Unity in the name of Jesus

As I was growing up my dad was a strong man. As a fireman, he worked out with weights and he also spent a good deal of his life at the French Riviera Spa ( a local gym in the 70-80s). He told me a story one time when he was working out at the gym and a guy near him torn his bicep muscle working out. The elasticity of the bicep muscle is so great, that it rolled up in his arm. As a kid, I was fascinated by that story for some strange reason. Looking at the science of it all, the bicep is two muscles, attached to bone in your shoulder and the bone in your forearm. Your brain communicates with the nerves in your arm and over 200,000 muscle fibers work simultaneously in that one dual-muscle to bend at the elbow. Tearing it was a major injury that required surgery to reattach the tendons.

The Human body is a great metaphor for the church. Paul uses this picture over and over again in the Scriptures to describe the composition of the body of believers in relationship to Christ, as the head of the church.

Romans 12:4–5 ESV

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Both of these verses make clear the reality of our union with Christ as his body and our union with one another as members together in the church. Theses verses lay the groundwork for Paul’s mission to teach a unity in the church. The first issue of sin that Paul deals with in the Corinthian church is the sin of disunity. As a matter of fact, we could say that chapters 1-4 are designated to the issue of disunity among tje body. He introduces the issue from the start of his letter in our verses today.

Today we are going to ask to look at Understanding unity in the church

A Proper Glory (10-11a)

1 Corinthians 1:10–11 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. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.

Paul introduces the problem in verse 10 by appealing to the church in Corinth in regards to the Skismata that is among them. Skiaimata is the NT Gk word for division in the church. It literally means that something that torn in an unnatural or unhealthy way. Let’s look at a few examples from Scripture

Disunity: Skismata

Luke 5:36 (tear in clothing)

Luke 5:36 ESV

36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.

In Luke 5 Jesus is teaching the disciples about the NEW work that He is accomplishing in them. He uses the example that a new patch of clothing torn or split from a new garment and sewn on an old garment doesn't work properly nor does it match. Similarly, the temple curtain in Luke 23 is said to be torn into two pieces when Jesus died upon the cross, signifying the end of the boundary between God and man because of sin.

It is clear then that Paul uses this picture, much like my example of the bicep being torn, to illustrate the dire circumstances when a church is split, or torn by the disunity in the midst of her. The point is the logical conclusion that disunity is unnatural and unholy for the people of God to allow to dwell within her.

Why is disunity such a bad thing?

We could make the argument that disunity period is unhealthy. Disunity in families leads to emotional damage to kids, to partners, to the overall function of the home. I am speaking about any home. Disunity in the workplace leads to a lack of effectiveness, growth, and profit. Disunity on the global scene has recently revealed itself as leading to war against nations. It is not hard to see the negative effects that disunity plays in our world.

But the church is unique because the church transcends the bloodline of families, the culture allegiance to nations, or our commitment to our line of work. Disunity in the church is not a physical illness, its a spiritual one. Disunity is a virus that attacks the body and has deadening effects to its vitality and growth. Disunity is sin because it is unnatural to a spiritual body created by the atoning work of Jesus Christ and the union we have with him.

Look at Paul’s appeal in v 10. He appeals or pleads with the Corinthian church “in the name of Christ.” Paul is not just name dropping to get their attention. Disunity is a way that God’s people dishonor his name. We should put it in the category with blasphemy. Using the name of the Lord in an unhealthy way is no different than disunity in his body because it dishonors his name. His name is worthy of all praise and glory and so Paul’s appeal for unity starts with an appeal to honor the holy name of the Lord Jesus.

Psalm 115:1 ESV

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

The Lord’s name represent his person and Jesus is not a un-unified person in himself or in the larger part of the godhead. Father, Son and Spirit have always existed in eternity in complete and perfect harmony. There is no disagreement between them. They have different diverse function but they do not fight or quarrel in their plan and purposes. They each understand their roles and the work together to accomplish them.

One example would be their unity in the work of salvation. Steve lawson writes,

Divine sovereignty in salvation involves each of the three persons of the Godhead—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three work in perfect unity to rescue the same undeserving sinners. Within the Trinity, there is one saving purpose, one saving plan, and one saving enterprise.

Those whom the Father chooses are precisely those whom the Son redeems and those whom the Spirit regenerates. The persons of the Godhead act as one Savior. The Trinity is not fractured in its saving activity. It is not divided in its direction and intent, as if each person of the Godhead seeks to save a different group of sinners.

Instead, each member of the Trinity purposes and irresistibly proceeds to save one and the same people—God's chosen people.”

