November 4, 2001
10Now 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. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Churches have their favorite songs. I am familiar with one church that constantly sang a chorus as an opening song-prayer to God,
Bind us together, Lord...with cords that cannot be broken...Bind us together with love.
The song is a longing for unity - so warm and inviting. That church needed binding-together - they had split several times in less than ten years.
The reality of disunity is cold and chilling to the bone. In disunity there is chaos and wandering. It doesn’t matter what preaching you preach, or the songs you sing - if there is no willingness to actually be bound together in love.
Bill Hybels is pastor of Willow Creek, one of the largest Southern Baptist churches. He recognizes that conflict is a part of life - even in the heart of the most unified congregation. He is quoted as saying, The mark of community--true biblical unity--is not the absence of conflict but the presence of a reconciling spirit.
(Bill Hybels, Leadership, Vol. 14, no. 1.)
In unity there is direction and strength to spare. A young fellow had an old jalopy. Getting around in a town filled with hills was difficult. In order to get up one of the steepest of these hills, the young man needed a running start. As he approached the bottom of the hill at full speed, trying to get up enough speed to make the next hill, he saw two cars crossing the street he was on.
He calculated that if he slowed down just enough for the first car to pass, he could gun his engine and make it in front of the second car. The only miscalculation was that he failed to notice the first car was towing the second car!
( W.A. Criswell, The Bible For Today’s World, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan Press, 1965), 32)
He learned the hard way an important theological lesson; it is very difficult to divide things that are bound together.
There Were Four Groups at Corinth
Whatever was binding the Christians together at Corinth had come unglued. There were four identifiable groups:
The Paul Group
These were mainly Gentiles converted to Christianity. They liked Paul’s emphasis on freedom. So they turned their liberty in Christ into license to do as they please. They lived like heathens during the week, then came to worship on Sundays. (Aren’t you glad there’s none of that these days?)
The Apollos Group
The Apollos group had a thing for intellectualism. They were into all sorts of neat things like numerology. For instance, in Genesis (14-18) Abram circumcised 318 members of his household. The Greek number 18 is the same symbol for the first two letters of Jesus’ name. The Greek number 300 is the symbol of a cross. Therefore (to the Apollos followers) Abram’s act symbolized the cross of Christ.
Intellectuals have a habit of turning grace into philosophy, and creating more questions than answers.
The Cephas Group
Cephas is Peter’s surname; it means, the rock. Cephas-followers were the Jewish members of the Corinthian church; they were good at keeping the Law. They saw plenty of good in following Jesus...they just didn’t want to give up any tradition ever invented!
The Christ Group
As always, there is a group that claims exclusive rights to being in the right. The "Christ" group was a small rigid sect, self-proclaimed as the only true Christians. (Aren’t we glad there isn’t any of that these days - especially since we…oh well).
It isn’t hard to imagine that these were the ones who had a pocketful of pride over the gifts of the Spirit.
Four splinter groups, cliques in the church. What did Paul have to say about these fraternities?
DON’T BE UNTIED
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that
you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1 Co 1.10 (NIV)
When Paul used the words divisions and united he was giving a clear picture. Division is the word schism -- a definite break in fellowship.
When he says united he is using a medical term that describes the mending process of broken bones. When a bone breaks the entire body is put on alert that all available resources are subject to fixing the break. It is like calling out the National Guard in a crisis.
Paul was saying to the church, Don’t be untied, be knit together; even though you have been broken and have differences, refuse to be divided any longer.
A magazine told aout superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men.
Placido Domingo told the reporter: You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music; you can’t be rivals when you’re together making music. That’s also true in the church.
(Atlantic Monthly (11/94)quoted in Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 2., quoted in PreachingToday.com)
What was untied that needed to be united?
The Mind
The mind is the seeing/perceiving faculty of the body. We must look closely at what is happening in the body, and perceive it together. You cannot do that if you don’t talk to one another, don’t trust one another.
The Thought
The thought, according to Paul is that faculty of judging, or reasoning. If there is an untie-ing if the fellowship, we are to look closely with our minds fully engaged to percieve or discern correctly the source of the division or conflict.
Once we see clearly, we are to judge, so that the healing, the uniting of the body can take place.
You might say, But, we’re not supposed to judge. That is true - but only about other’s motives, and whether or not they’re saved. None of us are equipped to judge that.
