#1673 1 Corinthians 5 Part 1 A Sad Report

 

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 And you have become puffed up and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present: 4 in the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 5: 1-5 LSB

1 Corinthians 5: 1-5

We left off in the previous chapter with Paul correcting the arrogance of the Corinthians, and also talking about what it is to be an actual steward of the mysteries of God. He says, "it is required of stewards that one be found faithful," and for the thousands that think they have been called to this, well now we get to see the part of shepherding that everyone wants to avoid. Instead of heaping compliments like so many churches do, instead of sweeping things under the rug, Paul has addressed their pride, and now he is going to show them even more reason to be humble. They haven't done their jobs as stewards; they haven't guarded the body of Christ. Everyone has been more interested in showcasing their talents and performative art, what makes me more special than everyone else, but this is not the call of Christ. I have been around countless Pentecostals who always go to Corinth for their defense, my dad calls himself a Corinthian Christian, as some will say Carnal Christian, but they say that thinking that it is okay to play down pride and immorality. They say that thinking that this is an acceptable church type, and that you should be able to find a church like this, live in sin, but be complimented for your voice, or ability to play piano, to give a Ted talk, or for being an "encourager". They put more upon feeling than believing the word of God. I remember when they lost a pastor at a church in N.C., a church that was built upon the principle of making everyone feel comfortable, having a light hearted fun message, good music that was entertaining, and every idea that anyone had or said was a good one, unless it made someone feel bad. The pastor was involved with women at the church, and I think there were some money issue too, but the people's worry was "he is such a dynamic speaker, what will we do, how will we replace him, will this cause us to lose membership?" When he was confronted by elders there he said that there was no one there mature enough to deal with him. He was arrogant in his sin, and sadly a lot of the people, my father and stepmother included, would have been okay with him staying there as the shepherd of that church. The Corinthian church is not the model of what we want to be; Paul is going to model for us how you deal with Corinthians.

John MacArthur gives us an interesting background and cultural context to help us understand the prevalence of immorality among the Grecians considered by many to be the intellectually elite - "The Greeks’ view of life was that sex was a biological urge, as much as taking a drink of water or getting sleep or exercise or eating. Sex just was there and whatever happened, happened, and it was fine. Live it up, no hang-ups. And that doesn’t sound like it’s too old fashioned, really. It sounds like kind of up-to-date. I remember seeing a quote from Hugh Hefner, “Sex is a biological necessity. Find yourself a girl who’s like-minded and let yourself go. It’s no different than eating and drinking.” Well, that is exactly what the Greek view of sex was."

But interestingly enough, though they gave absolutely no sacredness to it, though they gave absolutely no assent to the fact that it had some kind of a pure context, they also forbid any woman to do it outside of her marriage, while a man could do anything he wanted. That’ll give you some idea who ran things in those days.

The chapter breaks (not inspired) unfortunately often cause us to lose a sense of context and continuity in the flow of the Biblical text. The chapter break here while not necessarily bad, might result in us forgetting what Paul had just declared, having just given the church a strong, clear warning in the form of a question, asking "What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?" And then we read about we read about this flagrant sin which the church is in effect almost flaunting! In effect in his question in this context he was saying "Clean up this immorality and I’ll come lovingly. If it’s still there when I get there, some heads are going to roll.” (MacArthur)

 V. 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you - There must have been some real believers there, people who were unwilling to live like this, to have what Christ did be made of low account. Someone was bothered enough to report the sin, and this isn't them being unloving, and what follows from Paul will only pick up what Christ had already instructed. The leaders of this church, and probably many of the people, had become more interested possibly in "unity", the favorite word of those who sell out the truth, who will trade being righteous for being liked. It's not an uncommon thing though, and I want to hold myself up to this mirror, and whoever reads this, please, don't think of this as applying to some people in the distant past that were only guilty of one sin that you would never do. Lets be clear, to God sex is sacred, and they had lost the understanding of sacredness. How many times have you joked about sexual things? How many times have you watched a movie that had sex scenes in it, making light of what God is saying is no light matter here? But you didn't watch it for that, I know, it was for your favorite actor and the well written plot. How many times have you made fun of someone who is gay, mocking them rather than praying for them? How many times have you asked someone to quit being a prude, a legalist, when they brought up the inappropriate nature of your talk or behavior? Sometimes we just loathe them in our head. The culture holds the sexual no higher than a hand shake, and are we proud because we hold it a little higher than that? What does the Bible say about sex?

