JUSTIFIED FOOLS For CHRIST-VI—1Corinthians 4:1-21
Attention:
‘Fools for Christ’ are such because they know from experience with certainty, that there really is nothing worthwhile outside of Christ!
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. FAITHFULNESS(:2)
3. DISCERNMENT(:3-5)
4. GROUNDING(:6)
5. RECEPTION(:7-8) “Without us”
6. FOOLISHNESS(:9-13)
7—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
WARNING(:14)
Explanation:(:14)
:14—“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.”
Paul’s reasoning & rationale behind that which he is writing to the Corinthian Christians is not malicious. He is not purposely “shaming” them for in their disregard for God’s desire(1:10-4:13) they are shaming themselves(7:35).
Paul approaches them in the same manner as a loving nurturing burdened father approaches his own “beloved children.” He is concerned for their betterment, their welfare, for their success in Christ. Thereby, Paul approaches them in a manner that will “warn” them. He wants to instill in them(their ‘new-man’ minds(see nouyetew below)) the distinguishing characteristics of true Christians that are immune to influence by the world.
1Cor. 7:35—“And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, & that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”
‘They are their own worst enemy’
‘We have met the enemy & they are us!’
2Cor. 10:3-6—“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments & every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, & being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Mat. 19:12—“For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, & there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, & there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”
“Write”(See :6)—grafw—
“Shame”—entrepw—Present Active Participle—[Literally—Shaming you]—1) To shame one; 2) To be ashamed; 3) To reverence a person; 4) To turn about. Strong—To invert, i.e. figuratively & reflexively(in a good sense)--To respect; or (in a bad sense)--To confound. Used 9X.
“Beloved”(See :17)—agaphtov—Adj.—1) Beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love.
“Children”(See :17—“Son”)—teknon—1) Offspring, children. Paiv, teknon denote a child alike as respects to descent & age, reference to the latter being more prominent in the former word, to descent in paidion; but the period paiv cover is not sharply defined; &, in classic usage as in modern, youthful designations cleave to the female sex longer than to the male. Teknon gives prominence to physical & outward aspects of parentage. Teknon & uiov both point to parentage. teknon, however, emphasizes the idea of descent, giving prominence to the physical & outward aspects; while uiov emphasizes the idea of relationship, & considers especially the inward, ethical, & legal aspects. Strong—from the base of timwria[Vindication, i.e. by implication--A penalty]; A child(as produced).
“Warn”—nouyetew—1) To admonish, warn, exhort. Strong—To put in mind, i.e. by implication--To caution or reprove gently. Used 8X.
From—nouv—The intellect, i.e. Mind(divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will)—&—tiyhmi—To place (in the widest application, literally & figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture).
Argumentation:
2Cor. 7:3-4—“I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together & to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.”
**2Cor. 6:12—“You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”
**Acts 20:26-32—[Paul to the Ephesian church elders]“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves & to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, & remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night & day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God & to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up & give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
**Col. 1:27-29—“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man & teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
2Chron. 36:14-15—“Moreover all the leaders of the priests & the people transgressed more & more, according to all the abominations of the nations, & defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early & sending them, because He had compassion on His people & on His dwelling place.”
**Rev. 2:5, 16, 25, 3:3, 10, 19, 22—““Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent & do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly & remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent.”.....“‘Repent, or else I will come to you quickly & will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”.....“Remember therefore how you have received & heard; hold fast & repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, & you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”.....““Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”.....“As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten. Therefore be zealous & repent.”.....“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Illustration:
At the Carrabelle, FL kiddie park on US 98 between 3rd & 4th St. NE, there is a permanent sign which states that ‘Hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30th/Just before summer it states that ‘Hurricane season begins June 1st’/Hurricane Season is a very real danger in our community!/WARNING
Tornado warning/NOAA & others governmental entities categorize storms in relation to their destructive potency/They offer Watches & Warnings which flash across our TVs & can be heard on our radios/A ‘Watch’ means the conditions are favorable for danger—A ‘Warning’ means the danger quotient has been breached & danger is imminent!—The Tornado, Hurricane, Thunderstorm, etc. has been spotted!/WARNING
The homeowners whose house was located in an area which was to be flooded by the lake formed from damming the river/Ample warning took place/They were given every opportunity & help to relocate/WARNING
‘Heads Up!!’ at a baseball game means the ball is out of the confines of the player’s control & is dangerous!/WARNING
Application:
?Are You a Justified Fool for Christ thru your WARNING?...
...OR...Are You just a Fool?
?Are You a Fool for Christ?
8—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
PARENTHOOD(:14-16)Birth
Explanation:(:14-16)
:14—“I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.”
:15—“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Even though a church may have innumerable “instructors” regarding Christ, yet they were birthed thru only one “father,” Paul. This is because Paul came relating the Good News to Corinth prior to there ever being a church among them. He had personally “begotten” them “in Christ Jesus” “through” the Good News. All their subsequent teachers(“instructors”) followed Paul’s initial work. Paul had planted the church(3:6) in Corinth.
“Have”(See :7)—ecw—
“Ten thousand”—murioi—Adj.—1) Innumerable, countless. Strong—plural of an apparently primary word(properly meaning--Very many); Ten thousand; by extension--Innumerably many.; 2) Ten thousand.
Murioi is not an actual definite number but rather that ’10,000’ expresses countlessness.
