Antidote to Disharmony: Christ’s Unity, Christ’s Death, Christ’s Name: 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 1

>> This is our first session on 1 >> This is our first session on 1 Corinthians 1:13-17. Corinthians 1:13-17. Corinthians 1:13-17. Remember that in the previous paragraph the situation the situation was that divisions had arisen among the was that divisions had arisen among the was that divisions had arisen among the church in Corinth and people were saying church in Corinth and people were saying church in Corinth and people were saying I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas. Cephas. Cephas. And another crowd were saying the true And another crowd were saying the true And another crowd were saying the true statement I belong to Christ. statement I belong to Christ. statement I belong to Christ. And these divisions And these divisions And these divisions were were were wrong. wrong. wrong. And now Paul, besides what he said here And now Paul, besides what he said here And now Paul, besides what he said here by way of an appeal and an argument, he by way of an appeal and an argument, he by way of an appeal and an argument, he now now now says says says Is Christ divided? Is Christ divided? Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Was Paul crucified for you? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Or were you baptized in the name of Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Paul? Paul? And then And then And then all the rest of this all the rest of this all the rest of this which we'll look at next time which we'll look at next time which we'll look at next time picks up on the issue of baptism.

picks up on the issue of baptism. picks up on the issue of baptism. That's remarkable. That's remarkable. That's remarkable. Of of the three questions that he asked Of of the three questions that he asked Of of the three questions that he asked the baptism question gets the most the baptism question gets the most the baptism question gets the most unpacking unpacking unpacking and explanation which may hint that the and explanation which may hint that the and explanation which may hint that the Pauline Pauline Pauline faction faction faction somehow were bragging that somehow were bragging that somehow were bragging that they had actually been baptized by the they had actually been baptized by the they had actually been baptized by the very Paul himself. very Paul himself. very Paul himself. We'll see when we tackle these verses We'll see when we tackle these verses We'll see when we tackle these verses next week, but let's just ponder the next week, but let's just ponder the next week, but let's just ponder the three questions three questions three questions in this session. Father, as we seek to in this session. Father, as we seek to in this session. Father, as we seek to understand why Paul said Is Christ understand why Paul said Is Christ understand why Paul said Is Christ divided? divided? divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Was Paul crucified for you? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Grant that those three questions would Grant that those three questions would Grant that those three questions would penetrate our own minds and hearts with penetrate our own minds and hearts with penetrate our own minds and hearts with their proper implications for our life their proper implications for our life their proper implications for our life together in the church. I pray in Jesus' together in the church. I pray in Jesus' together in the church. I pray in Jesus' name. name. name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Whenever you have a Whenever you have a Whenever you have a question that has no answer, question that has no answer, question that has no answer, usually called a rhetorical question, usually called a rhetorical question, usually called a rhetorical question, the author expects you to provide the the author expects you to provide the the author expects you to provide the answer because it's obvious.

answer because it's obvious. answer because it's obvious. And in providing the answer, really And in providing the answer, really And in providing the answer, really discover that the question is a discover that the question is a discover that the question is a statement. statement. statement. So, So, So, is Christ divided? No. is Christ divided? No. is Christ divided? No. So, the statement would be paraphrased, So, the statement would be paraphrased, So, the statement would be paraphrased, Christ Christ Christ is not is not is not divided. divided. divided. We'll come back to it. We'll come back to it. We'll come back to it. Was Paul crucified for you? No. Was Paul crucified for you? No. Was Paul crucified for you? No. Paul Paul Paul was was was not for for you. you. you. Christ was. Or were you baptized in the name of Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? No. Paul? No. Paul? No. You You You were were were not not not baptized into into Paul's name, but but Christ's.

Okay, so those are the three statements. Okay, so those are the three statements. So, you are saying, So, you are saying, So, you are saying, "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas." And when he picks up on this Cephas." And when he picks up on this Cephas." And when he picks up on this Paul because Paul because Paul because he wants to deal with the group that's he wants to deal with the group that's he wants to deal with the group that's siding with him especially, siding with him especially, siding with him especially, and he says, and he says, and he says, "Christ "Christ "Christ was not divided. Paul was not divided. Paul was not divided. Paul was not crucified for you, Christ was. was not crucified for you, Christ was. was not crucified for you, Christ was. You were not baptized in the name of You were not baptized in the name of You were not baptized in the name of Paul, you were baptized into Christ's Paul, you were baptized into Christ's Paul, you were baptized into Christ's name." name." name." Now, Now, Now, what does he want them to think what does he want them to think what does he want them to think with those three statements? Let's just with those three statements? Let's just with those three statements? Let's just take them one at a time. take them one at a time. take them one at a time. Is Christ Is Christ Is Christ divided? Now, how does that divided? Now, how does that divided? Now, how does that relate to their not being divided? relate to their not being divided? relate to their not being divided? Two ways, at least. Two ways, at least. Two ways, at least. One is, seen here at the end of the One is, seen here at the end of the One is, seen here at the end of the chapter, chapter, chapter, because of God, you are in Christ Jesus, because of God, you are in Christ Jesus, because of God, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us who became to us who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, wisdom from God, righteousness, wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. Being in sanctification, redemption. Being in sanctification, redemption. Being in Christ Jesus means that we are united Christ Jesus means that we are united Christ Jesus means that we are united with him, and if he is, therefore, not with him, and if he is, therefore, not with him, and if he is, therefore, not divided, then we in him shouldn't be divided, then we in him shouldn't be divided, then we in him shouldn't be divided. Indeed, in a real sense, can't divided. Indeed, in a real sense, can't divided. Indeed, in a real sense, can't be divided.

