June 1, 2008
Evening Service

ICor. 1:1-11

 

Review:

 

As we begin our study of I Corinthians I believe it is very note worthy to keep in memory some of the things that we mentioned this morning in the message. 

1. And that is the time span between AD33, and AD70. 
2. AD33, the crucifixion of our Lord, and the beginning of the church. 
3. At the beginning of Acts where Jesus directs His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high.  Then they would have the power to be witnesses unto Him into all the world.
4. AD70, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the temple at the hands of the Romans.
5. Then all the problems that the disciples faced between these years.  We find all this in the book of Acts.  Most everything after AD70 from history books.  Except the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and this book reveals Jesus to us, as who He truly is.

·              Paul’s letter to Corinth begins with “To the church of God which is at Corinth.”

·              Corinth was a huge city, around 700,000 people, in which 2/3 were slaves. 

·              Also given over to idolatry, and pagan worship.  One of the chief attractions was the Temple of Aphrodite.  In which there were over 1000 concentrated prostitutes.  Said to have been a really popular vacation center.  Much like some of our vacation places.  LasVegas, Hollywood, Miami.  

·              Paul established this church on his second missionary journey around the year 51AD.  This letter was written around the year 56AD, from Ephesus.  (Acts 16:17)

·              Broken down, this letter consists of Divisions in the church, Disorder in the church, and Difficulties in the church.  This information was brought by three men, in a letter, from the household of Chloe to the Apostle, while he was teaching in Ephesus on his third missionary journey.  (Acts 16:17)

 

LET’S BEGIN:    ( Acts 18 )

Greetings of Grace:

1Co 1:1-31  Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,  (2)  to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called out with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.  (3)  Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

(4)  I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God given you in Jesus Christ,  (5)  that in everything you are enriched by Him, in all speech and in all knowledge; 

• Because of His grace, you are enriched in everything, even your speech, and knowledge.  This is most often thought of as the gifts of speaking in different languages, and special God given knowledge.
• I would like to bring our attention to the fact that by God’s grace once received, your speech will be changed.  You will not curse like you once cursed.  You will not tell dirty jokes as you once told.  There will definitely be a change in your speech.
• There will also be a change in the things you read, and listen too, to attain knowledge.  Where once you listen to all sorts of trash, now you will want to read, and listen to good wholesome things, such as the Apostle encourages us to do, in the Phil. Letter.  Phi 4:8  Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
• You become a new creation in Christ, old things pass away, and behold all things become new.

(6)  even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you;  (7)  so that you come behind in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

• The church at Corinth was blessed with several special gifts of the Holy Ghost.  We will get to them in the 12^th chapter.
• But notice also, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is what we all are waiting for.  Jesus to come back for His Bride, the church.

(8)  He shall also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

• Confirm or keep us to the coming of our Lord.
• Being blameless, His work on Calvary is what makes us blameless.   

(9)  God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

·         2Th 2:14  to which He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Report of Divisions:

The first problem:

(10)  But I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

·         By the name, or authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Same thing. 

·         Paul said Col 3:17  And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

·         Baptism, works, what ever we do, we do in the name, or authority of Jesus Christ, giving, and bringing to Him all glory, and honor He so richly deserves.

·         You all speak the same thing!  Or, teach the same thing!  That’s clear enough. 

·         WHY?  Because we don’t want divisions among you.  It is a terrible witness to the world.  Christians who have received the same Spirit of Grace, the Spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, and you are yielding yourselves to the spirit of division????  Oh how sad, and such a terrible witness to those around us.

·         We should have one problem solver, and it is still Jesus Christ, the Word.  However, we must be able to sit down, and with God’s help, rightly divide His Word.  He will help us!

·         Paul says to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  We can only do this by yielding our will to the will of God, in His Word.

(11)  For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.  

• TO BE CONTENTIOUS = Apt to contend; given to angry debate; quarrelsome; perverse.

• There is not a thing wrong with discussing different ideas, it’s just how we do it, and with what Spirit we do it.
• As a matter of fact if it hadn’t of been for Martin Luther, and some of the other Contenders, we would all be Roman Catholics. 
• THESE CONTENDERS WANTED IT TO BE A REFORMATION,  They wanted the Catholic church to admit to acts of false doctrines, and they would not.   We discussed this when leaving the letter to the Romans, how that Paul had warned of false teachers coming in with false doctrines.  He warned young Timothy, and Titus to watch and battle these false teachers.
• BUT IT ENDED UP BEING A, an effort of RESTORATION, a restoring of the original Pure Doctrine of Christ, by adhering to the Word of God. 
• The cry went out “let’s call Bible things by Bible names”.  Very notable but still there is division.  Which as the Apostle will show us in time to come, “are you not still carnal?”

 

I’m afraid so.  What can I do about it?  Pray for the filling of God’s Spirit, and let Him place within you a desire to be what He would want you to be.

 

Oh to be like Him, O to be like Him, blessed redeemer pure as thou art, come in thy sweetness, come in thy fulness, cast Thine own Spirit deep on my heart.