Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

The Big Idea

Paul mentions Jesus eleven times in the first ten verses of this letter, like a parent saying to a toddler, “Look here!” Then he confronts division: some said “I follow Paul,” others “Apollos,” “Peter” or “Christ.” His answer is always the same: focus on Jesus. Christ isn’t divided, and Paul wasn’t crucified for anyone. Baptism points to our shared union with Jesus, not with a leader. And the message of the cross, foolishness to those who are perishing, is the power of God to us who are being saved, because on the cross Jesus was sinless, Jesus was love, and Jesus turned death into resurrection.

Look to Jesus

Opening 1 Corinthians, we saw that God’s grace changes everything, like a new pair of glasses. It changes how we see our identity, our thoughts and our actions. We’re saints, not sinners: saints who sometimes sin.

So how do we receive this grace? Just Jesus. Look to Jesus alone!

Paul mentions Jesus eleven times in the first ten verses! It’s like he’s talking to a toddler: “Look here! Don’t look anywhere else! Focus on Jesus.”

That’s the way, the gospel. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

It’s so simple. Just look to Him and put your confidence in Him alone. It’s so simple that being smart or talented doesn’t even give you an advantage in this world of grace. Which is great news for the rest of us!

What Happened to the Church?

But here’s my sincere question: What happened to the church over the last two thousand years?

A very brief history:

For about three hundred years the church spread around the world while being persecuted.
Then a Roman emperor professed faith, and Christianity became the empire’s official religion. The persecution ended, but the church became entangled with government power.
Over centuries, East and West split.
Later, as corruption grew in the Western church, reformers like Martin Luther called it back to the gospel, and in time many new denominations formed.
Today many believers around the world identify more with simple faith in Jesus than with any one denomination.

It sounds messy. It sounds like a lot of strong-willed, opinionated people got involved in something that was supposed to be simple.

Focus on Jesus. Live by His grace, which leads to loving God and loving others. Not that hard, right?

No Divisions (1:10)

I plead with you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Divisions means tears or rips. Stop tearing apart the body of Christ!
Joined together was used in medicine for setting a broken bone or putting a dislocated joint back in place.
Divisions are bad. Being joined together is good.
How do we get there?
Speak the same thing about the name of Jesus.
Focusing on Jesus, His name and identity, is the only solution for the messes people make in the church.
Paul just gave ten verses about Jesus and His grace. That’s how we do everything we’re called to do as the church.

“I Follow…” (1:11-16)

Chloe’s household reported quarrels among them. Each one was saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in Paul’s name? Paul was thankful he’d baptized only a few of them, so no one could say they were baptized in his name (1 Corinthians 1:11-16).

Here’s the conflict: identity.

Some were focused on men, and some on Jesus.
Paul: their founder and first pastor.
Apollos: the gifted new teacher.
Cephas: Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends.
Paul says, “Focus! On Jesus.”
Is Christ divided? He’s the Head of His church, one body.
Was Paul crucified for you? Look at Jesus, not men. His love gave birth to all of us. He is the seed that fell into the ground and died, producing a great harvest (John 12:24).

What about baptism?

Baptism is something we receive, like a gift, not something we accomplish.
We say “get baptized” as if it’s a job. But it’s really nothing we do.
A believer is baptized by another believer who’s confident they share the same faith in Jesus. It pictures that you’re part of His body because of what you believe about Him.
Two believers can disagree about almost everything else and still agree on Jesus.
It’s a beautiful chain: believers have passed this on hand to hand, all the way back to Jesus.

Is baptism required for salvation?

No. Ask the thief on the cross (Luke 23:43).
But it’s a helpful, encouraging gift: a way to identify with Jesus and His body.

“But I don’t like the church!” Baptism won’t change the fact that if you believe, you’re already in His body. He’s in you, you’re in Him, and He’s in His church, so you’re part of His church whether you like it or not!

So maybe the answer isn’t avoiding the church, but getting your focus back on Jesus instead of people!

Not with Clever Words (1:17)

Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).

Paul only wants to preach the gospel. Focus on Jesus!
Not with wisdom of words. The gospel isn’t complicated.
That’s why there should be unity in the church.
We get messed up when we divide over things we think we understand better than others.
Jesus’ power has nothing to do with being smart, trained or talented.
The cross is powerful all by itself.
The cross can save anyone who looks to Jesus and believes.
We don’t have to make it complicated. I don’t have to dazzle anyone with intellect or humor.
The cross speaks for itself. I only get in the way when I try to spice it up.

Foolishness or Power (1:18)

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

What is the message of the cross? It’s the gospel, the good news.

Preaching high moral standards isn’t the gospel.
Preaching that all people are God’s children isn’t the gospel.
Preaching the brotherhood of humanity isn’t the gospel.
The gospel is the message of the cross.

Paul says there are only two ways people see it.

Foolishness

“Why would another man’s death mean anything to me?”
It wasn’t a noble death. It was shameful, like being executed in the electric chair, but worse. He hung naked, beaten, mocked and abandoned.
“It means nothing to me, because I don’t need Him.”
“I’m a good person.”
“I’ve been religious.”
“I don’t need religion. I’ve got life figured out.”
“I can’t trust anyone. Everyone’s let me down, especially God.”
“When I die, I expect God to compare me with other people and decide I’m good enough. Am I perfect? No. But no one is, right?”

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. Scripture says that if you reject the message of the cross, you’re perishing.

Yes, it’s exclusive. Yes, it’s narrow. But it’s “narrow-minded” to say you have to breathe to live, or eat, or drink. Narrow doesn’t mean wrong!

The message of the cross says:

Sin must be paid for.
The standard for everyone is perfection (think of the Ten Commandments).
God is perfectly just. He can’t simply let sin go.

The power of God

But that’s not all. To us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Why?

Jesus was sinless on the cross.
– His life was of infinite value.
– He obeyed God in every way, even when His Father asked Him to suffer, die and be forsaken for people who would still reject Him.
– So as He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, we can be set free from our sins by faith in Him alone.
– We could never save ourselves. We can’t even pay our debt.
Jesus was love on the cross.
– When I didn’t deserve love, Jesus loved me.
– When I rejected His love, He loved me.
– When my identity was nothing but shame, pain and disappointment, Jesus ran to me, not away.
– He is love in person.
Jesus turned death into resurrection.
– No one survived a Roman cross. It had a 100% fatality rate.
– And yet Jesus is alive!
– He was seen by His disciples, then by more than five hundred people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6).
– They were persecuted and still stood by the truth of the resurrection, so we can trust it’s still true today.

Jesus rose from the dead to share His power and life with us. He rose so He could send His Spirit to live in everyone who calls on Him in faith. He rose so He could live through you.

Are you perishing, or being saved? The cross is the dividing line for every human life.

Don’t let the world shape your opinion of Jesus. Let His cross speak to you. Believe it!

Grace Takeaway

If you want your life changed, there’s only one way: the cross. You can’t go there and die for your sins; Jesus already did it for you. And by a miracle, His death and life are credited to you by faith alone, putting your hope in Jesus exclusively. That’s the power of God for salvation. Tell Him you’ve heard the message of the cross: Jesus was perfect, Jesus was love, and Jesus gave Himself for you. Admit your sin, which you could never pay for, and ask Him to save you. If you do, it’s done. You’ll be forgiven forever and made a child of God who loves to do His will.

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