1 Corinthians 4

The Shape of a Cross Shaped Life

If Paul had a tag-line or a logo it would have been a cross.

“For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2, HCSB)

One scholar or Paul writes,

The purpose of Paul’s letters generally…is not to teach theology but to mold behavior, to affirm or - more often - to alter patterns of living, patterns of experience.

Michael J. Gorman, Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross, 20th Anniversary Edition (Grand Rapids, MI.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001, 2021) 4.

There are a number of significant issues raised by those participating in the fellowship of believers. Before addressing them Paul pauses in this section (1 Cor 4) to define and describe for his audience what a cross shaped life looks like.

what are some marks of cross-shaped life?

Fully Bounded by God’s Will

Earlier this week I was frustrated - again - by my inability to say No. There are times when my willingness to say ‘Yes’ to various projects takes me beyond the boundaries of my ability and energy. In those times I ask God to remind me of His call, His purpose for my life. I’m not asking to be comfortable. I’m asking to be accountable for what God has called me to do.

Two biblical texts frame Paul’s life:

a). Acts 9:10-16

Acts 9:10–16 HCSB

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord!” he said. “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

b). Acts 26:19-23

Acts 26:19–23 HCSB

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me. To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place — that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Both God’s explanation of His call on Paul to Ananias and Paul’s own testimony are reflections of Jesus’ continuing call:

Luke 9:23–25 HCSB

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it. What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?

Jesus’ Himself understood His entire life to be cross shaped, cross focused. Here are just a couple of Jesus’ own statements:

John 4:31–34 HCSB

In the meantime the disciples kept urging Him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But He said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” The disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought Him something to eat?” “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work,” Jesus told them.

Or,

John 6:38–39 HCSB

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise them up on the last day.

And finally,

John 19:30 HCSB

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:4–5 HCSB

For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

Paul knew that his life would be judged and evaluated by God according to God’s call - not those living in Corinth.

A Life Seeking only God’s Favor

Like those in Corinth we are often tempted to view ourselves as the star of the story. We are the hero. We are the one deserving of praise and admiration.

We evaluate our own place in life by the standards that consistently bombard us every day. Drive this car to be known as a person of influence. Wear this brand of clothing and let people know how astute and careful you are in clothing. Read these books, listen to this teacher/preacher so that everyone around you can be awed by your excellent taste.

Instead, Paul simply states:

1 Corinthians 4:9–10 HCSB

For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

Though the Corinthians may judge Paul as a weak and ineffective leader and teacher, he is not disturbed. Rather, Paul allows the cross to shape his words and his deeds:

1 Corinthians 2:2 HCSB

For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Living a Life Worth Imitating

In the 1990’s the phrase ‘What Would Jesus Do’ (WWJD) swept through evangelical churches.

I remember wearing clothing and other accessories carrying that acronym.

It is certainly a question worth asking. Yet the question often created significant dissonance in many people’s lives. Yes, I want to do the things Jesus does. I believe Him when He promises we can do mightier and greater things (John 14:12).

And yet I was often confused and discouraged because no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t do as Jesus did.

Jan Johnson, author of Invitation to the Jesus Life: Experiments in Christlikeness (Colorado Springs, CO.: Nav Press, 2008)

Suggests instead of asking. ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ try asking, ‘What kind of person is Jesus seeking to shape me into so that I can do as He did?’

Paul, in inviting people to ‘imitate’ him is not asking them to do as he does. Rather, he is asking that those whom he has shared the gospel with allow the gospel, the cross to remake them into the kind of people who naturally do what Jesus does.

Paul is only worth imitating as he demonstrates an unchanging focus on Jesus. Paul’s life was transformed NOT because he began to do and say the things Jesus did and said. Paul’s life - like ours - is transformed not by doing, but by becoming, by allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us from the inside out.

We will not live a life worth imitating if we only focus on doing good things. People may honor and applaud us for doing good things. God, however, honors those in whom He is made most real. The power of God available to us is not about what we do. God’s power comes from our identity, from being shaped and molded by the cross.

In his letter to believers in Philippi Paul explicitly writes, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5, NKJV)

Only as we are transformed from the inside out will our lives be different.

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Jesus’ entire earthly life was focused exclusively on the cross. Luke’s gospel records a statement regarding Jesus that is revealing:

Luke 9:51 HCSB

When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem.

Jesus, as we have heard, calls all who choose to follow Him to take up their cross.

Taking up one’s cross is not merely the frustration of a physical limitation.

Taking up one’s cross is literally choosing to die in order to further God’s kingdom.

As Paul headed to his last visit to Jerusalem he was warned several times of the arrest, trial, and likely execution that awaited him.

And at every reminder, Paul simply said

Acts 21:13 HCSB

Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Is this the standard by which you evaluate your life?

Many people around us want God’s favor - they want deliverance from illness and sickness, they want freedom from debt, they want their families to be healthy and to grow. There are many other ways those around us - and even we ourselves - express a hunger for the favor of God.

Are we truly prepared to be made a spectacle and a fool so that Christ will be honored?

Since we are being watched - whether we are aware of it or not - are we living a lifestyle worth imitating?

Would we have the courage to ask people to imitate us as we imitate Jesus?