Trouble in Corinth

Let’s Get Down to Business…

Paul wastes not time beating around the bush

He said what he needed to get their attention and now he begins to weed the garden

This was a church bought by the blood of Jesus, and it was living in the flesh (of Worldliness)

This letter is a laundry list of the sins associated with carnal living and the first sin Paul deals with is the sin of division in the church

A Huge Problem

The Corinthians had many problems, and all of them were complicated

The sin of division is no exception

Beginning in 1:10 and ending in 4:21 (nearly three chapters devoted to this one sin)

That is not all: repeatedly we see Paul reminding the Corinthians of the damage this division had done to their assembly

Chapter 11 demonstrates there was not only division spiritually speaking, but economically speaking

There is a division between the “haves” and the “have nots”

Church, the problem of division is not just a first century problem, it is a 21st century problem as well

Notice the Heart of Paul, v. 10…

“No Divisions…”

Very simply we note Paul wanting to expose the two aspects of division in the church:

The source 1:10-2:16

The Spirit 3:1-4:21

Tonight, we focus on the source, or rather “sources” of the division

Notice First…The Appeal v. 10

He appealed to their bond…“I beseech you BRETHREN”

These were not unbelievers, but believers

In what had they believed?

In Jesus of course!

If you want a simple reason for their division, here it is their eyes were on men, not on Jesus!

The Seriousness of Divisions v. 10-12

The word “divisions” in verse 10 means “cleft or split” It specifically refers to distinct differences of opinion such as political parties.

The church at Corinth, was more than divided, they were fragmented!

Keep in mind, this was not a church as we understand it today

These were believers meeting in houses across the city

These people had been saved by the gospel, but introduced to it by different teachers

Notice in verse 11 the division was so bad that it led to “Contention” = strife, they were fighting over these divisions!

Thank God for the bold people in Chloe’s household who were not afraid to tell the apostle what was going on

Thank God for Paul’s courage in dealing with this issue

BTW, if there are ever divisions in the church, let me know, how else can we fix the rift?

The Dividing Line(s)

Verse 12 shows us along what lines the church was divided:

“I am of Paul” – most likely gentile believers

“I of Apollos” – those who preferred the eloquent oratory of this godly man (probably the sophisticated, rich people)

“I of Peter” – those of Jewish descent

“I of Christ” – these were the super-spiritual minded who shunned the idea of human leadership

The Brilliant Answer to Division vv. 13-17

Jesus!

This is what happens when a church is man-centered instead of Christ-centered!!

Paul jumps right in here and says these words:

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?”

“Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Basically, “To whom do you belong”?

When a church is focused on self the natural result is division and contention

When a church is focused on Christ, the result is peace and stability

Paul redirects them in verse 13, and the he rebukes them openly and publicly

Private sin involves private rebuke

Public sin invites public rebuke

It was no secret this church was divided

The root of the division was pride: I am right, and you are wrong!

“Is Christ divided?”

Churches are divided, but Christ is not!

People are divided, but Christ is not!

He was not separate from God the Father, not the Holy Spirit

Unity, Not Uniformity

There were different “churches” meeting in Corinth, but there was only ONE church

That is what Paul was trying to get across!

Regardless of who their favorite speaker was, they belonged to Christ

Hence the reference to Baptism…

Baptism

There is a right teaching and a wrong teaching about baptism:

Wrong: You must be baptized to be saved

Right: You must be baptized if you are saved

Wrong: Baptism completes your salvation experience

Right: Baptism simply identifies you with Christ

Identity

Notice the question Paul asked, ‘Were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Paul could easily count and remember the exact number of people he baptized, and none of them were baptized in his name

Paul was reminding them they were baptized in the mighty name of Jesus!

It was not about where you went to church, or who your pastor was, it was supposed to be about Jesus

The Crux of the Matter: The Corinthians Needed To:

Put aside their differences of opinions

Die to self

Love one another

Find their identity in Christ

The Crux of the Matter: The Church Today Needs To:

Put aside their differences of opinions

Die to self

Love one another

Find their identity in Christ