To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (vv. 2-3)

God chose to create a partner for Himself, and so He made the world. This partner is called the Church. She needed to be trained and nurtured, and God has refined her through sufferings. In the end, the Church will know, understand, and love her Husband. She will see Him face to face, and He will wipe away her tears.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

The most important part of our training is learning to discern what is true and what is not. The Holy Spirit has been sent to guide and teach us. By our own nature, we can only judge by what we see and hear, and at times we may be deceived. Yet, even when we are fooled, we eventually come to recognize what is true. Many false teachers disguise themselves as angels of light.

All the letters written by the Apostles were addressed to the chosen people of God, yet they were sent to visible churches where false believers were also present. These messages were meant to guide and instruct the saints who lived among false believers—those who sought to corrupt and destroy their churches. When false believers harm the church, they do more than cause division through gossip; they attack the sound doctrines of Christianity itself.

Today, most churches no longer uphold these sound doctrines. Instead, the saints are often treated as if they are the ones destroying the church. This is exactly what happened in ancient Israel: the prophets were considered threats to the nation and were persecuted. Churches now exist almost everywhere, and not many nations persecute them. It may appear to be a peaceful time for the church, but the irony is that true saints are being forced to leave, shaking the dust off their feet, because churches have become places not for Christians, but for false Christians.

Christianity has become a religion for philosophers—people who enjoy quoting Greek thinkers and their followers. People chase after ideas, not after Jesus Christ. The same problem existed in the church at Corinth, where people wanted to appear wise by discussing things they did not truly understand.

Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (vv. 12-13)

The church in Corinth was turning Christianity into a religion of philosophers. Paul therefore reminded them that faith does not come from human ideas but rests entirely on God’s grace.

For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no human may boast before God. But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (vv. 26-31)

In the world, I try to be smart and to look smart, but those efforts are ultimately empty. God does not count worldly wisdom as true wisdom. That truth became even clearer when I was diagnosed with incurable cancer. I still strive to do my work well and to live peaceably with others, but I no longer see much point in pursuing greatness for its own sake. I simply do my job diligently and accept my wages, because I know this world is not the end.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (Revelation 21:1)

We must remember that without Jesus Christ, we are not children of God. He Himself is our grace and peace. Therefore, the core doctrines of Christianity are the Trinity, along with the nature, person, and work of Jesus Christ.

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)