Unity in Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Every church faces problems because every church is made up of people who are selfish and petty, stubborn and shortsighted. Churches are also meant to be diverse—we are to make disciples of all people, not just the ones like us. So tension and conflict are inevitable. But every church, no matter how diverse, can solve problems with greater success and joy if they face them united around the cross.
The Corinthian church has lots of problems. From theological concerns to relational ones, from cultural issues dealing with food and sexuality to misunderstandings about the resurrection, the Corinthian church is struggling. The apostle Paul begins by addressing the disunity that exists in the church. He knows that none of the other issues can be dealt with until the church faces each one as a unified church.
Paul is not seeking unity for the sake of unity. He knows, and we need to know, that the true unity that affects everything else is unity around the gospel of Jesus. When we are united around Jesus, this speaks loudly to a world that longs for peace. Our unity as believers is a concrete example of how the power of the cross can fix not only our brokenness but also the brokenness that ails the world. 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 will help us think about true Christian unity in a way that can move us to be the kind of church that overcomes obstacles in a God-honoring manner.
I. ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARD UNITY (1:10–12)
I. ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARD UNITY (1:10–12)
A. Be unified in our speech (v. 10a)
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you
Paul begins by strongly urging the Corinthians to agree. This urging doesn’t come from his own authority as the one who first brought them the gospel. Instead, he challenges them with the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what he means when he says at the beginning of verse 10, “by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This call to agreement is not Paul’s idea or hope. Jesus Himself desires it. We know this because of the prayer Jesus prayed for the church in John 17:20–21,
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Paul’s goal for the Corinthian church is actually Jesus’ goal for His church.
So what does “that they all may be one” mean? Is Paul hoping that they all like the same kind of music and the same kind of food and all prefer the same kind of chairs for the sanctuary? No. While this clause literally means “that you all say the same thing,” he’s not just talking about them using the same types of words or agreeing on every aspect of life. He wants their speech to reflect where their true loyalty lies. Words are very powerful, and Jesus says they can reveal what’s in our heart.
According to Matthew 7:17, bad trees produce bad fruit
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
In Matthew 12:34 Jesus also points out that the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Paul is going to deal with their hearts soon enough, but he begins with their words because that is what everyone hears.
Paul does not want the reputation of the church to be damaged because the Corinthians’ words reveal a deep disagreement. This is the second thing he encourages them toward in verse 10: no divisions. In Greek, the word “division” is used to refer to a tear in a garment or when people have differing opinions about a matter. Paul knows that the words people use can and do cause divisions in the church. Not only do divisions go against Jesus’ prayer in John 17, but they also are a bad testimony to the nature of God to a watching world.
B. Be unified in our purposes (v. 10b)
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
What Paul does next is important to catch. He uses the word “but” to contrast the visible unity of being in agreement with being of the same mind and judgment. The contrast is meant to highlight that he is not seeking skin-deep unity. Paul is urging far more than clean-looking outward behavior.
You know what that’s like. A neighbor calls and says she’s coming over to borrow some eggs, and you quickly stuff unfolded laundry in a drawer, get the dirty breakfast dishes from the table to the sink, and close your kid’s bedroom door to hide their mess. Paul doesn’t want the Corinthian church to merely look and sound unified but in reality be a divided mess. So he tells them to “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
“To be made perfect” means “to be put into proper condition.” I had a friend who had an air conditioning problem in his jeep one time, and the mechanic wanted to try an inexpensive fix to get him down the road. While it saved money at the time, it ultimately didn’t solve the problem and required further work. That’s not what Paul is after here. He knows they don’t need a quick, temporary fix. He wants their thinking put into proper condition, to align with the factory specifications.
We are made in the image of God, but sin damaged that image. So when Paul says he wants their thinking and judgment to be in proper working condition, he means he wants their purposes and intentions that guide the way they live life to resemble the only human being who hasn’t been affected by sin—Jesus.
