Articles
The Power of the Gospel at Corinth
"For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16, emp LS). Another example of the POWER of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST is the Corinthians.
CONDITION OF THE CORINTHIANS. Paul said, "Know ye not that the UNRIGHTEOUS shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU" (I Corinthians 6:9-11, emp LS). The Corinthians were unrighteous and "All unrighteousness is sin" (I John 5:17). Therefore, the Corinthians were sinners. As unforgiven sinners, the Corinthians were lost, having no hope of heaven.
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT. Paul, on his second missionary journey, came to Corinth (Acts 18:1)"And he continued there a year and six months, TEACHING the word of God among them" (Acts 18:11, emp LS). Paul later says, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the GOSPEL which I PREACHED unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I PREACHED unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (I Corinthians 15:1-2, emp LS). The Gospel of Christ was taught at Corinth.
THE RESULTS. "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and MANY OF THE CORINTHIANS hearing believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8, emp LS). Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Corinthians and many believed and were baptized. Why were the Corinthians baptized when taught the Gospel of Christ? Because Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the GOSPEL to every creature. He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16, emp LS). The Corinthians were baptized in order to be saved. Notice what Paul said later, "but ye are WASHED (baptized, cf. Acts 22:16), but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Corinthians 6:11, emp LS).
WHAT THE CORINTHIANS BECAMES. The Corinthians were unrighteous sinners, but by the POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST they became "the CHURCH of God which is at Corinth, to them that are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, called to be SAINTS, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" (I Corinthians 1:2, emp LS). The GOSPEL OF CHRIST converted unrighteous sinners to be the CHURCH ("called out", or simply saved sinners), SANCTIFIED ("set apart"), SAINTS ("holy ones").
My friend, have you learned the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the POWER of God to save sinners? Why not OBEY the Gospel of Jesus Christ TODAY!
