Alba 4-13-2025
WARNING!!
I Corinthians 4:14-21
If there is danger ahead, it is good to have a warning. And it is wise to pay attention to the warning, whether it is a tornado siren, or a sign that says “Bridge Out”. But some warnings are worthless, ridiculous really, almost a joke. For example, here are some that accompanied various products:
A sleeping aid that warns, “May cause drowsiness.
A propane torch that cautions, “Never use when sleeping.”
A printer cartridge that states, “Do not eat toner.”
An iron label that reads, “Never iron clothes while they are being worn.”
A three-hook fishing lure declaring, “Harmful if swallowed.”
House-slippers warning, “Do not eat.”
And a toilet cleaning brush that warns, “Do not use for personal hygiene.”
Many warnings are ridiculous, but there are also many that, if heeded, could save our lives. Like taking cover when a tornado hits, or turning around when the bridge is out. There are other warnings that are very important as well, and if not heeded will cause lasting hurt to our spiritual lives. The Bible has many such warnings. And if we are wise, we will pay attention to God’s warnings. If we do not, there could be eternal consequences. The warnings God gives us come from His love and concern.
With that same concern, the apostle Paul often gives warnings to those that he brought to faith in Jesus. He knew the dangers and pitfalls that were ahead if they were not careful. When Paul went to Corinth, he was able to preach the gospel and a church was begun. Paul stayed in Corinth at least 18 months (Acts 18:11). After leaving Corinth, he heard some discouraging information about what was going on in the church there. So he writes his letter of First Corinthians to give them warning about the bad direction they were headed. When he was with them, Paul had taught by word and example what it means to be a Christian, a Christ-follower. So now he warns:
Be Careful Whom You Imitate
In I Corinthians 4:15-16 he says, “I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 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. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”
We follow people we admire, like successful sportsmen or famous celebrities. Whether it is television, movies, rock concerts, or the actions of co-workers or classmates, we tend to imitate what we see. Many youth today like to imitate their favorite idols or celebrities, copying the way they sing, dance, and dress. They imitate their style, fashion, attitude, language, and physical appearance.
There are many things and many people that it would not be wise to imitate. Though the Corinthians had become Christians, they had a lot of growing up to do. So the apostle Paul offers himself as a model that the church could and should follow. Paul was living a life close to Christ, so he could say, “Do what I do. Imitate me”.
The Corinthian believers were Paul’s children in the Lord, because he had preached the Gospel that led them to faith in Jesus Christ. He loves the Corinthian believers as a father loves his children. He tells the Corinthian's that though they might have an unlimited number of instructors and teachers, he alone was their spiritual father. He was the one who brought them to Christ Jesus, and gave birth to the church. And God was using him to oversee the growth of the church.
So he does not shame, but he warns his people as children to be careful whom they imitate. We should imitate others when their behavior models the Savior. Who are the great examples God has put into your life? Likely there are many wonderful examples. Make it a goal to follow in their footsteps.
Paul knows he’s not perfect, so later in this letter (1 Cor. 11:1) he says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” He is telling these believers to follow his lead in doing their best to imitate Jesus in thought, word, and deed. Our ultimate aim is not to be Paul-like, but to be Christ-like.
I Peter 2:21 says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” And why should we follow Him? The next verses (I Peter 2:22-23) tell us that He, “'Committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth'; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” And then verse 24 tells us this amazing thing: “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” We have a wonderful Savior. We are called to “follow His steps”.
Whom we imitate is so important that here in verse 16 Paul urges us, calls us, warns us, encourages us, even begs us to follow in his footsteps. He urges us to allow Jesus to live and shine through us, even as the Lord lived through him. It is when we live our life after the pattern set in Jesus Christ that we become a pattern for others to follow.
The opinion some people have of Christianity may be based entirely upon your life. Because if you are known to be a Christian, someone is watching and listening to you. You can’t say “I am a Christ follower”, but not act like one. Do you feel the responsibility that you have to follow Christ? You should! We all should. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to, “Be imitators of God as dear children.” Following Jesus' example isn't just about how it benefits us personally, its also about setting an example for others to follow, and then watching them put it into practice.
Like the apostle Paul, we are to be like Christ so that others will learn from us. This should be the goal of every Christian. By God’s grace, we can truly grow to be like Jesus. We are not just to follow godly examples, but daily we are to be godly role models for others.
Paul's next warning is...
Don't Forget What You Have Been Taught
In I Corinthians 4:17 Paul writes, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
Straightening out the situation in Corinth was Paul’s job. He was away on a mission trip at the time, but was responsible for the church. He couldn’t leave the mission tour so he did the next best thing. He sat down and wrote this letter dealing with their divisions and problems, and sent it with one of his most able assistants, Timothy.
And Paul felt confident to do this, to send Timothy, his beloved and faithful son in Christ, to remind them of what he had taught them. This was probably not a discipleship class on “How to Act Like Paul,” but rather, Timothy knew the Gospel that Paul preached, and he imitated Paul sufficiently, that his life could remind the Corinthians of Paul’s ways.
