1 Corinthians           Message Five     2021

Introduction from Message Three and four

Paul was addressing problems in the church in Corinth.  This was a church that was in trouble due to divisions among the members caused by pride stemming from social standing and prejudice.  They needed to be confronted with their sin and convicted, bringing them to repentance, confession, and unity with the Lord and one another.  We continue with a review of the messages beginning in chapter one with the –

    2. Explanation. 1:11 – 3:20

      a. The report. 1:11 Reliable report of their contentions.
      b. The reproof. 1:12-3:20 They had no reason to be divided.

        1). They could not claim special affinity with God or one another through –
          a). Salvation. 1:12,13a One way of salvation.

               “I am the way, the truth…”
          b). Baptism. 1:13b-16 Ephesians 4:1-6
          c). Intellectual superiority. 1:17-31 Colossians 2:8
          d). Eloquence. 2:1-5
          e). Message. 2:6-16 Refer to Acts 13:26-33

        2). They could not claim special knowledge. 1 Corinthians 3:1-20       

The Corinthians had no –

          (a). Spiritual discernment. 3:1-11

             1). Indicated by their immaturity. 3:1-4
             2). Indicated by their insincerity. 3:5-11 (They did not really know their teachers)          The Corinthians had no –

          (b). Spiritual discipline. 3:12-20

Paul warned them of the –

              (1). Discord in their service. 3:12

              (2).  Decisions to be made in their lives 3:21-23

They were to –

                (a). Reject personality cults.
                (b). Regard life to be in Christ. Refer to Galations 2:20

                (c). Recognize that in God there is unity in all things. There is no place for division.  We saw the –

  B. Argument for the ministry. 4:1-21

Leadership is not a popularity contest. Believers must accept the leader that God has given them. Paul exhorted them to support and follow their God appointed leadership, and so –

      a. Paul rebuked them for –

        1). Their self-aggrandizement. 4:6-8

        2). Their popular opinion. 4:9,10   Paul also wrote to them of their –

III. Disregard of spiritual truth and duty   1 Corinthians 5:1 – 6:20

Note: Paul may have to visit them with a rod after all. Look at what they were allowing.

Paul exhorted the church to turn from their disregard for –

  A. Morality. 5:1-6

  B. Sincerity. 5:7,8        They lived lives of compromise.

  C. Purity. 5:9-13

 He corrected their assumptions –

They were not to bring the practices of the world into the church, but they could not hide from the world either.  They were to be witnesses!

  D. Integrity. 6:1-8    There was a –

    1. Lack of trust. (They believed they could not receive a fair hearing in the church)
    2. Lack of love. (They could not forgive wrong instead of taking it to the public court.

    3. Lack of honesty. 6:8 Defrauding one another    “so sue me”!

  E.  Sanctification  6:9-11

They disregarded sanctification and continually and openly lived in sin.

    1.  The argument presented to excuse their actions.  6:9-10

      a.  Appetites are natural.

      b.  Allowance should be given to satisfying the appetites.

And we end this morning with the reminder of Paul to them and also to us that, as the children of God, we must seek –

  F. Holiness. 6:12-20

The answer to them is that holiness is the standard that must be met. They do have liberty as believers, but not to sin, and Paul speaks to this liberty by extending our carefulness to things not only involving sin, but also in harmless things to ourselves, but things that may distract us from serving God or in those things that may offend others.

We saw that as believers we have the responsibility to have a high regard for morality, sincerity, purity, integrity, sanctification, and holiness.
We have been bought with a price, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and should walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we have been called.

We are not to excuse ourselves but are to put away the old things and put on the new.  Before believing in God for salvation, we had no power to change, but God has changed us through salvation, believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him, we can and should put off the old man and put on the new!

Message Five

This morning we will see Paul’s response to the various –

IV. Difficulties in the church.    7:1 – 10:33

Some wrote Paul seeking answers to the difficult circumstances they faced as believers. They were “new creations in Christ”, but were living in their same cultural environment. They wanted to know what changes He would make in their character as they learned of His will through His Word, how to live as believers in an unbelieving world.  They needed to know what was not acceptable to God that had always been acceptable to them in their culture.  Paul wrote to them in answer to their questions about –

A. Domestic issues. 7:1-40

1. Paul replied to their questions. 7:1-24
Should they –

a. Enter into a marriage relationship.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

Evidently some were teaching that –

Being single would relieve sexual conflicts in a marriage.

Being single would enhance spiritual commitment to the Lord with more time for fasting and prayer.

Paul recommended that being single would give one more time to devote to the service of the Lord, but it could also lead to internal conflict and sin due to lustful thoughts.  Therefore, it was not up to the church to decide what is best, but for individuals to seek God’s leadership in their lives.

Should they –

b. Endorse divorce.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

c. End marriage with an unbeliever.

1 Corinthians 7:12-16  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

The believing husband or wife are to continue to be faithful to the Lord!

Should they –

d. Encourage external rites.

1 Corinthians 7:17-19  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

This issue was especially important as the Jews and Gentiles were brought together in the church.  Obedience to God is that which is necessary to please Him.  Groups should form in the church according to some likeness in the flesh.

Should they –

e. Embrace their position in life or should they seek a change.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Their relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ is the great equalizer of the believers. 

Are there believers in the church who control an abundance of material goods – the wealthy? 

Are there believers in the church who have only enough to supply them with each days needs?

The wealthy and the poor receive their goods from God as He sees fit and all are to be thankful to Him and are to love one another.

The members of this church were divided from one another because of their social standing.  The poorer members felt like servants to the wealthy and the wealthy promoted this way of thinking.

Paul commanded them to be content in their positions and serve the Lord faithfully, which is the duty of every believer – no matter what!

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Do you see and understand that this letter is to a church that is in real trouble.  The members were so divided that worship was impossible.   They claimed that they loved God, but they did not love one another.  God commanded that we prove our love for Him by loving one another.

I ask you today, do you say that you love God?  Do you show that love by loving one another.  This is a very difficult to show in these days that we cannot meet together each Sunday and Wednesday.

We can show our love though by keeping in contact with each other, by praying for each other, by encouraging each other, by loving God and obeying Him in all things.