in His Grace
By DR. RALPH L. KEIPER Dr. Keiper is a member of the faculty of the Conservative Baptist Theological Sem inary of Denver where he holds the posi tion of Associate Professor in English Bible. pleasing to the Lord (1:4). They should have willingly lived in such a manner so as to hear the Lord's, "Well done, thou good and faith ful servant." Unfortunately this is what they did not do. They failed to take advantage of their posses sions. They were victims of a vol untary paralysis. They were saved but they had refused to grow in grace. The Apostle found it neces sary to rebuke them. Perhaps these last words of the study may be a question to you. Have you come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you grown in grace or are you still a spiritual babe? Do you fuss, fume and fight? Are you contentious? This was the sad condition of the church of Cor inth and by God's grace it should not have been. We have no right to live in disgrace. Does your life evidence that you are living in His grace? To encourage the believers at Corinth Paul reminds them that the Lord had saved them for a purpose (I Corinthians 3:9). God desires that we may be witnesses for our blessed Saviour. The true Page 19
to grow up (chapter three). They were a very impure church (chap ter five). They were a church that took each other to law on the slightest pretense (chapters eight and nine). Yet it was a church set apart for the Lord Jesus. They did not take the responsibilities which were demanded. Dr. Maxwell of Prairie Bible Institute observed, “You know, Brother Keiper, we should not glory in the fact that the church at Corinth was so bad when at least we got from them two wonderful epistles!" Studying these letters in depth we will see how true that evaluation really is. “Under the church of Cod, which is at Corinth, to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place that call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours." Here were a people who called upon the name of the Lord. This reminds us of Paul's words, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). This church lacked absolutely nothing in order to live a life
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