The Corinthian church is well-known for having a lot of problems. Division, competition, lack of discipline among its members – to state it briefly: doctrinal and moral problems. They needed more passion for God’s truth and more compassion for God’s people. Nevertheless, they were still the Lord’s people – precious in His sight. This first letter to the Corinthians church begins with encouraging words of promise and hope.

Let’s talk about the word “confirm.” There are two different Greek words that are translated “confirm” or “strengthen” or “establish.” The first word means “to make firm.” Are you strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus? (II Timothy 2:1). The second word has the idea of causing something to lean on something else for strength. Are you leaning on the Lord for your strength? Confirmation is more than a class at church or a “right-of-passage” ceremony when you are coming of age. It is the work of God’s Spirit in which He communicates to you personally and creates change in you through the Gospel. From I Corinthians 1:4-9 we are going to ask two questions:
      1) Is the testimony of Christ confirmed in you?
      2) Is Christ still confirming you?

Is the testimony of Christ confirmed in you? I Corinthians 1:6

I Corinthians 1:4-7 shows the work of God’s Spirit to establish (strengthen) us through the Gospel (the testimony of Christ).

• It is all of God’s Grace (vs. 4).
• It is done through the teaching of God’s knowledge / truth (vs. 5).
• God’s Spirit imparts gifts that enable us to function as followers of Christ (vs. 7).
• A new hope and a new goal is established in the life of a believer: pleasing Christ and being found faithful when he returns (vs. 7)

When someone hears the Gospel and believes, a change takes place. There will be a new power and purpose to life. See II Corinthians 1:21-22; 5:17; I Corinthians 6:9-11; I Peter 1:18-23.

Note this example ~ I Thessalonians 1:2-10.

Is Christ still confirming you? I Corinthians 1:8

• We are not inferring that that Christ would change His mind (John 5:24; 6:37; 10:27-29).
• Rather, we emphasize that what Christ begins He also completes. His work is on-going and of eternal value. See John 4:14; 6:35; 15:16; Philippians 1:6; I Thessalonians 5:23-24.
• The Lord protects His work by guiding and correcting us (John 14:15-23; 16:7-15; Philippians 2:13, 3:14-15; Hebrews 12:1-11; 13:20-21; I Peter 5:10).

The work of confirmation.

Though it is done all of Grace and by God’s Spirit, God also uses people to confirm or strengthen others (Acts 14:22; 15:30-32, 41~ see Christ's resurrection confirmed in the lives of the believers in Acts 4:32-33).

Are you a part of that work? See Philippians 2:3-5, 14-16; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:19-25.