application from this text. What are the sorts of things that it's important to give thanks for? (Particularly, take a look at 1:4).

4. How does knowing that we are 'sancified' -chosen by and for God - change us?

5. We are 'called to be His holy people'. What does the bible say about how we can grow in holiness?

5. SIV

Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?