…3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. 4Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it. 5Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.… Genesis 49:4

…7You must not expose the nakedness of your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her. 8You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father. 9You must not have sexual relations with your sister, either your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere.… Leviticus 18: 7-9

10If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death. 11If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. 12If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both must surely be put to death. They have acted perversely; their blood is upon them.… Leviticus 20: 10-12

…28If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, 29then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives. 30A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.… Deuteronomy 22: 28-30

…19‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ 21‘Cursed is he who lies with any animal.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’… Deuteronomy 27: 19-21

The Bible deals with incest, with adultery, and even fornication, which a lot of the so called church no longer considers a sin worth confronting. Now we are fortunate not to live in a theocracy like Israel did, because stoning is pretty brutal, and the open and honest account that the Bible gives us about Israel, shows that this wasn't enough of a deterrent. You actually need a changed heart, but in the church that comes with wanting to keep the sacred sacred, whether doctrine or living, and Paul is going to give direction in how to handle this. We no longer require the boy our daughter sleeps with to pay us fifty shekels of silver, but it shows that there was a violation of God's design for marriage in having sex outside of that relationship.

…23And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.” 24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.… Genesis 2: 23-25

27You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.… Matthew 5: 27-29

As John MacArthur (in a sermon preached in 1975, almost half a century ago!) said that "The Corinthian church was truly an island in a sea of paganism, and particularly the waves of immorality were washing over this little island, and the Corinthian church had been infested with immorality. And more than that, it had become tolerant of it." He goes on to state a very important point "that one of the securities that we have against sin is our being shocked by it....But in our society...nothing really shocks us anymore." (1 Cor 5:1-5 Immorality in the Church - excellent sermon - you need to listen to this one!) (As an aside I know from discussion with a local pastor that a number of his congregation were actively engaged in a lengthy series called Game of Thrones that apparently is filled with pornographic images for lack of a better word). MacArthur's comment is reminded of the fable of the frog in the kettle of water. The heat is turned up so slowly that the frog fails to perceiving the rising, dangerous temperatures and before long it is too late and frog is boiled alive! Are Christians in America becoming like this frog? The Corinthian church was an island in a sea of immorality. Not only had many of the member actively participated in this lifestyle before conversion (cf 1 Cor 6:9-10+), the cities of Corinth and Athens were "the seat of most of the immorality (IN THE ANCIENT WORLD). They, according to historians, were the two most immoral cities. Even their worship was immoral. They had prostitutes in their temples where the people went to worship." (John MacArthur)

“Our security against sin lies in our being shocked at it.”

-- William Barclay

V. 1b Such a kind that does not exist even among the gentiles - They had become so much like the culture that they even passed it up. I remember as a teenager being at a friend's house whose dad was the head deacon at a megachurch and when we were preparing for a fishing trip my buddy opened up the trunk of his dad's car and it was loaded with porn. Call me a legalist, but I don't think he should have been a deacon. Paul is not going to let this smear on the body of Christ remain unchallenged. The damage is astronomical, and our playing it down also plays down the Cross. It makes light of the eventual sacrifice of the innocent that always follows. Abortion has nothing to do with women's rights, it has to do with selfishness, a loss of the sacred, and our desire to have immoral relationships without repercussions. 

Pornography Stats:

1. At 13.3 billion, the 2006 revenues of the sex and porn industry in the U.S. are bigger than the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball combined.. Worldwide sex industry sales for 2006 are reported to be 97 billion. Perspective? Microsoft, who sells the operating system used on most of the computers in the world(think all of India & China)reported sales of 44.8 billion in 2006.