be divided. be divided. We are contradicting We are contradicting We are contradicting Christ and our union with Christ when we Christ and our union with Christ when we Christ and our union with Christ when we are divided. are divided. are divided. Or, the second way to think about our Or, the second way to think about our Or, the second way to think about our connection with Christ's being divided connection with Christ's being divided connection with Christ's being divided would be would be would be in 1 Corinthians 12, where it says, in 1 Corinthians 12, where it says, in 1 Corinthians 12, where it says, "Just as the body "Just as the body "Just as the body is one is one is one and has many members, namely Christians, and has many members, namely Christians, and has many members, namely Christians, and all the members of the body, though and all the members of the body, though and all the members of the body, though many, are many, are many, are one body, so it is with Christ. one body, so it is with Christ. one body, so it is with Christ. Now, you are the body of Christ and Now, you are the body of Christ and Now, you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. So, if individually members of it. So, if individually members of it. So, if there's one there's one there's one body and many members, and those members are and many members, and those members are one body, therefore when those body one body, therefore when those body one body, therefore when those body parts like the hand saying to the eye, parts like the hand saying to the eye, parts like the hand saying to the eye, you're you're not belonging to me or I'm you're you're not belonging to me or I'm you're you're not belonging to me or I'm better than you, better than you, better than you, which is all of what what what chapter which is all of what what what chapter which is all of what what what chapter 12 is all about, namely the eye can't 12 is all about, namely the eye can't 12 is all about, namely the eye can't say to the hand, I have no need of you, say to the hand, I have no need of you, say to the hand, I have no need of you, or you have no need of me.

or you have no need of me. or you have no need of me. So, the the So, the the So, the the body of Christ being one is a second body of Christ being one is a second body of Christ being one is a second reason why reason why reason why if Christ is not divided, then if Christ is not divided, then if Christ is not divided, then Christians shouldn't be talking like, Christians shouldn't be talking like, Christians shouldn't be talking like, I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, I'm of I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, I'm of I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, I'm of Apollos. That's the argument there. Apollos. That's the argument there. Apollos. That's the argument there. What about was Paul crucified What about was Paul crucified What about was Paul crucified for you? for you? for you? Paul was absolutely not crucified for Paul was absolutely not crucified for Paul was absolutely not crucified for you. What's the implication? you. What's the implication? you. What's the implication? Why does Christ being crucified for you Why does Christ being crucified for you Why does Christ being crucified for you imply you can't be divided? How does the imply you can't be divided? How does the imply you can't be divided? How does the logic work there? logic work there? logic work there? We see how it works, for example, in 1 We see how it works, for example, in 1 We see how it works, for example, in 1 Corinthians 6. Corinthians 6. Corinthians 6. Do you not know that your body is the Do you not know that your body is the Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you, temple of the Holy Spirit within you, temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not which you have from God? You are not which you have from God? You are not your own. your own. your own. You were bought with a price. What's You were bought with a price. What's You were bought with a price. What's that? that? that? That's crucifixion.

