Christ’s Divided Church Must Look Only to Him

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

There are divisions here in church. This is not a condemnation just an observation. Even the most united church will have divisions. The reason? We’re sinners saved by grace - we’re being sanctified, there’ll always be remnant sin. Even the disciples, having seen the transfigured glory of Christ, after hearing about his death, even at the last supper argued who’d be first. Division is the devil’s ploy to destroy the church. When the church grew in Jerusalem, he tried persecution. It didn’t work. So he tried division. The believers had all things in common and were happy; but then, some widows started to complain - “those other widows are getting better treatment!” But that’s church life.

We shouldn’t be surprised or discouraged. Disappointed yes! But not discouraged. It shouldn’t cause us to abandon the church neither to stop ourselves from joining her. And yet division is evidence we’re not pursuing holiness. But we’re redeemed to be holy. Sometimes divisions are holy and necessary - like the Reformation - Bible-believers couldn’t compromise with Bible-deniers. But most times it’s unjustifiable and unholy. People fall out over minor issues like preference, methodology, or personality. In 1 Corinthians 1:13, Paul asked a rhetorical question – “Is Christ divided?” The answer is “No!” Then neither should his body! But Paul asked this because the Corinthians were very divided. There are three propositions today. Firstly, division affects gifted and grounded churches who experience God’s grace. Secondly, division arises out of competing attitudes, antagonism and alliances. Thirdly, division is arrested when we look to Christ’s cause, crucifixion, and cleansing.

Firstly, division affects gifted and grounded churches who experience God’s grace. This was the case in Corinth. Verse 4 says they experienced God’s grace - “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” Many were saved. It was remarkable. Paul ministered in Corinth for 1 1/2 years. It was a very rich city, situated between two ports. It was influential as the Roman capital of Achaia. But it was immoral; the famous temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, had many devotees visiting the temple prostitutes. It was also very educated, celebrating Greek philosophy. Despite this, many believed. Acts 18 tells us he preached in the synagogue. When the Jews rejected him, he went to the Gentiles. But from a his preaching, even the synagogue head believed. And in verse 8, Paul baptized him - Crispus was his name. He experienced God’s grace. But not just him. Many believed. Acts 18:8 says, “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” Additionally, verse 1 mentions Sosthenes, whom Paul called our brother. If you recall, he became the synagogue head after Crispus converted. He even charged Paul before the city officials. But he was also converted. That’s why verse 2 says the Corinthians were sanctified, called saints. And verses 8-9, Paul assured them God would preserved them blameless at the judgment because of Christ. So despite the immorality, pagan outlook, wealth, and political pressure; they were saved by God’s grace. Yes, because of immorality, pagan outlook, and attitudes toward wealth that lingered in the church; problems multiplied. But they experienced God’s grace.

But they were also grounded. Paul gave thanks to God for them because verse 5 - in every thing they were enriched by God in word and knowledge. They were a knowledgeable church. Paul spent 1 1/2 years with them. And with him were Aquila and Priscilla - who discipled them just as they did Apollos. Acts 18:5 tells us Silas and Timothy joined them, likely ministering among them. Acts 18:4 tells us Paul reasoned with the people. The word used was “dialogue” - he talked about the gospel and answered their questions. He also “persuaded” them - pressing on their conscience and heart. Also in 1 Corinthians 1:12, Apollos had been there - he had fans there. He was a good speaker. Acts 18:24 called him “an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures.” This is why the church was well grounded. She was so enriched in knowledge she was able to teach it. Verse 5 - she was enriched in all utterance. But grounded churches can be divided!

But not only was she graced and grounded, she was also gifted. Verse 7 says “ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Meaning, they were very gifted - they lacked no gift. The Bible lists many gifts - miraculous ones like prophecy, tongues, and healing; serving gifts like service, mercy, and giving; leading gifts like leading and administration; and teaching ones like exhortation, teaching, and evangelism. So among all the churches, they were the most gifted. You come behind in no gift. And they were actively using their gifts awaiting Christ’s return. But they were very divided! Paul had to exhort in verse 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.” Yes, a grace filled, grounded, and gifted church with serving people can be very divided. Why?

Secondly, division arises out of competing attitudes, antagonism and alliances. Verse 10 Paul exhorts the Corinthians “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.” Churches can be divided because of competing attitudes. Their minds and judgments were not the same. The Greek word for “division” is schismata. It means to tear. There was a rip in the way they thought and judged. And Paul charged them in Christ’s name to be perfectly joined together - to be healed - as in to repair what was broken. The way they thought or reasoned was broken. Maybe they were disagreeing about how to do things, what vision to have, how ministries should be run, etc. Now, often in churches, we have the same desires - for God’s kingdom to grow, people to mature, the lost to be saved, and for him to be glorified. But often, how to do that - we don’t always agree. And we fight. Which is ridiculous. Because we should have the mind of Christ - Philippians 2:1-5 tells us that if there’s consolation in Christ, comfort of love, fellowship of the Spirit, and deep affection, we should be likeminded, having the same love, being agreed, of one mind. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” We may not always have the same ways of doing things - but through mutual submission, esteeming others better than ourselves, we can maintain the same love, accord, and mind. And through that attitude, to be perfectly joined together. But if we want our way - division.