2. The porn industry made more last year than: “Microsoft, Google, Amazon, E-bay, Yahoo, Apple, Netflix, & Earth Link”...combined.

3. Pornography is scarring lives, destroying marriages(lying/trust issues, hurt, forgiveness, how many times. Feelings of: “being cheated on”, “lack of her self-worth”, “I’m not good enough”), corrupting the church and destroying our nation; without action the problem will only get worse.

G. We are going tonight to have a serious talk about real life issues. (Stats: about 50% men in churches; 17% women struggle w/pornography)

H. A serious talk about the bondage, addiction and trauma that so many people are struggling with today.

1. Hopefully, those who are struggling with this (a family, husband, wife, oldest son, single man/women) you’ll be challenged to open up these areas of their lives to God, so He can heal you and set you free.

I. How do we deal with then, sexual immorality in the church today? Like Paul did.

V. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst - Even heathens find you repulsive, but you still go around pounding your chest, saying you are spiritual when you are worldly. You think you are more mature when you are really just disobedient and self serving. You haven't withheld correction for the sake of love. If you really loved the person you would have mourned over this grotesque sin and removed the guilty from your midst. Look at what Phineas does in a Theocracy, and consider that all God is asking of you now is to tell the truth about sin, give the whole counsel of God and confront the sinner, excommunication is way easier than execution. 

6Just then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,…

…8followed the Israelite into his tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted, 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. 10Then the LORD said to Moses,…

…11“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal. 12Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. 13It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”… Numbers 25: 6-13

…9And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.… 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11

Vs. 3-4 When you are assembled - This takes us back to Christ's instruction about 2 or 3 gathered together in His name, that He is there in the midst of them. The context in that chapter is about this very thing, church discipline, yet I have heard whole sermons about it applying more for health, money and all sorts of things, but context is king. 

15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.…

…18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”… Matthew 18: 15-20

V. 5 Deliver such a one to Satan - You treat him as an unbeliever, but as a brother in that sense as well, that you treat him as someone lost, as someone like your family member who you would want to see come to Christ. You witness to him. He is turned over to the world though and like Job, often God will let a man be tested by Satan, by way of his health. 

…19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1: 19-20

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.… Galatians 6: 1-2

…5But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” 6“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “He is in your hands, but you must spare his life.” 7So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.… Job 2: 5-7

…5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?… Hebrews 12: 5-7

As Wayne Barber says "Two things happen when sin is not dealt with within the church. First of all, the testimony of believers is damaged outside the church. But secondly, the purity of the believers is affected inside the church. You see, you have young people growing up, you have people that aren’t mature in the faith, and when you allow sin to go on and you don’t deal with it, it’s sending a message it must be okay. So a younger person says, “Well, if it’s okay for him, it’s okay for me.” The purity of believers within the church begins to decay. Paul, as an apostle under the authority of Christ Himself, says, “I’m making a decision and this decision is not based on my own opinion. It’s based on the fact of the authority of Christ. It’s God’s idea. It’s not man’s idea.....when we begin to tolerate sin in our lives, we’re going to begin to tolerate it in others lives. Then it begins to get in the church. It just decays our testimony in the world. The world looks at us and laughs and says, “You’re spiritual air bags. You know what to say but your life does not show us that you really love the Lord Jesus Christ.” - PA

To deliver (paradidomi) means to give one over to the power and authority of another, in this case Satan and from 1 Cor 5:2+ we know one thing deliver means is that the man is to be removed from the church. Paul uses deliver (paradidomi) in Romans 1 (Ro 1:24, 26, 28+) for turning God rejecters (Ro 1:18-23+) over to "the lusts of their hearts to impurity....to degrading passions....to a depraved mind." So in Romans the delivering over is not for restoration but for retribution, divine judgment. In another use of deliver (paradidomi) in the context of discipline in 1 Ti 1:20 Paul writes "Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme." So in this passage the delivering over is intended to have a restorative or remedial effect which is similar to Paul's intent of the deliverance in 1 Cor 5:5 "so that his spirit may be saved." In other words, whatever the disciplinary action God allows Satan to carry out, the effect is that while Satan means it for evil, God means it for good. Whether the final outcome will be good however depends on the response of the sinning man. Will he repent and turn from his sin and unto God? Or will he willfully refuse to repent? If he does the former, his spirit will be saved. If he does the latter, the implication is that his spirit would not be saved.

