1 Corinthians 1:10-17 | "Is Christ Divided?"

I. Reading of Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:11 ESV

11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

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.”

1 Corinthians 1:13 ESV

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:14 ESV

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

1 Corinthians 1:15 ESV

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

1 Corinthians 1:16 ESV

16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

This is God’s Word, Amen.

Pray

The title of this message is a question: “Is Christ Divided?”

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 “Is Christ Divided?”

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

The writer of this letter, the Apostle Paul, always has his mind upon Christ.

“Is Christ Divided?”

This is such a short and simple question he asks, but it reveals so much.

First, this question reveals to us that there was a problem among the church in Corinth: a problem of division.

“Is Christ Divided?”

The word “divided” means “to separate into parts” (LN).

There were separated parts of what was to be one whole, body of believers, united in Christ, in Corinth.

The church was divided, and that was a problem.

Given its placement at the front-end of this letter, and being the first problem mentioned, this division is worth the Apostle’s discussion.

Not because the division in Corinth had reached a certain level of intensity —

There are all kinds of divisions that separate us in one way or another and they each divide to various degrees— some small, some not.

We have opinions, preferences, personal tastes on one end of the spectrum, that sometimes seem relatively insignificant.

Yet, on the other end of the spectrum we may have major operational, practical and doctrinal disagreements that are very significant.

The Apostle does not address the division because it had ultimately reached an intensity that finally demanded a response. He addresses the division, seeking to squash it immediately and put it down — because:

ANY division in the body of Christ represents something that is NOT TRUE OF CHRIST!

“Is Christ Divided?”

It is possible that this one issue of division underlies all the other problems the church in Corinth experienced.

Some suggest that the Apostle’s appeal to unity is the thesis statement of this letter of 1 Corinthians (NIGTC). Division is that pervasive.

So, division is a problem - but by the grace of God it is not an unsolvable one.

For all who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ —

and I mean the kind of membership that Jesus bestows upon you, having saved you, having made you new, having called you to be saints, having sanctified you in Him, and you call upon His name, having received God’s grace and God’s peace —

For THOSE members of Christ’s Church, there is no division or separation that Christ Himself does not solve —

If we would only look away from what divides us and look to Christ who unites us.

For Paul, the solution to this problem of division is to look to Christ.

“Is Christ Divided?”

The Apostle Paul addresses the problem Christologically.

Meaning, he is going to think about the problem by thinking about Christ.

He is going to understand the problem, by understanding Christ.

He is going to solve the problem, by submitting the problem to Christ.

This is something we can all easily do!

The song asks:

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

(What A Friend We Have In Jesus)

Take it to the Lord! Turn to the Lord!

I have never taken a problem to the Lord, for the Lord to say that He did not know how to deal with it. Does anybody have that testimony? Does anybody take your problems to the Lord?

If not, you should try it! He wants us to trust Him in all circumstances.

When we turn our eyes away from ourselves, and away from our problems, and look in God’s Word, and pray, and think about Him, our problems don’t seem like problems anymore.

Look at 1 Corinthians 1:9 —

1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Do you see that word “Fellowship”?

That’s the word “κοινωνία.”

That’s the same word found in Acts 2:42 that describes the actions of the early believers in Jesus —

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Fellowship, [ κοινωνία ], […slide change...]

1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

[…] this word that describes what the faithful God has called us into in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, means we share something in common not only with ourselves, but with God.

There is simply no room for division in Christ!

“Is Christ Divided?”

You say — of course not! Christ is not divided! That is obvious. Why take the time to focus so much on such an obvious fact.

Why did the Holy Spirit inspire the special messenger of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, to write about it to the church in Corinth?

Because they were divided.

What makes us think we are any different?

This message is for the Church today, as much as it was for the church in Corinth in that day.

May all who have ears to hear, let them hear!

B. Introduction to Text

This text has three movements to it. Three words will guide us through these three movements.

First, we are given an

Exhortation | “I appeal to you...” (1:10-11).

