1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5, Called to Humble Unity

Theological Proposition/Focus: The call of the Christian is a call to humble unity.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must reject tribalism and instead embrace the unity inherent in humbly identifying with Christ.

Introduction:

Image: The power of a rally call

How many of you have heard the phrase "Give me liberty or give me death?"

The American Revolution gave rise to dozens of rallying cries—“No Taxation Without Representation;” “Join or Die;” “Don’t Tread on Me”—but few had as significant an impact as “Liberty or Death.” The phrase first appeared in a March 1775 address by Patrick Henry, which concluded with the immortal line, “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Henry’s speech convinced the Second Virginia Convention to raise militias, and his words immediately became a battle cry among colonial minutemen, who considered them a symbol of their determination to shake off the yoke of British rule. Many Virginia militia recruits marched under banners emblazoned with “Liberty or Death,” and some even sewed the words onto their shirts.

We have a natural tendency to rally behind something. It seems like it is part of our nature to pick a side. Today I want to warn you about picking sides. Really I want to warn you about making sides in the first place.

Setting the Stage:

We started First Corinthians last week and learned that Paul came to Corinth after his time in Athens. Last week we focussed on our calling to be holy, to be saints. Today I want to add to that that as Christ followers we are called to humble unity.

Body

Tribalism, while seemingly a natural human tendency, must be rejected (1:10-17).

Paul begins this section with a very strong statement. Paul urges (Παρακαλῶ) them as brothers and sisters in the name of Christ.

Paul's use of in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ tells us this is not just a minor encouragement.

The words that Paul has for us are strong, more like commands. Paul's command is pretty simple,

Tribalism must be replaced with unity in both mind and thought (10-12).

The point is that personality-cults, cries of loyalty to a man are wrong, the truth is that we must be devoted to Christ.

specifically,

Devotion must be directed to Christ alone (13-17).

Paul now moves into a series of rhetorical questions to demonstrate the foolishness of tribalism.

Was Paul crucified for you? (note, here the μη is provided!)

Of course Paul was not, Paul is emphasizing the ridiculousness of the divisions occurring in the church.

Image: The devotion of my mom's dog (a Shiba Inu) Thrawn.

I have a great example of what it means to be devoted to one person. My mom adopted my brother's dog when my brother moved to Japan. The dog is a very loyal dog but really a one-person loyal dog and, after several years, is now fully devoted to my mom. So, I was very curious what the dog would do when my brother came home for Christmas. When my brother came home the dog excitedly ran and greeted my brother but quickly went back to my mom to check on her. In fact, that pretty well described the dog. The dog will run out to check on something but never wants to away from my mom for any amount of time. The dog is loyal to my mom! Yes, the dog will go to others or do other things but ultimately the dog always comes back to my mom. That is sort of like the devotion we should ahve to Christ, that kind of devotion breeds unity. Yes, we appreciate our leaders, our mentors but ultimately, we are loyal to Christ.

The cross, while seemingly despicable and foolish, must be embraced (1:18-25).

Remember that Paul has just addressed the issue of tribalism and unity in the church. The solution is a devotion to Christ and the cross is symbolic of Christ's act that is so worthy of our devotion. Paul begins by pointing out that the cross itself, by the worlds standards is an object of shame.

The shame of the cross (18a).

The phrase "the message of the cross" is a synecdoche for the gospel.

A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole. Here, Paul means that the message of the cross is representative of the entire Gospel but Paul rhetorically emphasizes the cross itself because the cross is so shameful.

Image: Going out for steak is another example of synecdoche.

If someone tells you they are going out for steak they almost always mean they will eat more than just some meat.

The culture surrounding death on a cross was one of horror and disdain.

The people saw crucifixion as a terrible way to die.

Cicero described crucifixion as “the cruelest and most terrible punishment” (Verr. 2.5.165). Josephus called it “the most pitiable of deaths” (Jewish War 7.203).

The power of God (18b-19).

However, the cross is actually the power of God.

Notice the comparison that is actually made in verse 18, foolishness vs power (wisdom of God must wait until verse 21)

The foolishness of the world is not first met by the wisdom of God but first by the power of God. Why? Because the wisdom (knowledge) of the world accomplishes nothing but the power of God provides salvation and redeems sinners.

This is important, you can have lots of knowledge and accomplish nothing but God's power saves sinners.

In quoting Isaiah 29:14 Paul argues that God's intention has always been to destroy the world's wisdom which is powerless.

Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”

The people of Jerusalem, professing to know God, were formally involved in acts of worship but they did not worship God from their hearts. They were more concerned with man-made legalistic rules than with God’s Law, which promotes mercy, justice, and equity. Because of that, God would judge them; their wisdom would vanish.

Whenever we choose worldly instead of God we are making the wrong choice, even if we do so in the name of God!

The wisdom of God (20-21).

In contrast to the wisdom of the world we have the wisdom of God.

Verse 20 concludes by emphasizing that the wisdom of this age, the wisdom of the world is foolishness before God's plan.

The Greek word οὐχὶ in οὐχὶ ἐμώρανεν ὁ θεὸς (has not God made) means that an answer of "Yes" is expected (v. 20).

Ultimately, we see that God's wisdom is on display in the Gospel. A wisdom that goes unimaginably beyond what anyone could think of.

The christian's solution to tribalism, embrace the cross (22-25).

In fact, without Christ these two groups really have no hope of unity.

To these two groups Paul emphasizes that that

Humility, while largely missing from our world, must be modeled (1:26-2:5).

We live in world where humility is largely absent. People think a lot of themselves. However, what we need to realize is that

God seems to work not with the best, brightest, smartest, but rather with everyday people (26-29).

Paul is concerned that the Corinthians have fallen for the idolatry of the age, a worship of status.

This status might come from worldly wisdom, power, and nobility but in all cases it was useless in terms of their standing with God. The phrase "not many" suggests that there were some of status in the church, but their status was not what they should focus on, as indicated in verse 27, they needed to focus on God who chooses the foolish things of the world, who chooses the weak things of the world.

The purpose is that no-one may boast before God.

Even in Hellenistic society boasting was looked down upon. In nearly all cases none of us enjoy listening to someone boast about themselves. Yet, if we look deeply we will find that we all seem to enjoy it. But if we carefully consider then we realize that boasting is a major source of disunity. Why because in reality boasting is a sort of tribalism, a way of distinguishing yourself from other. So what is the solution?

God allows His people to boast in Him (30-31).

We must realize that the thing which is worth boasting about is actually God. We also must realize that it is because of God that we are part of Christ's body, that we can identify with Christ. All together this builds to Paul’s quote of Jeremiah 9:24

Verse 31 is a quote of Jeremiah 9:24 which states but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD."

When we boast in the Lord we actually identify a source of unity not divisions.

God desires for his people to place their faith completely in Him alone (2:1-5).

We probably could have an entire sermon on this passage of Scripture but that is not what I want to do today, instead I want to give you one point to focus on. Our faith must be in God alone. This is a point of humility. We reject tribalism and instead turn wholly and fully to God.