The question also arises as to how could the church deliver such a one to Satan? First of all, this deliverance to Satan clearly does not mean the church had the authority to send the man to hell, for no individual or church has that authority. Only God has such authority. So almost every commentator agrees that the deliverance is carried out by expelling or removing the man from fellowship with the church He would then in effect be in the world, the domain controlled by Satan ((Col. 1:13+, John 12:31). John adds that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (1 Jn 5:19+). The sinning man would be under the dominion of Satan. And this is where we have to speculate. Would Satan be able to inflict physical harm as he did to Job (Job 2:4-7)? Would Satan be allowed by God to take the man's life? Or would God take the man's life if he refused to repent? I cannot be dogmatic. - PA

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#1672 1 Corinthians 4 Part 2 Self Satisfaction

 

8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have ruled without us—and how I wish that you had ruled indeed so that we also might rule with you. 9 For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor! 11 To this present hour we hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; 12 and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have become as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall know, not the words of those who are puffed up but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. 21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 Corinthians 4: 8-21 LSB

1 Corinthians 4: 8-21

V. 8 You are already filled - We left off with Paul confronting their boasting in men and their love of worldly wisdom. This wisdom brought them to believe that they were already rich spiritually, that they were mature and reigning, as though they were in the Millennial Kingdom now. They were content in themselves, conceited. It is easy to live in past success, what you used to do; I read the Bible, I believed, my testimony is that I am no longer the person I used to be, but are you done growing then? Have you confused a time of prosperity with God acknowledging something special about you that other Christians don't seem to have? Have you become like Job's friends and think that Christians being put in prison in China or slaughtered in Nigeria are suffering because they aren't as spiritually mature as you, don't hold their tongue or cross their fingers the same way you do when you pray?

…16So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.… Revelation 3: 16-18

11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,… Philippians 3: 11-13

Vs. 9-10 As men condemned to death - `    MacArthur notes that the set of gladiators reserved for the finale were going to be fighting for their lives. They were often the worst sort of criminals or political opponents. Paul uses the contrast of his life versus theirs. In their minds he is probably doing it wrong, like many in the Pentecostal movements would suggest. People cringe at the thought of using sarcasm, but people also cringe at basic truths today, yet Paul doesn't shrink from it. "We are fools, you are prudent, we are weak, but you are strong, you are glorious, yet we are without honor." 

MacArthur - Verses 9-13 can be summarized by four words: spectacles, fools, sufferers, and scum. Those words describe Paul’s condition in contrast to what the Corinthians considered their condition to be. They thought they had everything in themselves; he knew he had nothing in himself....During the millennial kingdom the twelve apostles will reign with Christ on earth. They will “sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28). But when they ministered on earth they did anything but rule. They became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. They were ridiculed, spit upon, imprisoned, beaten, mocked, an generally treated like criminals. Then they were last; but in Christ’s coming kingdom they will be first.

Morris - spectacle. This word is better translated "theater." In its only other occurrence in the New Testament, this word is also translated as such (Acts 19:29,31). It is sobering, as well as amazing, to realize that Christians--especially Christian leaders such as Paul and the apostles--are on a stage, as it were, being carefully watched by an audience that even includes the angels (compare Ephesians 3:10; 1 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Peter 1:12). - Precept Austin

V. 11 We are both hungry and thirsty - Very difficult concepts for Western Christians. I am fat, and have to make hard decisions like, "what do I feel like eating today?" Paul goes without often, and prison is probably a welcome break at times because he receives a meal. Coming to Christ because you think you will become wealthy is not Paul's story, and Jesus turned away those looking only for fish and bread. Judas was there for wealth, and when it didn't pan out he sold the Savior of the world, his only real hope, for next to nothing. 

