Ten Timeless Truths about Misplaced Loyalty (1 Cor 1-4)

Recently a student asked if I could respond to something a friend asked: "It seems like they (her church) are almost worshipping our Pastor. Some people leave if he is not speaking in the second service! Does the Bible give any help in discerning when we cross the line in our leadership?"

The Text:

The First Epistle of Paul to Corinth began with his characteristic "grace and peace" salutation. Paul thanked God for the way He poured out upon their congregation gifts related to knowledge and direction to help them correct the things among them that needed change (1:1-9).

The Problem:

Paul told Corinth, "You have misplaced your loyalty. The issue of the Gospel is not the preacher, but the One preached! The believer should glory in the Lord, not the messenger of the Lord" (1:10-4:21).

1. Paul knew some were following leaders like him because he founded the work and baptized the first followers.

Paul urged them to put away divisions exposed to him by the family of Chloe. He shared that some were aligned (perhaps by how they heard the message of salvation) to a teacher like him (he uses his own name, but this is a figure as stated in 4:6), while other symbolically stood with eloquent speakers he represented with the names Apollos and Simon Peter (Cephas). Still others were identified directly with Messiah Jesus. He spurned the division and celebrated that he had not baptized many, so that the gospel was clearly available to all (1:10-17).

2. Paul knew others were attracted to the wisdom and eloquence of leaders like Apollos because his argumentation drew new people to Messiah.

Paul argued the preaching of the death of Messiah seemed foolish to the lost, but the saved understood the victory in this apparent loss. He noted the wise of the world are woefully inadequate to perceive the wisdom of God. Jews wanted signs, Greek sought a philosophy, and both were offended in the natural to the preaching of Jesus the Crucified Messiah. Yet, those who knew God through Messiah saw the power of the message clearly. God used things that looked bad apart from an intimate knowledge of Him - this was His way! He wanted men to be clear; He alone deserved the glory. (1:18-31)

3. Paul reminded them of their past to refocus them on how growth occurs in the Kingdom.

Paul reminded them of his own approach years before that was not profound, but a simple Gospel presentation backed up by the life changing work of the Spirit of God. His words were not perceived as wise, except to those whom God had opened eyes. Earthly power and importance were not the criteria of God and He alone opened the spiritual eyes of saved men and women. The Spirit of God directed the understanding, and the Spirit taught the people the important spiritual truths. Unregenerate men did not grasp them, but the regenerate man was given ability to partake of all of it, because he was made able to perceive Messiah's mind (2:1-16).

4. Paul projected a desire (in the present) to take them further to honor God, but acknowledged that God alone could bring the fruit to bear.

The ministry of Paul was simplistic from the start (he reminded them), because they could not walk in the more serious issues of commitment. He concluded the church was still weak, and he was not able to move ahead with more weighty issues even when he wrote these six or seven years after founding the work at Corinth! Their divisions gave him evidence of their enduring immaturity. He exhorted them to understand that he and Apollos were functioning first as field laborers of God's work, while God alone produced the fruit in them. In addition, they labored as builders, but the architect was God. (3:1-10).

5. Paul warned them that a future judgment of the work depended on an immediate change in their attitude.

Paul contended that any who built upon the firm foundation of Jesus would see reward. Yet, he waited for the day of God's judgment of the construction. He acknowledged that any work not created God's way would be lost at the judgment. As a faithful builder, Paul saw the church at Corinth as temple of God and demanded they work to keep it pure and holy. He urged them to put aside the foolishness of human wisdom and stop placing importance in the men who led them. (3:11-23).

6. Paul asked them to count those who ministered to them as mere servants of the Most High, and to fix the division problem before he came to them.

Paul wanted them to see their leaders as mere servants that labored to be faithful to God's call. He did not care how they evaluated his ministry as long as the Lord was pleased. He knew the Lord would judge equitably. Paul made it clear he was personalizing the argument rather than name the real leaders of the divisions. He refused to accept their behavior of pride and division. He chided them for holding the position of apostleship highly while he was, in fact, living in great distress much of the time. He warned them that they had but one father in the faith, and because he felt responsible for them, he sent Timothy. He further warned that he would stand by his word with discipline when God allowed him to come in person. He implored them to correct the problem before he came. (4:1-21)

The Timeless Truths:

1. Paul noted that God continued to direct them while they were in sin! Truth: Even in the midst of correction, the Lord still provides guidance and direction. His discipline is offered to cause your correction, not out of some desire for vengeance on His part. He will offer a path even when one desires to cut his own path, as foolish as that may be. (1:1-9)

2. Corinthian believers lost track of there identity with one another. Truth: We should make the primary mark of identity with the other believers, as part of the camp of the Lord. Any other distinction must be secondary to this. (1:10-17)

3. Paul was happy that he baptized few. Truth: We must learn to speak like the Vice President or cabinet member on "Meet the Press". They answer every question with a complete sense that they serve at the pleasure of the President. We should respond with the words and heart message of the Lord, not our own. We serve at His good pleasure! (1:10-17)

4. Paul argued the message of the cross was foolishness to the lost world. Truth: We must not shrink back and attempt to make the message of salvation more palatable, but deliver it clearly as an Ambassador, regardless of the response. God will open hearts! (1:18-31)

5. Both Greeks and Jews were confused by the way Messiah came and worked. Truth: God's values, agendas and methods are often beyond our comprehension. We must trust His revelation of the events, for apart from that we cannot really grasp His work at all.

6. Paul reminded them that his personal approach to them was not profound and philosophical. Truth: Clarity of the presentation plus the movement of the Spirit equals salvation. I am responsible for the clarity; the rest is up to the work of the Spirit. I cannot simply "sculpt a better argument" and "win them" into the Kingdom, that is God's job (2:1-16).

7. Paul complained they could not grasp the meat of the Word. Truth: Sin in the body paralyzes the new growth. We must deal with defection in our hearts in order to gain true insight from God. How many a theological debate was argued by sharp minds and empty hearts! (3:1-10)

8. Paul viewed his work as a field laborer or construction worker. Truth: Though we labor and build, plant and harvest - God alone creates a lasting impact! (3:1-10)

9. Paul warned the church of a judgment of the works of a believer. Truth: The real objective of the ministry is to do that which pleases our Heavenly Father. Only those things have enduring meaning! (3:11-23)

10. Paul complained that the church held the title of apostleship higher than the actual practice of the office (he said it wasn't all they "cracked it up to be"). Truth: We need to carefully avoid making power symbols and power titles our purpose. It is sufficient that we find our identity in Him! (4:1-21)

Hope that helps!

R