We live in a world made with many different peoples, languages and cultures. Among these people are different religions. The diversities are too great to fathom the idea of one people. Trying to have one righteous people for the entire world is even more difficult to believe, much less seem possible.
When Apostle Paul wrote unto Corinth with their diverse peoples and cultures, he tried to define the idea of all being one in Christ. Some accepted the notion; others did not. People today cannot fully accept the fact all men are created equal and in the image of Almighty God.
To the Jews in Corinth, they were different from the Gentiles. The Gentiles must adhere to the teachings of the Jews to become Christians. The Jews held the hand of God and were the chosen people. Did this make them always saved? Did they have a choice?
According to Paul, they were not always saved just because they were born a Jew. Their choice to be righteous before Almighty God and their required lifestyle of being found righteous, without severe punishment, was taken away. Being born a Jew in the Hebrew nation set their course for life without a choice. However, they were obligated to live according to God’s law or suffer severe punishment. That punishment was death; physical and spiritual death–separation from God. God would turn his face from them for extended periods of time. We can see this situation for the Jews in Paul’s discourse starting in chapter 10.
1 Cor. 10:1-4. 10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
Apostle Paul, a Jew, speaking to the Jews at Corinth, spoke of their forefathers–the sons of Jacob (Israel). They were made to be ONE. One family of God. God took all of them and made them live ‘under the cloud’. They had one government–God’s. They were baptized into the body–Law of Moses–having ‘all passed through the sea’. They had no choice. They were made one regardless of their choice. They ‘did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink’. No wonder they felt they were supremacists over every other peoples and nations. They belonged to God and could never fall from His grace. (so they thought and perhaps still think today) If anyone wants to belong to God, the individual must do everything the Jews say to do, do as they sometimes do and never falter from these guidelines. The idea of becoming one was to be under their terms; not necessarily the terms of God.
Is that not the way people act and do today in religious realms? This is the very reason Paul is writing to Corinth concerning divisions in the assemblies of God. Today, Islamists will not tolerate Christians nor Jews; these religious groups must be annihilated from the face of the earth. Their immoralities and filthinesses are abominations unto their religion and require the punishment of death. Humans of Christian religious sects, also, act similarly–all new converts must act and do as the leaders say, not as they do. Some Christian groups will not allow different nationalities or peoples who speak a different language enter into their religion; much less their assemblies. Divisions still exist.
Being this letter from Apostle Paul unto Corinth is about divisions in the assemblies of God, all mankind needs to examine themselves concerning what Apostle Paul is writing because it applies to all peoples worldwide today. To be found in the body of Christ, the son of Almighty God, we all must become one in mind and judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10. 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. It is sad how often we forget.
To become ONE, mankind must be joined together with Jesus Christ, not contrary to him.
Let us look at some things which are designed to make us ONE. When the forefathers passed through the sea and were baptized into Moses, God made them one in Him and His son Jesus. When a person today is baptized, they become ONE in Christ and what do they do similarly to the forefathers? [A]ll eat the same spiritual meat; … all drink the same spiritual drink: for [we all drink} of that spiritual Rock, … that Rock [is] Christ. 1 Cor. 10:3-4. The Sacraments of the bread and the fruit of the vine are proof of the eating and drinking of The Rock–Jesus.
How do we do that? 1 Cor. 10:16. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
The cup of blessing, what is it? Paul says it is the blood of Christ. The bread we break, what is it? Paul says it is the body of Christ. To be in communion is to be in association, accord, togetherness, fellowship with each other, in joint communication. How can two be different and yet be in fellowship, in association or concord with one another? How can their communication with God be the same? There cannot be any differences in their goal to be in communion with one another. It is impossible. Even though there are physical differences in language, nationality, color, class or creed, to be one in Jesus Christ requires each to put away their differences and develop the same mind and judgment; that is the same mind and judgment as God. Only then can we become ONE. 1 Cor. 10:17. 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Let us take an example from the Jews forefathers. Did not all the Hebrew nation eat the same bread? Manna. Did not the ones performing the sacrifices eat the same meat? 1 Cor. 10:17-18. 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? The righteous of Israel were partakers of the one communion. To be in the body of Christ, all participate in the same communion–bread and blood of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We are all participating in the same fellowship, having the same joint communication with God the Father, Christ the son, and The Holy Spirit. Is it not time to act like we are in communion with Christ and God with the same mind and judgment? All the differences we see are to take a back seat to the important things of the assemblies of God. Paul has said these differences are because of pride and jealousy; causing strife and division. (1 Cor. 3:3) There should be no schisms among the family of God no matter the personal ideologies and preferences; no matter the different languages, nationalities, color or creed. Sadly there are many.
How do we overcome this problem? Romans 12:1-6a, 9-10. 12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
To become ONE as a Godly people, each individual must WORK at transforming our minds from the evil influences brought about by the Tempter–Satan. Having transformed our minds–a daily chore–we learn a more perfect way testifying of what is GOOD, and ACCEPTABLE, and THE PERFECT WILL of God.
Let us continue Romans 12:3. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Being puffed up is perhaps the root of all divisions in Christian religions. Someone may know more than another but the mannerisms of the two depict envy and strife. Just because you may think you know more than others and should be heard does not mean you go about teaching the weaker brother in a condescending manner. Patience and Godly love can properly teach the erring believer the truth. Remember the transforming of the mind can prove the perfect will of God to an erring brother. Apostle Paul will address this Godly love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
Let us continue. Romans 12:4. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
When we, as Paul instructed Corinth, put on brotherly love, preferring one another, we will have fulfilled the will of God and placed ourselves under God Almighty’s hand to be a living sacrifice. Sacrifice is to give up something of ourselves which we own for the betterment of the whole assembly. This is the lesson written by Paul for all Christians of every nationality, language, color and creed. All participants are to give up something of themselves and obey the Will of God.
