Trinity 18 - Canadian Thanksgiving October 8, 2023
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Giving Thanks…to Whom? Why?
V.4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…
Dear friends in Christ, this weekend marks the holiday of Canadian Thanksgiving (set at the more appropriate time of the harvest in our northern climate–just sayin’). As is the custom with many of us during Thanksgiving (no matter when you celebrate it) we have the practice of listing various things for which we are thankful (and there is a lot to be thankful for!). Indeed, the gifts of God’s good creation that are part of the First Article of the Creed quickly come to mind: house and home, food and clothing, spouse and children, land and animals, jobs and good government, seasonal weather and harvest, etc.
But to whom do we give thanks for all these gifts? The universe? Ourselves? Parents/family? The government? Ha! No! In our text for this morning, St. Paul is quite clear that we are to give thanks to God. Why is Paul giving thanks to God in this letter to the Corinthians? For the church in Corinth itself!
Now, beloved, this may come as something of a surprise to you who know something about the church at Corinth. You see, Paul had spent a good amount of time in that city. Corinth was at the heart of an important trade route and, like many such cities, had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. Paul had planted the church there in Acts 18. Sadly, it floundered there under all of those aforementioned negative influences and began to divide over various issues including: spiritual gifts, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, and the resurrection. Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians deal with many of these practical issues that impacted this particular church.
They seem to have been a constant thorn in his side with their many problems and difficulties. They no doubt caused him great grief and trouble, angst and sorrow. Headache after headache. So, then, why is he giving thanks to God for them? Because they have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” They are saints–holy ones–made holy by faith in Jesus Christ their Lord. They have been gathered together to call upon God’s holy name. In short, they are the church. With all of their problems, difficulties, and divisions, yet they remain the people of God by His grace–called to faith in Christ Jesus–united by their Lord and Savior.
And so Paul gives thanks to God for these people and the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus. “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” Did you hear that? Despite all the troubles–all the problems–all the headaches–Paul gives thanks for them–ALWAYS. But not because of their problems, but rather because of the grace of God given them in Christ Jesus. He gives thanks for their faith in Jesus. For their love of the Lord. A love planted into their hearts by the Holy Spirit who washed them clean in the blood of Jesus.
Now THAT, beloved, is ALSO something for which we ought to give thanks (the Second Article of the Creed on the Lord Jesus makes this plain). I know it can be challenging, at times, when we look around at our small fellowship, which seems to be ever shrinking–year by year. It can be compounded when we look at those around us in these pews–people whom we know all too well to be sinners–just as they know the same of us. We see our fallenness reflected in them and they in us. We have even hurt each other sometimes with our differing viewpoints on how the church ought to run and operate.
And yet, dear friends, yet we are always to be mindful of the fact that those in our church have been called and sanctified by Jesus–just as we have. And this is a great gift of God. For it means we are NOT alone! We aren’t left to navigate difficult times and situations with just us and our Bible. No, indeed, we have the strength of those around us–like minded Christians–people who have been bathed in the redeeming blood of Jesus (the church of the past and the present)–and they can help point us to the gifts and promises of God in Christ Jesus.
Just listen to how St. Paul continues. Because of the grace of God (the kindness and favor of God) shown to these Christians in Jesus–that God sent His Son to suffer and die for their sins–now in every way this grace of God in Christ has caused them to be rich in all speech and knowledge. Rich in the words that our Lord speaks to us through His Word–and the knowledge of our salvation through faith in Jesus. For this testimony–this witness–about Christ was confirmed (caused to be known as certain) among them.
What joy, beloved, to know that this same grace of God has been poured out upon you in this body of believers that we call the holy Christian church. You have been baptized into the same triune name of God–united together with Christ Jesus Himself AND all who believe on His name. You have the knowledge of God’s salvation made sure and certain in the Holy Bible to which you and all believers cling to for truth and guidance, for comfort and consolation. God works His salvation in your heart through His Word and Sacraments. Confirming His grace upon you in these objective means gives strength to faltering hearts–peace to troubled consciences–life to those dead in trespasses and sins.
