1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Introduction

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This country is so divided. We are ready to fight about anything. We have people that actually believe Taylor Swift makes good music. We have people that will spend hundreds of dollars to watch her sing about another failed relationship in a football stadium. Then there are those that choose to do almost anything but that.

In all seriousness, we do have a nation that is divided. The same video of Renee Nicole Good is used by some to fuel protests across the nation and used by others to support law enforcement. While we would hop that these kind of divisions and debates would stay outside of the church, they do not. The same kinds of disagreements and confirmation bias happen in the church. Leaders are blindly followed or blindly criticized.

Need

As Jesus said, a house divided cannot stand. Likewise, a church that is divided cannot survive. This morning, as we look at our text, we need to see our need for unity in the body of Christ.

Last week, we looked at the first nine verses of 1 Corinthians. If you remember last week, we saw that the church of God is called by God, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and unified in Jesus Christ! Paul is going to pick up on our unity and teach us about our need for unity.

Referent

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Organization

The Name of Christ (vs. 10-12)

The Symbol of Christ (vs. 13-17)

Sermon in a sentence:

I am baptized into the body of Christ.

Andy Naselli, “1 Corinthians” in Romans-Galatians ESV Expository Commentary pg. 217. (1) Do not divide over church teachers (1:10–4:21). (2) flagrant sin and church discipline (5:1–13). (3) Lawsuits (6:1–11). (4) Do not indulge in sexual immorality (6:12–20). (5) Marriage and Singleness (7:1–40). (6) Be willing to give up your rights for the sake of the gospel; (8:1–11:1). (7) Rules for worship (11:2–16). (8) Lord’s Supper (11:17–34). (9) Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40). (10) Affirm that God will resurrect the corpses of believers (15:1–58).

(1) 1:10-4:21: Division Over Church Leaders

1:10-17; Division Over Leaders

1:18-2:16; Godly wisdom vs earthly wisdom

3:1-4:21; Boasting in leaders

The Name of Christ (vs. 10-12)

Paul’s first appeal to his “brothers” is in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can do a lot of things in society or the church in the name of tradition. (Holidays, events [(homecoming/parades], etc..)

We can appeal to a common goal or purpose. (winning a game, financial incentives at a job)

Paul grounds everything he does in the person and work of Jesus. In other words, everything he does is in the name of Jesus.

Paul urges his brothers to be united in mind and judgement.

If you bear the name of Christ, you must behave like Christ.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

I also believe this is at the heart of the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” Exodus 20:7

It’s not using God’s name as a curse. This is wicked! But it is taking on God’s name as his representative in an unworthy manner.

When we are worried about Christ’s name, we aren’t worried about our own.

Apollos (Acts 18 -Priscilla/Aquila/Ephesus-Achaia , Cephas (Peter), and Paul are all good and faithful teachers.

It is so easy to fall into little groups in Christianity and the local church.

I am thankful that we have denominations for theological clarity; however, we all need to be humble when we say that. We want the day that there will be no more denominations.

I have wanted to preach 1 Corinthians for a year now. It is amazing how God always allows me to preach the right text at the right time. Especially if we are thinking about merging with another church, this text is such a perfect word for us. We need to remind ourselves that we should not be more concerned about the name of Colgate than we are the name of Christ.

The Symbol of Christ (vs. 13-17)

Paul then appeals to unity on the basis of crucifixion and baptism.

Paul rhetorically asks if he was crucified for the church.

He then rhetorically asks if anyone was baptized into the name of Jesus.

This is critical to our theology of baptism. This is why the Baptist Faith and Message says that baptism is is a prerequisite for partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Paul’s question assumes that every person in the Corinthian churches has been baptized. Paul is asking this question because they have all experienced this reality. It would make no sense for him to base their unity on an event that only some of the members had experienced. Paul wouldn’t ask them if they remember when they all walked with Jesus to the temple mount. Paul wouldn’t ask them if they remember the time they all were shipwrecked together in Malta.

Paul is a military men looking at his fellow soldiers and reminding them that they have all been through basic training. They all have been through the same training and preparation for the mission they are about to embark on. As we look through the NT, we see that baptism is the public symbol of entrance into the covenant. Baptism is the first step into the public covenant with God and his covenant people, the church.

