Sunday, November 26, 2023
Adult SS Class

Introduction

Capture their attention.

As men, we should be willing to admit that our wives know more than we do. I recently overheard my wife teaching Emma-Faith about a math subject. She was talking about “solving for x.” I took one look at it and realized that after being out of high school for more than two decades, I had no idea what I was looking at. Solving for X is difficult.

Connect with those listening.

But whether you teach your children or help your children in their math or not, there’s something more difficult than “solving for X”… it is solving division. And I do not mean division, the opposite of multiplication. I mean division in the body of Christ.

Identification

Reveal their need to learn.

The reason division in the body of Christ is so sinful is that it is the very opposite for what Jesus prayed for in the garden before he died.

John 17:20–21 (KJV 1900)
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

If unity is something Jesus prayed for, then it is something we need him to help us with. And if it is something Jesus desires, then you can be sure it is something the devil does not desire.

Relate to those listening.

You may be tempted to say that you are unified and do not struggle with division. But as we will see, disunity in the body of Christ, like other sins, can appear as little, trivial, and insignificant at first. And that is how the devil likes it. If it starts out small, it may grow so slowly that we don’t even notice it.

We all need to be taught this, even myself. A few years ago I had breakfast with someone who told me boldly but out of love: “if you don’t stop the devil is going to use you to start division.” He had the love for me to tell me the truth. So I know firsthand that we could all use a reminder, or some preventive maintenance, in this area.

Idea

What is my main point?

So this morning I want us to come away with one main point:

The solution for man-made division in the body of Christ is that Christian unite in Christ through the gospel of Christ.

Instruction

1 Corinthians 1 is Paul’s letter to a church facing division. By seeing what Paul says here, we can find what the Holy Spirit has for the solution.

How Christ views us

In verses 1–9, we see what Paul through the Holy Spirit says about the people to whom he is writing.

In verse 2 he speaks about those who are sanctified.

This is a perfect passive participle. That means the focus is not so much on the past event as much as that event has ongoing implications in the present. And it is passive; they didn’t sanctify themselves.

How does the Bible describe someone who is sanctified? It says that they are calling upon the name of the Lord. Not called as in a one-time event in the past. Their life is one of calling on Jesus. present middle participle

And how does Paul describe the one being called upon? He says that he is the Lord Jesus Christ of both them and us. In every place, Jesus belongs to those calling upon him.

So to immediate get to the heart of unity, Paul tells the Corinthians about two universal truths: first, it doesn’t matter who the people are only what makes them holy. And two, the one making them holy is the same for all people.

Is Christ painting a false picture?

Christ views his people as made holy by him. That is not just a past event or a present event. But it is something that he will see to fulfillment in the future.

Verses 8–9 describe that the same one who made us holy and is making us holy will make us holy.

Faithful God

Paul opens this section by noting in verse 2 a description of us (adjective) called.

Paul ends this section in verse 9 with the verbal form: were called.

Paul focuses on God, not the Corinthians. Though he has much to say about their disunity and errors, he begins what focusing on God.

Shai Linne:
When we believed, You were faithful to save us
And that means You’ll be faithful to change us
And the Spirit of Jesus will keep us ’til
You make us holy and blameless
From the things You say, You don’t budge
You’re faithful to save and You’re faithful to judge
The God who is just became one of us
The faithful God is the God we can trust

Binding the Breaks

Chloe’s folk been talking about y’all. What are they saying?

Verse 11 says that a report has been given that there are contentions among them. Are they in heated debates and ready to kill one another. Probably not.

In verses 10 and 12, we learn what the divisions are:

I am of Paul

I am of Apollos

I am of Peter

I am of Christ

Verse 12 makes it sound like it could be considered a small matter…

But verse 13 shows that this is no small matter. For Paul, this has huge implications.

This verse (1 Cor 1:12) carries no necessary implication that Peter’s adherents took a particular theological stance over against that of Paul. Their allegiance could have been simply a personal attitude on the part of some who admired Peter, or Peter could have represented in Corinth the authority of the Twelve or of the Jerusalem church. It is difficult to say.¹

Whether these people were simply tired of the other three, and so said ‘We belong to Christ, not any human leader’, or whether they had some distinctive teachings we have no way of knowing. Either way they had absorbed the spirit of partisanship. It is this that bothers Paul. He does not attack the teaching of any of the parties, but the fact that there were parties. He does not exempt those who clung to his own name. The whole thing was wrong. He would have none of it.²

The disunity in the body of Christ began with something that may have appeared ok. They looked to and admired the one they were listening to: Paul, Apollos, Peter.

But Paul will show us that we are more to admire the one they were talking about: Jesus.

Piper: it’s healthy to look at the people you look up to and remind yourself that they were not crucified for you.

Focus on the target

Who was?

Verse 12 starts out with something we might say, “What is the big deal Paul, they are looking at Christian leaders!”

But when you get to Verses 17–18 you see that Paul is looking at someone and something infinitely more powerful than weak, broken vessels and jars of clay.

Christ sent me → to preach the gospel → the cross of Christ → the preaching of the cross → the power of God.

