1 Corinthians 1

This is that Christ prayed so heartily for (John 17:21): That they all may be one. Christians should be one, 1. in judgment; the Apostle exhorts to be all of one mind (1 Corinthians 1:10). How sad is it to see religion wearing a coat of diverse colors, to see Christians of so ma…

Branch 4. See the happy condition of the children of God, they have Christ to be their Prophet (Isaiah 54:13): All your children shall be taught of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:30): He is made to us wisdom. One man cannot see by another's eye; but believers see with Christ's eyes,…

This is the name whereby you shall be called, Jehovah Tzidkennu, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (1 Corinthians 1:30) He is made to us righteousness. This righteousness of Christ which does justify us, is a better righteousness than the angels; theirs is the righteousness of creatur…

In the text we are kept by the power of God to salvation; every person in the Trinity has a hand in making a believer persevere. God the Father establishes (2 Corinthians 1:21), God the Son confirms (1 Corinthians 1:8), God the Holy Ghost seals (Ephesians 1:13), so that it is th…

What is the weak breath of a man to convert a soul? It is like whispering in the ears of a dead man; this is foolishness in the eye of the world: but the Lord loves to show his wisdom by that which seems folly (1 Corinthians 1:27). He has chosen the foolish things of the world t…

Though God could work grace immediately by his Spirit, or by the ministry of angels from heaven, yet he chooses to work by the word preached; this is the usual means by which he sets up the kingdom of grace in the heart. And the reason is, because he has put his divine sanction…

Herein appears the distinguishing love of Christ, that the virtue of his death should reach some and not others. (1 Corinthians 1:26) Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. That Christ should pass by many of birth and parts, and that the l…

And Saint Augustine, in his book against Pelagius, affirms, that it has been the custom of the church in all ages to baptize infants: indeed, it was an apostolical practice. Saint Paul affirms, that he baptized the whole house of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16). And as you have s…

Why do many apostatize and fall away, but because they did never sit down and count the cost. 2. If we would hold out to the kingdom, let us cherish the grace of faith (1 Corinthians 1:24): By faith you stand. Faith, like Hercules' club, beats down all oppositions before it; it…

Thus Jeremiah would needs be reasoning with God about his dispensations toward wicked men (chapter 12:1-2) and Job about his dealings with himself (chapter 13:3). And reason being likewise the supreme principle in us by nature and our highest distinction as we are men — therefor…

His name likewise has an all-sufficiency in it to supply all our wants and desires and satisfy all scruples. For example, the name of his mentioned by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 9:6, compared with 1 Corinthians 1, last verse: Would we have peace of conscience and the guilt of…

Second, one who does not daily above all things directly and immediately aim at and seek out Christ's righteousness — making it the chief focus of his thoughts, prayers, and business, and being restless without it — still rests in his own. For when Paul had given up his claim in…

Our calling is to profess the Gospel and religion of Christ; now to many it is a reproach and ignominy: but we must learn this special lesson by the example of these men; that howsoever the world judge of Christ and his religion, yet we having entered into this holy profession,…

Saint Luke and Saint Paul set out the faithful servants of God by this mark, Acts 9:14. He has authority to bind all that call on your name. 1 Corinthians 1:2. To them that are sanctified by Jesus Christ, saints by calling, with all that call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…

In whom all have sinned. If the head plot treason, all the body is guilty; but Christ is made to us righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Indeed it is this righteousness only, in which we can stand before the justice of God (Jeremiah 23:6).

We hold and believe that the obedience of Christ is imputed to us even for our righteousness before God. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:30: Christ is made unto us of God wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Hence I reason thus: if Christ is both our sanctificatio…

And (chapter 3): Neither working anything, nor repaying the like, are they justified by faith alone through the gift of God. And (1 Corinthians 1): This is appointed of God that whoever believes in Christ, shall be saved without any work by faith alone, freely receiving remissio…

And Peter had in his eye Christ's example, and pointed them thereunto, who at his death committed his separate soul or spirit into the hands of God (Luke 23:46) and the word commit is one and the same in both these places: only there is this difference, that whereas Christ says,…

3. He stands as the great end of preaching, not only that hearers may have Him known in their judgments, but may have Him high in their hearts and affections (2 Corinthians 3:4), We preach not ourselves, that is, not only do we not preach ourselves as the subject, but we preach…

And because the power of God is taken either more generally for that which is exercised in the works of common providence, or more particularly for that which is put forth in the work of saving grace; we take it here in short to be the grace of God exercising its power in and by…

The soul may answer, it was not external preaching, nor my own free will, nor anything in me, but the power of God's grace, I have nothing but what I have received. It is on this ground that the Apostle (Philippians 2:12-13) presses and encourages Christians to their great work,…

Use 1: It serves to be a prop and foundation to our faith. We may say of this truth, as the apostle, speaking of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 1:15), says: if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is vain. If Christ were not man, our preaching and yo…

1. I say it preaches wonderful grace, that freely chose them; and that when thousands of great men, and noblemen were passed by, such a poor body that was half a fool in comparison with them, should be chosen. According to that (1 Corinthians 1): "Not many wise after the flesh,…

Say to the righteous it shall be well with him; it's not, say to the honorable man, nor say to the rich man, nor to the wise man, etc. God has not chosen many of these, as is clear (1 Corinthians 1:26), but say to the righteous or holy man; it shall be well with him; and is here…

