In the first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul writes:

“God is faithful, through whom you have also been called to fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1Cor 1,9

This is remarkable. The church in Corinth was chaotic. You could also say that the situation was tense. There were tangible problems. However, the whole introduction of this letter reads like one encouragement (1Cor 1:3-9). Paul begins with thanksgiving, reminding us of the grace of God given to us in Christ Jesus, because in Him we are made sufficient in all things – in every word and in every knowledge. Spiritually, Paul says, the Corinthians lacked nothing. He writes this at the very beginning, because from this point of view he wants to communicate with the community.

Right after that, he talks about the expectation that lies ahead. He writes that we are waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, he expresses the expectation that He Himself will bestow steadiness. That is firm confidence. He is for us. God will give us steadfastness until perfection, so that we will then be blameless. The statement is: He will probably do it. This was Paul’s confidence for the chaotic church in Corinth.

Then follow the words quoted at the beginning, as a summary, so to speak: “God is faithful, through whom you have also been called to fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Paul sketches a very positive and confident picture in just a few verses. The summary sums it up: “God is faithful”. That’s where it all starts. That’s where the confidence is. It does not depend on me, on my feeling or my belief. It depends on God. He is faithful. That is above all.

The calling is then further described: We are called “to fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” The calling is to fellowship. It is not to affirm any dogmas. It is not to be confused with affirming a particular church. We are called to community. Personal encounter is the goal. Encounter with the Risen One.

We are called to fellowship with His Son. Because that’s where it will continue. The Hebrew word for son comes from the same root as the verb “to build.” The Son is the one through whom the Father builds His work. We are called to fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, and consequently we are involved in the Father’s work. Through Him, God is building His salvation for this world. And we call Him Lord because we trust this, because we trust Him.

So we can now look at our own situation, following the same pattern as Paul describes here. With thanksgiving for the right things. With the same confidence and the same outlook. God is faithful. Elsewhere and to a different church, Paul writes almost identically:

“And I have this same confidence, that He who began the good work among you will also finish it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Phil 1:6