If the eternal Godhead represents a united front, the the called out ones, the church should also reflect such a unity. But the called to be unified, for the sake of the honor of Christ and his glory, is not a calling that depends on your strength. The Holy Spirit is given to empower us to live in such a way that we could say then we are supernaturally equipped to be unified.

He also states in v 10 that we “should be of the same mind and all agree.” Paul is not advocating that Christians everywhere will agree on every doctrine but he is speaking to a local church that should have doctrinal unity. Again seeking to honor Christ, Paul wants the people of Corinth not to live under a fractured system of muti-doctrinal options. The church cannot contain a salad bar of doctrines that you can choose to accept or hold off from consuming. This type of church that teaches multiple opposing doctrines are seeking to appease a people with itching ears who are rooted in pluralistic thought. Pluralism is the philosophy that there is such diversity in the world, that unity among such diversity is unattainable. The Bible on the other hand actually narrates the powerful work of God to bring a people from different tribes, tongue and nations, under his headship and together as one. The bible speaks against pluralism because we are all under On God who is working to bring about one purpose and unite one people under himself.

We at RCC read our doctrinal statement in our service each week in order to remember our unity of the faith. We as a body are agreeing upon these articles of the faith and remembering their validity to our daily walk with Christ. We might not agree on all doctrines for example like our view of eschataology but we should all agree on major doctrines like our understanding of the nature of Christ, the godhead, the gospel, the nature, practices and structure of the home and church, etc.

In all, the name and glory of Christ is at stake when their is a lack of unity among his people.

A Proper Loyalty (11-13)

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 ESV

11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Particularly, Paul addresses the way in which disunity had reared its ugly head. The Corinthian church had divided itself in multiple allegiance based groups or factions based on its leadership. Some sided with Paul and some sided with Apollos as if it sides were being chosen for the church league volleyball game. This desire to align themselves with certain teachers came from the influence of the world of Philosophy. The Greek and Roman cultured prided themselves of seeking wisdom and aligning themselves will philosophers who could impart such wisdom. The philosophers would particiate in public debate to flex their oratorical and rhetorical muscles before the people. This always led to a greater following of disciples to these so called men of wisdom. This influence led to similar practices in the church as well. There is no indication that Paul or Apollos were leading these congregants in the division as if it was a political race. Instead, these factions were based on individuals aligning themselves with certain teachers who instructed and maybe discipled them. While loving and caring for your leaders is healthy, pitting them against one another is unhealthy and a stain of sin on the church body.

Now we have learned of Paul, but let us take a moment and be reminded of Apollos ministry in Corinth. In Acts 18, we learned that Paul’s ministry upon his second missionary journey led him to the home of Aquila and Priscilla. They were tentmakers and they eventually ministered with Paul in Corinth and then traveled with him after 1.5 years to Ephesus. While in Ephesus with Paul, Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos teaching there and his understanding of the Scriptures was sound except in one area. We are not told what Apollos misunderstood, but this couple took Apollos aside, discipled him and eventually Apollos went to Corinth to teach there.

Acts 18:27–19:1 (ESV)

27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. 1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth,

It appears that after Paul’s ministry in Corinth, Apollos took root there, ministering effectively.

It appears that such divisions even led to compounding sin among them. Paul mentions two in v 11. One sin that seems to have arisen is the poor reputation of the church of Corinth among those outside. Chloe is unknown outside of her reference her, but the way in which Paul states, “a report from Chloe’s people” seems to allude to her being an outsider. If she has people to work under her, then she is most likely a business woman who was known by the Corinthians. As a trade route, perhaps Chloe did business in Corinth and word got back to her about the factions and disunity in the Corinthian church. She in turn contact Paul for she knows his leadership over the church there. If all this is true, then these factions have proved visible to those outside the local body of Christ and they have tarnished her reputation and the name of Christ.

The second issue mentioned in v 11 is the quarrelling among the family of God. This argument and verbal sparing is a unhealthy reaction to the factions that had arisen. Verbal confrontation mentioned here seems to be rooted in the sin of improper allegiances. Instead of gentleness and kindness in their speech to one another, these factions and allegiances had led to unhealthy verbal sparing with one another.

All of this is a result of an improper allegiance. Paul asks the proper question in response to such sin in the church, “Is Christ Divided?” The emphasis is directed by Paul as to who our true allegiance should be placed. Our love for those in our church lives is important but it should never lead us to fracture as a church, taking sides against one another, causing the name of Christ to be tainted. Instead, our allegiance is to Jesus Christ our Lord. The church belongs to him and our allegiance and loyalty belongs to him and not mere men.

