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I. THE CHARACTER OF PAUL.

1. There were two things the apostle knew confidently.

(1) That he was "not meet to be called an apostle." The same humility should mark us. Our humility, however, must not weaken faith or enfeeble energy. For —

(2) Paul was an apostle. We are not "meet" to be saved, but we should never doubt our salvation when the Word of God assures us.

2. The strength and nobleness of Paul's character was based on the confidence that he was "called of God" to be and to do the work of an apostle. A little thing will not make us lose heart in our work if we believe we are "called of God."

II. THE CHARACTER OF THE CORINTHIANS.

1. They also were "called of God" "to be saints" — i.e., separated to God. They were not self-called, to be and to do what they liked. They were called of God to be like God, and to do His will; to be separated from their former selves.

2. They had been called out of a society —

(1) Where the Greeks sought for "wisdom" and the Jews for "signs."(2) That was morally corrupt.

3. The character given them by God should inspire them with jealous care against —

(1) The admission into the Church of the elements of Corinthian society.

(2) Religious bigotry and intolerance — the spirit of the Jew. They were but a part of the Church.

III. THE BENEDICTION. Grace is essentially an element of "peace." Its great dispensation was heralded in by "peace on earth." "Sinai" and "peace" were not known; but "Calvary" and "peace" are one. They who build on anything but "grace" will not know "peace." The Church, too, will be characterised by "peace" in the measure of the "grace" in the heart of its members. The peace-breaker is never a man "full of grace."

(The Study.)

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KJV: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

WEB: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,