Daily Nugget:
The early church at Corinth had a problem that occurs even today within a church family. Some in the ministry declared allegiance to the one who baptized them (I Corinthians 1:12).
Today one hears of similar allegiances. Instead of those claiming to follow early church leaders, as Paul mentioned in this chapter, we hear of some claiming to be “Ruckmannites,” “Calvinists,” “Jimmy Swaggarts,” or another popular preacher or following they model their biblical doctrines after. Even a denominational name is used to make their association with them indicate they are as right as they think their leadership is.
A spiritual leader may be close to God and faithful to biblical teachings. However, following any man closely does not guarantee anyone else is biblically correct. A church label may show general beliefs, but each congregation and member may have different opinions.
I attend a Baptist church. I believe that historically Baptist beliefs have been one of the closest to what the Bible teaches. However, to be honest, many Baptist congregations are as spiritually dead as a doorknob. Some of them have had “Ichabod” spiritually engraved as their epitaph as do many other denominations. God has long ago departed from them. Most labels mean very little.
However, labels often create divisions among the brethren (I Corinthians 1:11). The contentions these divisions make often ruins a ministry’s testimony. Ultimately, disputes among Christians give the Lord a bad testimony.
Can you imagine what the unsaved must think of a church that cannot get along with each other? “They’re Christians, and they can’t get along with each other. I certainly don’t want to be a Christian if I will end up like that!”
Paul reminded those fighting among themselves that Christ was not divided. If we are born again, we are on the same side (see the comment in the Romans 14 devotion). Above all, our testimony that the world should see should be only one label. That label should be “Christian” — or “Christ-like.”
Today’s Thought:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
Words to Understand:
Blameless: cannot be blamed; guiltfree
Contentions: disagreements
Disputer: arguer; debater
Sanctification: set apart for God’s use
Stumblingblock: an obstacle; a difficulty that causes one to change direction either physically, mentally or spiritually
Today’s Reading:
I Corinthians 1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
14 ¶ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
17 ¶ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 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;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
religion does not make a Christian