10-16-2025 PART 3: Set Apart but Not Alone The Call to Holiness and Unity

Section 1

Paul begins 1 Corinthians by affirming his apostleship—“called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”—and immediately includes his co-laborer, Sosthenes. From the start, Paul sets the tone: the call is God’s, not man’s. Every breath we take, every act of service we perform, is sustained by His will and grace. Titles and self-proclaimed authority mean nothing apart from God’s appointment. Paul’s humility stands in contrast to those who use ministry labels for self-exaltation. He reminds believers that greatness in the Kingdom is not claimed but given, and that no one is beyond accountability to Scripture. Even Paul’s own authority flows from surrender, not self-importance.

Section 2

Paul’s partnership with Sosthenes highlights the importance of spiritual teamwork. Though Paul had moments of sharp disagreement—like his early conflict with John Mark—he matured to recognize the value of restoration and community. Christianity, he stresses, is not a solo endeavor. Believers are members of one body, designed to depend on one another for strength, encouragement, and growth. To isolate oneself from fellow Christians is to breach the very command of Christ: “Love one another as I have loved you.” The Christian life is not a buffet of selective obedience; it’s a full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Every part of the body—hand, ear, eye—belongs and functions in unity under the Head, which is Christ.

Section 3

Paul’s opening words to the Corinthians contain a powerful dual truth: believers are “sanctified in Christ Jesus” (set apart) and “called to be holy” (continually growing). Positionally, we are already made holy in Christ; practically, we are learning to live it out. This sanctification separates us not from other believers, but from the world. Paul makes it unmistakably clear—unity is essential among those who “call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” The Church is an inclusive family, distinct from the world yet joined together in faith and purpose. Denominations, traditions, and personal backgrounds fade before this greater truth: all who belong to Jesus belong to one another.