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The 1st problem – divison…
- Unity in the church… vs. 10
- The 1st problem Paul will address – is the ‘division’ that was in the church…
- Paul spends the next 4 chapters dealing with this problem – I Corinthians 1:10-4:21
- Because Paul spends so much time on this problem – shows its importance…
- Luke 11:17 – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
- Division causes the church to be ineffective for Jesus – keeps us from shining…
- Rather than seeing the love of Jesus in us – the world sees us fighting each other…
- Satan loves to cause division within the church – then we will not be able to fight him
- When we are busy/exhausted fighting ourselves – we are not fighting for a lost world!
- Paul opens up by saying – brothers I want to help (come along side)….
- Before Paul gets into the problem – he 1st gives them the solution…
- By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – there be no divisions…
- The key to having unity within the church – between all churches – is Jesus!
- When we focus on what we have in common – Jesus – we overlook the little differences!
- When the church focuses on Jesus – 3 things happen…
- 1st – we will all speak the same – in agreement – we will be in unity…
- All believers are to agree on the essential doctrines of the Bible – salvation in Jesus!
- On non-essential issues – all believers are to agree – to disagree / not cause division…
- Focus on the major issues – overlook the minor less important ones!
- The triune nature of God / salvation only through the cross of Jesus – absolute!
- Church on Sundays / praise songs or hymns / shoes or slippers – agree to disagree…
- 2nd – there will be no divisions…
- We need to be very careful we do not cause division within the church…
- Looking at other believers saying they are not correct – because they are different…
- Mark 9:38-40 – “‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him… he who is not against us is on our side.’”
- 1st – we will all speak the same – in agreement – we will be in unity…
- The 1st problem Paul will address – is the ‘division’ that was in the church…
- Men love to divide – if you are not in my group – then you are not on my side…
- Just because someone does not go to the same church – or is not in our group…
- Does not mean they are not saved – a Christian – going to heaven…
- ‘The Church’ is HUGE and diverse – but it has one thing in common – Jesus!
- 3rd – We should be perfectly joined together…
- We are to be perfectly knit together – untied – in our common faith in Jesus…
- * Philippians 2:2-5 – “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.”
- Too often we focus on OUR beliefs – OUR group – OUR opinions – causing division…
- It is when we consider others before ourselves – we find we are unified in Jesus!
- * Ephesians 4:2-6 – “Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”
- We are all ‘one’ in Jesus – and therefore should be patient with our differences!
Nothing else matters – it is all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The cause of the division – following men… vs. 11-13
Those of the household of ‘Chloe’ – had reported the problem to Paul…
We don’t know much about this woman – she likely living in Ephesus were Paul was…
But not only did she want to help the church in Corinth – she put her name to it…
If we see someone struggling with sin – we are called to step in and help…
Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
But to many times people are willing to ‘help’ – by talking behind other people’s backs…
Did you hear what so and so did – terrible – someone should talk to them – Gossip!
Rarely are people willing to come and confront those who are struggling – caught in sin!
If someone comes up to me and says – did you hear about ‘this person’…
My answer is let ‘US’ go talk to them – we need to be accountable with our words!
4 groups of people in Corinth – those who followed – Paul / Apollos / Peter / and Jesus…
1st – Paul – the man who founded the church in Corinth…
Paul was a scholar – he was extremely well educated – the theologian…
He was a powerful writer – incredible in his understanding of God’s Word…
But apparently he was not a very powerful speaker – and he was short and ugly…
* II Corinthians 10:10 – “[Paul’s] letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are really bad!”
Some of the ‘saints’ in Corinth claimed to follow Paul – the ‘original group’
Those who had been there from the beginning of the church in Corinth…
There are many who feel they attend the ‘right’ church – cause they were there 1st…
We belong to ‘this church’ because we have always belonged to ‘this church’…
And any other church that comes along is wrong – because we were here 1st!
