Conceit and Humilty

1 Corinthians 4:6-13

1 Corinthians 4:6–13 ESV

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Intro

Have you ever known someone who was truly humble?

Now how about someone conceited?

We are drawn to those who are humble and often avoid others who conceited.

Why is this?

The humble person puts other before themselves, they serve others, they find joy in seeing others succeed and do well in life.

A conceited person is opposite of this.

They always put what they want first and others second. They are looking to get served and believe they deserve to be. They find joy in their own accomplishments and often look to discredit and put others work down.

A humble person is life giving, they are like a cup of crystal clear ice water on a warm summer day.

While, those who are conceited are like a cup of lukewarm coffee that’s been sitting around for too long; bitter, and unpleasant to the senses.

We find many examples of humility in God’s Word.

Just to name a few:

When Abraham was prayer to the Lord on behalf of Sodom he said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.” ().

When Jacob was afraid that Esau was about to kill him, he prayed, “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant,” ().

When God commanded Moses to go before Pharaoh and demand let the Israelites go, Moses replied, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt??” ().

In a similar way Gideon responded to God’s call to deliver His people from Midian: “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” ().

Or consider John the Baptist, he could not conceive of his baptizing Christ. “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ().

1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 11: Conceit and Humility (4:6–13)

When Abraham was interceding to the Lord on behalf of Sodom he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes” (Gen. 18:27). When Jacob was afraid that Esau was about to attack him, he prayed, “I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant” (Gen. 32:10). When God commanded Moses to go before Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites, Moses replied, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11). In a similar way Gideon responded to God’s call to deliver His people from Midian: “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house” (Judg. 6:15).

John the Baptist could not conceive of his baptizing Christ. “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Matt. 3:14). The previous day John had told the crowds, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:26–27). Even self-confident Peter, after witnessing the miracle of the great catch of fish, “fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ ” (Luke 5:8). Paul served the Lord “with all humility” (Acts 20:19), acknowledging that “we are [not] adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5) and considering himself to be “the very least of all saints” (Eph. 3:8). God’s choice people have always been humble.

In His incarnation Jesus Christ Himself gave the greatest example of humility. Paul speaks of Him as the One who, “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6–8). Jesus even spoke of Himself as “gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29).

The Corinthian Christians, however, had not learned that virtue—not from the Old Testament saints or from Paul or even from the Lord Himself. Paul confronts the problem by contrasting the sin of their own conceit with the example of the apostles’ humility

The previous day John had speaking to the crowds and said, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ().

Even Peter who was so sure of himself at times, after seeing the miracle of the great catch of fish falls down at Jesus’ knees and in says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

In we read that Paul served the Lord “with all humility”

In Paul acknowledges that, “[we are not] sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” ().

Paul considered himself to be, “ the very least of all the saints” ().

What is the recurring theme we see in all of these verses?

God’s choose people have always been humble.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was the true embodimnet of humilty.

He was the Paul speaks of Him as the One who, “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (). Jesus even spoke of Himself as “gentle and humble in heart” ().

Paul speaks of Him as the One 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.” ().

Jesus even spoke of Himself as “gentle and lowly in heart” ().

The Corinthian Christians, however, had not learned this virtue—not from the Old Testament saints or from Paul or even from the Lord Himself. Paul confronts the problem by contrasting the sin of the Corinthians conceit (which the dictionary defines as: “excessive appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue,” with the example of the apostles’ humility

Let’s begin now by look at the Corinthian's Conceit in 1 Corinthians 4:6-8

The Corinthians’ Conceit

1 Corinthians 4:6–8 ESV

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

1 Corinthians 4:

The Corinthians we a proud people.

They enjoyed boasting in their accomplishments, especially their wisdom and their human leaders.

Remember back to where Paul calls them out for their party mentality.

1 Corinthians 1:12 ESV

12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

Like a great physician Paul is wise in his diagnosis of the Corinthians.

They were sick with pride.

Which the only cure was to acknowledge all that was theres in Christ.

In other words, take a big pill of humility.

God had blessed the Corinthians with godly leaders who were humble servants.

Instead of rejoicing in that fact and seeking to be imitators they, became puffed up, and prideful.