Timothy was sent to reinforce the great eternal truths that Paul had taught. And Timothy would do this by both word and example. Timothy is sent, not to teach them new ways, but to remind them of Paul's life, conduct and teachings, so that they could know how to better imitate him. Timothy was a man who recognized the Lordship of Jesus and was fully committed to Him. He followed Jesus, not men, and Paul longed to see the believers in Corinth as dedicated to the Lordship of Jesus as Timothy was.
They apparently had forgotten—through the length of time, and the ministry of the false teachers among them—some of the things Paul had taught them while he was there. They needed a reminder of what he had formerly taught them. Paul was the same in every church where he appeared. He spoke of the same faith in every church. He preached the same Jesus. And the rules prescribed by him, and orders he laid down, for the conduct of life, and government of churches, were exactly alike in all the churches.
Overall, the sum and substance of the doctrines Paul preached were simple enough; Christ, and Him crucified. Putting Jesus first would remove the divisions the church was facing. And remembering Jesus' sacrifice would remind those Christians that their salvation was a gift from God by His wonderful grace. This was the message that Paul taught and the Bible continues to teach us today.
In a world where violence seems to have skyrocketed, the influence of anti-Christian organizations and pseudo-Christian cults is mounting, and abuse, drugs, and promiscuity are rampant, our message to the world around us is that there is hope! Jesus died on the cross to take the penalty of our sins upon Himself. He paid the price so that we could be forgiven. Our hope is in Jesus. Our salvation is in Him alone. We dare not forget: That is what the Bible teaches. It is the basis for our faith. We are in danger if we forget that.
And there is another warning in these verses.
There Will Be an Accounting
In I Corinthians 4:18-21 Paul writes, “Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”
“The Message”, a paraphrase version of the Bible, has verses 18-20 this way, “I know there are some among you who are so full of themselves they never listen to anyone, let alone me. They don’t think I’ll ever show up in person. But I’ll be there sooner than you think, God willing, and then we’ll see if they’re full of anything but hot air. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.”
When he said, “Some of you have become arrogant, puffed up, as if I were not coming to you,” apparently they felt that criticisms and accusations against Paul were true, so he wouldn’t dare face them. They were saying, “Paul will not come to us! His bark is worse than his bite!” But he had made up his mind to go to Corinth, if the Lord wills, and to try to resolve the issues that were hurting that church.
So he asks them, “How do you want me to come to you,” or “How do you want me to act.” And then he gives two options. Turns out there are only two possible choices here: Either the rod of discipline, or a spirit of gentleness. Doesn’t that sound like something a father would say? “Would you rather have a spanking, or are you going to straighten up?”
Actually, this was probably meant to serve as a warning for them to clean their own house before he gets there. They could do it by dissolving the factions, removing false teachers, and coming together around their common love for Christ Jesus. Their attitude and action would determine how Paul will come to them. Will he need to come with a “rod” of correction, or can he come in love and in a spirit of gentleness? It was up to them!
You can tell that Paul expects to deal with troublemakers and to exercise whatever discipline is necessary. False charges were being made against him. Rumors were flying.
Paul says that when he arrives, he’s not interested in their accusations, but in their power to back it up and prove it with evidence. He will expose the accusers and their carnal character. And if these people in the church were all they claimed to be, Paul says he would have no trouble seeing it by the results they were producing; whether they were all words, or if they had real kingdom power. There is a big difference between knowing the right words and living them out.
So how about us? Are we just words, or do our lives show that God’s power is really working in us by what we do. Is there good fruit being produced? Are the results evident in the way we live our lives? We will be accountable, and we need accountability. There are times when we need someone like the apostle Paul who was unafraid to give correction with love, even if it hurts. One minister said in a sermon, “I know that I have personally been grateful for people that have pointed out things in my life, especially when they have done it in sincere love.” But he quickly added, “Now don’t all come at me at once.”
Hebrews 12:11 says in the New Century Version, “We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way.” Paul pointed to his own example in the hope that they would respond appropriately, so that, when he would come, he would be able to come with kindness and gentleness, and not as a disciplining father.
The Corinthian church had received their warning. Be careful whom you imitate. Don't forget what you have been taught. And realize that there will be accountability. It is the same message to us.
May we imitate our Lord Jesus, and follow those who follow Him. May we be faithful to the Word of God and not forget its instruction. And may we know that the Lord will hold us accountable, but that He also has grace and mercy on those who commit themselves to Him.
CLOSE:
About ninety fifth graders piled into the airliner on their way home from a school trip.
Once they were in the air, the crew began serving snacks and drinks. The pilot could hear the crew pleading with the children to settle down, and stop bothering the other passengers.
No amount of reasoning seemed to help, until the pilot thought of the solution that actually worked.
He picked up the PA mike in the cockpit and announced, "Children, this is the captain speaking. Don’t make me stop this airplane and come back there!"
And then there was silence.
You know… we all need correction when we go wrong. That's why Acts 2:38 says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Let's heed the warning.
