Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Introduction
Starting today, we will be having a new series of sermons about the book of Corinthians. Before we start, let us take a short background study of the book of 1 Corinthians and the city itself.
The City of Corinth is:
- Center of Commerce. It has two harbors (1) Cenchrea, which is six miles to the east of the Saronic Gulf. (2) Lechion, which is a mile and a half to the north on the Corinthian gulf. Trade flowed through the city from Italy and Spain to the west and from Asia Minor, Phoenicia and Egypt to the east.
- Center of Culture. The city is predominantly influenced by the Greek culture. Furthermore, people are very interested in Greek philosophy and placed a high premium on wisdom.
- Center of Religion. Not necessarily Christian religion since Christianity is still expanding and has been newly introduced to the pagan society, nevertheless, Corinth is religious. It has at least 12 temples though we really don’t know if these temples stood at a single time during the time of Paul.
- Center of Immorality. Corinth is religious but because one of their main gods was Aphrodite, the goddess of love whose followers practice religious prostitution, then religious prostitution has been tolerable in the city.
The Corinthian Christian Church at this time is also having lots of problems to which we will talk one at a time as we go along this book slowly.
As for today, let us try to know first what is the Corinthian Church, and what they possess as Christians.
The Corinthian Church, Is A Called Church (v.2)
Though as we have mentioned earlier that the Corinthian Church is highly influenced with commerce, culture, pagan religion and immorality, Paul made it clear in the salutation that the Corinthian church is still a called church. The fact that there are believers of Jesus Christ in that city, the Christian Church that exist there is still considered a called Church.
There are lots of misconception about being called. Sometimes, just because we cannot meet what other people are expecting, we are being judged that we are not called. But the Bible speaks clearly that no matter how problematic the church is, as long as it desires to obey what the Lord is commanding us, even if some of its members will not turn to what is right, we still remain a called church.
Please do note that the reason while Paul wrote this letter is to correct the Corinthian church concerning the things that some of them are doing including the division inside the church, immorality, abuse of the Lord’s supper, lawsuites among them, etc.
The Corinthian Church, Is A Religious and Knowledgeable Church (v.5)
Paul used the word “speaking” here which refers to the speaking in tongues. They also possess the knowledge about what they believe. The Corinthian Church can do this “because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you (Paul here is speaking)” (v.6).
Let us talk about speaking in tongues. Yes, the Corinthian Church use to speak in tongues. And it is very notable that Paul gave an emphasis about it in chapters 12, 13 and 14. Many Pentecostal churches use these passages to claim that it is a must to practice speaking in tongues in order to show and as evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit. However, later on we will see that Paul is telling us that speaking in tongues is a gift that shows the filling of the Holy Spirit, but is not necessary for every Christian. Furthermore, there are gifts which are better and should be practiced by Christians other than speaking in tongues.
Not only that the Corinthian church is a spirit filled church, they are also a knowledgeable church. And probably many of them knows what they believe. This can be evidenced by their divisions due to disagreements of teachings.
The Corinthian Church, Is A Waiting Church (v.7)
Starting in verse 5, Paul said that the Corinthian Church is made rich in speech which means spiritual gifts and knowledge about the teachings of the apostles, that in the same way Chirst has been confirmed in their lives as a living testimony, that (in verse 7) they are not lacking any spiritual gift as they wait for the revealing of our Lord.
We can see here that Christians of the Corinthian Church is religious that Christ can be seen in their lives and that they are very eager in waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ. This just proves that they know that there is a second coming just what Christ has promised. They live as if Christ is coming very soon.
We can see here they live in a life with a good testimony outside that Paul can confidelty say that Christ has been confirmed in their lives.
Corinthian Church, Is A Problematic Church (v.10)
Now here comes a funny thing, Church has commended them about their spirituality, but starting at this point, we will start seeing here that the Corinthian Church is a problematic Church. In our passage, we will only be seeing one problem but as we move along the book of 1st Corinthians, we will be seeing that despite of the spirituality of the Corinthian Church, they still have lots of problems.
Similarly in our time, there is no such thing as a perfect church. And such problems did not started in our time, it started even during the time of Jesus. As Jesus lead the 12 disciples, there is one of them that always oppose the idea of the group, even the idea of Jesus.
