1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. I. YOUR CALLING. 1. Its Divine origin. The text says, "God called you" — does not your experience prove the same? We thought that we had had no other call than that which came through our Bibles, good books, &c. But did we not read the same books years before? but they never touched a chord in our hearts; therefore we conclude that that time it must have been the finger of God. We had been called scores of times before, but we always turned a deaf ear. But when this particular call came, we threw down our sword and said, "Great God, I yield!" 2. Its graciousness. What was there in you to suggest a motive why God should call you? Some of you were drunkards, profane, injurious. John Bradford, when he saw a cartful of men going off to Tyburn to be hanged, said, "There goes John Bradford but for the grace of God." A good Scotchman called to see Rowland Hill, and without saying a word, sat still for some five minutes, looking into his face. At last Rowland asked him what engaged his attention. Said he, "I was looking at the lines of your face." "Well, what do you make out of em?" "Why," said he, "that if the grace of God hadn't been in you, you would have been the biggest rascal living." 3. The privileges it brings. (1) Pardon. (2) Righteousness. (3) Sonship. (4) Heaven. II. TO WHAT END DID GOD CALL YOU? That you might have fellowship with Christ. Now the word "koinonia" is not to be interpreted here as a society, but as the result of society; i.e., fellowship lies in mutual and identical interests. A man and his wife have fellowship with each other, in that which is common to both and enjoyed in communion accordingly. Now when we were called to Christ we became one with Him, so that everything Christ had became ours. This was the act of faith. Now we have fellowship to Christ. 1. In His loves. He loves saints, sinners, the world, and pants to see it transformed into the garden of the Lord. What He loves we love, and what He hates we abhor. 2. In His desires. He desires to see multitudes saved, the glory of God, that the saints may be with Him where He is — we desire the same. 3. In His sufferings. We do not die a bloody death; yet many have done so, and there are millions ready to do so. But when He is reproached we have learned to bear His reproach too. Some few drops of His cup we drink, and it has been given to some more than to others to "fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for His body's sake, which is the Church." 4. In His joys. Is He happy? We are happy to think Christ is happy. 5. In His riches. If He has riches in pardoning, supporting, instructing, illuminating, sanctifying, preserving, or perfecting Christians, they are all ours. Is His blood precious, His righteousness complete, His merits sweet? They are mine. Has He power in intercession, has He wisdom, righteousness — has He anything? It is mine. 6. In His glory. There is not a crown He wears but we have part of it; nay, there is not a gem that sparkles in His crowns but it sparkles for us as well as for Him. For us the golden streets, the chariot, the crowding angels; the shout of "Hallelujah! for Thou wast slain," &c., the second advent with all its splendours, universal reign of Christ, the day of judgment. III. ALL THIS LEADS US TO PERCEIVE OUR SECURITY. Saints must be saved — 1. Because God has called them. "The gifts and culling of God are without repentance," Because — 2. God has called them into fellowship with Christ, and that fellowship, if God be faithful, must be complete. You have shared His sufferings, His faithfulness secures the rest. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. |
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