Divisions In The Church (1 Cor.1:10-17)

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Look at the cross, and divisions will fade.

  1. Be of one mind in Christ.
    • 1:10-12. Calvin says that there is no greater unity than religious unity and no greater contentions than religious contentions. Note Rom.14:1; 15:7. Paul is writing not of heresy and truth, but of a party spirit.
    • it seems that the Corinthian church had fractured into four groups – one supporting Paul, one supporting Apollos, one Cephas (Peter), and the fourth group saying: ‘I am of Christ.’
    • Ps.16:3; Acts 2:46; 1 John 3:14; Rom.15:5; Phil.2:1-2.
  2. The centrality of Christ.
    • Is Christ divided? No, there is one head and one body – 1 Cor.12:12-13. Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
    • Was Paul crucified for you? 1 Cor.7:23 refers to Christ’s blood, not Paul’s.
    • Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
  3. The gospel is more vital than the sacrament.
    • 1:14-17. Almost certainly, this letter was dictated, perhaps to Stephanas, and this is a very human touch. Also see John 4:1-2.
    • household baptisms in Acts 16:15, 33. Believing the gospel is more crucial than being baptized. George Whitefield: ‘I truly love all that love the glorious Emmanuel’ And: ‘What is Calvin or what is Luther? Let us look above names and parties; let Jesus … be our all in all.