For you, beloved, having been filled with the Holy Spirit at your Baptism– nurtured by His blessed Word–strengthened in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus’ own body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar–are not lacking in any gift as you await the End–the final coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. For you have the great peace and assurance of sins forgiven by Jesus’ blood shed for you. You have the comfort of knowing your Lord Jesus has claimed you as His own and sealed you unto life everlasting by His cross and suffering on your behalf. He who has bought you with such a terrible price (His own suffering and death on the cross), will not let you go, nor your brothers and sisters in Christ–be they within these hallowed walls or elsewhere scattered throughout the earth.
You do not fear the final revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus. For as Paul writes, He “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So, when threatened with overwhelming fear or anxiety over your sin and shame. Whether brought near to despair over the darkness rampant in the world around us. Whether startled by the terrible wickedness and vice of family, friends, or neighbors. We do not succumb to fear or dread. For we have the promise of God that He will sustain us (cause us to be established and firm in our belief). For by His grace we are guiltless in regard to sin. Not just declared free of guilt as by a judge. More than that. No longer even able to be accused by the great Accuser, Satan. For he has been cast down out of heaven. We have been delivered by our great Advocate and Defender–the Lord Jesus–who shed His blood to wipe away our sin and to remove our shame and guilt.
How do you know this to be true? “God is faithful.” God is able to be trusted. For He has bled and died and risen again for you and your brothers and sisters in Christ–and all people. What’s more, you have been called into the fellowship–the koinonia–the church of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. You have been summoned into this close association and relationship with other believers by the Lord Jesus. No wonder we can look at each other with such love and mercy. For that is the way our Lord looks upon us each and every day. Yes, we see sinners all around us in these pews–just as we do in the world at large–but we also see them as individuals who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. And those in our fellowship have been called by God’s grace to faith in Jesus Christ–and so truly are our brothers and sisters–united in faith and trust to our merciful God and Lord.
What opportunity we now have to extend this mercy and love to those outside these walls–to invite them within–to hear this Good News–to receive the same call to faith which we ourselves received by God’s grace. What a joy and privilege to be participants in spreading God’s kingdom of light, joy, and peace to those trapped in the darkness of sin, death, and despair. And that, too, is something for which we are thankful to God. And so, beloved, let there be thanks to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Always and forevermore. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Giving Thanks…to Whom? Why?
V.4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…
Dear friends in Christ, this weekend marks the holiday of Canadian Thanksgiving (set at the more appropriate time of the harvest in our northern climate–just sayin’). As is the custom with many of us during Thanksgiving (no matter when you celebrate it) we have the practice of listing various things for which we are thankful (and there is a lot to be thankful for!). Indeed, the gifts of God’s good creation that are part of the First Article of the Creed quickly come to mind: house and home, food and clothing, spouse and children, land and animals, jobs and good government, seasonal weather and harvest, etc.
But to whom do we give thanks for all these gifts? The universe? Ourselves? Parents/family? The government? Ha! No! In our text for this morning, St. Paul is quite clear that we are to give thanks to God. Why is Paul giving thanks to God in this letter to the Corinthians? For the church in Corinth itself!
Now, beloved, this may come as something of a surprise to you who know something about the church at Corinth. You see, Paul had spent a good amount of time in that city. Corinth was at the heart of an important trade route and, like many such cities, had a reputation for sexual immorality, religious diversity, and corruption. Paul had planted the church there in Acts 18. Sadly, it floundered there under all of those aforementioned negative influences and began to divide over various issues including: spiritual gifts, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, and the resurrection. Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians deal with many of these practical issues that impacted this particular church.
They seem to have been a constant thorn in his side with their many problems and difficulties. They no doubt caused him great grief and trouble, angst and sorrow. Headache after headache. So, then, why is he giving thanks to God for them? Because they have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” They are saints–holy ones–made holy by faith in Jesus Christ their Lord. They have been gathered together to call upon God’s holy name. In short, they are the church. With all of their problems, difficulties, and divisions, yet they remain the people of God by His grace–called to faith in Christ Jesus–united by their Lord and Savior.
And so Paul gives thanks to God for these people and the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus. “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus…” Did you hear that? Despite all the troubles–all the problems–all the headaches–Paul gives thanks for them–ALWAYS. But not because of their problems, but rather because of the grace of God given them in Christ Jesus. He gives thanks for their faith in Jesus. For their love of the Lord. A love planted into their hearts by the Holy Spirit who washed them clean in the blood of Jesus.
