The Carpenter's Chapel

The problem is definition. When you preach on being "pleasing to Him", the listener will immediately try to define that, and soon ALL things become pleasing to Him.

We are marvellous word stretchers, I fear.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Monday, May 3, 2004

I Corinthians

“Now this I say , that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Appolos; and I
of Cephas; and I of Christ.....Is Christ divided?...”

The church at Corinth was the most divisive and troubled church in the New
Testament, and perhaps the perfect picture of the churches to-day. Paul loved this
church, but was greatly upset by its divisions. It was mainly the erroneous doctrines
of the Judaizers. As Spurgeon says, “It had more talent than grace, and no pastor
was raised up to conduct its affairs.” Much like a ship without a rudder, that steams
on to its own perils.

Look around and we see this in the modern church. Leaderless organizations, bent
on designing its own purpose, and setting its own goals, and lifting up the talents of
men. Oh, it is busy doing many things. It has out organized the purpose of the
church which was built on a sure foundation by the Lord Himself. You are Peter
(the pebble) and on this foundation (the rock) I will build my church. Peter is not
the foundation. He is just a pebble by comparison. Christ is the Rock! If we build
the church on any other foundation, then we build in vain, even though we may
attract many. I would rather have a godly church of 12 than a mere organization of
400.

Some are of Paul; some of Appollos; some of Peter; and some of Christ. Some are
built on men and their pet doctrines, and some are claiming to be of Christ. Paul
does not separate any of these and says they are equally wrong. We may claim
Christ is the foundation, and proceed to follow our own ways. Paul goes on to ask
the vital question: Is Christ divided? Oh how we must learn this lesson, and learn it
well.

The next thing we notice here is Paul’s concern for the church at Corinth. It has
multiple problems, but still Paul says, “Grace be unto you....I thank my God always
on your behalf.....Paul praises the people for the gifts they do have. He is
acknowledging what these people do have. Before Paul offers words of correction,
he offers words of commendation. A great lesson. What a wonderful handsome
figure you are. By the way, what is that growth on the tip of your nose. We praise
the individual for what they have before we dilineate their faults.

Next time, I shall look at the simplicity of preaching the gospel.

Lord, help us to re-examine the foundation of the church to be sure that we have a
sure foundation that is in Christ alone.

Cheers,

Jim

 

"I've found the pearl of greatest price,
My heart doth sing for joy;
And, sing I must, for Christ I have-
Oh, what a Christ have I."

The essence of reality is embodied in the truth of Christ in our lives.

Cheers, and thank you,

Jim

 

(My apologies for being a little late this morning. We had to rush wife's mother to hospital.)

Wednesday, May 5, 2004

1 Corinthians 1

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God.” 1:18

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”
1:27

Corinth was the capital of a Roman Province and an important seaport. People from
all over the Roman Empire came to Corinth and brought with them their own
peculiar problems; immorality, drunkenness, licence and all manner of debauchery.
This is the backdrop that Paul faced in evangelizing these people. There was also a
strong synagogue in Corinth. Most of the Christians came out of this scenario, and
brought with them many of their former lives, which they incorporated into the
local churches.

One of the principles in understanding Corinthians has to do with culture. If we
ignore culture, then we ignore the principal teachings of Paul. In fact, the main
thrust of Paul’s writing to the church at Corinth, is to counter the false beliefs and
practices that had entered into the church through the Gentile influence upon the
Christians. Keep this forefront as you read Corinthians, and you will rightly
understand what Paul is saying when he speaks on marriage, on separation, on hair
styles, on marriage, on communion. Separate this thought, and you will develop all
kinds of wild imaginative concepts. Some of which people to-day adhere to and
preach so strongly.

Some scholars advocated that there were no elders or pastors at Corinth, and the
primary reason why Paul speaks of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I am sure there were
officers in the church, but again, influenced by the Gentile culture. We see this
to-day when a young minister has been so influenced by one man. He often
becomes more vociferous than his mentor, and wrongly guides his people in the
same path. This was not the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians, but the only
ones we have retained in the Bible. Paul mentions prior writings in 1 Cor 5:9. In
fact, he clarifies something he had written about dealings with fornicators, and
makes it clear that we are to be separate from the world.


“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” Paul is not being
anti-intellectual, as some suppose, but he is saying, the gospel appears foolish to the
unsaved. Think back to before your conversion. How foolish is this teaching that
one man dying on a cross can bring about my redemption. I must work out my own
salvation; I believe in God. Paul says it is not enough to just believe. There is a head
knowledge and a soul knowledge, commonly called a heart knowledge. The former
is at best a good philosophy, the latter the essence of redemption. The simplicity of
the gospel is greatly neglected and we want to submerse everyone in theology and
ecclesiology to bring about redemption. Now we don’t always say this outright, but
on examination, we present it. The truth is that the gospel is quite simple. Believe
on the Lord Jesus and thou SHALT be saved. Nothing in my hands I bring, simply
to Thy cross I cling.

Once we have experienced this we find, “But unto us which are saved it is the
power of God.” Upon salvation we are rightly joint heirs in the power of God. Like
any gift, if we don’t exercise it, we fall by the wayside of lethargy and impotence.
We become as sounding brass. Now the simplicity of the gospel is profound: “But
God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise: and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.”

Lord, help us to understand the simple things, and the profound things will fall into
place. Never let me complicate the gospel, but always afford them opportunity to
perceive God in the light of the simple gospel.

Cheers,

Jim