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1 Corinthians 1: 4-12
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
New International Version (NIV)
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What if 1 Corinthians had only one chapter and ended with 1:9? What would we think about the church in Corinth? It sounds like they have it all together. Not only have they been given wonderful gifts, but they will be blameless on the day that Christ returns. They have been called to koinonia or partnership/fellowship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. What a great church. Wouldn’t you want to go there?
The rest of the letter tells us that the church in Corinth had more than an average amount of problems. They were divided by their allegiance to different human leaders. One of their members was sinning in ways that the non-Christians would have found repulsive. They took each other to court and struggled with marriage problems. The Corinthians even struggled with how to take the Lord’s Supper. One person said the church is like Noah’s Ark. If it weren’t for the storm outside, you couldn’t stand the smell inside.
It reminds me of the little rhyme: “To dwell above with the saints we love, O that will be glory. To dwell below with the saints we know. Well that’s a different story.” No wonder Charles Spurgeon preached, “If you find the perfect church, do not join it. You will ruin it as soon as you do.”
Truthfully, there is no perfect church. Every church, even the healthy mature ones struggle sometimes. The church at Corinth divided over which leaders they liked best. Some liked Paul, others Peter, others Apollos. Some were even more spiritual saying, “We only follow Jesus.” Sounds silly, right? But we have seen churches divide over so many lesser things. Early in my ministry I saw churches divide over playing dominoes in the Fellowship Hall and over whether or not to replace the old chairs with pews.
If the church in Corinth had so many problems, how could Paul say what he does about them in the first nine verses? Good news: God sees us not only as we are, but as we will one day be. The church today, made up of imperfect people, often struggles. But God will preserve his church and make us perfect when we see him face to face. This is why I am unlikely to criticize the church. Together, we comprise the bride of Christ. If someone made fun of your spouse or put them down all the time, how would you like that? In the same way, the church, imperfect as it is, remains the bride of Christ. We are reformed and always reforming. God continues to reshape us. He has not given up on his church. Neither will I.
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Pray with me:
Father, we thank you for loving your church, imperfect as we are. We are an unruly group of sheep. Sometimes we bite each other. But I thank you that you have given us the gifts we need to do your work. Keep us firm and blameless. You are faithful. Thank you that we have fellowship with your Son Jesus already. Make our hearts ready for the day we see him face to face. Help us to love your bride the same way you do. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:25-26
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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