Now THAT, beloved, is ALSO something for which we ought to give thanks (the Second Article of the Creed on the Lord Jesus makes this plain). I know it can be challenging, at times, when we look around at our small fellowship, which seems to be ever shrinking–year by year. It can be compounded when we look at those around us in these pews–people whom we know all too well to be sinners–just as they know the same of us. We see our fallenness reflected in them and they in us. We have even hurt each other sometimes with our differing viewpoints on how the church ought to run and operate.
And yet, dear friends, yet we are always to be mindful of the fact that those in our church have been called and sanctified by Jesus–just as we have. And this is a great gift of God. For it means we are NOT alone! We aren’t left to navigate difficult times and situations with just us and our Bible. No, indeed, we have the strength of those around us–like minded Christians–people who have been bathed in the redeeming blood of Jesus (the church of the past and the present)–and they can help point us to the gifts and promises of God in Christ Jesus.
Just listen to how St. Paul continues. Because of the grace of God (the kindness and favor of God) shown to these Christians in Jesus–that God sent His Son to suffer and die for their sins–now in every way this grace of God in Christ has caused them to be rich in all speech and knowledge. Rich in the words that our Lord speaks to us through His Word–and the knowledge of our salvation through faith in Jesus. For this testimony–this witness–about Christ was confirmed (caused to be known as certain) among them.
What joy, beloved, to know that this same grace of God has been poured out upon you in this body of believers that we call the holy Christian church. You have been baptized into the same triune name of God–united together with Christ Jesus Himself AND all who believe on His name. You have the knowledge of God’s salvation made sure and certain in the Holy Bible to which you and all believers cling to for truth and guidance, for comfort and consolation. God works His salvation in your heart through His Word and Sacraments. Confirming His grace upon you in these objective means gives strength to faltering hearts–peace to troubled consciences–life to those dead in trespasses and sins.
For you, beloved, having been filled with the Holy Spirit at your Baptism– nurtured by His blessed Word–strengthened in the saving grace of our Lord Jesus’ own body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar–are not lacking in any gift as you await the End–the final coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. For you have the great peace and assurance of sins forgiven by Jesus’ blood shed for you. You have the comfort of knowing your Lord Jesus has claimed you as His own and sealed you unto life everlasting by His cross and suffering on your behalf. He who has bought you with such a terrible price (His own suffering and death on the cross), will not let you go, nor your brothers and sisters in Christ–be they within these hallowed walls or elsewhere scattered throughout the earth.
You do not fear the final revelation (apocalypse) of Jesus. For as Paul writes, He “will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So, when threatened with overwhelming fear or anxiety over your sin and shame. Whether brought near to despair over the darkness rampant in the world around us. Whether startled by the terrible wickedness and vice of family, friends, or neighbors. We do not succumb to fear or dread. For we have the promise of God that He will sustain us (cause us to be established and firm in our belief). For by His grace we are guiltless in regard to sin. Not just declared free of guilt as by a judge. More than that. No longer even able to be accused by the great Accuser, Satan. For he has been cast down out of heaven. We have been delivered by our great Advocate and Defender–the Lord Jesus–who shed His blood to wipe away our sin and to remove our shame and guilt.
How do you know this to be true? “God is faithful.” God is able to be trusted. For He has bled and died and risen again for you and your brothers and sisters in Christ–and all people. What’s more, you have been called into the fellowship–the koinonia–the church of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. You have been summoned into this close association and relationship with other believers by the Lord Jesus. No wonder we can look at each other with such love and mercy. For that is the way our Lord looks upon us each and every day. Yes, we see sinners all around us in these pews–just as we do in the world at large–but we also see them as individuals who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. And those in our fellowship have been called by God’s grace to faith in Jesus Christ–and so truly are our brothers and sisters–united in faith and trust to our merciful God and Lord.
What opportunity we now have to extend this mercy and love to those outside these walls–to invite them within–to hear this Good News–to receive the same call to faith which we ourselves received by God’s grace. What a joy and privilege to be participants in spreading God’s kingdom of light, joy, and peace to those trapped in the darkness of sin, death, and despair. And that, too, is something for which we are thankful to God. And so, beloved, let there be thanks to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Always and forevermore. Amen.