And we see what that division ended in. There was antagonism. Verse 11 says, “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.” Contentions. People were antagonistic. Saved by grace people, gifted people, grounded people - fighting. Could they have been physical? It happens. But what’s also common is passive aggressiveness, silent treatment, avoidance, sarcasm, snide remarks, and outright arguments. We should never shy away from strong discussion - the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:7 had many debates - but there was submission to each other. In the same way, our session has robust debates - but we don’t and shouldn’t take it to heart. Debates are natural and part of the process in church, but contention is carnal. It shows antagonism. Many of us take things too personally. There’s pride involved. And pride does not submit. But when you remove pride, you remove contention, and debates can be robust but fruitful. So the antagonism reveals pride. The Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs wrote a book in 1646 entitled Irenicum: To the Lovers of Truth and Peace. Here’s a summary of what he wrote about holding different positions on issues. Firstly, if you have a minority position, hold it with humility. Secondly, if you’re proud and contentious about a minority position, you won’t be heard. Thirdly, if the majority position holder holds his position tenderly, he may possibly be justified before God. And fourthly, if “scorn, pride, conceit, turbulence” etc. is seen in the minority position holder, he’s not demonstrating the Spirit of Christ. Are we antagonistic? It only leads to division.

And the division revealed itself in different alliances or allegiances. There were factions in church. Verse 12 says, “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.” Everyone was guilty - every one of them was either in Paul’s, Apollos’, or Peter’s party! There was even a Christ party. Paul’s point - they aligned themselves. And this prevented the church from functioning. There were disagreements. “This is how Paul preaches. But it’s not as good as Apollos - Paul is too simple, he doesn’t know how to bring out the meaning. But Peter is very bold. Hngh! I follow Christ - only his words count.” Sometimes we can align ourselves to certain men and ideas that the church can’t function. And everyone was affected.

But how did Paul hear about these fights? Verse 11 says he heard it from Chloe’s family. Who was she? Maybe a member whose business took her people to different parts, and they met Paul to report what happened. Or she could’ve sent them specifically to him to give a report. This tells us there was gossip - Paul knew about the divisions. And it shows Chloe was likely in the Paul alliance. So Paul mentioned her name - to reveal the source, possibly to deter her or others from creating more dissension. Matthew 18 clearly says if we have issues with others, we approach them directly and privately to resolve it. Proverbs 17:9 says, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” And why is there such gossip, slander, and fights? Spiritual elitism exists! Everyone else is a compromiser or less reformed. Everyone else doesn’t match up to a true Christian. Others are serving God wrongly. But this destroys the church. There was a National Geographic photograph of the fossil of two saber-tooth cats locked in combat. One had bitten deep into the leg bone of the other, while the other had bitten its neck. Both lost - neither won. When Christians fight, everyone loses. Paul said in Galatians 5:15 - “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out - you’ll destroy each other.” 

Division arises out of competing attitudes, antagonism, and carnal allegiances. But thirdly, division is arrested when we look to Christ’s cause, crucifixion, and cleansing. Paul asked in verse 13 - “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Why should the church be divided? Christ isn’t. Why should his body be? They were looking to these men - good teachers - but they should’ve been looking at Christ - at his cause. Christ is not divided. He and his Father are one. He’s not divided in mind - he wanted to do his Father’s will - to die for his church. When his disciples at the last supper were divided, arguing who should be first, Christ wrapped a towel around his waist and washed their feet. When he crossed the Kidron Valley, seeing the blood of the sacrificed lambs, he prayed for their unity - still thinking of them when he was going to die. And at the garden, when they couldn’t even stay awake to support him, he submitted himself to die for them. He was singleminded in his cause. And we also look at his crucifixion. Paul didn’t die for you. Neither was John Calvin. No pastor or theologian was crucified for you. Only Christ. How foolish it is to focus on anyone else besides Christ. The fact that people were aligned to men showed they didn’t have Christ in view. We often push our own agenda. But Christ died to remove our pride - even the thief knew he did nothing wrong. He died for his enemies, asking God with his last breath to forgive them. And the centurion acknowledged he was the Son of God. If he died for us, if he’s God’s royal Son, we must take up our cross daily, denying ourselves, to follow him in his humility - because he reigns over us. And let us repent of our belligerence, our allegiances to certain men, churches, or methods; let us repent of our gossip, how we push our own agendas; let us repent of our discouragement, or sinful tantrums of quitting the body, leaving the fellowship, and stirring our anger. In repenting, we must look to Christ alone for cleansing. Paul reminded them, they weren’t baptized in his name. In fact, besides a few people, Paul didn’t baptize anyone else. He came proclaiming the word of this gospel - that Christ alone saves! Paul’s point? We’re cleansed by Christ alone. And if you are cleansed by Christ, you must forsake your sins against his body. Paul pointed them back to their salvation, how they experienced God’s grace, how they were sanctified, called saints - washed by Christ. If we see his cause, his humility in being crucified, are cleansed by him, we’d be less contentious and cantankerous. Is Christ divided? No. But he was broken for you, not just as individuals to be saved, but his body was broken for this body here, that we might be one. As we partake of the supper today, let us all repent of the divisions in our midst. Let us repent of our man-centeredness, our gossip, our pushing of our agenda and not Christ’s. Let us all have the mind of Christ.

1. Division affects gifted and grounded churches who experience God’s grace

A. They were saved by grace

B. They were gifted

C. They were grounded

2. Division arises out of competing attitudes, antagonism and alliances

A. They had competing attitudes

B. There was antagonism

C. They had different alliances

3. Division is arrested when we look to Christ’s cause, crucifixion, and cleansing

A. Christ’s cause is not divided

B. Christ was crucified for us

C. Christ alone cleanses us

Conversation for Change:

1. When there are problems in church, are you normally found in the midst of them? Are you frequently at odds with people? What does this say about you?

2. Read Matthew 18:15-20. Is it permissible to share your problems with another person who is not involved in your problem, when you have no intention of approaching the person you have a problem with? What should you do if someone approaches you in this manner?

3. How desirous are you of the unity of the church? What are the things you can do to promote it?