He shall outlive his sufferings, and death; and shall be delighted in seeing of them, who shall get the good of his sufferings; as it is said of Job, that he saw his children, or [reconstructed: seed] of the third and fourth generation; that is, he lived long, and saw [reconstru…

First, The nature of the Covenant, wherein all the Promises concerning Sinners' Salvation are comprehended; there being but one Covenant of Redemption, and that being a Promise of this Covenant, to circumcise the heart to love God, and to write his law in it, as well as to pardo…

Presumption may look on Christ and His fullness, and few or none will readily dare to give Him a direct and downright refusal, or to reject Him professedly and avowedly when they hear of such happiness that is to be had in Him. But that which we say qualifies faith, is to desire…

It's Christ's merit, His soul-travel, and sufferings; Papists deny this; and make the next immediate cause to be the grace infused in us, that which is called, gratia gratum faciens: but if you ask the Prophet, what is the ground, I mean the next immediate cause, on which justif…

There is another thing supposed here, that serves to clear the doctrine of justification, which we shall observe, before we speak of faith itself particularly, because it's antecedent to it, and it's this: That the Gospel is a necessary external mean, for promoting of our justif…

1. The Scripture speaks of, and points Christ out in His sufferings, as the object of justifying faith (Romans 3:25), where God has set forth for a propitiation through faith in his blood: where the blood of Christ, and He as suffering is proposed as faith's object. So, (1 Corin…

If people soberly and gravely considered of what concernment it is to make use of the Gospel, and what depends upon the profitable or unprofitable hearing of it, how serious would both speakers and hearers be? This same poor, mean and contemptible-like way of speaking or preachi…

(Galatians 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (1 Corinthians 1:23) But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks…

Assertion 3. As there is in the eye, lumen innatum; in the ear, aer internus; a certain inborn light, to make the eye see lights, and colors without; and a sound and air in the ear within, to make it discern the sounds that are without. So is there a grace, a new nature, an habi…

Yet they are called something more, sons of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1). Saints (1 Corinthians 1:1). Brethren, faithful (Ephesians 1:1).

Reason 2: It is taken from the good pleasure of the Father, whom it has pleased that in Christ all fullness of life should dwell (Colossians 1:19). And when he which is our life shall appear, we shall appear with him (1 Corinthians 1:30). And therefore since God has concluded, a…

2. This was an offense to the Apostles that their Master should die (Matthew 16:22-23): then Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying, be it far from you, Lord, this shall not be to you. 3. This was the Jews' stumbling block (1 Corinthians 1:23): we preach Christ crucified,…

Life we have from him, as Prince of Life, or Head of the renewed estate. So the effects (1 Corinthians 1:30). But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Wisdom as a Prophet to cure our ignorance and foll…

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of man. From where I gather, that God can make use of weak, unlearned, sinful instruments to do great works; and he can use persons of mean abilities, to accomplish his glorious…

It commands us not to search out the nature of God: but to know his will set out to us in Christ, whom he would have to take our flesh upon him, to be born and to die for our sins, and that this should be preached among all nations. For seeing the world by wisdom knew not God in…

The Gospel is a doctrine which both of itself, and also by the malice of the Devil brings with it the cross and persecution. Therefore Paul is accustomed to call it the word of the cross and of offense (1 Corinthians 1:18). It has not always steadfast and constant disciples.

Then is the slander of the cross abolished: he means that it were a great absurdity and inconvenience if the offense of the cross should cease. After the same manner he speaks in 1 Corinthians 1: Christ sent me to preach the Gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Ch…

For there is but one Gospel: and if the former opinion were true, then so many opinions, so many gospels. Paul says, that the world by her wisdom could not know God in his wisdom, and for this cause he ordained the preaching of the word to save men (1 Corinthians 1:21). And thou…

And the causes of it may be two. The first, because the poorer sort received the Gospel: thus it was in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:26), "not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble." The like we see in experience at this day: the poorer sort among us do m…

Thus Jacob says in the adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh, Let them be mine, and let my name be called upon them (Genesis 48:5, 16). And Paul says, that the Corinthians might not be named and distinguished by Paul, Cephas, Apollos, because they were not baptized into their names,…

Thirdly, here we see that true and spiritual invocation of God, is a mark of the Church of God: because it is a fruit of the spirit of God in them that are the children of God. And by this the people of God are noted (Acts 9:14; 1 Corinthians 1:2), and on the contrary, it is the…

Lastly, it may be objected, that love is of no use, if it does not justify. Answer. Justification, and sanctification, are two distinct benefits (1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11). Justification ministers to us deliverance from hell, and a right to life everlasting: sanctification is a…

This was practiced by Saint Paul (Galatians 2:14), who reproved not Peter, till he was thoroughly informed of his offense: which condemns the common practice of the multitude, who censure and reprove others, specially public persons, as magistrates and ministers, upon false repo…

As if he should say; What a shame were that? or rather, acknowledge the goodness of God, who has dealt so mercifully with you, and cling to him with your whole hearts. Some have falsely imagined, that Saint Paul alleges this place in (1 Corinthians 1:20). But so he should mistak…

If the earth that is well husbanded, brings forth but little fruit; what is to be expected from that that is utterly barren, and unhusbanded? But the Gospel loses no whit of its excellence, though it gets but few followers: neither does the small number of believers diminish the…

But it was proper that, even from the birth of Christ, that saying should be fulfilled, “it pleased God by foolishness to save them that believe,” (1 Corinthians 1:21.) The treasure of this mystery was committed by him to a virgin in such a manner, that at length, when the prope…