Lesson 449

(Lesson 449)(10-07-12) 1 Corinthians 1:11-18, "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. 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. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. "

In today's lesson, Paul, in a seeming fit of near rage, demonstrates the insignificance of both those who teach the gospel, and those who administer water baptisms, as their actions should be reflected in the testimonies of the reborn children of God.

It appears that some of these Corinthians, just as many today, were/are giving more praise to the person who had taught, and baptized them, than they were/are to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself.

It has been demonstrated, many times in modern history, that when you take away the "mega pastor", the "mega church" tends to fall apart. Clearly the followers of those modern pastors were following the pastor, and not the gospel of Christ, just as they were in the early Corinthian Church.

Paul asks these Corinthians, "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" He was very clearly telling them that it makes NO difference who teaches, or who baptizes. All faith, and praise, are to be reserved for Jesus Christ crucified and risen.

Paul also demonstrates, in this lesson, that water baptism is of little consequence in the overall scheme of the "operations of God" other than as it identifies the child of God, when he said, "I thank God that I baptized none of you," "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:" If water baptism were to be essential to the salvation of the soul, Paul would have, most certainly, phrased his statement differently because he definitely was sent to teach.

It should be noted that the term "baptized" as it is applied in verse 13 is not a reference to water immersion and should be read , were ye immersed in the name of (gospel of) Paul. Neither is verse 15 referring to water immersion, it should read, lest any should say that I had 'taught' in my own name (or doctrine).

There are those who will undoubtedly say "that assumption is rediculous". However, there is scriptural evidence that "in the name of" is something that, in the Greek language, could be taught. There is an example of this in Acts 8:12, "But when they believed Philip PREACHING the things concerning the kingdom of God, and THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women." Philip clearly "preached", or taught, the name (gospel) of Jesus Christ.
In the last portion of this lesson Paul makes if very clear that to those who don't understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is silliness, but to those of us who have been saved by faith in the abundant grace of God, through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it is our salvation.~