In Paul’s time, lots of problems exists inside the Corinthian Church and we will be discussing them one by one as we go along. Not only this, Paul also had some arguments even to other apostles and new disciples like Peter, Barnabas and John (Mark).
But there are things that we can learn here. One is that no matter how good we are as Church, we will always have a problem, an opposition, a presence of division, disputes and all other problems. This is why what ever or where ever church we go, we will still have problems.
This is why (secondly), there is no use of transferring from one church to another if our intention is to look for a perfect church. But to make this statement clear, we have to understand that we can always see what is a true church or not by going back to the Bible. What we are discussing here is whether or not there is a Church that has no problem or there is none.
The Apostle Paul let’s us know to follow him as he follows Christ! I COR.11.1 When your Leader (Pastor) stops following Christ it’s time to stop following that leader!
Sometimes, we churchians are the reasons why some may “transfer” to other churches!!! And we can be so double-standard to look down on those who transfer out, but on the other hand, to welcome those who transfer in to our church!
Looking at others in terms of “transfer in” and “transfer out” kind o “us-them” mindset is precisely what Paul pointed out as one of the Corinthian Church’s sins due to pride: dividing the Body of Christ along lines of unbiblical distinctives and non-essentialities, when the church, regardless of location, should be united in His love!!!
From Ephesians:
Chapter 1:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Chaptter 2:
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Chapter 4:
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Chapter 5:
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Problem sometimes of some imperfect churches dominated by the love of power, not the power of love, is that they are so possessive of its “members”. The possessed members are not supposed to get out of their fold, since the possessors think that they would get cursed. Such is the brainwashing of some cults…
I would disagree with the word possessive here. The Church is more like a family, and just like a family we maintain love and fellowship among each other. Not only that, we eat at the same time, and we help each other.
Which is a better family, a family that lives, fellowship, and eat together, or a family that is scattered among other because they don’t feel fitted in their own family?
What is the definition of family to you?
.-= Ptr. Vince´s last blog ..The Corinthian Church =-.
The church is not defined by its location or by the type of building, because the church is the spiritual building of God, not the physical building made by the hands of man, because the church is the temple made by the hands of God!
If Christians have true understanding of what is to be the church, they would know that they belong to what is known as the Universal Church (or Catholic Church, but not Roman Catholic), consisting of all believers through all time and space, regardless of location, or other man-made (not God-made) definitions, such as by institutionalism, organizationalism, traditionalism, and denominationalism!
So, the issue of transferring to find a “perfect church” is purely meaningless, because even if we’ll read the New Testament, we can see that there has been NO perfect church, even from the Apostolic times. The church consists of imperfect people of forgiven sinners, not perfect saints, because they are still subjected to continuous perfection, which will have completion when Christ comes again.
Avoiding the true reasons of the why people “transfer” to other more perfect churches is oversimplifying the deep complexities of the problems in any imperfect church!!!
There is NO perfect church as of this side of eternity, since if one would go there, he/she will ruin its perfection!
The Corinthian Church was so spiritually gifted but so spiritually fruitless, because she was so eaten up by her very proud carnality. That’s why, 1 Corinthians 13 emphasized God’s agape love, since pride can really destroy the church. Especially those so obsessed with the love of power, not the power of love!!!
Transferring from one Church to another is not what the book of Corinthians is telling us, but loving and understanding one another. In fact, I would say that Church hopping does not benefit a Christian at all.
A man that hops from one church to another cannot and does not maintain fellowship with brethren, is not or have difficulty in involving himself to ministry, and furthermore always justifies that transferring from one church to another is better than not going to church. Furthermore, how can a man functions well as a part of the body of Christ when he is always transplanted?
Yes, I believe most Christians have fully understand the meaning of the Universal Church. But I really doubt if Church hoppers do really understand the meaning of a local church. Or at least being a part of the local Church.:)
.-= Ptr. Vince´s last blog ..The Corinthian Church =-.
However, there are cases that transferring from one local church to another is completely acceptable and understandable. Here’s a couple of cases:
1. Transfer of house/work locations.
2. Irrepairable relationship and stagnant growth due to extreme conflicts. But this still needs to be proven since most of Church hoppers abused this reason.