The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 26

C'HRIST. This is, perhaps, the most striking feature of these introductory verses. Reacl the passage and note the extraoi·dinary number of times mention is made of God and tf Christ. The connection of this with the coming rebulrn is apparent. The Corin" thians ha,·e furgolten God, and therefore they have gone astray. Christ has become less and less to them, and so they have sinned more and more. We quarrel with one another ,ery easily when we get away from our Master. We grow carnal swiftly when God begins to pass out of our thoughts. With heavenly wisdom the apostle floods the minds of the Corinthians with thoughts of God and of Christ. If they can be brought into the light of the Divine presence they will see their corruption, and s~amling once ugain before Jehovah they will be made ready to receive and not to resent a deserved and much-needed rebuke. If they can be brought again well within the attractive influence of the manellous self-sacrifice and love of their Lord, self-will will become crucified, pride humbled, and grateful life and service compelled. Note more particu- larly : 1. The apostle traces his apostleship to Christ and God. He stands before the Corinthians as the appointed representative of their Lord. The position he assumes was gi,en to him by Christ through the will of God. We are what Christ makes us. 2. They are the Church of God, sanctified in Christ Jesus, and their oneness with all <,ther Christians is through Christ (ver. 2), 3. All that they have received, aud in which they glory so much, has come from God and from Chi·ist (vers. 4-6). 4. '!'heir right position is one of waiting for the revelation of Ghrist (ver. 7). 5. Their con- tinuance in the faith and their perfection at last are made to depend upon Christ. 6; At first they were called by God into the fellowship of Christ. Memories of conversion- time are potent. Paul thus strives in every way to take the Corinthians to their Father and to their Lord. The battle of Christian rebuke is half won when gracious thoughts of God and Christ are revived. Erring Christians are likely to be brought to their senses when they are brought to their Master. UL 'l'HE APOSTLE Rl!:MINDS HIS IlEADERS OF CERTAIN THINGS, AND IN THIS WA"i PilEPARES THEM FOR WHAT IS TO FOLLOW. 1. Their Cl,ristian profession. 'fhcy are sanctified or supposed to be. They are known as "saints," and therefore should live' as such. 2. Past mercies, privileges, honours. (Vers. 4-7.) These are so many arguments to seek the Divine pleasure and not their own. And this can be done only by renounc- ing the evil and cleaving to the good. All the redeemed are laid under infinite obliga- tion to li,·e unto the Lord. 3. God's faitlifulness to them. (Ver. 9.) A great argument ,hat they should be exemplary towards him and his kingdom. 4. W/1at the.11 are loolc- ing forward to. ( Ver. 7.) Soon they will be in the visible presence of Christ. We are not far from the judgment. Well may we bear rebuke here, that we may escape rebuke thtre.-H. Vers. 10-17.-Divisions in the Chui·ch. How numerous these have been since Paul wrote! How many of them springing directly from human weakness, folly, or wicked- ness! How alien to the true spirit of Chlistianity, and to the prayer of Uhrist-" That they all may be one"! I. A GREAT EVIL. Cause of: 1. Wealcness. Co-operation hindered. Strength expended in opposing each other instead' of sin and Satan. Great opportunity offered for Satan.ic attack. Unity is strength; division is weakness. 2. Scandal. The con tempt of the world is not only experienced, but largely deserved. 'l'he Head of the Church is dishonoured. The renovator of society shows its own need of renovation. Satan has 1chieved a triumph in the very Chw·ch founded to overthrow him. 3. Unchristia,t feeling. Unity begets more love; division more hate. Church quarrels have often proved most bitter. A united Church is an Elim, a divided Church a Marah. 4. Hin- france to unbelievers. Conversions are stayed by Church di visions. Men seeking peace hesitate to cast in their lot with those who are flying at one another's throats. The strait gate is sometimes quite bloclwd up by bickering, quarrelling Christians. A crucified Christ invites, and a divided Church repels, the sinner. Men can find plenty of division, estraugement, hate, and fight in the world, without troubling to enter the Church. Church division is a serious stumbling-block to the unbeliever, and often causes him to continue an unbeliever. II. ARISE FROM VARIOUS CAUSES. 1. Frequently, as among some at Corinth,/rom favouritism towards leaders in the Church. 'l'his favouritism may be: (1) In respect of 011. 1. 1-31.J 'l'llE FIRST EPISTLE TO rHE CORINTHIANS. 25