Thankful for Grace

Ken Addison • June 23, 2026

Saved by Grace. Gifted by Grace. Sustained by Grace.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9

As Paul begins his first letter to the Corinthian church, he writes to a congregation filled with problems. They were struggling with division, pride, spiritual immaturity, and worldliness. Yet before addressing their failures, Paul pauses to thank God for them. His gratitude is not rooted in their performance but in the grace of God that had been given to them in Christ Jesus.

This passage reminds us that the Christian life begins, continues, and ends with grace. The same grace that saves believers through faith in Christ also equips them for service and sustains them until the day they stand before God guiltless through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Gospel Connection

The good news of the gospel is that our hope rests entirely in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Like the Corinthians, we are sinners who cannot earn God's favor through our own righteousness, wisdom, or effort. Yet God, in His grace, sent His Son to live the life we could never live and to die the death we deserved. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus made a way for sinners to be forgiven, declared righteous, and reconciled to God (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

This passage reminds us that the same grace that saves us also sustains us. God not only calls His people to Christ but promises to keep them until the end. Because of Christ's finished work, believers can have confidence that God will keep them faithful and one day present them guiltless, blameless, and accepted in His presence forever.

Thankful for God's Grace

The Corinthian church was far from perfect. They struggled with division, pride, worldliness, and spiritual immaturity. Yet before Paul addressed their failures, he thanked God for them. His gratitude was not rooted in their behavior but in the grace of God that had been given to them in Christ Jesus, grace that had confirmed the testimony about Christ among them. Paul's perspective reminds us that God's grace is often at work even in people who still have much room to grow. Paul would extensively rebuke and correct them in this letter, but before doing so, he noted what was worthy of gratitude to God for in their lives.

Saved by Grace Through Christ

Paul reminds the Corinthians that their salvation was entirely the work of God's grace. Through the gospel, God called them to Himself, gave them faith to believe, and brought them into fellowship with Jesus Christ. Their standing before God was not earned through wisdom, righteousness, or good works. It was secured by His sovereign, electing grace (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on their behalf, grace received through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Gifted by Grace for the Church

The same grace that saves believers also equips them for service. God had enriched the Corinthians with spiritual gifts intended to strengthen and build up the church. The problem was not the gifts themselves but the prideful and immature way they were being used, thus resulting in pride, jealousy, and division. Spiritual gifts are not given for personal recognition and boasting that leads to division, but for loving service to Christ and His people that builds the church (1 Corinthians 12-14).

Sustained by Grace Until the End

Paul points the church beyond the present to the future grace that awaits every believer. As they eagerly waited for the return of Christ, they could rest in the assurance that God Himself would sustain them. Their confidence was not in their own faithfulness but in God's faithfulness. Because of Christ's righteousness, all who belong to Him will one day stand before God guiltless, blameless, and accepted in His sight (2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 1:20-23). Those whom the Father draws to Christ will come to Him, and He will lose none of them (John 6:37-44).

Reflecting on Grace

The Corinthian church was far from perfect, yet Paul never lost sight of the grace of God at work among them. The same is true for us today. We are saved by grace, gifted by grace, and sustained by grace. Our hope is not in our ability to remain faithful but in God's faithfulness to keep His promises. As you reflect on this passage, consider these questions and thank God for His grace in your life and rest in the assurance that He will sustain you until the end.

Am I more focused on people's failures or God's grace at work in their lives?
As I seek to rebuke and restore fellow believers as I should, do I maintain a spirit of gratitude for God's grace in their lives?
How am I using my spiritual gifts to build up Christ's church?
Do I eagerly anticipate the return of Christ (Romans 8:18-23, Philippians 3:20, Titus 2:13, 2 Timothy 4:8, Heb 9:28)?
Am I resting in God's faithfulness or my own efforts?
Who can I thank God for today because of His grace in their life?

Key Takeaways

God's grace is greater than our failures.
Salvation is entirely a work of God's grace in Christ.
Faith itself is a gift from God.
Believers are enriched through Christ with spiritual blessings and spiritual gifts.
Spiritual gifts are given to build up the church, not divide it.
Every believer has a role to play in serving the body of Christ.
Christians should eagerly anticipate the return of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is a guarantee of our future inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
God will sustain His people until the end.
Our confidence before God rests in Christ's righteousness, not our own.

Watch Full Sermon

Have you trusted in the grace of God through Jesus Christ? Take time to reflect on the faithfulness of God and the hope we have in Christ. Watch the full sermon above to explore 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 in greater depth and be encouraged by the grace of God that saves, gifts, and sustains His people. If you do not have a church home, we would love to welcome you to Beulah Baptist Church this Sunday.