First Corinthians 4 Part 3 Causing Division Hinders Spiritual Progress

Let God be Judge and we His faithful servants. 

1 Corinthians 4:1-5  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3)  But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4) For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5)  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

Paul was guided by God's Spirit to connect the believer's future judgment with Christ's command not to be judging others.

When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we will give an account for our faithfulness to the Great Commission. 

Jesus will judge us for our willingness to walk worthy of our Lord and our diligence in waiting and watching for His return while we work for Him.

Jesus will expose our heart motivation for our love and service for God or our lack thereof. 

Since all of this is true, Paul shows us that we ought to live right before God and man, knowing that our Lord will judge us rightly.

Man followers are often puffed up with pride and arrogance. 

1 Corinthians 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 

Rather than naming the names of those who caused internal contentions, Paul put himself and Apollos forth as an examples of those who were forming sects and creating division in the church.

Paul saw no reason to mention the sect leaders by name because he sought their repentance and restoration. 

Thus, he "transferred" to himself and Apollos the acts of those causing division. 

He did this "for their sakes" because he did not want to publicly single out the offenders. 

Paul did not want other church members berating those who created divisions in the first place. 

The bottom line is that Christians are susceptible to following a man rather that the scriptures and Christ. 

Thus, we must learn not to think too highly of men, even good Christian men. Those who extoll a pastor or teacher more than they exalt Christ, often become puffed up. 

Being "puffed up" refers to using a bellows to fan the flames of a forge, or of a blowfish that inflates itself, making it hard for predators to swallow.  

We must know the scriptures well so that we are anchored to God's truth and are not swayed by self promoting men. 

We must be like the Jews at Berea who daily studied the scriptures to verify if what someone taught was truth to embrace or error to be rejected (See Acts 17:10-11).

A man follower is cursed but he who follows God is blessed and productive.

Jeremiah 17:5-8  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6)  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7)  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8)  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 

Jehovah speaking through His prophet Jeremiah, reminds us of the futility of putting our trust in a man. This often leads us astray from the LORD.

Those who trust and follow men rather than God and His Word, are like the dry shrubs and brittle brush in the desert. It is like tinder and will burn quickly when ignited. 

The soul that trusts a man will be disappointed and will become spiritually parched. Those who follow men will find their inner man dying from a lack of pure water from God's Word. 

A man follower has a poor spiritual life, no fruit for God's kingdom and no experiences of the good things from God.

Those who follow God's Word and His Son, Jesus Christ, are like trees planted near a good source of clean water. 

They sink down deep spiritual roots that can withstand the storms and hardships of this life. They bear fruit for their LORD. They enjoy the good things God has for us. 

Boasting is excluded because all that we have we received from God.

1 Corinthians 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

All these things being true, the apostle reminds us once again: "Who made us different from one another?" The answer is that self promoting men created factions and divisions in the church.

They relied upon their own wisdom claiming to have a superior understanding of what truth they received from the apostles.

The sect leaders boasted and were filled with pride as if they came up with these truths, when God gave it to them through His chosen spokesmen.

What had they to glory in, when all their peculiar gifts were from God? They had received them, and could not glory in them as their own, without wronging God.

Let us then seek to give glory to God in all that we think, say and do. 

Psalm 115:1  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 

Boasting is forever excluded. There is nothing we have that we can properly call our own. All that we have is received from God. 

It is foolish in us and injurious to Him, to boast of it. Those who receive all should be humbled because God stoops to provide for our needs. 

We should have grateful hearts because God loved us while we were yet sinners, while we were yet His enemies (See Romans 5:1-11).

This section of Paul's rebuke is as if he said: "If you have all knowledge you claim to have, didn't you receive it from me or one of my fellow helpers, who first preached the Gospel at Corinth?" 

"God never called you to make you an apostle. Do you have any gospel light that you did not receive from our preaching? Why do you glory, boast, and exalt yourself, as if God had first spoken by you, and not by us?"

It was necessary for Paul to confront this sin in the church at Corinth. The apostolic authority must be maintained because they are the chosen spokesmen for God. 

One of the seven things God hates are those who sow discord among the brethren (See Proverbs 6:16-19). 

Therefore, the sin of creating division within the church must be strongly addressed. 

To dismiss the apostolic teaching and promote a new or novel view, is to dismiss the truth God gave us. 

1 Thessalonians 1:5-7  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6)  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7)  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 

Paul held up the Thessalonians as examples of conversion to Christ and faithful living. 

The gospel came to them when Paul preached it in their city. 

The Spirit of God worked with great power, certifying to the Thessalonians that Paul and his fellow workers were speaking for God. 

They observed the good example of Christian living exemplified by Paul and his helpers. 

The Thessalonian Christians followed the apostles and became examples of true conversion to all those living in Asia.

1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 

They received the gospel as it is in truth, the Word of God. They followed the apostolic teaching and doctrine because they saw the power of the gospel at work in their own lives and community.

When Moses spoke to Israel, he spoke the words God gave him to speak.

When the Old Testament prophets spoke to Israel, they declared what God was speaking through them to His people.

The apostle's words must be received and believed because God gave them. 

Matthew 10:16-20  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17)  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18)  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19)  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20)  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 

When the apostles spoke, the Spirit of God gave them the words to speak and preach. Thus, the apostles were exactly like the prophets of old, declaring "Thus saith the LORD" to His redeemed people.

God expects us to hear and heed what He says to us through these men. 

This is why we must study the scriptures to show ourselves approved unto God (See 2 Timothy 2:15).

This is how we live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Believing what God says to us is at the very heart of living for the glory of God.

We must learn and know our Bible.

We must seek God's help to be transformed daily into the image of Christ.

We must ask God's Spirit to lead and direct our studies in His Word.

We must be filled up with scripture so that we can be His faithful witnesses. 

Bob