Explanation | “what I mean is...” (1:12)

Evangelism | “preach the gospel...” (1:13-17)

Then, an

Explanation | “what I mean is...”

The third movement may be summed up with the word:

Evangelism | “preach the gospel...”

I pray that as we hear what God says to us through these three movements, we will receive His help and instruction with concern and caution, for this message is just as relevant and needed “to the church” today.

III. Exposition

A. Exhortation | “I appeal to you...”

1. 1:10

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

This is an exhortation. We have seen that word many times as we’ve heard God’s Word together.

Don’t confuse “exhortation” with “exorcism.” It’s not just another “big - E” word. The word, “exhortation,” is a word you should know, and not be scared of.

An “exhortation” is an urgent appeal! It is a plea for something (LN).

Whatever the exhortation is may be something to lift you up and give you comfort and encouragement.

It may be something that equips you with knowledge and understanding to put into practice and apply!

It may be plea, begging for us to do something quickly — immediately.

An exhortation may also be a warning. Something we are are to pay careful attention to and be very cautious of.

The word “I appeal to you” or “I exhort you” tells us that this is an exhortation, not just for this passage of Scripture, but possibly for the entire letter of 1 Corinthians.

The word in the Greek language here for “I appeal, I exhort” is the word [ παρακαλέω ]. It shares the same root word for a word used to describe the Holy Spirit as a [ παράκλητος ] (Jn 14:16, 15:26 …] The Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Advocate, our Comforter.

Any time we see an exhortation in Scripture, it is not a plea for us to do something that is impossible - to do something we are powerless to do.

On the contrary! Obedience is possible, this is something that we can and should do, and are able to do because of the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and among us as Christ’s Church.

So we can do this!

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

“by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

The NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ UNITES us!

Write this down as the first of three statements the Apostle Paul makes identifying who and what unites the Church of Jesus Christ against any divisions. And the first is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is by design that the Apostle names the name of Christ in all but one of the preceeding verses, and even in verse 5 Christ is referred to. It is by design that every verse up to verse 10 mentions Christ, so that this appeal has the strongest force.

This appeal, this exhortation is made by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ — by whom are we united, Church? Christ! That is the effect of what Paul is saying.

This means, Our Lord Jesus Christ UNITES us together. All who bear His name, who are Christians, share Christ in common.

“The name represents the person” (Herm.).

The Apostle then states the appeal positively, then negatively, then positively again.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

“that all of you agree”

Does this mean that we are to agree with those who do not know Christ? No.

Does this mean that we are to agree with those who are not members of Christ’s Church? Certainly not.

Who all, according to the Apostle, is to agree?

Answer — “all of you” — brothers! (Sisters).

All in the fellowship of saints.

I like the way this phrase is translated literally from the Greek. You can write this down. The phrase “That all of you agree” literally translated is this:

“that you all say the same thing”

There is an attention drawn to what is said.

We all know that we agree in our action of gathering together as the church week after week. We can put on a show of fellowship. But what are we saying when we leave this place?

Do we all say the same thing then?

What are our conversations like in the car on the way home of church?

Are we still saying “Amen”? Or "Oh No!”

Are the words we speak agreeing with what we are doing?

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

“and that there be no divisions among you.”

Again, this is for those “among you.” This is for the church.

Let there be no divisions.

That word “divisions” is the word [ σχίσμα ]. If you know the word “schism” that’s what it means [BDAG].

A schism is something that splits or tears away (BDAG, 1).

Now, when I first came to this text, I was thinking about divisions like I have come to know divisions now. The kind of divisions that we see in the halls of Congress. The kind of divisions that break fellowship. That prevent people from talking to one another.

But I had to repent for bringing my own cultural understanding to God’s Word.

That’s not the kind of divisions here.

Let’s let God’s Word tell us what kind of divisions these are, and not what we think they are.

These are divisions, the text tells us, “among you.”

This means, the group has not (yet) broken fellowship. They are still together, but they are together and divided.

As it has been pointed out, they still celebrate the Lord’s Supper together (11:17ff) and this letter is still written to the whole community (Herm.).

