WHEN AN APOSTLE IS CONCERNED The tragedy of what can happen to a diverted church was lived out in the church of the Corinthians. What happened among them was inexcusable. They had no difficulty at all receiving "another Jesus," "another spirit," and "another gospel" 1 Cor 11:3), while rejecting the doctrine of the dead being raised, one of the major tenets of Paul's message (1 Cor 15:12). While they continued to examine Paul (1 Cor 9:3), they gulped down the spurious messages brought to them by "false apostles and deceitful workers" (1 Cor 11:13), apparently not examining them at all. They are an example of men who "will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears (2 Tim 4:3).
"Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4
Devotion 29 of 29
This condition is why Paul affirmed he would employ Divine weaponry against those who continued to speak against him as though he was one of their peers. Thus he wrote, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Cor 10:3-6).
I find it more than passingly interesting that there are those within the professed Christian community who hinge some of their major teachings on the book of First Corinthians – as though it was a sort of model church. Legion is the name of those who buttress their particular view of speaking in tongues with this book. Others declare it to be kind of model of the "nine spiritual gifts" which, according to their teaching, are to be found in every church. They conveniently forget that Paul said they did not come together "for the better, but for the worse" (1 Cor 11:7).
Stooping even lower in the pit of religious mire, some affirm that the church in Corinth shows how wrong a people can be and still be "saints," and fully accepted by the Lord. With pretentious boldness they point to the opening of Paul's letter (1 Cor 1:2), his statement about what they formerly were and what they were in Christ (1 Cor 6:11), and inform us how wrong we can really be, yet still be right in the sight of God. Others take their custom of eating a meal associated with the Lord's table, and boldly announce to us that this is what the Lord wants us to do – make the table observe a part of a regular meal. They seem to forget that some Corinthians were smitten with sickness, and others actually died because of their conduct at this table (1 Cor 11:30).
What all of these sophists overlook is that Paul severely upbraided Corinth for their conduct, reminding them that those indulging in such things will not "inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor 6:9). Someone might say that sin is really wrong, and indulgence in it will cause us to lose some rewards, but nothing can really change our status before God. Such folly removes the reason for Paul writing this epistle. It neutralizes the significance of spiritual weaponry, as though it was nothing more than playing with paper swords.
If we will take this epistle seriously, it will confirm the gravity of any professed believer becoming involved in sin. There is provision for the remission of sin, to be sure. However there is no provision for continuance in sin. Woe to the person who imagines that such provision exists, and that sin can continue to be committed with impunity.
It is good to remember that the real Jesus really saves, delivering people from the guilt and power of sin. The real Spirit sanctifies people, leading them to mortify the deeds of the body. The real Gospel is God's power unto salvation. Wherever men are not being delivered from sin, real Jesus is not saving. Where people are not advancing in the crucifixion of the flesh, the real Spirit is not leading. When no moral and spiritual power is found, and men are not being changed from glory to glory, the real Gospel has not been believed. When we have a religious culture in which sin flourishes, holiness is absent, and a state of powerlessness exists, we are being faced with "another Jesus," "another spirit," and "another gospel."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the real Jesus, the real Spirit, and the real Gospel.