What about you? Do you strive to be unified with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do your purposes for your church have more to do with your own wants or desires or with the purposes God has for your church? While we will look in a moment at some specifics of what Paul is urging the Corinthians toward, we must begin here. Are my purposes aligned with God’s, or do I have my own purpose? Is this the church of God or is it my church? Every choice to pursue unity will require us to die to something in ourselves: some preference, some choice, some habit, some feeling. Am I willing to do that for the sake of honoring Jesus’ prayer for true Christian unity? Do I know that pursuing this kind of God-honoring unity will reveal Jesus to watching eyes?
C. Avoid disunity over loyalties (vv. 11–12)
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe
The world is watching. People see the good the church does and also the troubles we experience. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, we are to let the world see our good works and glorify God because of them. Here in verse 11, we see the Corinthian church is confronted with this truth. Chloe’s people have been watching and have reported to Paul what they have seen. This is the only time Chloe is mentioned in the New Testament, and while scholars have frequently offered theories on who she was and on what her role was in the church, her true identity remains mere speculation. The point Paul is making here is that the Corinthians’ behavior has caught the attention of someone. Our words and actions are noticed.
This should be a reminder to all of us that the world is watching. Unbelievers outside the church watch how we relate to one another and notice the words we use and the actions we take and the tone of our voices. Believers are watching and listening as well, both adults and children, maybe especially children. It is not just their own parents that children watch in the church. They notice how other adults behave and speak. Our daily interactions directly affect the next generation in ways—good and bad—that we can’t imagine. We all need to be reminded often that we are daily modeling to everyone in the church what it means to follow Christ. If our words and actions cause division, others will take notice. What kind of testimony do we want to have in front of a watching world—or, more pointedly, a teenager in our church?
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
that there are contentions among you.
So what did Chloe notice? Contentions. It’s a word that means “rivalries” and is most often translated “strife.” Paul uses it in lists of sins he wants his readers to avoid. Each time it is used, it comes with a severe warning.
In Romans 1:32 Paul says that those who practice strife are worthy of death.
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
He defines strife in 1 Corinthians 3:3 as not walking like spiritual men.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Paul declares in Galatians 5:20–21 that those who practice strife will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
And in Titus 3:9, he describes strife as unprofitable and worthless.
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Their contentions are not a minor issue. Contentions are an indication that something is seriously wrong. This sin has infected the church to such a degree that Paul will shortly challenge their understanding and living out of the gospel.
Paul’s challenge does not question their salvation. Notice his use of the term “brethren”—a word Paul uses for believers in the church that includes both men and women—in verses 10 and 11. He wants to make sure they realize they aren’t acting like brethren. He then explains what the contentions are about.
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Several groups of people in the church have proclaimed loyalty to various church leaders: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Jesus. Paul, of course, is the apostle who spent a year and a half in Corinth teaching and preaching and living life with the Corinthians. He was instrumental in establishing and growing the church.
We learn of Apollos in Acts 18:24–25
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
We see in Acts 18:27–19:1 that he traveled to Corinth after Paul left and was helpful in encouraging the church.
And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Paul praises Apollos for his ministry in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 3:5.
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
Cephas is another name for Peter. It is not clear if Peter ever visited Corinth, but it seems clear that the Corinthians knew about him as Paul refers to him in this letter in 1 Corinthians 3:22, 9:5, and 15:5.
The people in Corinth were claiming loyalty to various leaders. One group would seek to elevate themselves over another group based on their favorite church leader. This favoritism was the cause of the contentions. Division naturally ensued.
You and I were made to worship, and because we were made to worship, the temptation to worship other people and objects is ever present. We worship athletes, rock stars, and movie stars. We worship science and creation. We worship cars and computers and culture. All of these objects of worship distract us from the only one worthy of worship—God.
The church is not immune from this misplaced worship today. Our celebrity culture encourages hero worship. People follow pastors on social media, drop names of people they’ve met at conferences, and boast about being a member of a church where a famous pastor preaches. With so many big-name speakers, authors, and pastors for us to look up to, we need to be careful that our preference for one or another of these church leaders does not cause division in the church. We must refrain from boasting or belittling someone who has not been influenced by our own particular favorite.
