Lesson 2037

(Lesson 2037)(05-31-17) 1 Corinthians 1:12-17

"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."

Today's is a summation of all the lessons that are derived from the above quote wherein Paul dismissed the importance of water baptism.

As is apparent in the quote, many members of the church at Corinth were seemingly giving more worship and adoration to the men who had baptized (ritually cleansed) them in water than they were giving to Jesus Christ Himself, the One who's blood had baptized their souls unto eternal redemption. Paul called them out on that very point by saying, "is Christ divided?", was Paul crucified for you?"

Paul was a practicing Jew until he was struck down on the road to Damascus and was converted, he totally understood that water baptism was, and is still, a Jewish tradition that had then, and still has, NO bearing on the condition of the soul of a believer who has been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. That is evident by what Paul said at the very end of the quote; "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."

Paul was very careful to preach the gospel just as Jesus had instructed. He knew that if he varied from the truth in the slightest, those slight misrepresentations could lead to confusion such as had evidently taken over the church at Corinth. NOWHERE in ANY of Paul's writings did he EVER appear to be preaching the idea that one need be baptized (bathed) in water in order to be eternally saved.~

Lesson 2036

(Lesson 2036)(05-30-17) 1 Corinthians 1:12-17

"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."

Today we will further analyze Paul's intentions as he made the above statements to the church membership at Corinth.

In the final part of the quote Paul said, "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 those who contend that water baptism is essential to eternal life, this statement alone, coming from the man who, as he traveled on the road to Damascus was handpicked by Jesus Christ to be the designated minister of the gospel to the Gentiles, should be sufficient proof that water baptism has nothing to do with the salvation. Instead, water baptism is/was a means by which perspective Christians can/could be prepared for, and introduced to, the good news of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ as per the rules of the old Law.

In the next part of the quote, Paul makes clear his divine purpose which was indeed "to preach the gospel". That gospel being; "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

In the very last part of the quote, Paul said he was to preach the gospel, "not with wisdom of words" That means that NOT to use long winded, pointless sermons wherein he added such rituals as water baptism etc, as essential steps to the eventual salvation of one's eternal soul, it would have rendered the ACTUAL means of eternal salvation, "the cross of Christ" of none effect.~

Tomorrow we will summarize the full intent of Paul's message about the "contentions" among the members of the church at Corinth.

Lesson 2035

(Lesson 2035)(05-29-17) 1 Corinthians 1:12-17

"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."

Today's lesson is continued from the same quote as yesterday's wherein Paul begins to unwind, and condemn, the "contentions" that had arisen among the membership of the church at Corinth.

At this point we should re-establish that the "baptized", as it is applied in the above quote, does NOT refer the the baptism of the Holy Ghost that eternally saves the souls of the Lost, bur rather, it refers to the same water baptism of a kind as that which was administered by John the Baptist.

It should be noted that the word "baptized" as it is applied herein is used in reference to a ritual water immersion that was practiced by the Jews as was required by the old Law. It should also be noted that water baptism has NO bearing upon the eternal condition of one's soul. Water baptism was required of all Jews under the Law as a prerequisite cleansing before entering into any type of religious worship service, such as prayer, offering a sacrifice or entering any tabernacle or the temple, for any purpose. Jesus was baptized in water, not to become the Son of God, but rather, because He was an obedient Jew and was required to do so in preparation to surrender Himself as a perfectly obedient sacrifice for the sins of mankind. This is why Paul could say, as he did in the quote, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel". ~

Tomorrow's lesson will taken from the same quote as today's and will help further explain Paul's intentions.

Lesson 2034

(Lesson 2034)(05-28-17) 1 Corinthians 1:12-17

"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."

Today's quote contains several very important points. Therefore, we will attempt to cover them one by one and then compose a summary of all of them at the end of these next lessons.

In the very first part of Paul's statement to the members of the church at Corinth, he defined them as having "contentions" among them. It is obvious, by what he wrote in today's quote, that those contentions had to do with whom each group of the separate groups believed should be more respected in the church. Some obviously felt that the men who had "baptized" them should be looked upon as more of an authority in the church than some of the others who had "baptized".

Paul knew that all of that was trivial nonsense and that no one individual among his peerage was more or less important, or more or less qualified as baptizers. In truth, it made no difference who baptized whom, or for that matter, even IF they were "baptized" in water. Paul was driving home the point that it was Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous Redeemer who should be recognized as the ONLY One who could save their eternal souls by baptizing them with the Holy Ghost. That baptism being the only baptism that ultimately matters.~

We will continue with lessons from today's quote tomorrow.

Lesson 2033

(Lesson 2033)(05-27-17) 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 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."

Today's lesson is a very short one but it is also a very important one, in that it establishes the context for the statements Paul made in the rest of this part of first Corinthians. Note that in this series of lessons Paul is wrote to try and clear up the "contentions" that were within the church at Corinth at that time.~

Lesson 2032

(Lesson 2032)(05-26-17) 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

"Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Today's quote is Paul's salutation to the Christians at Corinth.

Lesson 2031

(Lesson 2031)(05-25-17) Romans 16:17-27

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."

In the beginning of today's quote, Paul warned the Christians in Rome to avoid those who would stir up divisions in the church.

NOTE: I am convinced that this warning was directly related to the beginnings of Roman Catholicism. I say that because the tenets of Roman Catholicism are in direct contrast with the doctrine of Jesus Christ crucified.

In the end of the letter, Paul was careful to give all the Glory to God. Just as we should today in every thing we do.~