This means, it is possible and even probable that as we the church sit here today, there are divisions among us, even though we are together.

Which makes this a subtle destroyer of fellowship. Harder to detect. Present and growing under the surface.

It’s kind of like old age. Someone told me old age began for them around age 40. Almost to the day of their 40th birthday, they woke up and something wasn’t working like it used to. And over the years, old age continues to take a toll, not so strongly at first, but decades later we find out we have become old! Our body has been torn apart. There are cracks and tears.

Perhaps that illustrates well this kind of division. It starts with an opinion in thought, and over time turns into a preference that is shared, and eventually it becomes a conviction that becomes a demand then an ultimatum. “You do this, or else . . . “ And unity is torn, then fractures, then fellowship eventually breaks.

This is something we have power over, Church. The exhortation to obey is that there “be NO divisions among you.” Even the smallest division does not belong among us who are in Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

“but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement.”

Another way of saying that is that we are to be

“made COMPLETE in the same mind and with the same purpose” (LEB).

How are we made complete? Who is sufficient for any lack (LN)? Who puts everything into its proper place (BDAG)?

Christ does. Christ makes us complete. Christ is sufficient for every circumstance.

We hear appeals in our country for “bipartisanship.” That’s how Congress defines unity.

Here’s God’s Word defines unity, here’s the kind of unity that belongs in the Church:

Not by being bi-partisan, for that means there are still two different parties or factions working together. The Church is not bi-partisan. The Church doesn’t retain differences or division by trying to work together in spite of it. The Church rids herself of difference or division. It doesn’t belong here!

We are to say the same thing, and to be of the “same mind and of the same judgment” (or purpose).

How to we obtain the same mind and same judgment?

The answer is — it has already been given!

1 Corinthians 1:5 ESV

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—

In Christ, we do not need to BE united in these things, we already ARE united in these things.

So it stands to reason, that if we allow divisions in the church, then somewhere, someones have drifted away from Christ.

Watch a person who has not attended the fellowship of the Church and submitted their eyes, ears, hearts and minds to the preaching of God’s Word every week.

They are not being tuned to Christ! They are not staying tuned to Christ!

A musical instrument has to be tuned. If it isn’t used, and isn’t warm, or hasn’t been played, the brass or the strings will be affected by temperature changes and will fall out of tune.

People in the church can get out of tune too. If they do not submit themselves to daily and weekly tuning, they will drift and will speak and think in a negative way, and will divide.

If you’ve ever heard a choir sing - you’ve probably heard that one person who is out of tune. Usually the choir director will try to gently move that person away from the microphone. But when everyone else is in tune, but one person is not, it is obvious.

Love that person, encourage that person, pray for that person, but there will come a time with the help of the elders of the church that we will need to put that person out of our fellowship and flee from them in hopes that they would repent and return — so that they will not cause destruction.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

2. 1:11

1 Corinthians 1:11 ESV

11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

The word “quarreling” represents discord.

So the divisions among them have now become obvious. Someone and someones are out of tune.

Chole’s people have reported to Paul what is going on. This is not gossip, or rumors (GCM). They are informing Paul of what is happening because it is a problem among them — who are “brothers.”

Growing up, my parents would constantly say to me and my brothers - “You are brothers! Don’t you love each other?” Because we are always quarreling.

What were the Corinthians quarreling about?

Paul then offers this explanation.

B. Explanation | “What I mean is...”

3. 1:12

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.”

The opinions have formed factions — they cannot agree on whose they are! Who they belong to!

How appropriate that Paul has labored at the beginning of this letter to tell them who they are and whose they are! They are Christ’s!

I won’t press the issue, but this wouldn’t be hard to apply to this congregation, or any congregation listening for that matter. This happens! It would be very easy to drop some names of people who have gathered for themselves a following.

And usually, when the leader of that following walks out the door the group of followers follows out the door too!

I learned this from Rick Warren in the Purpose Drive Church. He said don’t have a “Personality Driven Church” that rises and falls based on a certain person.

People will rise and fall. Don’t follow them.

The Scriptures say to obey your spiritual leaders. To submit to them. To imitate their faith. But don’t follow them!

The Scriptures only teach that we are to follow Christ. And the greatest testimony of any spiritual leader, is that when the day comes, that the Lord moves that person away, or calls that person home — the people press on and continue on, because they don’t follow that man, or woman, but they follow the risen, eternal Christ!

I believe it is appropriate to say here — DO NOT FOLLOW ME! DO obey my spiritual leadership. DO submit to my spiritual oversight. DO imitate my faith. But do not follow me.

If my ministry among you is worth anything, it will be revealed that when I am one day not here, the church carries on and continues to follow Christ.

The problem in Corinth was that they had people they liked, and they turned their follow-ship into a confession that was going to break their fellowship (see Herm).

Let us remember again that this is written to the church. So we should never think about what I want. But what do WE want, as a whole. And Christ keeps that in line.

Now the last movement which can be summed up in the word “Evangelization.” This gets to the root of these divisions.

C. Evangelization | “preach the gospel...”

4. 1:13

1 Corinthians 1:13 ESV

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Any time there is a division in the church, we have to ask who caused the division?

And the answer is never God. God is not the source of division. God is not divided! Christ is not divided!

We are! And we did cause that division, and we need to rid ourselves of it - which is in our power to do because we caused it!

Paul echoes again first thing that unites the church.

(v.10) The Name of our Lord unites us.

And said another way —

CHRIST unites us. “Is Christ divided?”

No! Christ is not divided, Church. You represent Christ. But not when you are divided. Christ unites us.

But a second thing unites the church.

BAPTISM unites us.

Paul begins to speak about baptism.

Baptism literally means to plunge (BDAG,2).

It is an act of washing in water to signify a renewed relationship.

We unite with Christ in baptism by being buried with Christ in his burial, going under the water, and being raised with Christ in his resurrection, coming out of the water. That’s what Jesus did. It is a powerful picture of salvation. We baptize in the name of Jesus!

But there had become a confusion of baptism. Perhaps the people in Corinth were siding with, and following the person that baptized them. So Paul says:

5. 1:14-16

1 Corinthians 1:14 ESV

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

1 Corinthians 1:15 ESV

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

1 Corinthians 1:16 ESV

16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

So Paul puts down whatever misconception the church had about baptism and who might have baptized them.

We are not baptized into a person, to follow a person. We are baptized into Christ, to follow Christ!

Romans 6:3 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 ESV

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

[…]

Romans 6:11 ESV

11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

IV. Conclusion

Paul ends this section with this message:

6. 1:17

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The word “gospel” is the word we get “evangelism” from.

That was Paul’s mission. To evangelize by preaching the gospel.

This is not a Great Commission Contradiction. Paul did in fact baptize, but he did little of it to avoid this very division. To keep the focus upon the message. The Gospel.

The Gospel is made powerful not by eloquent and wise words. It is made powerful by its message. It is a Gospel of the cross.

“lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

The Name of our Lord unites us.

Baptism unites us.

And thirdly,

The CROSS of Christ unites us!

1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The cross is a divisive thing — to the world.

The cross represented the literal division, or breaking of Christ’s body.

The cross of Christ was suspended between Heaven and Earth — dividing heaven and earth and there in the middle of it was Christ, giving His life.

So that by His death, His burial, and His glorious resurrection, WE MIGHT BE UNITED IN HIM!

This is the Gospel!

The Gospel of the cross.

The cross represented the power of Rome to take a life.

But because of the Resurrection, the cross represents something altogether different for us! The power to give life!

Jesus gave His life willingly, in place of our own.

He died to be judged for our sin, not his own.

And when we look at the cross, we see only ONE person worthy of our complete devotion. ONE person worthy of our sole allegiance. ONE person worthy of following —

And it is the one who gave Himself for us.

“Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Christ was crucified for you. You were baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, the Lord.

So let there be no divisions among you, my brothers and sisters! Let us live in the grace and peace and eternal fellowship of God and Christ.