Division over baptism?

Is Baptism really necessary?

Sometimes a problem is more than what is on the surface. Our subject today has over the years, especially in 20-21’st century been raised, the necessity or lack of baptism. That is the key issue before us today but has underline issues too that we will address today.

Common objection to baptisms necessity (1Cor1:17)

1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB95

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

Common objection brings about a common conclusion that baptism is not necessary for salvation.

(Context matters!)

It is important and by now I’m sure you are very well aware that when we look at scripture we need to look at context, sometimes looking back, sometimes looking forward. When we are looking at this verse (v.17) there are a couple of things we should do.

Context matters:

Speaking of context, if you are one who uses the outlines, and I suggest from this point forward that you get the outlines, you can also get those on line too, but I’m starting to put in some fill-in the blanks in the outline to help us to key in or remember some key issues, most of the time the answer is right from the scripture and is object and not subject (for the most part).

Look at the immediate context of his words in this epistle (1Cor1:10-13)

We need to look back at what has just transpired prior to to get the context of what is being said in (v.17)

1 Corinthians 1:10–11 NASB95

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NASB95

12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Look at the remote context of Paul’s ministry work in Corinth (Act18:1-17)

Remember that 18 months of Paul being in Corinth is found in Act18:1-17, some of these verses we will cover today when we are looking at context.

Only three things to look at today in keeping in context.

Paul is addressing a problem in Corinth

Paul’s preaching resulted in many baptisms

Paul’s words demonstrate the necessity of baptism

Addressing a problem

Division over baptism, or something else? Good question, may we look together and see.

For us to get a better understanding we need to keep things in context, so we need to back up some first.

1 Corinthians 1:10–11 NASB95

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

1 Corinthians 1:13–14 NASB95

13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

1 Corinthians 1:15 NASB95

15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.

and to finish off our section

1 Corinthians 1:16–17 NASB95

16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you (Focus on vv.14-17)

A few things to remember from (vv.10-13)

Paul pleaded, urged, begged in the name of Jesus for no division (v.10)

He wanted all to speak the same thing and have the same mind (v.10)

For there is contentions (divisions) among them (v.11)

The reason is what we may call “preacher-itis” (v.12; also look at 1Cor3:3-9, 21-23)

Some claiming they were “of” Paul, “Apollos” Paul later deals with the carnality of this view and by giving high regard of different preachers.

Turn with me over to chapter 3 for a couple of minutes

1 Corinthians 3:3–4 NASB95

3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?

Their attitude demonstrated their own carnality, fleshly nature; Paul reminds them that preachers are but servants, fellow servants

1 Corinthians 3:5–6 NASB95

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:7–8 NASB95

7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:9 NASB95

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

So, don’t boast in men. Here look at this

1 Corinthians 3:21–22 NASB95

21 So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

1 Corinthians 3:23 NASB95

23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.

Paul calls for them not to boast in men (v.21) for they belong to Christ and Christ to God (v.23).

Now turning back to our passage again, let’s glean some

Paul ask’s is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified? Were you baptized in name of Paul? (v.13)

So it seems there is division over who baptized them and discipleship under that person and not under Christ who unites them.

Paul thanks God he did not baptize so any should say baptized in my name (his own name) (v.14-15)

(Transition) Paul is addressing a problem in Corinth, and in looking at we are do you think that Paul was not preaching baptism? That Paul did not think baptism was necessary?

Now Paul does say he baptized some, Crispus, Gaius and household of Stephanas, we will talk about them in a few minutes.

Just because baptism is not the real focus does not discount baptism, or importance of it in Paul’s ministry.

Paul’s preaching resulted in baptisms

While the problem seems to be around the baptizer, many make the problem about baptism so may we look at the work and the preaching in Corinth to get a good hold of context.

Luke records the work in Corinth (Act18:1-7)

Acts 18:1–2 NASB95

1 After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them,

Acts 18:3 NASB95

3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.

So we see Paul’s work with his ministry partners in the area named Aquila and his wife Priscilla (Act18:1-3)

This is after they had to relocate from Rome because of Claudius Caesar threw the Jews out of Rome.

Like Paul, they were tentmakers and worked with them in that.

Acts 18:4–5 NASB95

4 And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath (v.4)

Paul was devoting himself, completely to the word and to the preaching to the Jews (v.5)

Acts 18:6–7 NASB95

6 But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue.

From preaching to the Jews and being resisted Paul turns to the Gentiles, starting with a Gentile name Titius Justus a worshiper of God (v.6-7)

(Transition) Paul was not discouraged because of the rejection, it did not stop him from his appointed task.

