The Blessings of Grace

In Paul's greeting to the Church at Corinth, he immediately emphasizes their standing in Christ as saints and sanctified ones through God's grace. Then he goes on to give thanks to God for all the blessings of grace that they had received from God. He thanks God that they had been enriched in everything, that they had exhibited the testimony of Christ in their lives, that they had all received spiritual gifts to serve in the church, and that they were eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. All of this comes as an outworking of the grace of God in their lives because God is faithful. God performed all of these things in the lives of Corinthian believers because He is faithful to finish that which He began. Knowing then, that through God's grace He has provided everything we need to serve Him faithfully, the only question remaining is the same that Paul asks the Corinthian church through the rest of his letter: what are you going to do with what you have been given? WIll you use it for your own benefit, or will you use it to accomplish God's will so that He receives the glory?