I Corinthians – “Moral Solutions to Immoral Problems”

Scripture: John 17:11-17

C.I.: The Immorality of Religious Division

It is a good thing to have a boat in the water but a bad thing to have water in the boat! In the same way it is good to have the church in the world but a bad thing to have the world in the church (Scripture Reading).Yet this was the Corinthian problem. – The city of Corinth was one of the most immoral in the ancient world. – Yet being at a crossroads (explain) Paul believed this would be an ideal place to plant the Lord's church. – In this series God is going to teach us how to address the problems of “worldliness in the church”!

•  The Causes of & Cures for Religious Division, (I Corinthians 1)

•  The Elevation of Human Leaders, (vs. 10-13)

•  The “cure” is mentioned before the disease is described, (v. 10)
a. ( v. 10 ), “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree & there be no divisions….”
1) “By the name…” = 9x in the first 9 verses Paul mentions Jesus name!
2) Thus, the encouragement is to do all in His name, ( Col. 3:17 ), “Whatever you do in word or in deed…”
3) Division is never caused by doing God's will God's way – only when people want their own way!!!

•  The elevation of human leaders - caused the church in Corinth to form “fan clubs” of their favorite leaders.
a. ( vs. 11-13 ), “For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among
you. – Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul,' and I am of Apollos,' and ‘I am of Cephas' and ‘I of
Christ.' – Has Christ been divided? – Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

•  Paul – he rebukes his own “fan club” first/hardest! – He accepts no divisiveness in his name!!

•  Apollos – fellow worker w/Paul, an eloquent speaker, ( Acts 18:24 ), “…an eloquent man, mighty in….

•  Cephas/Peter – As an apostle to the Jews he would have been loved by the Jewish believers, ( Gal. 2:8 ), “…Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised….”

•  These 4 did not teach different things/doctrines – they were simply different in their style.

•  Now if God is opposed to “division” on the basis of style – how much more on the basis of doctrine?!

b. There are at least five reasons why religious division is sinful…
1) Division is sinful – because Jesus prayed for unity, ( Jn. 17:20-21 ), “I do not ask on behalf of these….”
2) Division is sinful – because it is a work of the flesh, ( Gal. 5:19-20 ), “…disputes, dissensions, factions…”
3) Division is sinful – because it teaches there is more than “one faith” ( Eph. 4:5 ).
4) Division is sinful – because we are commanded to fight against it, ( Jude 3 ), “…I felt it necessary….”
5) Division is sinful – because it teaches that Jesus built many churches & not just one, ( Matt. 16:18 ). –
Sadly, some folks believe the church belongs to them – and they can do as they please!

c. Apply the “cure” ( v. 10 ) to the disease – and you remove the problem of religious division…
1) “Agree” = “speak the same thing” – ( quote I Tim. 1:13; I Pt. 4:11; II Jn. 9 ).
2) “No divisions” = Denominationalism is sinful – for it violates God's word, ( Jn. 17:20; I Cor. 1:10 ),
“..all those who believe on Me through their words that they may be one” – “…no divisions…”
3) “Made complete” = united, used of a broken bone that had been properly set! – Division destroys!!!
4) “Same mind” = same attitude towards each other, ( quote Phil. 2:3-5 ), “Do nothing from selfishness….”
5) “Same judgment” = they use the same criteria – i.e., God's word, ( Jn. 12:48 )

3. Therefore, following human leaders who teach things contrary to the word of God – encourages a division that is
sinful and destructive to the unity Jesus prayed for and died to achieve!!!

B. The Exaltation of Human Wisdom, (18-31)

1. The RESPONSE to God's Wisdom, (vs. 18, 22-25)

a. First, the Response of the unbelieving Jews & Gentiles, ( vs. 18, 22-23 ), “For the word of the cross is to those who are
perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God … For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks
search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness.”
1) Even during our Lord's earthly ministry – the Jews were looking for supernatural signs so to believe.
a) Jesus response – ( Matt. 12:38-40 ), “Then some of the scribes & Pharisees answered Him, saying,
‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You .' – But He answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous
generation craves… - so shall the Son of Man be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth.'”
2) The Gentiles are depending upon their philosophies & education to “bring them into the light!”
a) Yet how can natural, finite man – ever be able to discern a spiritual, infinite God??!!!
b) ( Rom. 1:20-22 ), “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power… For
even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks; but they became futile in
their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. – Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

b. Second, the Response of the believing Jews & Gentiles… ( vs. 24-25 ), “But to those who are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. – Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.”
1) The Jews considered the cross “foolish” – since only “criminals died on crosses”!
a) ( Mk. 15:31-32 ), “The chief priests along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves,
saying, ‘He saved others, He cannot save Himself. – Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down
from the cross, so that we may see & believe.'”
b) The wise people can't save mankind from its sinful ways. –
c) Yet God showed His power by using weak/foolish things – to save mankind!

2. The RESULTS of God's Wisdom, (vs. 19-21)

a. #1. It is used to destroy worldly wisdom, ( vs. 19-20 ), For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the
cleverness of the clever I will set aside,' – Where is the wise man? – Where is the scribe? – Where is the debater of this age?
– Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”
1) Paul is saying, “Mankind did not (could not!) have come up with God's plan of salvation!
a) Only the person with a humble mind (heart) would be willing to receive it.
b) All the “learned,” and the “philosophers,” would reject and oppose it!

b. #2. The repentant sinners would be saved by it, ( v. 21 ), “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom
did not come to know God, God as well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
1) Only if people are willing to come humbly to God for His wisdom can they be saved!
2) People may have post-graduate degrees from institutions of higher learning – but only those who
accept God's message will be saved, ( quote Rom. 10:17; Jn. 8:24; Lk. 13:3; Mk. 16:16 ).