June 3, 2012
Morning Service

ICor. 4

 

Review:  As Paul writes this letter to the church at Corinth, this is one of the largest cities in Greece.  Around 700,000 people.   Paul established this church on his second missionary journey.  Acts 18.

            This letter reveals the problems, pressures, and struggles of a church called out of a pagan society.  Paul addresses several problems, factions, lawsuits, immorality, questionable practices, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, and spiritual gifts.

            When we read, and meditate on this letter we will see that the church today is in the same mess.  We can look around and see that we too, if not watching, and in prayer will find ourselves in the same boat as these Christians were.  For we definitely are living in a pagan society.  Satan is alive and well, and like Peter said, “1Pe 5:8 KJVR  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 

Chapter one.

1. Paul cries out against division when he says, “I would that you all would speak the same thing.”
2. The gospel is not earthly wisdom.

Chapter two.

1. The gospel is heavenly wisdom.  1Co 2:12 KJVR  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2. Paul says there is a natural man, and there is a spiritual man.

Chapter three.

1. He tells the church that they are still earthly, or carnal, because they are producing the fruits of envy, strife, and divisions.
2. Paul gets on to them for having preacher religion.  I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas.
3. He told them, and it is the way it is today, that one man plants the gospel seed, another waters it, but it is God who gives the increase.  Just like today, we are sowing the gospel seed, the Word, maybe new to some, and for others we are watering the seed you have already accepted into your heart.  But the growth of that seed is between you and God, it’s Him that will give the increase, and stability in growth.
4. Paul has already constructed the foundation of the gospel message that God wants preached, and Paul warns us who preach the gospel to be careful how we build on this foundation.

 

This brings us to chapter four.

 

1Co 4:1-21 KJVR  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

• (Barnes)  The office of steward was to provide those things which were necessary for the use of a family. And so the office of a minister of the gospel, and a steward of its mysteries, is to dispense such instructions, guidance, counsel, etc., as may be requisite to build up the church of Christ; to make known those sublime truths which are contained in the gospel, but which had not been made known before the revelation of Jesus Christ, and which are, therefore, called “mysteries.”

(3)  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  (4)  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.  (5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

Jesus said;  Mat 7:1 KJVR  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  Mat 7:2 KJVR  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

As for Jesus being the judge; 

• Joh 5:22 KJVR  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
• Rev 20:11-13 KJVR  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
• Heb 9:27 KJVR  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

But the Apostle makes it clear that he is not concerned about being judged by man, for his conscience is clear unto God.

 

(6)  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.  (7)  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?  (8)  Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.  (9)  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.  (10)  We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.  (11)  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;  (12)  And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  (13)  Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 

• Christianity was considered by many to be a sect, just as was the Pharisees, and Sadducees, but as we know Christians were despised by many.
• Act 24:5 KJVR  For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
• Act 28:22 KJVR  But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

 

(14)  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.  (15)  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  (16)  Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 

• When Paul cries for them to be followers of him, he is saying, “stay on the foundation that I have laid.”  And there is no reason we can’t do that. 
• We have accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and believe Paul speaks with all authority.

(17)  For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.  (18)  Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.  (19)  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.  (20)  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.  (21)  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

• PAUL’S MESSAGE NEVER CHANGED, AND NEITHER SHOULD OURS, BUILDING ON THE ONE FOUNDATION, JESUS CHRIST BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE, AND TEACHINGS OF HIS APOSTLES.

1Pe 2:15 KJVR  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: