Singaporeans are globe trotters and many have been on cruises. On an average cruise ship, there are at least a thousand passengers. They come from different countries and were of various races. On a recent cruise, there were three separate groups of Singaporeans who did not know each other before the start of the journey. Interestingly, the Singapore groups could identify each other as Singaporean. What set them apart that they could be identified? Was it the accent in their speech? Was it the words they used? Was it the things they spoke about? Was it the way they tend to dress that gave them away? Or, was it the way they conducted themselves? Whatever it was, it set them apart and they were identified as Singaporeans. Hopefully, they were gracious or at least not overly loud and obnoxious; otherwise they bring disrepute to our country instead of respect and admiration.

As a prosperous commercial city, Corinth offered an atmosphere for the pursuit of success at all costs. It was characterized by a cosmopolitan spirit and religious diversity. With success, came pleasure and the license to live with abandon. The individualistic cultures of many of our societies today was like that of Corinth. Advancement up the ladder of social mobility through trade, business and entrepreneurial pursuits were encouraged. The merchant made his gain by any means and the man of pleasure gave in to every lust. People were exploited and sacrificed on the altar of success. The marginalised were left behind, stripped of their dignity and their personhood.

The Apostle Paul starts off by reminding the believers in the Corinthian Church that they have been set apart or “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be His holy people” (1 Corinthians 1:2). This identity is given to them by virtue of the work of Jesus Christ, not their own work or merit. It was a gift of grace and given by the One who holds everything together. Because of the nature of the Giver, their gifts are sure and their future is secure. From the very outset, Paul reminds them that God calls them to be holy. God has set the Corinthians apart from their old way of life and set them free to live as new creations in Jesus. God has given them gifts – both earthly and spiritual to be used in building up their testimony and God has also given them the power to live according to their new identity in Jesus. These Corinthian believers were to stand out as a community that would live according to God’s ways. They have been called to display the love of God in their relationships that would restore the dignity of man who was created in the image of God. This would run counter cultural to the norm of the day. They were set apart for God to show the Corinthians a better way of life, one that would lead to a secure and eternal future.