2nd – Apollos – a powerful preacher who came to Corinth… Acts 18:24, 27
The description we have of Apollos is the exact opposite of the Apostle Paul…
He was not very well versed in the Word of God – limited knowledge…
But he was a powerful orator – when he spoke people listened…
His appearance was apparently just as impressive – tall / fit / handsome…
Some of the ‘saints’ in Corinth claimed to follow Apollos – the ‘popular group’…
Wanted to be in with the latest trends – following the crowd…
There are those who feel they attend the ‘right church’ because it is popular…
If everyone else is part of ‘this church’ then it must the ‘right church’…
Keep in mind that many times in history – and even today in many countries…
The popular ‘religion’ is not faith in Jesus – so be wary of following the crowd…
Interestingly Apollos wanted nothing to do with this division…
He left Corinth – perhaps because of it – and did not want to come back…
* I Corinthians 16:2 – “Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to join the other brothers when they visit you, but he was not willing to come right now…”
3rd – the Apostle Peter (Cephas) – who was a leader in the church in Jerusalem…
Peter had never been to Corinth (that we know) but was well known to the church…
He was a simple fisherman – not fancy – not well educated – a working man…
He was ‘from the Bukid’ – easy to relate to – easy to follow…
Some of the ‘saints’ in Corinth claimed to follow Peter – the ‘local group’…
Wanted to stick with what they knew – hang out with people they related to…
These people feel they attend the ‘right church’ cause it is the familiar/family…
People do tend to gravitate towards people who have similar interests…
The problem comes when we think other groups are therefore wrong…
4th – Jesus – sounds like the right answer – but they had the wrong motive…
The super-spiritual – those who said ‘we don’t follow any man’ – selfish motive…
Look at me – look how holy and righteous I am – very divisive!
Some of the ‘saints’ in Corinth claimed to follow Jesus – the ‘spiritual group’…
Wanted everyone to know how holy they were – they were above everyone else…
There are several churches today that will tell you they are the ONLY church…
They are the true followers of Jesus – everyone else is in error…
Spiritually pride – assuming cause we belong to the church – it’s the right one!
The danger of the groups…
There is nothing wrong with having a particular church you are comfortable with…
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a particular pastor’s teaching…
The problem comes when we start to follow men – rather then having unity in Jesus!
We focus on our differences – rather than coming together as the family of God…
We make our identity a church – religion – rather than simply Christ!
Causing division within the church of God – hindering the power of the Gospel…
The problem of division in Corinth – is the same problem in the church today…
We wonder why more people do not believe in Jesus – why churches are empty…
The church of God today is not known for it’s unity – it’s known for its differences…
The solution – Jesus… vs. 14-17
Christ is not divided – so therefore we should not be divided!
There is only one Jesus – one cross – there is only one salvation – one heaven…
There is not one heaven for one religion – and another heaven for another religion
We are all going to spend eternity together – start getting along with each other now!
Paul tells the church – he was not crucified – they were not baptized in the name of Paul
The point being it is not about a man – it is all about unity in Jesus…
You are not baptized in the name of a religion – or any person…
No pastor or leader dies on the cross to take away your sin…
Any time people start making it about a religion – name – person – stay away!
They are not looking to draw you towards Jesus – they are trying to lead you away!
Paul did not even baptize anyone…
Paul only baptized a few men that he recalls – Crispus, Gaius – and Stephanus…
The reason he did not baptize – he was not trying to make disciples of Paul…
He wanted to make disciples of Jesus Christ – to point them to Jesus!
If people come to us looking for answers and help – it’s easy to be the answer…
If someone needs food, money, or wise counsel – we try to be Jesus…
And men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
The problem is we are limited – and can’t always help those who look to us…
Maybe we can help them once – but when they come back – again and again…
We have limited abilities and resources – only God has limitless!
It is only when we point others to Jesus we really give them the answer
He has no limitations – all the abilities – all the resources – all the power!
He is the only answer that we need to give to those who are in need!
Our opportunity – responsibility – it to be a billboard that says – ‘this way to Jesus’!
Paul did come to preach the Gospel…
It is not about the name of the church – group – you attend…
It is not about the pastor/priests or that you listen to…
It is not about who baptized you – how you were baptized – or if you were baptized…
There are even division in the church even over how to baptize – when – and why…
Baptism is not necessary for salvation – if it was Paul would have baptized…
Baptism is an outward expression of the new life that comes from believing in Jesus
The word baptism – baptizo – literally means to immerse or dunk…
We are buried with Jesus (under water) – and come out in new life – Romans 6:4
Should we be baptized – YES – but it’s not something to divide over!
Sprinkled – dunked – it does not matter – what is important is Jesus!
Keep it simple – keep the focus on Jesus…
When we keep our focus on Jesus – there is unity in the church of God…
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