1st Corinthians 4:1-21

Read 1st Corinthians 4:1-7

Big Idea: True Christian living goes in direct opposition to the standards and morals of the world. 

Remember that the initial issue that Paul is addressing in his letter is arrogance that led to division. Different factions had broken out in the church over allegiances to different church leaders; Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), and Jesus. Paul is trying to right their perspective on their view of humanity versus their view of God. It doesn’t get any more clear than verse 1. “This is how you should regard us.” Contextually of course he is talking about those who they’ve pledged their allegiance to. This is how you should think about us. This is where you should place us positionally in your minds. We are mere servants of Christ. Our job is to preach the gospel and through the power of the Holy Spirit reveal the mysteries of God, the truths about God that are found in the Scriptures, and truths revealed to us as we write to you. 

And it doesn’t matter to Paul what they think of his preaching style. It doesn’t matter to Paul if they think he is creative, or eloquent, or funny. What matters most to Paul is that he is counted faithful. Faithful to the assignment to which he has been called, to preach Christ. And then he gets to verse 3 and I think we have some really great application right off the bat (Re-read vs. 3). In other words, it does not matter what you think about me, all that matters is that I faithfully preach. It doesn’t matter if you agree with me, all that matters is that I faithfully preach. It doesn’t matter if it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, all that matters is that I faithfully preach the gospel.

I am a people pleaser, always have been. I want people to like me. This got me in trouble in my teenage and early adult years. This has caused much anxiety in my ministry life. What I’ve learned along the way, and what helps me when I get up here every week, is that as long as I faithfully preach the Scriptures, that’s what matters. Does that mean I still don’t struggle? No. Does it mean I don’t enjoy the encouragement after I preach? No, it feels good to be affirmed. 

But here’s the application for us. I believe a lot of the things that hold us back from sharing the gospel are a result of our desire to please people. We fear what it might do to our friendship, what someone might think of us, so we bite our tongue. It doesn’t matter what others think about us, all that matters is that we faithfully preach. And then we leave everything else up to the Lord!

“The reason I tell you this,” says Paul, “is so that you will see and understand the humility by which we try to live.” I tell you this so that you won’t be puffed up against each other. You don’t have anything apart from Christ. Everything you have is because of Him. In other words, what do you have to boast in apart from Christ?! 

We can kind of feel Paul’s emotion building here. As he is writing these words he begins to become overwhelmed with the reality of what he is addressing. And then things get interesting. Paul uses extreme sarcasm to emphasize a point. His point of course is that the young believers in Corinth had become puffed up and conceited. But look at how he does it!

Read 4:8-13

One pastor titled this section “The Delusion of Self-Sufficiency.” They thought they had arrived! You already have all you want! You’re rich! You have become kings! And then quickly Paul steps out of his sarcasm, “Oh but had you really attained the kingdom we would reign with you.” But then right back into it. And here’s where I want to really break things down for us, because in the midst of this passage riddled with sarcasm, we find the true reality of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. 

The Reality of Being a Christian

We have to look at verse 9 in context. When Paul says they are men “sentenced to death, a spectacle to the world,” the Greek word used here is “apodeiknumi,” which was a “technical term for the exhibition of the Gladiators. The word is used to describe the bringing of a person into the arena, condemned to die as a criminal.” One commentator drew the comparison to the apostles by saying, “like doomed gladiators, they were ridiculed, spit on, imprisoned, and beaten.” This was the reality of Paul’s ministry. This is what they were called into. This was the danger of becoming a Christian during that time. 

And then he uses a series of comparisons to reveal the true nature of following Jesus.

Fools for Christ’s Sake (10)

We already talked about this at length a few weeks ago. It’s the idea that the cross is foolishness to the world. It doesn’t make sense. It defies human logic. God emptying Himself of His position in heaven, veiling His glory and dying the most shameful death known to man. Remember Paul said this was foolishness to the Greeks and a stumbling block to the Jews. This isn’t any less true today. People think what we believe is foolishness. It doesn’t align with science, they say. It defies human logic, they say. To take on the name of Jesus means that we become foolish in the eyes of the world. 

Weak (10)

We are all weak, but our weakness becomes more apparent when we become Christians. We understand our need for a Savior. We understand our need for the Lord’s strength. The inverse of that, Paul says, is feeling like we are strong. Feeling like we don’t need anybody or anything. We’ve got it, by our own power, by our own strength, and then our eyes are opened to the truth of the Scriptures, and realize that we can do NOTHING apart from Christ. We are weak. We are frail. And we are daily and desperately in need of the Lord to sustain us. 