We are, howver, to judge what is going on around us - actions - especially in the body of Christ. We are accountable to one another. You don’t keep unity or peace in the body by sticking your head in the sand. We must be pro-active.
I told you recently of a critical unsigned letter I’d received. Something like that has the potential to untie the body. It’s only fair to tell you that the person who sent the letter came to me and we worked through the difficulties, confessing and forgiving one another. I tell you it was revival for two! That’s what the body of Christ is all about!
Untied is not good! It is not Godly.
Paul also said,
Be United
...and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
1 Corinthians 3.23(NIV)
We talk about fellowship in the church. The word indicates heritage rather than activity. A "fellowship" activity is meeting for ice cream in the "fellowship hall." That is not bad -- but it just doesn’t meet the Bible’s definition.
The word fellow denotes a common heritage or ancestry. We don’t have fellowship as much as we ARE a fellowship. Paul said we are of Christ, meaning we proceed out of the Lord as progeny. Our heritage as believers is that of a family of brothers and sisters.
When he says that we ought to have no divisions -- then points to our common birth in Christ, the Holy Spirit is actually saying, Listen, you are not divided in Christ...so ACT LIKE IT, Bubba!
So…WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE GROUPS?
The Paul Groupees (Loose Livers) must stop their dividing act by bringing their lives under the scrutiny of God’s Word. Just because you have freedom in Christ, doesn’t mean you have freedom to do as you please. It means you are free to do as Christ pleases. Sin in the camp is still sin, even if you call it liberty. Loose livers must tighten up!
The Apollos Groupees(Big Thinkers) must get off their intellectual high horse and stop creating the "class" system that makes for division in the body.
¨ If you’re smart it will show by itself.
¨ If you’re really smart you’ll remember that the most astute wisdom of man is infinitesimally more foolish than the foolishness of God.
Thinking never plowed a field. Big thinkers need to hunker down and begin to witness instead of complain about nit-picking details.
The Cephas Groupees (Traditionalist Unmovables) need to remember that Jesus was harder on the tradition-bound Pharisees than any other group.
God is not found in some pecking order, decided on the basis of who has been on the church roll the longest, or how much you’ve given, or how much you honor or despise tradition. The unmovables should soften up. The body doesn’t operate well with hardened hearteries.
The Christ Groupees (Theo-Ego Club) the self-appointed and proclaimed holders of the truth should remember that Jesus welcomed all people. It seems to me that if by some marvelous act of God’s grace you are farther along in your spiritual walk with God than others, then it would show up as lovely, caring kindness, and not spiritual arrogance. Remember, in Christ, self is put to death, not put on show.
What do all the groups need?
Perhaps we can solve all the problems of all the churches in the world with the addition of one word: humility.
When former televangelist, Jim Bakker was released from prison to a halfway house in 1994, he was so grateful to those who didn’t give up on him.
However, his statement caught my eye. He said this:
Once again, I want to humbly ask for forgiveness to those I have offended or hurt in any way by my sin and arrogant lifestyle.
Beloved, there is not a single one who couldn’t stand a little dose of that kind of humility. Christ humbled himself for us, even accepting the humiliation of the cross.
The question comes down to obedience to God’s Word. Paul says to us to be united, not untied. As you consider that, remember that the words are spelled with the exact same letters...you just have to get the I in the right position!
Here’s What Happens When You Get the "I" in the right position
The Gospel is Preached
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 1 Corinthians 1.17
Consider: The only two effects of preaching the gospel:
I. Unbelief
Why is it that some folks just refuse to place their faith in Christ, even when the Gospel is clearly presented?
Unbelief means more than having trouble understanding - it is a refusal to take a leap of faith. Paul mentions a couple of faith-avoiding techniques used by folks who are afraid to commit to Christ.
A. Some folks just have to see signs and miracles
22For the Jews require a sign 1 Corinthians 1.22a
When Jesus walked, taught and lived among the people they wanted a sign, wanted to see miraculous deeds. Jesus told them (especially the religious snobs) the only sign they’d see is that of the resurrection:
38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil
and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12.38-40
My friends, we have the resurrection upon which we can rely; other signs are besides the point. God did what He promised in Genesis. God sent a Savior who paid the death penalty for our sins - a debt none of us could pay.
B. Some folks can’t handle simple
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1. 19-21
It is hard for some people to accept the truth when the truth is so simple. We live in an age of technology, information and precision. It is next to impossible for those indoctrinated in the complexity of our world to lay aside the show me mentality, and just accept Christ, the Son of God.
