February 1, 2015
Morning Service

I Cor. 1

 

            Last Sunday morning we had a good look at the metropolis of Corinth.  A very luxurious, sinful, city, just west of Athens Greece.  You can read up on Paul’s visit to this area in chapter 18 of Acts. 

            Last week after Paul’s salutation to the Corinthians, we saw where he had addressed the problem of dissension. 

1Co 1:10-11  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (11)  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

            What we look for are problems like this that are still in existence in the church today.  This is why we study, and use this knowledge to solve, and eliminate these situations in the church today.  So let’s continue with chapter one, and see how the Apostle teaches us to solve this problem.

 

WE ARE DEALING WITH CONTENTION:

1Co 1:12-31  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 

·         Here we see a church that has preacher religion.  Now today we recognize that each of these men should be preaching the same gospel message…..However, sometimes that is not the case, and that is why Paul said, “I would that you all speak the same thing.” 

·         Apollos was described as being an eloquent speaker.  One with knowledge of the old testament, and really good charisma.  Peter of course was the Apostle to the Jews, and he would have been expressing his views on keeping the law.  While they all should have been following the teachings of Jesus.

·         We have seen time and again where Jesus called Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.  Acts 9.  We have seen where God has entrusted Paul with writing two thirds of our New Testament.  We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, and 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

·         Therefore, in our Bible, we see, and learn Who, and what we are to follow, and teach.  We have the teachings of Jesus, and the Apostles.  Said like this; Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

·         It is, and always will be, our responsibility as a Minister of the gospel to point people to the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.

 

Now Paul asks the question:

(13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 

·         Christ is not divided, and you should not be baptized in any name, but the name which is above all others, Jesus.

(14)  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 

·         By saying this, Paul is showing the importance of the name of Jesus, in our baptism formula.

(15)  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 

·         There is a name you are baptized into, and that name is Jesus.  No one else.

(16)  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.  (17)  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

·         This statement is not to take away the importance of being baptized into Christ.

·         Paul does emphasize the importance of the preaching of the cross.

(18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

·         But within the message of the cross are all the doctrines of Christ, in which baptism is one of them.

·         You see, the blood, shed by Jesus of Nazareth on the cross, bought for mankind a new covenant.  In that covenant is the gospel, which is the good news of God’s dealing with mankind.  A plan of salvation for whosoever will.

·         The marvelous thing about all this is that God laid out this plan before the foundation of the World, and our finite minds can’t really comprehend the extent of this truth. 

(19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  (20)  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  (21)  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 

·         It has never bothered me that I am not considered among the wise, the prudent, the scribe, the disputer of this world, but just a simple God fearing man.  Who believes, and has accepted God’s wonderful plan of salvation.

(22)  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  (23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  (24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

·         We have learned that Jesus is our everything.  We are sinners saved by grace, and we are complete in Jesus.  In the eyes of God, in Jesus, it is just as if we have never sinned, because of what Jesus did on Calvary.  His blood covers all my sins, and God doesn’t remember them anymore.  Only joy, happiness, and love is in my future.

(25)  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  (26)  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

·         It doesn’t mean that none all called, but few are called.

(27)  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;  (28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

·         The world considered Calvary a sign of weakness, and disgrace, but in the eyes of God, it was a sign of power, strength, love, and glory.

(30)  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  (31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

·         Paul tells us “Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

·         He also tells us;  Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Since Jesus is our everything shouldn’t we willingly, and enthusiastically give God all the glory? 

 

Almighty God, burn in our hearts the wonderful treasures of being a Christian, and help us to be faithful to our calling.  Amen.