The last item in Paul’s list of what the Corinthians are accused of saying might, at first, seem a little strange. One would think Paul would be happy that people in the church were following Christ, but this group was undoubtedly claiming a special position. Instead of encouraging their fellow believers to seek Christ, they were using His name to show their superior faith, laying claim to Him as their own by some exclusive right. They weren’t interested in sharing Jesus; they were interested in using Jesus to appear better than others.
II. LOOK TO THE CROSS (1:13)
II. LOOK TO THE CROSS (1:13)
Paul now transitions from talking about what the problem is to helping the Corinthian church solve the problem. He does this by asking them three questions that point to the foolishness of their positions. In doing so, the questions point to the root of the problem. Paul could just demand that they stop quarreling. Parents will, at times, tell fighting siblings to make up, apologize, be friends, or stop bickering. A parent’s authority or tone might bring temporary peace to the situation, but unless the parent gets to the root of the problem, the cause of the initial conflict has not been resolved. As we saw from verse 10, Paul does not want to solve only the outward signs of division. These three questions help him get to the root of the issue.
A. Christ is not divided (v. 13a)
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Is Christ divided?
The purpose of the first question, “Has Christ been divided?” is to get them to think about the nature of Christ. Paul’s favorite designation for Christians in the Bible is “in Christ.” If Christ is divided and they are all “in Christ,” then they also are all divided, but Christ is not divided. A moment’s reflection will show the Corinthian church that they should have no divisions either. Paul reminded them in verse 9, “you were called into fellowship with His Son.” So Paul is saying, “Since Christ is not divided, how can your fellowship be divided?”
We would do well, as we encourage our friends in the faith to walk worthily of Christ, to point people to Jesus’ nature instead of just reminding them about the rules they are supposed to follow. It’s not that Paul doesn’t talk about right behavior. He does—often. But he always grounds that behavior in Christ and our relationship with Him.
In Philippians 2:14–16,
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Paul tells the Philippians not to grumble like the world but rather be God’s children by “holding forth the word of life.”
Paul tells the church to “consider the members of their body as dead to immorality” in Colossians 3:5.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
He says this because Christ is their life. In Colossians 3:13, we are to forgive one another because God forgave us in Christ.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
B. Paul was not crucified for the Corinthians (v. 13b)
Was Paul crucified for you?
The next question is similar and is used to show the foolishness of their divisions over various church leaders. Paul uses himself as the example: “Paul was not crucified for you, was he?”
The reason we follow Jesus and not men is because Jesus has done for us what no one else could do. He died for our sins. One man may choose to die for another, like when someone steps in and takes a bullet for someone else. Jesus did that but on a much deeper level. He endured the wrath of God that believers deserved for their sin and rebellion against a holy God. No man could do that for another. There is also another aspect to what Jesus did: He gave us His righteousness. Could Paul have done that? Or Apollos? Or Cephas? No. Then why would the Corinthians quarrel over which leader to follow? No one but Christ deserves our worship and loyalty.
The same is true for us. While you may never argue with another believer about which Christian leader is better than another, do you ever elevate men to a position only Christ should occupy? Do you ever become so enamored with a pastor, author, speaker, or artist that you begin to believe that all his words are right? Do you ever think he is the one responsible for your Christian growth? Other believers often encourage our spiritual growth, but we truly change by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Even if we never argue with other believers about our various allegiances, we should be careful not to elevate anyone in the church above Christ.
C. The Corinthians were not baptized in the name of Paul (v. 13c)
Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
The final question Paul asks encourages them to think about their initial commitment to Christ at their baptism: “were you baptized in the name of Paul?” At baptism, a person is testifying that they are identifying themselves with the death of Christ. Paul says in Romans 6:3,
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
We are testifying at our baptism that we choose to die to self in the hope that “as Christ was raised from the dead ... so we too might walk in newness of life” as Paul says in verse 4. Does a mere man have the ability to give us new life? Or to raise us from the dead? For Paul goes on to say in verse 5, “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death [through baptism], certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” No leader in the church can raise us from the dead.