…11I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation— to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.… Philippians 4: 11-13

Vs. 12-13 We labor, working with our own hands - The Greeks considered manual labor beneath them. It was something reserved for slaves. This again goes back to worldly wisdom. Paul had a trade, and we make the same mistake today. I hear people say they are sending their kids to school so that they don't follow in the family business of farming, laying tile, or so many other things that are much more necessary and therefore dignified then where we place them. The richest men still have to eat the food that the farmer grows, and all your wealth would become worthless if people stopped refused to farm. Paul doesn't take a salary and this also frees him up to teach that it is okay to do this in the case of a vocational elder. Sometimes God calls you to be a tent maker though, that would be to have the call but without the money, perhaps to a people who are poor. 

17Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “ Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.” 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.… 1 Timothy 5: 17-19

…13Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? 14In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. 15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.… 1 Corinthians 4: 13-15

When we are slandered (blasphemeo defamed), we try to conciliate (parakaleo) - "Humiliation suffered normally leads to anger, which is defined as a desire for revenge accompanied by pain and the recovering of one’s own honor, but Paul instead blesses, endures, and conciliates " (New Linguistic Key) 

Arnold - The Apostles tried to console and pray for those who said evil things about them. They did not try to defend or justify their actions, but committed the slanderers to God. When we bless, endure and answer kindly to our opponents, we are acting in the way Christ acted. We cannot control how people act towards us but we can control how we react to people when they treat us badly. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) - Precept Austin

Vs. 14-15 To admonish you - He doesn't want merely to shame them, but that this shame will lead to Godly sorrow over sins. He is approaching them as his own children, that is the amount of investment here. He loves them, and love tells the truth, it points to the One greater.

V. 16 I exhort you, be imitators of me - JMac points out that this is bold but justified, and it brings us to another qualification of those who aspire. You have to be worthy of imitation. Your life and doctrine both have to be sound. Your house has to be in order, and there can be nothing against you in business either, you have to be known even by your enemies as one who uses a just weight and balance. 

…6So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” 7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.… Hebrews 13: 6-8

1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 2Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.… 1 Corinthians 11: 1-2

V. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy - Paul had taught Timothy sound doctrine, and he would be able to correct any bad teaching that had slipped in. 

Vs. 18-21 Some have become puffed up - Their pride was off the hook and they were running around boasting as though they would not have to answer for it. It is still better to answer to Paul than to an angry God. There is a lot of correction that needs to occur in this body of believers, and we will see some of that instruction in the next chapter.

15If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.…

18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.… Matthew 18: 15-19

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#1671 1 Corinthians 4 Part 1 Row The Boat

 

Let a man consider us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court. In fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted. But the one who examines me is the Lord. 5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and make manifest the motives of hearts. And then each one’s praise will come to him from God.

6 Now these things, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, so that no one of you will become puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 1 Corinthians 4: 1-7 LSB

1 Corinthians 4: 1-7

V.1 Let a man consider us in this manner - This is further clarifying the uselessness of the Corinthian argument, the hero factions. Paul will now define who he, Apollos and Cephas are in Christ.

V. 1b As servants of Christ - The word he uses here is the word for a galley slave, the person who does one particular thing over and over again. There is not a lot of room here for creativity or free styling, the galley master yells out the order and the slaves follow it. Paul and the other apostles' greatness can be found in their obedience to Christ and their faithfulness to preaching the pure gospel. 

i. The word hyperetas literally means an “under-rower,” in the sense that someone is a rower on a big galley ship. So, though it is not the most lowly word for a servant, it is certainly not a prestigious position. Under-rowers serve “Christ the master-pilot, helping forward the ship of the Church toward the haven of heaven.” (Trapp)

ii. Morgan describes this “under-rower” as “one who acts under direction, and asks no questions, one who does the thing he is appointed to do without hesitation, and one who reports only to the One Who is over him.” - Enduring Word

V. 1c And stewards of the mysteries of God - Stewardship involves involves caring for what the Master has given us, whether talent, finances, homes or families. Paul and other believers, pastors, parents, are also responsible to study and preserve the gospel, teaching their children and Christ's sheep. 