English=‘Myriad’
“Instructors”—paidagwgov—1) a tutor i.e. A guardian & guide of boys. Among the Greeks & the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life & morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood. Used 3X.
English=‘Pedagogue’
From—paiv—A boy(as often beaten with impunity), or by analogy--A girl, & (genitive case)--A child; specifically--A slave or servant(especially a minister to a king; & by eminence to God)—& a reduplicated form of—agw—a primary verb; properly--To lead; by implication--To bring, drive, reflexively--Go, specially--Pass(time), or figuratively--Induce.
“Many”—poluv—Adj.—1) Many, much, large. Strong—singular--Much(in any respect) or plural--Many; neuter(singular) as adverbial--Largely; neuter(plural) as adverb or noun--Often, mostly, largely.
“Fathers”—pathr—1) Generator or male ancestor—1a) Either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents, 1b) A more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob & David—1b1) Fathers i.e. Ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation, 1c) One advanced in years, a senior.; 2) metaph.—2a) The originator & transmitter of anything—2a1) The authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself, 2a2) One who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates & governs their minds, 2b) One who stands in a father's place & looks after another in a paternal way, 2c) A title of honor—2c1) Teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge & training they have received, 2c2) The members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom & experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others; 3) God is called the Father. Strong—apparently a primary word; A “father” (literally or figuratively, near or more remote).
“Begotten”—gennaw—1) Of men who fathered children—1a) To be born, 1b) To be begotten—1b1) Of women giving birth to children; 2) metaph.—2a) To engender, cause to arise, excite, 2b) in a Jewish sense--Of one who brings others over to his way of life, to convert someone, 2c) Of God making Christ his son, 2d) Of God making men his sons through faith in Christ's work. Strong—To procreate (properly--Of the father, but by extension--Of the mother); figuratively--To regenerate.
“Through”(See :6, 10—“For...Sake/Benefit/On account of”)—dia—
“Gospel”—euaggelion—1) A reward for good tidings; 2) Good tidings. Strong—A good message, i.e. The gospel.
:16—“Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”
As the very one thru whose ministry they were given spiritual birth, Paul entreats the Corinthians to “imitate” him. Timothy had reminded them of Paul’s ways(:17), that he practiced that which he preached to them. He did not say one thing & do another.
His faith was real & he expected the faith of those to whom he ministered to be the same. In fact, such faith characterizes Christian faith timelessly & globally.
“Imitate me”—Lit.—“Imitators of me become”
“Urge/Beseech/Exhort”(See :13—“Entreat”/Conciliate”)—parakalew—1) To call to one's side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.. Strong—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation).
“Be/Become”(See :9, 13, :5—“Come from”;—“Made”); ginomai—
“Imitate/Followers”—mimhthv—1) An imitator. Used 7X.
“Me”—mou—Pronoun—1) I, me, my, of me.
Argumentation:
**2Cor. 12:12-19—“Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs & wonders & mighty deeds. For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend & be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus, & sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”
**1Thess. 2:4-12—“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor & toil; for laboring night & day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory.”
**Rev. 3:19-20—“As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten. Therefore be zealous & repent. Behold, I stand at the door & knock. If anyone hears My voice & opens the door, I will come in to him & dine with him, & he with Me.”
Heb. 12:1-11—“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, & the sin which so easily ensnares us, & let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author & finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, & has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary & discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate & not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, & we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits & live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Illustration:
As we(my wife & I) drove thru Tallahassee one day, we approached a mother & her 3-4yr. old daughter at a curb/The daughter was oblivious to our approach & her mother intuitively & immediately grabbed her daughter’s hand stopping her from walking into the road/We tell our young children, “Do not play near the highway” because we know that a child’s commitment to their playing supercedes a commitment to their own safety!/Parents are therefore needed to alleviate such importunity until the child grasps the concept of danger/PARENTHOOD
What father has no concern about his children?...Sadly, Many in today’s American society!!(who are self-absorbed-self-centered)/Whereas a godly father has every concern for his children’s welfare!!/He is concerned regarding their...Faith, Belief system, Integrity, Momentary choices, Life choices, Friendships, Mate, Employment, etc./Every godly parent wants their child(ren) to find success in the Lord/To be at peace, settled, confident, in their walk with the Lord & thus in every aspect of their lives/PARENTHOOD
No doubt there are those whom this church touches with the Good News of Jesus Christ, who turn away from us(& God), inventing excuses that we are too ‘antiquated’ in our belief or too ‘hard-line’ on certain things that are issues for them/The real ‘issue’ is their relationship with Jesus!/They recognize their relationship with Jesus is distant when we declare that it can be close & loving/They see that we have a passion for souls that drives our work, while their passion to do the same is absent/PARENTHOOD
Application:
?Are You a Justified Fool for Christ thru your PARENTHOOD?...
...OR...Are You just a Fool?
?Are You a Fool for Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
7. WARNING(:14)
8. PARENTHOOD(:15-16)Birth
1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)
2. FAITHFULNESS(:2)
3. DISCERNMENT(:3-5)
4. GROUNDING(:6)
5. RECEPTION(:7-8) “Without us”
6. FOOLISHNESS(:9-13)
Pts. 7-8 Presented 09/06/2015pm to:
FBC Cbelle
209 A Ave SE(Storrs Ave)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
