"OVERVIEW OF 1 CORINTHIANS"
Notes
Transcript
As we come to the book of 1 Corinthians this evening we are going look at three things 1) The Divisions with in the Church, 2) The Damage within the Church, and 3) the Discussion within the Church.
Background info –
Author – Paul
Date – 54 AD
Theme – “Correction/Condemnation”
History of Corinth
Wilkinson and Boa said, “The city was filled with shrines and temples, but the most prominent was the Temple Aphrodite on top of a 1,800 – foot promontory called the Acrocorinthus. Worshipers of the “goddess of love” made free use of the 1,000 Hieroduli(consecrated prostitutes). This cosmopolitan center thrived on commerce, entertainment, vice, and corruption; pleasure-seekers came there to spend money on a holiday for morality. Corinth became so notorious for its evils that the term Korinthiazomai(“to act like a Corinthian”) became a synonym for debauchery and prostitution.”
Paul had planted the church at Corinth during his second missionary journey. As Paul continued ministering throughout different regions he received a letter from (1:11, 7:1) the church at Corinth telling him about the difficulties that they were experiencing. It was at that point in time that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians addressing the issues/questions that they had.
1. Divisions within the Church (1:10-17)
1. Divisions within the Church (1:10-17)
Situation
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Paul is telling the Corinthians that they know that there is to be no division among them. And that they are to be united with one another.
Divisions
11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
The problem is that people in the Corinthian church are saying that they are from these different men. It could be because these men baptized them or it could be that they shared the gospel with them. This is the problem that the church is facing.
Paul’s Response – (1:18-4:21)
Conclusion
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
Paul’s conclusion is that Christ cannot be divided. He is making the point that you can only be saved through Jesus Christ.
Throughout chapters 1-4 Paul is address the issue of divisions in the church. In these chapters we find Paul telling the Corinthians that salvation is achieved solely through the cross of Christ.
Listen to these verses -
Vs. Saved through the Cross of Christ not people who share the gospel with you –
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the 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.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 3:4–9 (NASB95)
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
2. Damage within the Church – (5 – 6)
2. Damage within the Church – (5 – 6)
Immorality in the Church (5 - Incest) – (Flee Immorality - 6:12-20)
Damage – (SIN)
1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
Conclusion
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Lawsuits in the Church – (6:1-11)
Damage – Problem (SIN)
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?
The problem is that the people in the church have disputes with one another. The way that they deal with it is by going to the court and filing lawsuits against one another. And they allow an unbeliever to determine the outcome.
Paul Conclusion –
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Paul is making the point that fellow believers in the church ought to bring reconciliation among the disputing. They should not go to court over these issues.
3. Discussions within the Church – (7-15)
3. Discussions within the Church – (7-15)
Throughout chapters 7-15 you have a discussion taking place on several different topics. The church at Corinth was asking Paul some very specific questions.
Regarding Marriage – (7)
In chapter 7 Paul provides a very lengthy answer to the question about marriage.
Talking about –
Marriage
Divorce
Single
Purity
Widows
I believe that Paul sums it up very well in a couple of verses –
17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
The point is whether you are married or single you have been bought with a price and we need to lead the life that the Lord has assigned to us.
Regarding Food offered to idols – (8-11:1)
Basics info
1 Corinthians 8:4–7 (NASB95)
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
The issue is that people will refrain from eating certain kinds of food in order to offer them to idols. Paul is saying that we (Christians) no better than that.
Paul’s advice
9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Paul’s point is this; do not put a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
Conclusion
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
Regarding Worship – (11:2-14:40)
Talks about several different topics –
Head coverings Lord’s Supper Spiritual Gifts Prophecy/Tongues
26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
When you have a worship service everything ought to be done for the purpose of edification and Christ likeness.
Regarding the Resurrection – (15)
Resurrection of Christ
Resurrection of Dead
Resurrection of Body
After Paul addresses the division, the damage that is taking place at the church as well as the discussion. He gives a challenge to all believers.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
SO WHAT?
Make sure that you are not causing divisions among people in the church (Specifically the youth ministry)
Do you know of someone who is a believer who is living in sin? If so you have a responsibility to graciously confront them.
Discussion -
How might divisions arise among your believing friends and or acquaintances?
What steps must you take to be on guard against divisions arising?