Justified Fools For Christ-2 Series

JUSTIFIED FOOLS For CHRIST-II—1Corinthians 4:1-21

Attention:

Back in the day, before I had accepted Christ & before the days of digitized anything—1975—I had a Foghat[the name of a rock band] album that pictured a young long-haired, bushy mustached, bereted man(the drummer for the band) in his twenties, sitting on an upturned coke crate. He’s facing an uncovered manhole in the middle of East 11th Street in New York City. At his feet are a drink & a short hand-dip-net for scooping up fish. The man has a fishing rod in his hand extended to the manhole, with its line disappearing into the manhole. He’s got his hand on the line feeling for a bite. On the back of the album there are 7 more people(remainder of the band members + others) standing behind the ‘sewer fisherman.’ These ‘rubberneckers’ are in various stages of amusement, interest, discussion & wonder as to the success the fisherman.

**The title of the album?.....‘Fool For The City’**

Even though fishing is not meant for the sewer & goes against every fiber of anyone who really fishes, the ‘Fool for the City’ does not hesitate to fish there supposing that there is nothing outside city life that could possibly be better!

‘Fools for Christ’ are such because they know from experience with certainty, that there really is nothing worthwhile outside of Christ—Who actually touches all things including ‘the city’!

Paul admonished the Corinthian Church regarding his apostolic ministry.

The church must regard apostolic authority rightly...as those who are fools for Christ!

How/When are Fools for Christ Justified?

11 justifiers regarding Fools for Christ.

We discovered last time that

Fools for Christ are justified thru their...

1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)

2—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...

FAITHFULNESS(:2)

Explanation:(:2)

:2—“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

Generally, a “steward” of anything must minimally be “faithful”/trustworthy, otherwise he is not a steward! Thus, if all of God’s stewards are not exhibiting faithfulness to God, then they are not fit as “stewards.” Likewise the universal Church is only the Church if it is “faithful” to God’s “stewards,” the apostolic teaching.

“Moreover/In this case, moreover/Now/But as to the rest”—loipon—Adverbial Noun—1) Remaining, the rest—1a) Hereafter, for the future, henceforth, 1b) At last, already, 1c) For the rest, besides, moreover. Strong—Something remaining(adverbially).

“Required/Expected”—zhtew—1) To seek in order to find—1a) To seek a thing, 1b) To seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into, 1c) To seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after; 2) To seek i.e. require, demand—2a) To crave, demand something from someone. Strong—of uncertain affinity; To seek (literally or figuratively); specially, by Hebraism--To worship (God), or in a bad sense--To plot(against life).

“Found”—euriskw—1) To come upon, hit upon, to meet with—1a) after searching--To find a thing sought, 1b) without previous search--To find(by chance), to fall in with, 1c) Those who come or return to a place; 2) To find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, to find out by practice & experience; 3) To find out for one's self, to acquire, get, obtain, procure. Strong—a prolonged form of a primary eurw; which (together with another cognate form eurew) is used for it in all the tenses except the present & imperfect; To find(literally or figuratively).

“Faithful/Trustworthy”—pistov—1) Trusty, faithful—1a) Of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties, 1b) One who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust, 1c) That can be relied on; 2) Easily persuaded—2a) Believing, confiding, trusting, 2b) in the NT--One who trusts in God's promises. Strong—objectively--Trustworthy; subjectively--Trustful.

Argumentation:

Deut 7:9—“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant & mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him & keep His commandments;”

Ps. 37:3—“Trust in the LORD, & do good; Dwell in the land, & feed on His faithfulness.”

2Tim. 2:11-13—“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

We can allow our faithfulness to become driven away thru personal sin. Yet God’s absolute faithfulness to Himself & His plan for man, remains to woo us back into His graces.

**1Sam. 2:35—[To Eli the priest]“Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart & in My mind. I will build him a sure house, & he shall walk before My anointed forever.”

This was typified in Samuel but fulfilled in Jesus. We are a priesthood in Christ.

1Pet. 2:5-10—“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” & “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”