9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.… 1 Corinthians 3: 9-11

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” 15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.… 1 Peter 3: 14-16

V. 2 It is required of stewards that one be found faithful - I have seen too often, in my time in churches as a young man, that it has become more of a business model, trying to find what will get people in. The faithfulness that Paul speaks of is to the gospel, and soon we will see how Paul deals with and directs others to deal with those who are leading disorderly lives. His loyalties are clearly to Christ and so his message doesn't change to suit or maintain the size of the visible body. The Bible actually gives very clear instructions about the role of servants in the church, and I have seen both false humility and flagrant pride on display so many times by those who say they have been called. I would challenge everyone to read the expectations that God has for those who teach, and realize also that those qualifications also apply to those who don't serve as elders and deacons, for children are given to their parents. The pastor will not stand in your place before God. I will include a study I did examining these qualifications below. This study was very helpful to me because it protected me by letting me see that I was not qualified, nor should anyone ever assume they are called outside of these qualifications. When you tell me your are called that is not the end of it for me. I am going to examine both your doctrine and your life.

e. It is required in servants that one be found faithful: For stewards, the important thing was faithfulness. They had to be efficient managers of the master’s resources. A steward never owned the property or resource he dealt with; he simply managed it for his master and had to manage it faithfully. - E Word

If any man Aspires Part 1

If any man Aspires Part 2

…3“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear and sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.… Ephesians 6: 3-5

Vs. 3-5 It is a very small thing that I may be examined by you - Some have taken this wrongly in thinking that Paul was saying you can't judge me. It is quite the opposite, for the opinion of men is actually a problem in that it is very surface. Paul doesn't even judge himself, in that he is not the final authority, for though he may not be aware of a sin, may not feel bothered by a particular behavior or thought, he is not the ultimate judge. Paul has rebuked another Apostle before and so there are some things that are clearly visible as sin, though we may not see it ourselves or as so often we suppress and sear our consciences. 

b. In fact, I do not even judge myself: Even our estimation of ourself is usually wrong. We are almost always too hard or too easy on ourselves. Paul recognizes this, and so will suspend judgment even upon himself. In the end, he who judges me is the Lord.

c. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this: Paul also recognizes that he does not stand in a perfect state of justification or innocence just because his conscience was clear. Paul knew his righteousness came from Jesus, not from his own personal life – even though he had a godly walk.

d. Therefore judge nothing before the time: It is as if Paul were saying, “You Corinthians act like judges at athletic events, qualified to give some the trophy and to send others away as losers. But Jesus is the only judge, and you are judging before the events are over.”

e. Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of men’s hearts: When Jesus judges, it will be according to the motives of the heart, not only the outward action. This is another reason why human judgment is often wrong, and why Paul feels free to disregard the harsh judgment of the Corinthian Christians towards himself. - E word

V. 6 Not to go beyond what is written - This will be another huge issue with the Corinthian church stemming from pride. They need to become people of the Book, and not follow their hearts or egos. This is a huge problem in many places that call themselves churches today, that they man centered rather than preaching God's Word and relying upon Him for the results. 

1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.… 1 Corinthians 2: 1-3

V. 7 Why do you boast as if you had not received it - The way you look was the way God made you, what family you were born into, and even your ability to believe the gospel came from God, so how have you become arrogant. If your church is growing, like not just in numbers for broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are on that road, but if people are coming in and lives are being changed, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians wanted, as we will see, a stage, a talent show to display their abilities, and if they were real they came from God, so where is your boasting? If they were phony they came from the father of pride, again, nothing to boast about. 

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.… 1 Timothy 3: 1-3

…9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.… James 4: 9-11

…21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”… 1 Samuel 15: 21-23

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