Unity in Christ
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (NASB)
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
SUMMARY
Apostle Paul was informed that the church of Corinth was divided into factions on the basis of who had baptized them. There were factions of Apollos, Cephas, Paul and Christ. Paul exhorts the church of Corinth to be united in the same mind and same judgment. Apostle Paul urges that they were baptized in the name of Christ, not in the name of the apostle. He says he is thankful that he baptized only a few people. He explains that he was not sent to baptize but to preach the Gospel.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
As a founder of the church of Corinth, Paul was brokenhearted as he heard about the factions of the church. He baptized only Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, but they were quarreling and divided by who had baptized them. Instead of following only Christ Jesus, they made factions of Apollos, Cephas (Peter), Paul and Christ.
How should this be resolved? Paul exhorts them to be united in the same mind and same judgment. How can they be united? The church of Corinth lost their true identity and tried to find it through men who appeared to have worldly wisdom and power. Paul exhorts the church of Corinth that they must be united through focusing on the cross of Christ and the Gospel.
Therefore, in the beginning of his letter, Paul encourages them to know who they are and what their relationship is with Christ. Paul reminds them that they are sanctified in Christ Jesus (v.2), and also that the grace of God is given to them in Christ Jesus (v.4). In addition, Paul claims that they are enriched in Christ in everything (v.5), so they are not lacking in any gift but awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.7). Finally, Paul says, “God is faithful, and they were called into fellowship with Christ Jesus our Lord” (1:9). Paul emphasizes Christ in every sentence from verse one to nine.
What does it mean to be in the “same mind and same judgment”?
Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus displays what kind of mind the body of Christ, the churches, should have. Contrary to the church of Corinth, which was prideful, with jealousy and strife among them, Paul exhorts the church of Ephesus to have humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and love. With that same mind, they can be united for “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father”.
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-4).
Division increases within families, churches, and nations when we are prideful, lack patience, and focus on things or people other than Christ Jesus. If I lose sight of my identity and lose focus on Jesus who is my living hope and Savior, my home, the churches, and this country will be like the church of Corinth. Therefore, I should acknowledge the Lord my God who is the head of my household, the head of the Church, and sovereign King of this world.
APPLICATION
To seek the unity within my family and the church, I will be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” by humbling myself through focusing on Jesus by meditating on His Word and prayer and obeying Him. Within my family, currently only my husband and I do QT daily, but I will have family gatherings after dinner with my children by reading and sharing through Daily Living Water together. I will reach out to sisters who missed the weekly Zoom meeting, to participate in the upcoming meetings to be united in this QT Ministry. I will ask the Holy Spirit to give me discernment and wisdom to keep the unity in my family, our church and the nation.
PRAYER
Father God, I thank you for saving me through the cross of Christ. I thank you for your grace and mercy that I do not deserve. I want to be humble and fix my eyes on you. I repent for my family that we were prideful. I ask the Holy Spirit to clean our hearts to be humble and to love one another. Lord, open our eyes as we seek you together every evening. Fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit and unite us in Christ. Give us unity within my family, the church, and the nations. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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