(Use
the “Back” button or arrow on your device to return to the Study Index when
finished)
1. I Corinthians 9-10: “Discerning the Body”
Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church in Daretown, NJ - AM Worship
Service on 10/29/2000
(edited April 2019)
Today we will be trying to discover in
I Corinthians chapters 9-10 an accurate context for the following statement which
Paul the Apostle makes to that church (and I would say to us, also, today) in I
Corinthians 11:26-28:
“For as often as ye
eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall
eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him
eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”
In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus spoke about
cleansing our rituals by confessing our sins to one another. That relates to all this, but there is more
to it than confessing to one another. About twenty years ago when I was quite
new in the faith, I started attending a conservative church with my wife. At
that time I still wore my hair VERY long and dressed VERY casually. On one
occasion before a communion service at that church one of the elders called me
aside and “confessed” that he did not appreciate my looks and held some general
resentments against me because of it. I kind of wished he had never told me,
though I gave him credit for effort. It didn’t seem to improve our communion
experience and taught me that there are no simple answers to how we can best
“discern” the Body of Christ. There’s more to this than communion services…
WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST ON EARTH. We need to understand how together, not as
soloists (as I did during the music time today!), we can function down here and
even forever as His Body.
Paul’s whole message to the
Corinthians deals with the nature of our earthly ministry in Christ’s stead.
We’ll be zeroing in today on I Corinthians 9-10. I hope with God’s help, we can
discern there very specifically what Christ wants his Body on Earth to do and
to be This sermon title could probably be applied at all of I-II Corinthians.
Chapter 9 deals with Leaders, Pastors,
Chiefs, and Apostles (in Paul’s case). Paul begins with a description of his
own ministry as their leader in Corinth. It starts out this way, “I’m free! I’m
free because the Lord Jesus Christ has set me free!”
Verse 1 (I Cor 9:1): “Am I am not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen
Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?”
Paul’s first-hand
relationship with Christ was the top item on his resume for Corinth…would that
resume be good enough for appointment to lead the Pittsgrove Presbyterian
Church? (Think it over. Would you be impressed by the freedom Paul had found in
Christ?)
Verses 2-11: “If I be not an
apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine
apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat
and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as
other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and
Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who
planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a
flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same
also? For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of
the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it
altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he
that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be
partaker of his hope. If
we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap
your carnal things?”
Paul clearly indicates that a Christian leader who is
truly called by God has a right to expect financial support from the church he
serves. By sharing his faith, Paul had actually founded the church at Corinth.
But look at the next verse:
Verses 13-18: “Do ye not know
that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?
and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the
Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of
these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done
unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my
glorying void. For
though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid
upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this
thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the
gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach
the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my
power in the gospel.”
I believe that Paul is saying that a true Christian
leader must love Christ, God the Father, and other people so much that they
will forsake all else, even financial support, if it gets in the way of
their true Gospel mission. (What an example this man is setting for Christian
leaders! Have you had any pastoral applicants offer to serve for free
recently?) Now right next to FREEDOM on Paul’s resume let’s write down LOVE:
Verses 19-23: “For though I be
free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain
the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to
them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are
under the law; To
them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but
under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as
weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might
by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be
partaker thereof with you.”
In these verses Paul says that he will make himself
all things to all people, in other words, that he would attempt to care and
attend to all, so that the Gospel could prosper in the community. There
was to be no fighting over money or anything less important than the salvation
of the lost and the strengthening of the Body, His Church.
Verses 24-26: “Know ye not that
they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye
may obtain. And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do
it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run,
not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”
Paul realizes that he is promising a lot! His ministry
work ethic will have to be like that of a serious athlete in training. And just
who is he competing against? Well, it’s this World which was and remains
largely Godless and/or apathetic to the things of God; the Devil, filled
with the power of deceit and rage, and the most ironic adversary, Paul’s own flesh-
that corrupt world that exists within all of us.
