Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

March 9, 2003

1. Last week we used 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 to talk about the problem of strife within the church. Today, we look back and the text with a view to seeing to solution to the need for unity among believers throughout the world.

2. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (NKJV) Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

3. Groups or "parties" had formed within the church and declared themselves to be followers of particular noted persons in the church.

a. One group said, "I am of Paul." Another professed, "I am of Apollos." A third said, "I am of Cephas." The fourth group declared simply that they were followers of Christ.

b. Paul certainly did not encourage anyone to follow him instead of Christ. There is no indication that Apollos or Cephas (i.e., Peter) tried to cultivate personal disciples either. In fact, some commentators think that Paul was substituting these well-known names for the actual leaders of factions within the church. They base that on 1 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) where Paul wrote, "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other." Either way, the point is clear: they needed to follow Christ, not men!

4. The essential unity of the body of Christ is emphasized by the three questions Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 1:13.

I. IS CHRIST DIVIDED?

A. The obvious answer from Scripture is NO!

1. Jesus prayed for all who believed in Him to be one [John 17:20-21 (NKJV) "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.]

2. We are baptized into one body [1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.]

3. Christ has only one body.

a. Ephesians 4:4 (NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

b. That one body is the church [Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.]

B. The answer from the real world is sadly, "Yes."

1. The clear teaching of Scripture is for everyone who professes to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God to be united -- of the same mind and same judgment.

2. Yet the larger world of "Christendom" is fractured into hundreds of denominations.

3. There used to be quite a lot of "brand loyalty" among denominations. Organized debates as well as private arguments over religion were common. In most places, those exchanges are a thing of the past.

4. In this age of tolerance, one is not expected to ever say anything critical of another's religious beliefs. The popular view is that one denomination is as good as another.

a. For many people, that is true. Growing numbers of people feel no particular loyalty to one denomination. If they move to a new area, they are may start attending a different denomination which is more convenient or appeals to them for some other reason. They think no more of going to a different church than their parents than they would of driving a different model of car or using a different brand of laundry detergent than Dad or Mom. Some denominational churches have minimized their denominational affiliation or dropped it altogether from their signs and advertising. [Saddlebrook Church, a large California mega-church, is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention but you wouldn't know it from their web site or publications]. They want to appeal to people who are not Baptist in background.

b. It's a good thing that people are not as strongly tied to denominational connections as they once were. However, the problem with the "non-denominational" movement is that they tend to be accepting of many ideas and practices which are not biblical.

(1) The Ecumenical movement calls for people to join together and continue believing whatever they wish.

(2) Real unity is possible only when people are committed to a common standard . . . the word of Christ.

C. If we are to make a credible claim to be the Lord's church in the present age, we must present a clear call to unity. The message of the restoration movement was unity based on truth. Go back to the Bible as the means of being one. If we fail to demonstrate that such unity is possible, our voice is muted. Why should people listen to us talk about unity if we can't practice it ourselves? It is up to us to prove that the body of Christ is not divided.

II. WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU?

A. Paul was a great apostle and a wonderful Christian leader.

1. He was a great missionary to the Gentiles [Galatians 2:9; Romans 11:13].

2. He wrote almost half the books in the New Testament.

3. Christians of every age have been indebted to Paul for the work he did for the cause of Christ.

B. However, Paul was nothing but a redeemed sinner.

1. 1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

2. In what sense was Paul the chief of sinners?

a. Notice that he says "of whom I am chief." Present-tense. He wasn't merely referring to his past history as a persecutor. The guilt of Paul persecuting men and women to death [Acts 22:4] had long been forgiven when the apostle wrote these words. However, the reality of what he had done to the people of God would remain with him as long as he lived. He was fully aware of his status as a forgiven sinner dependent on God's grace for his salvation.

b. Paul went on in 1 Timothy 1:16 (NKJV) to use himself as an example of God's mercy: "However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."

C. Salvation is possible by the mercy of God. The cross is the symbol of God's mercy demonstrated in the death of His Son, Jesus Christ [Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace]

1. Paul could die for his faith. He was prepared to do so. Some years after he wrote 1 Corinthians, history says that he gave his life for the cause of Christ.

2. Yet Paul's death had no power to offer salvation to anyone. Great as he was, he was still a sinful man.

3. Jesus the Christ was the only one who could be offered as a sinless sacrifice [Hebrews 7:25-27 (NKJV) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.]

D. The point of this question is quite simple. Neither Paul nor any other man can be your savior. Follow the One who died on the cross to make your forgiveness possible!

III. WERE YOU BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF PAUL?

A. Salvation comes by being baptized into Christ.

1. Galatians 3:27 (NKJV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

2. Romans 6:3 (NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? By baptism into the death of Christ, we have our sins redeemed by His blood.

a. Baptism into the name of Christ is for the remission of sins [Acts 2:38].

b. Sins are washed away when we are baptized correctly [Acts 22:16 (NKJV) 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.']

B. Man's baptism has no such power.

1. Being baptized in the name of Paul (i.e., baptized by Paul's authority) would accomplish nothing.

2. The same is true for any other man-made baptism.

a. Almost every religious group professing to be Christian practices something they call baptism. It might be sprinkling or pouring rather than immersion. It might be on babies. It might be for some reason other than remission of sins. There is a wide variety of religious rites and ordinances called baptism.

b. However, the only baptism that works is baptism into Christ as described in the New Testament. Acts 19:1-6 tells of a group of disciples who had been baptized with a baptism like that practiced by John the Baptist. Paul found that they had not been properly taught and had not been properly baptized. [Acts 19:4-5 (NKJV) Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.]

3. Some have misunderstood Paul's comments about baptism in 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 (NKJV) I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

a. Remember this comes right after Paul's discussion about people following men instead of Christ. It comes right before a discussion about the folly of trusting in human wisdom.

b. No one could possibly read Paul's other writings about baptism and think he is saying that baptism is unimportant. Anyone who says that is looking for a way to dispute the Bible's teachings about the need to be baptized to be saved.

c. However, it does not matter who does the baptizing. Many of the Corinthians heard the gospel, believed, and were baptized [Acts 18:8]. Their salvation was in no way enhanced if Paul was the one who baptized them instead of one of the other brothers. To keep from encouraging these "personality cults" in Corinth, Paul avoided personally baptizing many people. His job was preaching the gospel. The people responded by believing and getting someone to baptize them. Paul did baptize some . . . perhaps when no one else was available to do the job. Obviously, he didn't keep a record so he could boast about how many thousands he had baptized. He mentions a few he baptized and says, "I don't know whether I baptized anyone else or not." If it had mattered, the Holy Spirit would have refreshed his memory [cf. John 16:13].

CONCLUSION

1. Unity is possible when we focus our attention on Christ.

2. When we take our eyes off Christ and begin to follow the leadership of mere men, we will inevitably form parties. Parties harden into sects and sects eventually transform themselves into denominations. There are parties, factions, and sects in the church of Christ today. Some are well on the way toward becoming denominations in their own right. Then they'll join with hundreds of other churches of men and no longer be the church of Christ.

3. What should you do? Keep your eyes on Christ! Always be alert to the danger of falling in with the thinking of men and being led away from the truth of the gospel of Christ.