Text: 1 Cor. 1:10-18
Facebook live: Fools we are, but in Christ wise!
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Webster defines folly as:
1. A lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight.
2. Criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct.
3. Evil, or wickedness.
4. A foolish act or idea.
5. An excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking.
Jesus even speaks of folly in Luke’s gospel in this way when he says:
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
What a fool.
Paul knows a thing or two about fools, having done some things in his life that lacked good sense, were criminally or tragically foolish, evil or wicked, and in some cases just simply bad ideas that proved unprofitable.
In our text today he is calling those in Corinth and ultimately, we who name the name of Christ to a different standard.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Now, what is Paul talking about?
Paul is not talking about which team to root for, or which place to buy your groceries, or even which political party might best provide for your safety, comfort, and wellbeing.
But he is talking about the church, and the divisions that were pulling apart those in Corinth.
He even tells them how he knows.
Chloe’s people told him!
Now who Chloe is, and who her people are, we don’t know; but I bet those in Corinth knew and I bet they were not happy being called out in this letter by Paul, because it shines a big light on what had been going on.
But the greater truth and the greater reality was a spiritual disunity in the family of faith there in Corinth.
They didn’t believe, teach or confess the same doctrinal truths.
They were basing doctrine and practice on other things.
Paul didn’t say, some of you want carpet and some of you want tile. Or, some of you want a greater budget and some want to reduce spending.
Those things can all have their place, discussions, and disagreements but according to spiritual matters we must agree – according to the word.
And friends, that is why we have denominations today!
Different understanding about scripture, practice, and doctrine or teaching of the word, can pull people apart and separate them one from another - and ultimately from Christ!
Paul writes:
12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
The church divided by leaders. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.
Paul and Peter, (Cephas) often are pitted against each other in arguments in the church. Some even disparaging Paul’s apostleship, though Peter even refers to Paul’s writings in his 2nd epistle as scripture saying:
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Apollos too, is referred in scripture in the book of Acts:
2 Now, a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. Acts 18:24
Luther even writes in his preface to the book of Hebrews saying:
The author to the Epistle to the Hebrews – whoever he is, whether Paul or, as I think, Apollos – quotes the Old Testament most learnedly. (AE 8:178)
Whether Paul or Apollos, the letter to the Hebrews is no less the Word of God and that brings us to Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul saying in a sense,
Take the light off me!
I am a servant!
I am a disciple!
I am a follower of Christ Jesus, my Lord!
Get your eyes on Jesus!
If you are on any side other than that of Christ, you are wrong!
I don’t know of any instance where there is a reference to Paul, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit; Or, even if the Corinthians were using a formula of Baptism where they might say:
“As Paul teaches, or Peter teaches, or Apollos teaches, about Baptism.”
But I can tell you that a similar type of emphasis can be put upon pastors in our day.
I’ve heard many times that pastor so and so did my baptism and my confirmation, I want him to do my wedding or wanting a funeral as if the hope is in him.
Now understand, it is alright to ask a pastor who baptized you to officiate at confirmation, weddings, and funerals but it is Christ who does the work! His participation doesn’t make it more valid.
So, when churches or members are not grounded in the word, the personality of the man who stands in the stead and by the command of Christ can stand out, front and center.
Remember the words of John the Baptist who pointed out - the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
Saying:
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
At times I can’t remember who I baptized, as I always see the Lord as the active agent, and me getting to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a subservient way. I am grateful to simply serve.
In the same way, if we see our work as the focus of the act, we miss Christ and all that he enables us to do by his Spirit.
17 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.
Paul is not disparaging Baptism but the work that God has called and given him to do. Even saying – not with wisdom and eloquence – not to empty the cross of Christ of its power.
For pastor’s the work of Christ and his cross works through we who are privileged to serve. I bring no wisdom and eloquence of my own but simply serve the needs on the body of Christ here gifted in the way that our Lord has gifted me. So, at times you may hear a story, and I hope it reflects Christ and his glory!
18 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.
