Over the last little bit, the book of first Corinthians has been on my mind. I had a bit of trouble getting started with it for some reason, and when I finally did begin reading, I became fixated on the first three chapters of the book. I have not been able to move forward.
The more that I read these chapters, the more it sounded like life today when I read some of the commentaries that spoke of the city from a historical perspective that confirmed it for me.
The City of Corinth
To begin the study of this book, I read the “Background and Setting” found in my John MacArthur Study Bible. The city of Corinth was a wild town. It also seemed to have a reputation for being a party town filled with every kind of vice, and it was known for its excesses. The notes from John MacArthur’s study bible described the city as grossly immoral.
(MacArthur Study Notes (ESV))
Even by the pagan standards of its own culture, Corinth became so morally corrupt that its very name became synonymous with debauchery and moral depravity. To “corinthianize” came to represent gross immorality and drunken debauchery.
He also mentioned what appeared to be the biggest problem of the Church at Corinth.
(MacArthur Study Notes (ESV))
The most serious problem of the Corinthian Church was worldliness, an unwillingness to divorce the culture around them. Most of the believers could not consistently separate themselves from their old, selfish, immoral, and pagan ways.
I am stuck here because, as I read this text over and over, I just keep seeing these same things in the world today, and it is not limited to the world but is part of the Church as well. It is a difficult time surrounded by worldliness but as Paul almost always does he opens with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
Paul opens with, telling the Church about his prayers for them. Verses four through nine are a beautiful reminder of all the gifts that were bestowed upon the Church when it was established in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (ESV)
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
As I read over those six verses, I am surprised by the focus of Paul’s praise. It was somehow different than others I had read, but I was not sure how, so I looked at some of his other letters.
I looked at Ephesians 1: 15-23, Philippians 1:3-11, and Colossians 1:3-14. The difference was in his focus. Paul wrote these three passages giving thanks to God for the faith and commitment shown by the churches. Corinth was different. In Corinth’s Prayer, Paul thanked God for all he had given Corinth to sustain them. He began with Grace and ended with the fact that God is faithful.
Reflections
As I considered the difference, this one thought just kept returning. We are so blessed. We, too, have the same blessings that the believers in Corinth had. Every one of them and more. The more we have is God’s Word accessible in any translation and available almost anywhere, including the internet. If you have a smartphone, you have the bible at your fingertips. But it is so easy to lose focus and become distracted by the world.
Just like the Corinthians, it can be hard to let go of worldly things. Seemingly innocent things can become distractions and distractions idols. On top of all of that, there is a new movement afoot. That is the belief that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Combine those things with all that is available in this society; it can be challenging to maintain focus on those things that are truly important.
Division or Out of Focus
Paul speaks directly to the issues as division. He appeals to the people to be of one mind in our Lord Jesus Christ. There should be no division. He speaks of the quarreling he has heard tell of and the fact that the Church is picking men to follow… MEN… not Jesus, but MEN. It makes me shudder when I read this part…
1 Corinthians 1:12-13 (ESV)
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?
These people seemed to have lost focus from the message to the messenger. It is as if the Gospel was less important than how it is delivered. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas did not cause this issue to occur; the members of the Church did. It split into factions. Some still had their focus on Jesus, but many chose to follow men.
I can hear Paul’s disdain as he further explains his real purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)
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 reminded them of this verse that it was not his goal to impress them with his abilities but to Glorify God. The power is in the cross, not the wisdom of man.
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 (ESV)
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
There is no power in any one man. The power rests in the cross and the message of the Gospel. None of the men that are delivering this message can save anyone. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. I like the way Paul puts it in his other letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
It seems that the Corinthians lost focus. They chose to focus more on the messenger than the message, and that led to division in the Church. That division made them more susceptible to the distractions of the worldly things around them as well.
Christ The Wisdom and Power
I think about the things Paul is saying to the Corinthians, and I cannot help but think about how easy it can be to become distracted by the attractions of this world. But the wisdom and power are not in this world but Christ alone. I was reminded of a couple of verses that give me strength when days get long, and spirits may get a bit low. The first is in Matthew and reminds me of my focus point.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
The second is in Psalms and reminds me of the source of my strengths.
Psalms 121:1-2 (ESV)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Paul made one other thing clear, and that was where I ranked next to God.
1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV)
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
These verses only defined the magnitude of the difference between God and man. It is like placing a Gnat next to the Sun… and I chose those things simply because I can think of no more enormous visual difference. Yet he loved us enough to save us through the death burial and resurrection of his Son, Jesus.
Closing Thoughts
Like the Corinthians, the world around us is a pretty wild place. I believe that it is similar to the days of the book of Judges. The closing verse of that book rings loudly in my ears.
Judges 21:25 (ESV)
25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
While I was putting this post together, I came across a post on Facebook. The post was a punch in the gut. It illustrated how similar things are today when compared to Corinth.
“I’m not sure why you have such an exaggerated view of morality and religion in this country. I live in a very liberal city. I don’t see people “exalting” witch-craft or new age beliefs. Whatever that even means. But what IS being celebrated by young people is DIVERSITY. and FREEDOM for people to live in this country and hold WHATEVER belief they see fit. That’s what freedom is. That’s what free choice is. And I’m a “Christian” but I will always celebrate diversity and the freedom for people to be WHOEVER they want to as long as it’s not hurting anyone else. Immorality hasn’t risen. People have been sinners since day one. People have been killing each other and starting wars since the beginning of time.”
To me, this person reflects the kind of mindset that comes from relying on others to teach them rather than seek out God through prayerful study of His Word. To me, that was part of what was happening in Corinth as well. Factions had decided who they would follow based on the messenger rather than the message.
I have to admit that I was very much in the same boat until I was 52 years old when Jesus showed me the truth through a series of events over a weekend. His message is so simple, but it is so powerful. I like the way Mark describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
So simple but we are not alone in the task. We plant the seeds but God does the saving.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The Holy Spirit is with us as we take each step and helps us find the words.
One More Thing
We need to share this Gospel. It is the most fantastic gift. Not everyone will accept it, but that is not my goal. My goal is to share the Gospel.
Even when Jesus sent out his twelve disciples to perform mighty deeds he warned them that they would not always be received.
Matthew 10:11-14 (ESV)
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
I am pretty sure I will not be spending the night with anyone or doing many of the other things that the Apostles were charged to do, but I will share the Gospel, and some will receive it, some may appear to, and some will not. Like the apostles, I need to know when to move on. I am to sow the seeds like the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. I cannot choose where the seed will fall or how it might take root. I just must sow the seed and keep my focus on Jesus.
Prayer
Father, Please help me to be a person of focus, always keeping my eyes on the things above rather than the things below. Fill my heart and mind with the confidence in your word to always share your Gospel and never shrink back. Let me never forget the blessings and promises that you have given me through your blessed Son Jesus the Christ and in His name I pray, Amen.