Blood Blood of Christ. of Christ. of Christ. Paul didn't do this. Paul did not Paul didn't do this. Paul did not Paul didn't do this. Paul did not die and shed his blood to buy you for die and shed his blood to buy you for die and shed his blood to buy you for himself. So, stop saying you are of himself. So, stop saying you are of himself. So, stop saying you are of Paul. Paul. Paul. Christ bought you. He paid his Christ bought you. He paid his Christ bought you. He paid his crucifixion blood for you. You belong to crucifixion blood for you. You belong to crucifixion blood for you. You belong to him. him. him. So, you can't be divided if you really So, you can't be divided if you really So, you can't be divided if you really grasp how grasp how grasp how not Paul, not Paul, not Paul, not Apollos, not Cephas, but Christ not Apollos, not Cephas, but Christ not Apollos, not Cephas, but Christ was crucified for you. Or here it is was crucified for you. Or here it is was crucified for you. Or here it is again in again in again in Titus, Titus, Titus, Christ gave himself crucifixion crucifixion for us to redeem us from all lawlessness for us to redeem us from all lawlessness for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people of and to purify for himself a people of and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for his own possession who are zealous for his own possession who are zealous for good deeds. He died, he was crucified to good deeds. He died, he was crucified to good deeds. He died, he was crucified to have you as his possession.

have you as his possession. have you as his possession. I don't own you. Christ owns you. I don't own you. Christ owns you. I don't own you. Christ owns you. Apollos and Cephas, Apollos and Cephas, Apollos and Cephas, we don't own you. Christ owns you. He we don't own you. Christ owns you. He we don't own you. Christ owns you. He bought you for himself. And I think bought you for himself. And I think bought you for himself. And I think probably Paul went here because probably Paul went here because probably Paul went here because if the Holy Spirit grants us, even now if the Holy Spirit grants us, even now if the Holy Spirit grants us, even now as we're talking, as we're talking, as we're talking, to feel what this implies. to feel what this implies. to feel what this implies. I mean, crucifixion I mean, crucifixion I mean, crucifixion was as horrible and painful a tortured, was as horrible and painful a tortured, was as horrible and painful a tortured, slow, agonizing death. slow, agonizing death. slow, agonizing death. And when he says, And when he says, And when he says, "I didn't do that for you." He's saying, "I didn't do that for you." He's saying, "I didn't do that for you." He's saying, "Don't you realize the implications "Don't you realize the implications "Don't you realize the implications that Christ died that way for you, for that Christ died that way for you, for that Christ died that way for you, for you, for you Christians?" you, for you Christians?" you, for you Christians?" Let it sink in, Christians. Let it sink in, Christians. Let it sink in, Christians. That was an absolutely agonizing thing That was an absolutely agonizing thing That was an absolutely agonizing thing Christ did for you, and he's not Christ did for you, and he's not Christ did for you, and he's not divided. divided. divided. And therefore, stop And therefore, stop And therefore, stop dividing up into factions that boast in dividing up into factions that boast in dividing up into factions that boast in men.

men. men. And here's the third one. And here's the third one. And here's the third one. Or were you baptized in the name of Or were you baptized in the name of Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Paul? Paul? So, how does the baptism So, how does the baptism So, how does the baptism into the name of Christ into the name of Christ into the name of Christ affect the unity of God's affect the unity of God's affect the unity of God's people? Here's 1 Corinthians people? Here's 1 Corinthians people? Here's 1 Corinthians 12:13. 12:13. 12:13. In one spirit, one spirit, In one spirit, one spirit, In one spirit, one spirit, we were all baptized into one body, we were all baptized into one body, we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks. Jews or Greeks. Jews or Greeks. Now, that's not the same Now, that's not the same Now, that's not the same issue with factions as in chapter 1, but issue with factions as in chapter 1, but issue with factions as in chapter 1, but it's the same issue with factions, it's the same issue with factions, it's the same issue with factions, right? Jews and Greeks. And he could right? Jews and Greeks. And he could right? Jews and Greeks. And he could have said, "Apollos' party, Cephas' have said, "Apollos' party, Cephas' have said, "Apollos' party, Cephas' party, Paul's party." One body, Jews and party, Paul's party." One body, Jews and party, Paul's party." One body, Jews and Greeks, slaves or free, all were made to Greeks, slaves or free, all were made to Greeks, slaves or free, all were made to drink of one spirit. So, baptized into drink of one spirit. So, baptized into drink of one spirit. So, baptized into one body, namely Jesus, implies one body, namely Jesus, implies one body, namely Jesus, implies such a profound such a profound such a profound unity unity unity that you should not be saying, "I am of that you should not be saying, "I am of that you should not be saying, "I am of Paul, I am of Cephas, Paul, I am of Cephas, Paul, I am of Cephas, I am of Apollos."