So, lets now look at what Webster says about wisdom:
1. Marked by deep understanding,
2. Keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment
In the book of Proverbs, we read:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Prov. 9:10
May the Lord’s wisdom and understanding be yours now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Webster defines folly as:
1. A lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight.
2. Criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct.
3. Evil, or wickedness.
4. A foolish act or idea.
5. An excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking.
Jesus even speaks of folly in Luke’s gospel in this way when he says:
28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
What a fool.
Paul knows a thing or two about fools, having done some things in his life that lacked good sense, were criminally or tragically foolish, evil or wicked, and in some cases just simply bad ideas that proved unprofitable.
In our text today he is calling those in Corinth and ultimately, we who name the name of Christ to a different standard.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Now, what is Paul talking about?
Paul is not talking about which team to root for, or which place to buy your groceries, or even which political party might best provide for your safety, comfort, and wellbeing.
But he is talking about the church, and the divisions that were pulling apart those in Corinth.
He even tells them how he knows.
Chloe’s people told him!
Now who Chloe is, and who her people are, we don’t know; but I bet those in Corinth knew and I bet they were not happy being called out in this letter by Paul, because it shines a big light on what had been going on.
But the greater truth and the greater reality was a spiritual disunity in the family of faith there in Corinth.
They didn’t believe, teach or confess the same doctrinal truths.
They were basing doctrine and practice on other things.
Paul didn’t say, some of you want carpet and some of you want tile. Or, some of you want a greater budget and some want to reduce spending.
Those things can all have their place, discussions, and disagreements but according to spiritual matters we must agree – according to the word.
And friends, that is why we have denominations today!
Different understanding about scripture, practice, and doctrine or teaching of the word, can pull people apart and separate them one from another - and ultimately from Christ!
Paul writes:
12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
The church divided by leaders. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.
Paul and Peter, (Cephas) often are pitted against each other in arguments in the church. Some even disparaging Paul’s apostleship, though Peter even refers to Paul’s writings in his 2nd epistle as scripture saying:
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
Apollos too, is referred in scripture in the book of Acts:
2 Now, a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. Acts 18:24
Luther even writes in his preface to the book of Hebrews saying:
The author to the Epistle to the Hebrews – whoever he is, whether Paul or, as I think, Apollos – quotes the Old Testament most learnedly. (AE 8:178)
Whether Paul or Apollos, the letter to the Hebrews is no less the Word of God and that brings us to Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul saying in a sense,
Take the light off me!
I am a servant!
I am a disciple!
I am a follower of Christ Jesus, my Lord!
Get your eyes on Jesus!
If you are on any side other than that of Christ, you are wrong!
I don’t know of any instance where there is a reference to Paul, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit; Or, even if the Corinthians were using a formula of Baptism where they might say:
“As Paul teaches, or Peter teaches, or Apollos teaches, about Baptism.”
But I can tell you that a similar type of emphasis can be put upon pastors in our day.
I’ve heard many times that pastor so and so did my baptism and my confirmation, I want him to do my wedding or wanting a funeral as if the hope is in him.
Now understand, it is alright to ask a pastor who baptized you to officiate at confirmation, weddings, and funerals but it is Christ who does the work! His participation doesn’t make it more valid.
So, when churches or members are not grounded in the word, the personality of the man who stands in the stead and by the command of Christ can stand out, front and center.
Remember the words of John the Baptist who pointed out - the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!
Saying:
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
At times I can’t remember who I baptized, as I always see the Lord as the active agent, and me getting to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a subservient way. I am grateful to simply serve.
In the same way, if we see our work as the focus of the act, we miss Christ and all that he enables us to do by his Spirit.
17 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.
Paul is not disparaging Baptism but the work that God has called and given him to do. Even saying – not with wisdom and eloquence – not to empty the cross of Christ of its power.
For pastor’s the work of Christ and his cross works through we who are privileged to serve. I bring no wisdom and eloquence of my own but simply serve the needs on the body of Christ here gifted in the way that our Lord has gifted me. So, at times you may hear a story, and I hope it reflects Christ and his glory!
18 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.
So, lets now look at what Webster says about wisdom:
1. Marked by deep understanding,
2. Keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment
In the book of Proverbs, we read:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Prov. 9:10
May the Lord’s wisdom and understanding be yours now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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