The term Calvinist is an unhealthy term. Those who hold to the doctrines of grace like myself understand why that term is used. It signifies a person’s belief in a certain set of biblical doctrines that we believe Jesus taught, Peter taught and Paul taught. Opponents of these doctrines claim that Calvinists are just placing their allegiances on one man in church history, John Calvin. While I respect Calvin as a good theologian, I dont agree with everything he taught. I do agree with everything that Jesus taught and accomplished for my spiritual good and therefore my allegiance is to Him and Him alone. I would encourage that for the sake of the unity of the church, that your allegiances be to Christ and him alone.

Just to clarify from the man himself, listen to Calvin’s commentary from this passage,

Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Chapter 1

There is, it is true, a certain degree of honour that is due to Christ’s ministers, and they are also themselves masters in their own place, but this exception must always be kept in view, that Christ must have without any infringement what belongs to him—that he shall nevertheless be the sole Master, and looked upon as such. Hence the aim of good ministers is this, that they may all in common serve Christ, and claim for him exclusively power, V 1, p 67 authority, and glory—fight under his banner—obey him alone, and bring others in subjection to his sway.

Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Chapter 1

In short, the unity of the Church consists more especially in this one thing—that we all depend upon Christ alone, and that men thus occupy an inferior place, so as not to detract in any degree from his pre-eminence.

Paul’s focus was not to make much of himself but instead, to make much of Christ. He was not motivated by accumulating a following. He simply wanted to be faithful to Christ in response to Christ’s faithfulness to save sinners through his work on the cross. Let this argument and disunity in Corinth serve as a warning to us as believers to keep Jesus as the center of our faith and work in the church.

A Proper Function (14-17)

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 ESV

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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.

Paul concludes with a powerful statement about the proper focus of the church. When we have proper unity because our loyalty is aligned with Christ and not mere men, then the church will function in such a way that was intended. When there is disunity in the church because of the disloyalty towards Christ, there will be disfunction.

Paul states that he is thankful that he didn't baptize many in Corinth, besides Crispus, Gaius, and those of the household of Stephanus. He is not being unkind but instead he realized the temptation that would have arisen if more were baptized by him. He assumes the factions would have been greater. His summary statement in v 17 then wraps up his main thought about the disunity,

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.

Paul is not implying that his gospel mandate excluded baptism. Paul was faithful to baptize those who came to Christ as He was intrusted to do by the Lord Jesus. Instead, he brings a proper focus and function back to the argument at hand by reminding the church that preaching Christ and the good news of His work on the cross is the primary mission of the church. Paul was not on a baptism tour trying to get as many people in the water to boost his baptismal numbers. Instead, he was fulfilling his calling to preach the gospel because it is the power to save those from the grips of death and hell.

What Paul is implying here is that disunity brings a disfunction in the church. The church is paralyzed by its factions and friction against one another and therefore its focus to preach the gospel to all nations, making disciples, is inhibited by its own discord. Paul reminds them that preaching the gospel is the primary function of followers of Jesus Christ and we cannot allow the mission of the church to be blindsided by sin that might spring up among us.

His words of v 17 show us, not that they words of Christ are actually emptied of their saving power but that power can be ignored in favor of more infused priorities. This is where Paul will begin his argument against worldly philosophy that is attacking the message of the gospel. His words “not with words of eloquent wisdom” is in reference to the Sophists that I mentioned earlier. They prided themselves on their verbal sparing matches and the crowds they drew in by such flowery speeches. Paul does not want the Corinthians to be confused that he is just another man of philosophy.

Instead, he is a preacher of the gospel, the true wisdom of the world, and his mission of preaching the life saving message of the gospel will not be entangled with man-made wisdom and pride induced disputes that cause divisions. Matthew Henry writes

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume 1 Corinthians 1:17–31

This truth needed no artificial dress; it shone out with the greatest majesty in its own light, and prevailed in the world by its divine authority, and the demonstration of the Spirit, without any human helps. The plain preaching of a crucified Jesus was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world

Let Paul words of Corinth be our warning as a church to keep Christ at the center of our ministry and keep his gospel as the primary message to which we share. When we trust in the power of the gospel then we trust that God will bring about his purposes as we share it effectively. We realize then it doesn’t need to be adjusted to fit the culture so it appeases a more liberal demographic. This week, as a national victory commenced with the overturning of Roe v Wade, the church is reminded that God’s word stands as our message of truth. We cannot waver from it or try and manipulate it. All of God’s word should be proclaimed to the culture even if the culture hates us, protests against us, and even persecutes us.

In the end, Christ gets the victory and will receive eternal preeminence as Lord and King forever. Our function as the bride of Christ, it to focus our attention on unity in Christ as we accomplish his mission of making disciples until he returns. Nothing else is as important as this responsibility.