Let Us Come Together

Pastor John MacArthur in his commentary on 1 Corinthians writes, “Few things demoralize, discourage, and weaken a church as much as bickering, backbiting, and fighting among its members.” When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth they were a church that was at war with one another.

In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, the apostle Paul not only identifies the problem of divisions in the church, but he also reminds them of three specific truths that should put an end to their infighting.

1. We are in this TOGETHER

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) – “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

As Paul confronts the believers in Corinth, He doesn’t approach them as a taskmaster, but as a brother.

Paul’s appeal contains three commands that are all linked together.

1) “I appeal to you . . . that all of you agree.”

Literally the command is to “speak the same thing.” The idea is that we are to live in harmony with one another.

Unity is crucial if we are going to be a healthy, and growing, Great Commission church.

2) “I appeal to you . . . that there be no divisions among you.”

The word “divisions” means to rip or to tear. The picture is that of a garment being torn apart. The apostle tells us not to allow any divisions to be among us because they will tear us apart.

3) “I appeal to you . . . that you be united in the same mind and the judgment.”
The word “united” means to “knit together.” It was used to describe the process of repairing a fishing net that had been torn apart.

The apostle isn’t calling for uniformity of thought and action, but oneness of spirit. It is this oneness of spirit that binds us together as the body of Christ and allows us to effectively complete our God given purpose.

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

In this life we are in a constant battle against the Devil, the world and the flesh. It is for this reason that we must grasp the truth that we are in this battle together!

2. We are ONE in Christ

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 (ESV) – “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

In verses 11-13, the apostle Paul confronts the specific issue that is dividing the church in Corinth. I think it is important to point out that Paul doesn’t use an unnamed source to confront them. He tells them “it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people.” To do other wise is just to entertain idle rumors.

So what is causing the rift in the church? They were divided over personal loyalty to people and personal preference. Some said, “I follow Paul,” others said, “I follow Apollos,” some said, “I follow Cephas,” and others said, “I follow Christ.” It was this self-centered pride that had caused a divided church.

What are the things that divide the church in America today?

• Worship style
• Tradition
• Age differences
• Ethnic differences
• Economic differences
• Minor doctrinal issues

In verse 13, the apostle asks a series of rhetorical questions that bring us back to what’s really important. He asks, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?””

The answer to each of the questions is NO! Jesus is not divided; Paul has never been crucified for anyone; and no one was ever baptized in his name.

The central principle that is taught here is that we are one in Christ!

Romans 12:5 (ESV) – “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

When we quarrel and fight, we reflect a poor image of the Lord to a world that desperately needs to see Jesus!

3. We are bound by one PURPOSE

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 (ESV) – “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

Paul’s point here is not to take away from the importance of baptism. In fact Jesus commanded us to “Go . . . to make disciples . . . to baptize and to teach” (Matt. 28:19-20). He is simply pointing out that our priority is to preach the gospel.

There are many things that we do as a church that are important, but none of them surpasses the importance of sharing the good news that Jesus came to take away the sins of the world.

It is easy for us to get caught up in the things that make us different, but for the sake of the world, let us commit to focus on the task that our Lord has given us!

Philippians 1:27 (ESV) – “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

CONCLUSION

The process of seeing this church revitalized is not an easy path. Along the way there are going to be many opportunities for us to become cross with one another. It will be in those times that we will be faced with a choice: we can either chose to divide up into factions or we can chose to stay committed to the Lord, to each other and to the task that He has given us!

Let us remember the lessons of 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

1) We are in this together

2) We are one in Christ

3) We are bound together with one purpose

Building Community

To truly understand the book of 1 Corinthians, it is important that you know a few facts about the city of Corinth during the first century.

• It was a large city. During the time that the apostle Paul lived in Corinth it is estimated that there were between 100,000 to 300,000 people living in the city.
• It was a prosperous city. Due to its location on a major trade route and because it was a port city there was a lot of cash flowing in the city.
• It was a diverse city. Again, because of its location and because of its great wealth, people from all over the world gathered in Corinth.
• It was a religious city. Among the temples that you would find in Corinth would be temples to Aphrodite, Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes, and Isis. The Pantheon a temple that was built to "all the gods" was also in Corinth.
• It was a cultured city. Corinth boasted a theater that would seat over 14,000 people and it was the host for the Isthmian Games. The Isthmian Games were held every other year and they rivaled the Olympic Games. The most outstanding athletes of the ancient world would compete in these games.
• It was a sinful city. Because of its wealth the city had become very materialistic. It was also known for its drunkenness and its sexual immorality. There were over 1,000 temple prostitutes from the temple of Aphrodite working the streets each night.

To be honest the first century city of Corinth looks a lot like America in the twenty-first century.

It was to this city, that the apostle Paul was called by God to preach the gospel. For a year and a half, the apostle lived and taught here and many were added to the Kingdom of God. The sad thing is that three years later this once growing church was now filled with problems. It is for this reason that First and Second Corinthians were written. 

In First Corinthians 1:1-3, the apostle Paul introduces his letter by reminding them of the authority by which he wrote and also who they are in Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 1:1 (ESV), the apostle writes, "Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes." There is much that could be said about this verse, but the thing that I want to point out is that Paul was called by God to be an apostle. He wasn't called by his momma, the church, or even his own desire. He was called by God, and it was by God's authority that he gives these instructions to the church.

In 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV), Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

We are told in verse 2 that the audience for this letter is the church. The question for us is what is the church? The Greek word "church" literally means "called out ones or the ones gathered together with a purpose." So a church can simply be defined as a community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and are committed to carrying out His will one earth. 

In verse 2 we find a four-part description of the church:

1. The church is a divine community. Paul wrote this letter to "the church of God." In a day where there is so much confusion about who runs the church, let this verse settle the issue once and for all. The church belongs to God! 
2. The church is a local community. Paul continues, "To the church of God that is in Corinth." When the church gathers it is a physical reflection of God's presence on earth. There are many in our day, who believe that there is no need to attend church. They are a part of the universal church and the church is all around them. The problem with this understanding is that God created us to live in relationship with Him and with one another. To just be a part of the universal church requires no commitment, no accountability and no real sacrifice. 
3. The church is a unique community. He goes on to say, "To those sanctified in Christ Jesus." The fact that we are "sanctified" means that we are set apart and we belong to God. It is this relationship with God that impacts how we live and what we live for. We are to live godly lives and we are to be busy carrying out His purposes!
4. The church is a universal community. "To those . . . called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours." Although the church is local, it's also universal. To be universal means that it includes all believers. In those times that we begin to think that the universe revolves around our church, this is a reminder that we are just one small piece of God's Kingdom. In those times that we feel overwhelmed by the culture around us, this is a reminder that we are not alone. 

In verse 3, the apostle Paul concludes introduction with these words, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is the common greeting that Paul uses in his letters (Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2), and it summarizes the gospel. Grace is God's work in us through Christ where He gives us what we don't deserve, (i.e. salvation, sanctification, a right standing before Him, etc.). And peace is the fruit of God's grace. It is God's grace that brings us into a harmonious relationship with God and with one another. 

As we continue our journey through First Corinthians these basic principles will impact all of the apostle Paul's instructions to the church.