I am of Apollos." I am of Apollos." Of course, the familiar mandate to make disciples of all mandate to make disciples of all nations, "Go therefore and make nations, "Go therefore and make nations, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them disciples of all nations, baptizing them disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and in the name of the Father, the Son, and in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," not the name of the the Holy Spirit," not the name of the the Holy Spirit," not the name of the missionary, missionary, missionary, but the Father, the Son, and the Holy but the Father, the Son, and the Holy but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Or, Acts chapter 19, Spirit. Or, Acts chapter 19, Spirit. Or, Acts chapter 19, when he found these disciples of John when he found these disciples of John when he found these disciples of John the Baptist, Paul said, "Into what then the Baptist, Paul said, "Into what then the Baptist, Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?" were you baptized?" were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism. We And they said, "Into John's baptism. We And they said, "Into John's baptism. We baptized into John's name." baptized into John's name." baptized into John's name." And Paul said, "John baptized And Paul said, "John baptized And Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance for telling with a baptism of repentance for telling with a baptism of repentance for telling the people to believe on the one who was the people to believe on the one who was the people to believe on the one who was to come after him, that is Jesus. to come after him, that is Jesus. to come after him, that is Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in On hearing this, they were baptized in On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And I don't the name of the Lord Jesus. And I don't the name of the Lord Jesus. And I don't think there's any contradiction think there's any contradiction think there's any contradiction between Matthew or Jesus at the end of between Matthew or Jesus at the end of between Matthew or Jesus at the end of Matthew saying baptized in the name of Matthew saying baptized in the name of Matthew saying baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and Paul here saying or Luke saying they and Paul here saying or Luke saying they and Paul here saying or Luke saying they were baptized into the Lord Jesus were baptized into the Lord Jesus were baptized into the Lord Jesus without mentioning the Holy Spirit or without mentioning the Holy Spirit or without mentioning the Holy Spirit or the Father. I think the the Lord Jesus the Father. I think the the Lord Jesus the Father. I think the the Lord Jesus is mentioned here because they had been is mentioned here because they had been is mentioned here because they had been baptized into John and John's baptism baptized into John and John's baptism baptized into John and John's baptism and Paul is correcting them here to say and Paul is correcting them here to say and Paul is correcting them here to say he should get baptized into Jesus. And he should get baptized into Jesus. And he should get baptized into Jesus. And so Jesus here stands over against John's so Jesus here stands over against John's so Jesus here stands over against John's baptism, not over against the Father,

baptism, not over against the Father, baptism, not over against the Father, Son, Son, Son, and the Holy Spirit. So, three ways three ways Paul says Paul says Paul says don't have these divisions. One, you are you are Christ and he is not divided. You are Christ and he is not divided. You are Christ and he is not divided. You are his body his body his body and he's not divided. You are united to and he's not divided. You are united to and he's not divided. You are united to Christ. He's not divided. Two, Christ. He's not divided. Two, Christ. He's not divided. Two, Christ, not Paul, bought you Christ, not Paul, bought you Christ, not Paul, bought you in his crucifixion with his blood. He in his crucifixion with his blood. He in his crucifixion with his blood. He owns you. I don't. owns you. I don't. owns you. I don't. Three, Three, Three, by baptism by baptism by baptism you confessed identity with Christ in you confessed identity with Christ in you confessed identity with Christ in his name, not with me. his name, not with me. his name, not with me. And I think it would be helpful maybe And I think it would be helpful maybe And I think it would be helpful maybe just to say just to say just to say what if they say but Paul, what if they say but Paul, what if they say but Paul, we owe you our lives.

we owe you our lives. we owe you our lives. If you hadn't come to us, If you hadn't come to us, If you hadn't come to us, we wouldn't know Christ. we wouldn't know Christ. we wouldn't know Christ. Paul would say, "Okay." And he's going Paul would say, "Okay." And he's going Paul would say, "Okay." And he's going to say this in chapter 3. to say this in chapter 3. to say this in chapter 3. I planted, Apollos watered, I planted, Apollos watered, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. He would say, but God gave the growth. He would say, but God gave the growth. He would say, "You're right. "You're right. "You're right. You're right. I came to you. There You're right. I came to you. There You're right. I came to you. There should be a thankfulness and respect you should be a thankfulness and respect you should be a thankfulness and respect you have for me. have for me. have for me. But can I suggest that But can I suggest that But can I suggest that what you feel for me is one penny. And what you should feel for this And what you should feel for this crucified Christ crucified Christ crucified Christ is one is one is one billion billion billion dollars dollars dollars by comparison. by comparison. by comparison. I'm okay for you to have one penny's I'm okay for you to have one penny's I'm okay for you to have one penny's worth of thankfulness worth of thankfulness worth of thankfulness and um and um and um dependence upon me and my ministry. But dependence upon me and my ministry. But dependence upon me and my ministry. But oh, don't ever ever lose sight of the oh, don't ever ever lose sight of the oh, don't ever ever lose sight of the fact that compared to what fact that compared to what fact that compared to what he did for you, he did for you, he did for you, what I did for you is a penny what I did for you is a penny what I did for you is a penny compared to a billion dollars.