I Corinthians 1:13-4:21 (Part 5) The Solutions to Dissension (Disunity)
The solutions to dissension (disunity)—1:13-4:21
5 Solutions to the problem of disunity
1. Unity is achieved by considering the person and work of Christ—1:13-17
2. Unity is achieved by considering the true nature of the gospel—1:18-25
3. Unity is achieved by viewing the membership of the church—1:26-31
4. Unity is achieved by considering the true nature of wisdom—2:1-3:4
5. Unity is achieved by considering the nature of Christian service—3:5-4:21
Unity is achieved by considering the person and work of Christ—1:13-17
• There is only one Christ
• There is only one cross
• There is only one baptism
Unity is achieved by considering the true nature of the Gospel—1:18-25
Two evaluations of the cross
• Foolishness—those that are perishing
• Power of God--those that are being saved
The message of the cross—v. 18 The elements of it
• Who died?—Jesus Christ the Son of God
• Why did He die?—that the guilt and penalty of man’s sin would be placed on Him
• The results of His death?—salvation freely extended to all who believe
Two responses to that message
• The perishing—foolishness (the critique of the perishing—v. 18a)
• The saved—The power of God (the evaluation of the saved—v. 18b)
The attitude of the unbeliever
• His attitude was prophesied in Scripture, v. 19
• His attitude is proved by experience, v. 20
• His attitude expressed, vv. 21-23
The doctrine of judicial blindness/divine hardening (Isa. 6 and Isa. 29)
• You can see
• You choose not to see
• You cannot see
Encounter with truth involves . . .
• Hearing—you can’t encounter truth without hearing it
• Response
1) It may be believed
2) It may be rejected (ignore is included)
3) Each response has its end
• Effect
1) If believed—we grow
2) If rejected—we suffer hardness of heart/hearing
*The message of the cross . . . Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died a death wherein the guilt and penalty of man’s sin was placed on Him, making it possible for salvation to be extended to all who believe.