Our Daily Scripture – 6/6/22

SCRIPTURE:  1 CORINTHIANS 1

INTRODUCTION:

This letter was written by Paul in A.D. 55 to the church in Corinth while he was in Ephesus.  It was a response to a letter for the Corinthian Church.

Corinth was a prosperous and wealthy city of Greece.  It was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia.  It was noted for commerce, culture, corruption and idolatry.  So the Christians in Corinth had some problems.  They were not getting along with one another.  Some were still living in sinful lives so Paul wrote this letter to admonish and teach them practical lesson about Christian life and doctrine.

BIBLE VERSES:

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (I Corinthians 1:10)

“ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 1:18)

“ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)

“ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him” (

1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

“Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”(1 Corinthians 1:31)

Paul sent greetings of grace and peace to the church in Corinth.

PAUL LISTED SOME SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS FROM GOD:

  1. Called by the will of God (v. 1)
  2. Grace and peace of God (v. 3)
  3. Gifts from God (vs 5, 7)
  4. Testimony fore christ (v. 6)
  5. Hope from the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 8)

THANKSGIVING (vs. 4-9)

Paul thank God for the Corinthian church because they had been enriched in speaking and knowledge for they did not lack any spiritual gifts.

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH: (vs. 10-17)

Paul urged the brothers to agree with one another.  Their quarrel stemmed from whom they were being baptized.  They were divided into 4 factions in the church:

  1.  Paul – he was a apostle to the Gentiles
  2. Apollos – he was a learned orator who                                                                                                                             was very eloquent in speaking.
  3. Peter – he was an apostle to the Jews.
  4. Christ – this group tried to prove themselves more spiritual by rejecting human leaders.

Paul explained to them that christ is not divided.  We are baptized in the name of Christ, not human leaders.  Paul was thankful that he only baptized Crispus, Gaius and the households of Stephanas because he was set by God not to baptize but to preach the gospel of Christ’s power.

CHRIST THE WISDOM AND POWER OF GOD (vs. 18-30)

Many Jews considered the Good Man of Jesus Christ to be foolish because they thought the Messiah would be a conquering not a criminal being crucified at the cross.

Greek considered the Good News foolish because they did not believe in bodily resurrection.  Since Jesus died, to them death was defeat, not victory.

Today, the world also sees the Good News of Jesus Christ foolish because he offers his kingdom to those who have faith not to those who do all kinds of good deeds.  They will not accept Christ is the only was for them to be saved.  The message of the cross is wisdom that saves people by the power of God.

REASONS WHY NO ONE CAN BOAST BEFORE THE LORD:

  1. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
  2. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the wise.
  3. God chose the weaker things of the world to shame the strong.
  4. God chose the lovely things of the world , the despise things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.   Therefore, let him who boast, boast in the Lord (v. 3

THOUGHTS

The divisions of the Corinthian church arose because they tend to follow human leaders which brings about a club mentality.  Christ is our ultimate leader, so he must have the pre-eminence.

Do not let your appreciation of any teacher or preacher lead you to divide the church.  Christ should bbe our head and oaur allegiance must be to Him and to the unity of His body.

The people in Corinth depended on human wisdom and philosophies.  As the world’s wisdom crept into the church, it contradicted with God’s wisdom and caused division.  Never allow human wisdom to interpret the Word of God.

Paul declared that no amount of human knowledge can bypass Christ’s work on the the cross.  Only simple faith can get a person into God’s kingdom.  No one can boast his achievement to secure eternal life.  We need only to accept what Jesus had already done for us.