III. ELEVATE THE CROSS (1:14–17)
III. ELEVATE THE CROSS (1:14–17)
A. Baptism without the gospel makes the cross useless (vv. 14–17a)
Now, it is a special thing to baptize someone. What a privilege it is to be a part of the ceremony where someone publically proclaims his loyalty to Jesus! But let us never think there is something special about the one doing the baptism. It is the relationship between Christ and the person being baptized that takes priority.
I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Paul is actually thankful that he baptized a very small number of people in the Corinthian church. We need to be careful not to misunderstand what Paul is saying here. He is not downplaying the role of baptism at all or of leaders who do baptisms. In 1 Corinthians 4:15, he portrays himself as a spiritual father:
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
In Philippians 3:17, he portrays himself as a spiritual example:
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul understands that he is a mentor to the people he ministers to. Yet here he is thankful that he has not participated in the wonderful ceremony of baptism. This is a sad statement. What should have been a joyful remembrance of a public confession of someone’s union with Christ has turned to fear for Paul that they have misunderstood the whole point. It has turned, for the Corinthians, into a rivalry over who baptized whom. Paul wants nothing to do with it.
And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Verse 16 is an aside where Paul remembers that he did baptize at least one other group of people. It’s possible that Stephanas himself reminded Paul about this as it is likely, according to 1 Corinthians 16:17, that Stephanas was with Paul as he wrote. It’s easy to picture him standing over Paul’s shoulder and saying, “Um, Paul, you forgot someone.”
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
Paul concludes this section with a focus on the gospel. His purpose in coming to Corinth was not to baptize but to preach the gospel. As Paul will remind them in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, the gospel is the good news “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures ... and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Paul is not lessening the role of baptism but rather elevating the gospel.
B. Man’s clever speech without the gospel makes the cross useless (v. 17b)
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
The gospel is powerful in itself. It doesn’t need Paul’s or anyone else’s clever speech. The phrase “cleverness of speech” here refers to “manipulative rhetoric.” The gospel changes lives not by manipulating people through stirring up their emotions or with a flashy presentation. People are easily convinced of things when their emotions are involved or when a powerful speaker wows them.
The gospel doesn’t work that way because it changes people at the core of who they are. The reason clever speech makes the gospel void, or of no effect, is because a devotion begun through only an emotional response often needs a return to that same level of emotion—or an even higher one—to sustain the same devotion. The power of the gospel changes us on the inside. We slowly conform to the image of Christ as we remain in Him.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
In 2015 two men got into a fight over whether LeBron James or Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player of all time. One of the men ended up in jail because he chose to use his fists to convince his friend that he was right. His reputation was tarnished over a silly argument. There is no indication that the believers in Corinth ever came to blows over Paul or Apollos, but it doesn’t take jail time to tarnish Christ’s reputation.
When believers are not united, the power of the gospel to change lives is put into question and Jesus appears unable to solve our problems. He becomes no better than a failed government or education system helpless to fix society’s pressing issues. When believers are united, the world will take notice. We then have the opportunity to tell them about the power of the gospel to unite us despite our differences.
How then do we live out this text? As believers, we need to make sure that our boast is only in Jesus Christ. It must not be in another person. However wonderful a pastor or author or speaker may be, he cannot forgive your sin. He cannot make you more Christlike. He cannot secure your place in eternity. Boast only in Christ.
We must also never take pride in our own wisdom or ability to speak well. No matter how persuasive we may be, only the Holy Spirit transfers someone from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God as that person trusts in Christ. Any time we attempt to communicate with others about Jesus, we need to depend upon the Holy Spirit in prayer to reveal Christ to the one we speak to. Depend only on Christ’s Spirit.
We need to know that we can only achieve the unity that God requires of His children when we are united around Christ’s death and resurrection. When we repent and put our faith in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, we become one with Him. Any unity we may find outside of Christ is not strong enough to unite people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. A unity outside of Christ is either based on characteristics that are limited to a certain group of people or based on characteristics that are not permanent. Be united only in Christ.