The church in Corinth was proud.

For the last two chapters we have witnessed Paul over and over again, in whatever way he can, teach the Corinthians not to exalt human wisdom and human leaders. He knew that this was at the core of their divisions.

In verse 6 when Paul writes, these things, he’s refering to the figures of farmers, builders, and servant-stewards he’s given in chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4

He’s saying that he has applied these illustrations to himself and Apollos

Why?

To begin tot each them not to exalt themselves, either.

vs6b..”that you..become arrgoant.

Paul and Apollos have been great examples of true ministers.

humble servants and stewards.

Servants of the Lord are faithful and meek.

They posses the ability to be stewards and trustworthy.

And they are submissive to Christ.

Disciples of Christ are not proud or arrogant.

But Paul rightly sees in the Corinthian Church a deep vain of pride and arrogance.

Paul warns them not to go beyond what is written.

This is meant to address their respect towrds leaders and how they honor rthem.

Godly respect turns into ungodly exaltation when we exceed what is written.

When loving gratitude and loyalty are corruped with pride and conceit, division begins to rise in God’s church.

God desires and intends for unity within his church.

But if this is not what the body is seeking, Satan finds an easay foothole and stirs up division.

God’s Word calls belivers to have a godly respect for leaders.

The Corinthians had gone far past the line.

So far that it was dividing the church.

The leaders should have caused the people to rejoyce in God’s provision and exalt Him.

Instead for they became a fountian of pride in them.

These factions or divions gave the Corinthians the ability to become arrogant and puffed up in favor agaisnt each other.

Arrogant litterally meants to puff up, inflate, blow up.

This word is used metaphrically to indicate pride.

A closely realted sin is basting.

Pride leads directly to bragging.

They bragged about their leaders and their wisdom.

These last 4 chapters has been leading to this point.

They are bragging in the wrong things.

vs 7

The Corinthains failed to see that their leaders were gifts from God for their good.

To train them, teach them, and lead them.

But they got it wrong.

They were prideful in what they had and who they had.

Instead of giving glory to god they gave glory to man and to themselves.

Paul was not goign to allow the Corintihansn to remain self-deceived.

Hey broke down their defenses.

As a true spiritual father, he loved them too much to let Sata mislead and misuse them.

He drove home this point in vs 8

The Apostle’s Humility

1 Corinthians 4:9–13 ESV

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Verses 9-13 can be summarized by four words:

Spectacles

Fools

Sufferers

Scum

Spectacles: Like those prisnors of war sent to the arena to fight wild animals.

Pastor John MacArthure says,

The life of discipleship is the life of servanthood, and the life of servanthood is the life of humility—a life that so intimidates the world that it stands in danger of death

Which Paul repedatly faced the danger of death.

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3

4

Closing

It is not hard for believers to get along in the world as long as they keep the gospel to themselves.

But if they preach, teach, and live God’s full Word, the world takes great offense (cf. ). It resents being under the light of truth. Satan is the god of this world and the ruler of darkness. His kingdom cannot stand the light of the gospel and will persecute and destroy if possible those who stand for it and live in it. The world will attempt to scour off and throw away anyone who boldly proclaims the Word.

We are not scum in God’s sight, but we are nevertheless servants and stewards.

Therefore neither in the world’s eyes nor in God’s eyes do we have reason to boast in ourselves.

That which the Lord loves in His servants, and that which eventually will bring them reward and glory, is a humble and obedient spirit.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” ().

Thus Paul brings to a climax the denunciation of the Corinthians’ proud, divisive, and factious spirit.

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

-26Three things we do when we take communion • We are looking back at the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. • We are celebrating our salvation through Jesus as a church family, and our unity as believers. • We are looking forward to the return of Jesus.Invite men to serve communionBread, Pray, ServeJuice, Pray, ServeInvitation, SongBrad Prays

Three things we do when we take communion •

We are looking back at the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. •

We are celebrating our salvation through Jesus as a church family, and our unity as believers. •

We are looking forward to the return of Jesus.

Invite men to serve communion

Bread, Pray, Serve

Juice, Pray, Serve

Invitation

Song

Benediction

Pray