Make a quick point about baptism into Jesus’ name and the Trinity.

I love how real and honest Paul is about his memory.

Paul isn’t lying about anything here. He is just saying this is what I can remember. Saints, we need to treat each other this way. Believe and assume the best of each other.

I will do this often as a pastor. I will say something like this.

It is also interesting who he remembers.

Crispus was the leader of the synagogue. He and his entire family believed and were baptized.

Gaius housed Paul and a local congregation in his home. Romans 16:23

Stephanas’ household was among the first believers in Achaia. He became a faithful servant. 1 Cor 16:15

Paul’s mentions these families that he baptized just to demonstrate that the common part of every baptism was not the one administering the sign of the covenant, but the one who who made the covenant, namely Jesus.

Also, I want to notice that Paul remembers those that are in ministry with him. He can remember the men that were important to him in his time in Corinth. Saints, this past week, I asked our kids during family worship who they were thankful at Colgate. I asked them to name a different person. It was so sweet to hear the kids name different members of Colgate and why they were thankful for them.

Paul tells the Corinthians that he was called to preach and not baptize. (vs. 17)

Context! Remember, Paul is not the typical pastor. God did not call him to plant one church and stay there for 30 years. God used Paul to plant churches all across the Greek world. Paul is not putting baptism down. Instead, he is saying that his main goal was to preach. Then church would be born out of this preaching.

Context! Paul is also writing to the Corinthians. The Isthmian Games were held every two years. They were the one of the four largest games in the Greco-Roman world. Athletic events were held. But so were events for story telling. These athletes would win money, fame, and a following. The Corinthians loved story tellers and orators. Paul was put down for his lack of fancy preaching skills.

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 “1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Acts 18 tells us Apollos was a gifted preacher. It makes sense that Apollos gained a following. Cephas was also known for being one always ready to speak up. Also, his sermon is the first apostolic sermon given to us in Scripture.

Saints, like the Lord’s Supper and Baptism, God has given his people the simple things. The very “ordinary” and “mundane” things in our spiritual life. Baptism doesn’t need much to the world. We can baptize people in a trough or in a shallow part of the muddy Ohio. The bread and fruit of the vine doesn’t have to be ornate. Indiana Jones figured it out, the disciples were drinking out of some golden or fancy chalice.

The preaching of God’s Word doesn’t need any fancy gimmicks. There is this instagram profile called pastors with props. I know there can be agreement among brothers on this. I want to propose to you that pastors that use props do not have a fully biblical view of preaching. It is supposed to be simple. It is not supposed to be flashy. We don’t need to have a physical ladder for anyone to understand the concept of climbing a ladder. We don’t need someone to put a live fish on a table to demonstrate the need for a proper environment for flourishing.

I really want to encourage you that the simple church is often the biblical church. When we come to church, we should expect what the Bible expects. We don’t need to add anything to our worship that God has not disclosed in his Word. And do not take for granted the fact that God has made baptism, the Lord’s Supper, preaching, praying, giving, and community to his people. It is supposed to be simple. Its beautifully simple.

Conclusion

Our nation, our churches, our homes are so divided. Politics have everyone at each other’s throats. Divorce is now the normal. Church splits feel like they are not if but when? I want us to grab ahold of the unity God has given to his people.

There are some amazing moments in pastoral ministry. When someone uses the word “chiastic” in our Wednesday night Bible studies! When one of our members names a squirrel Tigleth-pilessar IV because of our Isaiah Bible study. One of those moments is when you invite a couple over for lunch. During that conversation, one of them decides they need to be baptized. What a beautiful moment of unity. Saints, I want us to remind ourselves of our baptism this week.

Ephesians 4:4–6 “4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Application

Repent and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember your baptism.

If you have not been baptized, you need to be baptized. Do not wait. Do not put it off. Talk to me today and let us meet. Let’s pray together. Let us see how we can be faithful to God’s command.

Use your baptize as a means of unity in Colgate. During private worship and sanctification, go back through your baptism. Thank God for those that were instrumental in your baptism. Thank God for those that were there to witness your public entrance into the body of Christ. Remind yourself some of the members of Colgate that have been baptized over the years. Thank God for what he has done in your life and theirs.