The Church (The body of Christ)

I Corinthians 12:10-13   nkjv10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

❓ How much has you understanding matured sense you first became a Christian❓ ➤ By these verses, we see that the church is not supposed to be divided! 

• They were slightly divided over what they taught or how they taught, so they began to argue and quarrel over doctrinal beliefs, not necessarily about the basic faith.

💥   Divisions between believers and the teachings they follow and believe to be true is nothing new.  Even before Jesus came, we saw its effect among the Jewish faith in the days of Christ.➤   You had a group called the: 

(A)  Pharisees   

(B) Another that called themselves the Sadducees (C) You had the Herodians 

(D) The Zealots and others.

➤  Even as Christianity got started, you see the early believers battling with the same issues of who’s right and what teachings can we trust and follow. 

• Instead of saying we are of Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and only of Christ, we say 
• I’m a Methodist, Baptist, Church of Christ, Lutheran, Catholic, etc.

⭐  Paul makes a couple of points very clear that we still don’t seem to get today.  

1.   v11) 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. ➣ Believers are not supposed to quarrel and fight amongst themselves when they have disagreements.

2.   v13) 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  

➣  Believers are not supposed to cause divisions and divide the body of Christ.

3.   v10) 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

➣ If we are saved, follow Jesus, and walk in the Holy Spirit, we can be kept unified and growing together even when we don’t see eye to eye on everything.

⭐ ➤  Even when the disciples found someone teaching the teachings of Christ and casting out demons and demanded that he follow them, Luke 9:49) , Jesus told them to leave him alone.  He didn’t necessarily have to be present with them to be counted as a true follower of Christ.  

• It was about what he believed and what he was doing.
• It was about this other guy not speaking evil and criticizing what the disciples were doing.

Luke 9:49-50) 49 Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.”

💥  Even the disciples were caught up in this behavior long before the church ever got started.  Luke 9:46-48)  46 Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

💥   What’s wrong with divisions? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4)  1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?1.   We are carnal! v1) 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  Worldly in actions, behavior, speech.  Less Christlike, more manlike.

2.  We are spiritually immature. v1,2) Regardless of how wise we feel or how much knowledge we know, we are still immature Christians when we fight and quarrel among ourselves and have divisions.  We are babes in Christ, unable to grow spiritually that would get us beyond being carnal.

3.  We can’t receive the solid food of God’s Word.  We can’t handle it.  (Being wrong or needed to adjust ourselves to the truths of Christ)  

💥  What does this teach?   1 Corinthians 3:1.  BELIEVE THE BASICS!  v1) 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  They believed the basics of the Gospel.  

• They were babes IN CHRIST  Repent of sins, believe that Jesus died for our sins; they needed to be baptized and believe in the Holy Spirit.  
• All mainline churches believe in the basics.

2.   WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM EACH OTHER! v5)  5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

• You don’t have to believe what others teach or how they interpret the Scripture, but you do have to believe in the Bible and what Jesus teaches.
• We do have to follow the truth the Holy Spirit teaches.

3.   WE ARE TO WORK FOR JESUS! v5)  Build the body of Christ. Bring people to Jesus! v5) 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 

• Stop criticizing others and being worldly.  Encourage people to go where Christ is preached!
• They may be only planting, others fertilizing, others watering.  But it’s only God that makes it grow!

4.   BE THE TEMPLE OF CHRIST. (Church) v9) 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

• We are the body of Christ - all believers who believe in Christ and love Jesus.

I’ve met people in all churches that love God, follow Jesus, and are true brothers and sisters in the faith.   I’ve met a lot who don't.

5.   IT’S NOT THE CHURCH BUILDING OR NAME OR WHO WE ATTACH OURSELVES TO. v18) Be careful about condemning those who belong to Christ! v18-23) 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 Therefore, let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.  

• It is the wisdom of humanity and theologians that divides the church. 
• Our wisdom makes us boast and feel we are right while all others are wrong.
• It’s not about what we call ourselves; it is about belonging to Christ and being able to love and grow together with all Christians, regardless of their church affiliations.