Good morning. We are back
in Corinthians. Paul exhorts them to all agree and that there be no divisions
among them. Some were saying I am of Paul, others said I am of this one or that
one. We have that even today. A few years back, it was I am of Kenneth
Copeland, or some other faith preacher. I don't even know the names of those
today, but I know they are out there. In Paul's day some were so spiritual that
they were even saying I am of Christ, not of these mere mortals. That does
sound spiritual, doesn't it - "Just me and Jesus". Paul says that
there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind
and in the same judgment. He says that Christ sent him to preach the gospel,
not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void.
This is a big part of the first chapter or two of first Corinthians. It's not
man's knowledge or wisdom, but Christ Himself. God knew what He was doing, even
though it did not fit man's way of thinking. If you could figure it out on your
own, you would not need Christ. It has nothing to do with us – it has
everything to do with Christ dying on the cross. 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. That is so true today. To nonbelievers it is foolishness. We
should be the ones having to do this or that in order to be saved. I have to be
the one achieving salvation. But if that were true, then you could brag about
it. But no one can brag about it. It is all up to God. Jesus dying on the cross
is the power of God. Whether or not one believes it; understands it; or accepts
it – it is true. Father thank You that Jesus died on the cross for us. He is
the way, the truth, and the life. By Him we can come into Your presence.
Continue to minister to the reader, and meet his/her every need.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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