June 8, 2008
Morning Service

I Cor. 1:12- 31

 

Review:

·              Paul established this church on his second missionary journey around the year 51AD.  This letter was written around the year 56AD, from Ephesus.  (Acts 16:17)

·              Broken down, this letter consists of Divisions in the church, Disorder in the church, and Difficulties in the church.  This information was brought by three men, in a letter, from the household of Chloe to the Apostle, while he was teaching in Ephesus on his third missionary journey.  (Acts 16:17)

·        We stopped Sunday evening with these Scriptures:

1Co 1:10-11 KJVR  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.  (11)  For 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.

 

Let’s begin, verse 12;

 

1Co 1:12-31 KJVR  Now 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.  (13)  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?  (14)  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;  (15)  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.  (16)  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 

·         It is very easy to see what Paul is trying to correct in this church.  We know that Paul was a great Apostle, Apollos, a very learned teacher of the gospel, and Cephas ( Peter ) the one who opened the doors to salvation to the Jews first, ( Acts 2:38 ) then to the gentiles. ( Acts 10 )  GREAT MEN OF THE FAITH.

·         Right off the bat Paul addresses BAPTISM, and in whose authority, or name were you baptized?

·         This is why when we baptize, whether it is myself, or one of the deacons, we first take your confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and then we say, “upon this confession of your faith we now baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, in the name of theFather, Son, and the Holy Ghost.”     IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT PETER USED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, ( ACTS 2:38 ) AND THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAID TO DO. ( MATT. 28:19 )

·         The purpose of this is to eliminate arguments from carnal Christians.  We are taught from the Word, “that whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of Jesus.”  Jesus said, “all power is given unto me in Heaven, and in earth.” 

·         THE POWER, OR AUTHORITY HAS BEEN, AND WILL ALWAYS BE JESUS CHRIST.  SINCE HIS EARTHLY DEPARTURE, AND THE DEPARTURE OF HIS APOSTLES, HIS AUTHORITY IS STILL WITH US IN THE WORD, FOR HE IS THE WORD OF GOD. 

·         JESUS established the church on the day of Pentecost AD33, Acts 2.  Since that time, and the first council meeting of the church, ( Acts 15 ), It has been up the church to speak in all authority, in the name of Jesus Christ. 

·         As we see in the book of Revelations, it is He who is standing among the churches, He is still in full authority of what goes on in the church, and in the world.  It is up to the church leaders to make sure that His will is being carried out, and if it is not He will come and remove the ( Messenger ) leadership ( Angel ) of the different congregations of His church.

·         In this letter we will see some wonderful, and marvelous truths that need to be always taught, that we might walk in unity of God’s will.

 

SO IT’S NOT IN PAUL’S NAME, OR APOLLOS’S NAME, OR CEPHAS’S NAME, OR JERRY’S NAME, BUT IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, AND THE WORD OF GOD.

(17)  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:

·         This statement does not teach us that we do not have to be baptized.  Paul is just saying that it is not necessary for him to do the baptizing.  There are multiple Scriptures that teach us the importance of Baptism.  It is an important step in our walk with God. 

not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

·         Not with wisdom of words = we don’t need a knowledge of Greek, or of Hebrew, or of any other language.  The TRANSLATION, that we have been given is sufficient for us.  With God’s help we can understand His will, by praying, and reading what we have been given.

·         WHAT MUST BE ACCEPTED, AND LIFETED UP, IS THE WORK THAT JESUS DID FOR MANKIND ON CALVARY.    NOTICE!

(18)  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

·         Faith, in this atoning work, done by Jesus of Nazareth on Calvary, is what will lead you to obedience, and salvation from the wrath of God which is coming on this world.

(19)  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  (20)  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  (21)  For 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.  (22)  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:  (23)  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;  (24)  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  (25)  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  (26) 

·         Which of these categories do we fit in this morning?  The Jews, seeking a sign, the Greeks, seeking wisdom, or those who believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

·         We would note that are some wise that will accept Jesus as Lord, but not many.

·         I hope it doesn’t bother you Christians to be called foolish, and weak.  This is only through the eyes of the world.  Look at what God thinks of us.

(27)  But 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;  (28)  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are:  (29)  That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

·         The Bible gives us good examples of those who thought they were on an equal with God.

·         Acts 12, tells of Herod, who gave a great speech to the people, and they cried out, “it is the voice of God”.  Because he did not give God the glory, God smote him, he was eaten by worms, and died.

·         Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon  =  Thought he was some great person, and he was, but not a god.  God put him in his place with the wisdom of a slave, whose name was Daniel.

(30)  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  (31)  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

·         Because of God’s love, we have the opportunity to believe the gospel concerning His Son Jesus.  When we do this Jesus becomes our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; 

 

SO, LET US NOT GLORY IN ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE, BUT LET US GIVE GLORY TO JESUS, AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.