This is Paul’s bullseye. This is his axle. This is his foundation. This is his universe. The gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ.

We know it is powerful because it is not something we once believed but it is something we believe that is saving us.

The gospel is the work of the death on the cross, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that powerfully saves those who believe.

The Opposite

You can learn about something by looking at its opposite. What does Paul quote after he speaks about this powerful gospel of God as opposed to way and wisdom of the world?

Verse 14 then verse 13

Isaiah 29:13–14 (KJV 1900)
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, And with their lips do honour me, But have removed their heart far from me, And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, Even a marvellous work and a wonder: For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Paul says that this destroys the wisdom of men. In this passage from Isaiah, verse 13 will also sound familiar. Paul quotes from a passage that Jesus also quoted from. Isiah 29:13 is found in Matthew 15.

Matthew 15:1–9 (KJV 1900)
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

When we talk about the gospel, what do we talk about. Could it be that the unity or disunity we face falls and rises on our understanding of the gospel and the gospel being what unites us instead of human or man-made ideas or traditions?

When asked what the gospel is, are we more likely to describe the scenic route or are we likely to head straight to the destination?

Example: when Christian and Christopher were born and I headed home down the middle of Whitner Street. New life → Didn’t take the scenic route.

Bragging Rights?

This weekend much has been said about bragging rights. Rivalry games. Clemson, Carolina, etc.

Bragging leads to division. Clemson fans and Carolina fans are not united after a game. One wins. One loses. And only one of them can brag.

The gospel saves us and we believe the gospel. Does that leave any room to brag (with bragging that leads to division)?

Notice in this chapter that Paul tells us to believe the gospel. Yes indeed.

But as Preacher Sam said recently, how awful it is in a testimony meeting when the most word used is “I.”

Paul doesn’t talk much about me and you and him. He talks about Jesus Christ.

In verses 2 and 9, Paul talked about God’s faithfulness and our being called by him. He picks that up again in verse 24.

As Christ is preached, and the Holy Spirit calls people, we believe that gospel due to the power of God working in us.

In verse 26 he tells us to consider that calling.

And what do we find when we consider that calling:

Verse 27: God chose the foolish

Verse 27: God chose the weak

Verse 28: God chose the base

Verse 28: God chose the despised

Verse 28: God chose the nothings

So where does that leave us in terms of bragging?

We can’t say a thing. It would be like Carolina beating Clemson 100-0 and me walking in saying “we did this and we did that and we ran this and we threw that…”

I didn’t do anything! I might wear a garnet shirt because of being a fan. They were it because they have done all the work.

Christian, we didn’t do anything! Jesus did it all, does it all, and will do it all!!!

So who gets to brag and boast?

Example: picture of Christian and Rachael hugging after he gave her some hand towels. Drew names among us, took to store, Christian picked out some towels for Rachael. Pretty sure he didn’t pay for the towels. He just picked them out because that is what she said she could use. But they are giving each other a big hug.

What kind of kid would dare give his parent a gift that he didn’t pay for? Well, to be honest that won’t even be on the kid’s mind. He will just be happy to give something and only later on appreciate that the only reason he could give something is because he was first given something, the parent paid for the present that the kid gave.

Christian: you can’t even brag to Jesus about your faith. Jesus you were crucified on the cross, but I bet my faith really impresses you!

You mean our weak, little, wavering, faltering, doubting, unstable faith? Yea, that doesn’t impress Jesus. We can’t boast about it.

Verse 29 THAT THAT THAT THAT

Nobody, nowhere, at no time can boast about what they have done.

And that will help us to see that division in the body of Christ is so unneeded and useless.

When we see that Jesus Christ is the target, the bullseye, as we all aim for the same target we will all be pointing in the same direction.

Conclusion

How does Paul ends this section (though he didn’t write ’chapter 2’ in his letter).

All wisdom, all righteousness, all sanctification, all redemption is found not in the world or anyone, it is only found in Christ and comes from Jesus Christ.

Verse 31: THAT THAT THAT THAT

Some disunity in the church comes from purposeful discord. But most of it is going to start small and seemingly innocent. It may be by forgetting that every Christian is seen as just as sanctified in Christ as the other. It may be by resting in tradition instead of the gospel. It may be by giving too much attention to the speaker instead of the one being spoken about. It may be by not focusing on the target of the gospel which is the power of God and all this other stuff is the wisdom of the world…

But the one way we can all be unified is if we all brag about the one we know, because he first knows us, and have a relationship with him.

Imagine a football team where one player says I know Beamer’s playbook. Another says I know Spurrier’s playbook. Another says I know Holtz’s playbook, Another says I know Scott’s playbook. There may be a unity on the surface but it will only be surface level unity. It would be apparent when they got on the field. They all have to be on the same page and know the same thing.

Imagine what God can continue to do through us in our community if we all stay on the same page and all focus on who we know: Jesus.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 (KJV 1900)
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Neither let the mighty man glory in his might, Let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV 1900)
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1. J. Ramsay Michaels, “Peter,” ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 702. ↩
2. Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 7, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 47. ↩