Have you seen anything like this on any of the pastoral
resumes you have received lately: “I’m a sinner by nature, and I’ve got to
fight my own selfishness or I’ll mess this church up!” Yet that’s, what the
Apostle Paul told Corinth:
Verse 27: “ But I keep under my body,
and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway.”
As a conclusion (this actually means we’re only half
way there! 😊) Let’s move on into I Corinthians chapter 10
Verses 1-10: “Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were
under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And
did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not
well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were
our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also
lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The
people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit
fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed
of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were
destroyed of the destroyer.”
As Paul continues here, the tables have turned and he
makes this very clear: it’s the Congregation, the BODY of CHRIST at
Corinth, the MEMBERS of the
church that really make or break the ministry of the Gospel of our Lord.
The pastor is a tool in God’s hands, a gift to the local Body, but he is not
that Body. No more than any one of us today, alone, can become
the Body of Christ! (You see your new pastor is not auditioning for you, he is
only applying to come here and help train you all for the REAL audition, which
is your performance before God.) Think that over for a second and then
listen to what Paul says next:
Verse 11: “Now all these
things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our
admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
There is, or should be, no doubt that if we rebel in
our day God will, according to Paul, deal with us as He dealt with the people
in Moses’ day. Yes, we are under a New Covenant. But we are not under a new
God! We cannot run the Church, nor can we lead God around. Not even the Pastor
can do that. God will lead His people or He’ll find some people He can lead.
Isn’t that right?
Verse 12: “Wherefore let
him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
Our offertory today was a song I wrote (“Standing in
His Shadow” 1995) around the verse above to help me to “keep under my body” and
selfishness, and pride, etc., etc. In God’s work, selfishness kills! But God is
with us in these struggles as He was with Paul and the Corinthian believers.
Christ understands for He was tempted as we are tempted each day and He cares
enough to help us get through every day:
Verse 13: “There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Next comes this warning:
Verses 14-22: “ Wherefore, my dearly
beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we
being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one
bread. Behold
Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of
the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is
offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice,
they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship
with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye
cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we
provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”
Idol worship and pagan feasts, should Christians
attend? This was a common and very real stumbling block at Corinth. Paul was
compelled to address it, but notice how tenderly he does:
Verses
23-24: “ All things are lawful for me, but
all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things
edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.”
Paul begins laying out
what I’m going to call his “Love over Law” doctrine. This, I think, is at the
heart of OUR NEW Covenant with the Lord today, so let’s hear him well:
Verses 25-31: “ Whatsoever is sold in the
shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is
the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to
a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no
question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in
sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience
sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say,
not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's
conscience? For
if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give
thanks?Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God.”
Paul’s advice for the Christian’s dilemma? Well, he
says in essence, let’s apply common sense to a complex situation (O, how the
Church today needs to apply some common sense!) The world is looking at us, and
they will never turn to us if we appear confused or even ridiculous. We, the
Church, need to face the difficult issues of our day in a way that is
meaningful, sensible, AND spiritual. And Paul is giving us a good example.
That’s how the Church can grow and the Gospel prosper, I think. We can’t just
duck every difficult, complex issue! Paul didn’t, and we can’t either.
Finally (and I really mean that now!) Paul, as their
leader, holds the Body of believers up to the same high standards he set for
himself back in chapter 9 where he presented his resume for church leadership.
If the Church is to grow and reach out successfully to a dying world, as Christ
Himself did on Earth, we can’t afford to offend, or be gruff, or aggressive.
The Body of Christ must be, above all else, CHRISTLIKE: kind, gentle, and
selfless. . . Hey, I never said it was going to be easy!
Listen to Paul:
Verses 32-33: “ Give none offence, neither
to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all
things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be
saved.”
Do you discern the true Body of Christ today in other
believers and yourself in accordance with God’s Word? Do you want, not just to
worship Jesus publicly, but to actually live daily as His Body on the Earth?
Let’s ask God now for help to do just that.
_______________