What happens to those who reject the truth?
A. They are destined for Hell
17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; 1 Corinthians 1.17-18a
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36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3.36
The first effect of the preaching of the Gospel is unbelief, which ends in hell. The second result is…
II. Power of God
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 18b
The Gospel Has the Power of God To Save People
From Sin, Death and Hell
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Salvation is a matter of being right with God. Do you believe the Gospel? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that He is the only way to God?
There are a lot of religions, and so-called spirituality out there today. Many folks claim there are many ways…you have to find one that fits for you.
I can tell you, there is one size that fits all…His name is Jesus, and there is salvation in no other name. It is the only name under heaven; given among men whereby ye must be saved (Acts 4.12).
In the late 1800s, Charles Berry, an English preacher, became the pastor of the great Plymouth Church in Brooklyn. One day Berry described how earlier he had come to Jesus Christ.
There had been a time in Berry’s early ministry when he preached a very thin gospel--really no gospel at all. As did the Corinthians, he looked upon Jesus as merely a noble teacher but not as a divine redeemer.
Late one night during his first pastorate, as he sat in his cozy study, there came a knock. He opened the door and found a typical Lancashire girl with a shawl over her head and clogs on her feet.
Are you a minister? she asked. Getting an affirmative answer, she went on breathlessly. You must come with me quickly. I want you to get my mother in.
Thinking it was a case of some drunken mother out in the streets, Berry said, You must go and get a policeman. No, said the girl, My mother is dying, and you must come and get her into heaven.
Berry got dressed and followed her for a mile and a half through lonely streets in the night. He knelt at the woman’s side, and he began telling her how good and kind Jesus was and how he’d come to show us how to live.
Then the desperate woman cut him off. Mister, she cried, that’s no use for the likes of me. I’m a sinner. I’ve lived my life. Can’t you tell me of someone who can have mercy upon me and save my poor soul?
I stood there in the presence of a dying woman, said Berry, and I realized I had nothing to tell her. In the midst of sin and death, I had no message. In order to bring something to that dying woman, I leaped back to my mother’s knee, to my cradle faith, and I told her the story of the Cross and of a Christ who is able to save to the uttermost. The tears began to run down the woman’s cheeks. Now you’re getting it, she said. Now you’re helping me.
Berry concluded the story by saying, I got her in, and blessed be God, I got in myself. (Gordon MacDonald, The Centerpiece of the Gospel, Preaching Today, Tape No. 137.)
The Gospel Has the Power of God To Sanctify (Cleanse) People from Sin and Change Lives
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1 Corinthians 1.30
The only valid test of a religion, philosophy, or worldview - whether it really leads to a right relationship with God is in the changed lives of people.
Check the record -
¨ Hospitals - most modern day hospitals had in their heritage a Christian foundation.
¨ Women - Before Jesus Christ, women were treated as property, little more than household slaves. Jesus taught men how to hold women in proper esteem.
¨ Children - were treated as working units
¨ Crisis - Always the Christians show up first. The American Red CROSS is a symbol of ministering in time of great need. Christians showed-up on September 11th in New York.
We have all seen the great flags flying in our country since September 11th. It is a symbol of the foundation of our freedom.
If you go to the Smithsonian Museum of American History you can see the flag that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner in 1814. The original flag measured 42 feet by 30 feet.
It was the immense size of the flag that allowed Key to see it from his position ten miles out to sea, following a night of gunfire.
The means by which a flag that large could fly on a pole 189 feet in the air is on display at Fort McHenry on Baltimore’s inner harbor. There in one of the barracks are two oak timbers, 8 foot by 8 foot, joined as a cross.
National Park Service personnel discovered this cross-shaped support near the entrance to Fort McHenry in 1958 buried 9 feet in the ground.
Not only did the cross piece help rangers locate the original site from which the Star Spangled Banner flew, it answered the mystery of how such a large flag could fly in stormy weather without snapping the pole. This unseen wooden device provided a firm foundation for the symbol of our national freedom.
Similarly, the cross of Christ provides the foundation by which our faith is rooted and supported. (Greg Asimakoupoulos, writer and speaker, Naperville, Illinois, in PreachingToday.com)
Does the Gospel represent the power of God to save and change? The world calls us fools. The foolishness of God is wiser than the greatest wisdom of men.
Call me a wise fool!