Luke records the results of the preaching (Act18:8, 1Cor1:14, 13)

Acts 18:8 NASB95

8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.

Question: Where had Paul been preaching? just because it seems no one is listening that no one is “getting it” God knows and we know God’s word will accomplish it’s work and we see the results here, the leader of the synagogue in the home of a Gentile.

The preaching of the word (hearing) brought belief, belief brought baptism (v.8)

Crispus, one of the ones that Paul did baptize (1Cor1:14)

(transition) if the results of the preaching were many believing and being baptized do you think that baptism was being preached? Do you think the necessity of baptism was being discounted eventhough Paul is not the one doing all the baptisms?

Paul’s words demonstrate necessity of baptism

May we remember we are looking at (1Cor1:14-17), but have drawn back to (1Cor1:10-13) too to keep in context. Paul an orator, gifted brings about reason to demonstrate the necessity of baptism.

1 Corinthians 1:13 NASB95

13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul reasons that he was not crucified for them (v.13)

They were not baptized in the name of Paul (v.13)

If it were in the name of Paul, Paul would to have been crucified for them, one would have to then be baptized in the name, under the authority of the nae of Paul and we know that did not happen, so he is reasoning that the baptizer does not matter! Be united!

Paul asked again was Christ divided (v.13)

It is important to understand that Christ was united and went to the cross and was crucified, so that you can be baptized in the name of, into the possession of Jesus and become a Christian, without it, you are not a Christian.

(Transition) in the context, which we mentioned (v.17) whereas many discount the necessity of baptism, Paul is stating that without the crucifixion, without baptism in Jesus name you are not a Christian. But still, when you look at (v.17) it may still be difficult to reason it, understand it, unless we look in context. Why did Paul say that.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB95

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

I know I mentioned 3 points, but as I worked on this there is one more that we need to look at:

Paul’s primary purpose

Let the word and the context speak for itself. And, hey, will expand out more on it, but look again at the verse.

1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB95

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

Paul was not sent to baptize, but to preach (v.17; Eph3:8, Gal1:11-12)

Paul is emphasizing his position as an apostle, oh what is the definition of an apostle?

Ephesians 3:8 NASB95

8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

Paul was to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ (Eph3:8)

Galatians 1:11–12 NASB95

11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul preaching was inspired through revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal1:11-12)

Paul could have baptize, but that was not his primary purpose. Others could do it so he could continue to “preach the word” and that was the case in the context in Corinth, many were believing because of the preaching and being baptized, though Paul baptized few.

Paul’s common style of speaking (Jn6:27; 1Cor1:17)

Paul spoke in like manner as did Jesus, in emphasis, not in literal, check out an example

John 6:27 NASB95

27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

Question: Is Jesus literally saying “do not work?” If not, then what is He saying?

Jesus was emphasizing the importance of seeking after spiritual food over physical food.

Now bringing this back to (v.17).

1 Corinthians 1:17 NKJV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Paul was sent to preach, that is his emphasis (v.17)

That brings up another good point,

Question: What is the major importance, focus of an apostle? (stop here for a couple of minutes and discuss)

a couple of quotes for you

Barnes in his commentary on (v.17) says

“That is, not to baptize as my main business. Baptism was not his principle employment, though he had a commission in common with others to administer the ordinance, and occasionally did it.”

Beasley-Murray in his book on Baptism in the New Testament states this regarding this verse.

“. . . bearing mind Paul’s other utterances about baptism is to be interpreted in the light of the Semitic manner of laying stress on an issue: Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel rather than baptize. But this is no depreciation of the value of baptism.”

(conclusion): The problems we have addressed here today are divisional problems and remember as we have discussed before that we cannot hide from a problem, we must see it, identify it, address it, then solve it.

Divided because of the baptizers

Baptism is in the name and the authority of Jesus and the baptizer does not mater.

Divided over the interpretation regarding baptism

Where many have taken (v.17) to mean that baptism is not necessary we need to be careful to keep things in context.

Solution offered, Jesus and the cross of Christ.

It was Jesus who was crucified for them. It was Jesus that unite them, we need to always point to Jesus!

Solution offered know your role, your primary purpose and do that!

Paul’s primary purpose was to preach the gospel, but did baptize occasionally. May we know our primary purpose and do that and be willing to be used in other areas too, but know your primary purpose.

Ask if any closing thoughts, comments, then (pray) (Exit slides)