Exhortation to Christian unity
Key Verses: 7, 10, 17, 18, 22-23, 31
The believers at Corinth had embraced the good news of Jesus a few years before Paul wrote this letter to them. But even in this short time, they had allowed some of their old pagan practices to creep into their Christian worship and daily life. Their worship services must have been packed with the moving of the Spirit, but their lives lacked spiritual discipline.
The first issue that Paul addresses is their tendency to follow people more than Christ. They would be fans of all the TV programs that center around a personality, like “Idol” or “Dancing with the Stars.” But when we put a person in the place that rightfully belongs to the Lord, we get ourselves in trouble, because people will fail us. But more importantly, when we follow people, the separate groups that naturally follow, divide us. They become walls which hide the unity we have in Christ. Denominations can do this same thing, divide where there is unity. When we allow divisions in the church, we empty the Cross of its power.
Paul wanted nothing to stand in the way of the spread of the message of the Good News. He didn’t want people to notice the public relation firm’s spin on the truth. He wanted nothing to stand in the way, including himself. The message contained a power that could change lives. The glitz of a campaign could hide that power. The simplicity of the message needed to be at the forefront. People need to hear about God’s power to change lives, including the change He has made in our lives. It doesn’t come filled with miraculous signs or powerful wisdom. It looks on the outside to be harmless, lacking wisdom or strength.
God uses what seems to be weak and foolish so that He gets the glory for His work. Since it is all His work, then we have nothing to boast about. This is like boasting about your natural hair color. Your hair color is something over which you had no choice or control. It was given to you by your parents. Despite Miss Clairol or age, your hair color is nothing you can boast about. The same holds true to our spiritual heritage. Christ paid for our entrance into heaven. Nothing we do add to that payment. We accept it and live lives that reflect this new reality. We are God’s children: now live like it.
Review: Romans
The Arnold Journey 