Held in Disrepute (10)

Disrepute means “the state of being held in low esteem by the public.” Contextually this was true of the early Christians. They were looked down upon. They were looked at as less. They were persecuted. They were killed. They were not held in high regard. Because of the growth of the Church across the world, I don’t know if this is a universal truth like it may have been then. There are a lot of Christians who are held in high esteem. There are alot of Christians who are honored, and respected, and listened to. 

But, I think conceptually it’s still true. Those that are elevated as successful in our world are the wealthy, the highly educated, those who make a name for themselves. On the other hand, a Christian must be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel. This runs contrary to what the world holds in high esteem. The elevation of self rather than the elevation of others. Multiple partners and promiscuity rather than purity. Storing up treasures on earth rather than treasures in heaven. The way we are called to live goes in direct contrast to how the world tells us to live, and that is not held very highly by a watching world.

Hunger and Thirst / Poorly Dressed / Buffeted / Homeless/Laboring (11)

This was a literal description of the everyday life of Paul. This was another truth that I believe has more relevance in the context of when this was written than it does today. Again, because of the advancement of our world, and the growth of Christianity across the globe, there are Christians in every socio-economic realm. There are well-fed Christians, and there are hungry Christians. There are well-dressed Christians, and there are poorly dressed Christians. There are Christians who live in freedom and safety, and those who are buffeted, which means to “strike repeatedly and violently,” battered and beaten. There are Christians who have a home, and those that don’t. In context, Paul and the apostles struggled every day. They had to work diligently to preach the gospel, and relied on the generosity of others to sustain them. They didn’t have fancy clothes. They didn’t have a place to call home. They were beaten and bruised. This was their reality. 

Paul then moves into a series of responses that we are called to in the face of oppression and persecution. 

Bless When Reviled (12)

Revile means “to criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.” To bless, biblically, has a few different meanings, but here in our text it means a statement of goodwill and happiness that is said about another person. It’s a desire for God to restore His favor on someone. This is so counterintuitive, and goes against our nature. When someone criticizes us, our instinct is not to bless them. That doesn’t make sense. But this is the exact response that we are called to have.

Endure When Persecuted (12)

Don’t give up. If we live out the gospel in our lives, persecution will come. We are promised that. We are called to endure. Persecution looks different for everyone, but when it happens, we don’t shy away from preaching. We don’t back down from the truth. Jesus promised that persecution would come. The disciples and the apostles counted it an honor to be persecuted for the sake of the gospel. 

The challenge for us in this reality begs the question, “am I being persecuted?” And if not, why? Am I not bold enough? Am I not vocal enough? If we are promised it, and it doesn’t happen, why? But, when it does happen, we endure. We continue preaching. Jesus says to “pray for those who persecute you.” He doesn’t say to back down. 

Entreat When Slandered (13)

When someone lies about us, smears our character, spreads false rumors about us, we “parakaloumen,” which is the Greek word which means “to call close beside.” The implication is that when others defame our character, we invite them into our lives and we show them love. I mean this doesn’t make sense.

And that’s the whole point! Paul has turned to drastic measures to illustrate the chasm between worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom. Worldly success and Godly success. Pride and humility. When we said yes to Jesus, we said yes to a different way of living. We said yes to standing up against the philosophies and morals of the world. And standing up for the truth of the gospel has consequences! 

But even though Paul is obviously frustrated with these young believers, He still loves them. Look at how he finished this section. 

Read 4:14-21

Like, I know this is hard to hear, but I don’t want you to feel ashamed. I’m not calling you out to shame you. I am calling you out to challenge you, to warn you about the implications of your actions. I look at you as my spiritual children. And we are called to speak truth in love, to discipline, to guide and steer our children. This is my motivation, says Paul. This is why I sent Timothy to you! He has a maturity about him that I trust. He will speak well on my behalf when he delivers this letter to you. He will do well to remind you of your responsibility as followers of Christ. 

And then he ends with this warning. I’m coming to visit you soon. Get your act together. Wouldn’t you rather I come in gentleness than in continued frustration? Wouldn’t you rather all this is smoothed out before I come, and I don’t have to come with a spirit of correction? 

Big Idea: True Christian living goes in direct opposition to the standards and morals of the world.