Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (11) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.  (12) Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or  “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”  (13) Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  (17) For Christ did not send me too baptize, but to preach, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul.  Specific questions had been sent to Paul about divisive issues and we learn more about Paul’s theology and the application of that theology.  It appears that a cult of personality had entered the the church at Corinth  Paul mentions three charismatic figures – who may or may not have been symbolic – of divisive cliques.  The faithful at Corinth were quarreling and dividing into groups with each party having its own leaders.  The Corinthians were proud people and boasting about their “special” leader was boasting about their cleverness in adhering to a particular leader – they are the best faction; the most pure;  the holiest, etc.

Paul’s position was, first of all, directed to “brothers” and not to adversaries.  He had authority to command that this behavior end but Paul chose to “plead” with the faithful.  He is saying that the Corinthians are not tearing each other apart but tearing up the body of Christ which is His church.  Is Christ divided?  Jesus does not belong to one group and at the center of his theology Paul always had Christ crucified and risen.  No man – except Christ, true man and true God – won salvation for the Corinthians and all of fallen man.  Paul’s focus was to preach the gospel of Christ, not to foster a cult of personal adulation.  The application of today’s reading is to remind us to follow the cross – keep your eyes on the goal, run the marathon, win the race.

When I read of the problems with unity in the church of Christ I always think of my dog who loved playing with tennis balls.  No matter what misdirection I used; no matter what fake throws i would make, Bob – the dog – would always keep his eyes on the ball.  Always.  And that is our take home for today.    Keep your eye on the ball.  Follow the cross.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.  (2) To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:  (3)  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Church of God in Corinth.  This church was founded by Paul and had its problems – of heresy, contentious behaviour and sexual immorality.  Paul responds to these continuing problems in Corinth with grateful thanksgiving.

One of the primary themes in Chapter One of this letter is discussing what it means to be called.  He, Paul, has been “called” by the divine will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ – the Corinthians are saints by “calling”.  Paul speaks of God’s “calling” to fellowship; Jews and Gentiles are “called”, and again, at the end of the chapter, Paul writes that God “calls” the Corinthians to salvation.

In verse 3 of today’s study Paul expresses his theological outlook in the words Grace to you.  Grace is God’s free gift to us in Christ.  God forgives us and empowers us to sanctification.    Peace here is not meant as the absence of strife but the presence of positive blessings toward the spiritual health and richness of the individual.  The “saints” at Corinth were saints because of their calling, not their conduct – living saints, who, through faith in Jesus Christ are called by God.  Every true believer is  a saint set aside with Christ as their foundation.  Paul reminds his readers that the church at Corinth possessed all spiritual gifts and reminds them that they have been called by God who is faithful.  God wants them to make use of their gifts.  Paul expresses his confidence, not in the Corinthians, but in God.  Everything is grounded in the fact that God is faithful based upon Paul’s certainty expressed in verse 2.  God is the one acting:  God gives and God keeps.  Thank God.

Then Peter opened his mouth and said “In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.  (35) But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.  (36) The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – (37) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:  (38)how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke and deals primarily with the ministries of Peter and Paul. Acts was not just chronicling historical events of those early days of the Church, but provided an account of words – summaries of words and speeches – gained either first hand or from written or oral testimony of witnesses.  Luke wrote Acts of the Apostles – as he tells us in this letter – to proclaim the certainity of what the audience had been taught.  Luke’s particular perspective was to provide witness to the meaning and implication of the death of Christ Jesus and His resurrection.

In today’s verses we hear of a certain Cornelius who was a centurion of the Italian Regiment.  The specific term used – Italian Regiment – tell us that this was an honored  regiment of the Roman empire and Cornelius held great authority.  Cornelius is further described as a man/gentile who feared God and who was told in a vision to send for Peter who was residing in a nearby city.  The Spirit had also told Peter to receive the men sent by Cornelius and to go with them.

Peter was a Jewish man who was reared in Jewish Law and traditions – at this point in history it was believed that a gentile had to adopt Jewish rules and customs – circumcision and ceremonial law – to be saved.  Peter however was told in a vision that nothing God creates is forbidden.  So this is a radical change.  since the time of Abraham salvation had been seen by the Jews as only from and through the Jews and now the door was opened to salvation for all nations, regardless of race and nationality.

Cornelius is described as God fearing and as doing many good works.  Peter was called by God to explain that good works would not save him – that salvation is by God’s grace and centers on the completed works of Christ Jesus.  Jesus is the issue, and the point of these verses.  Peter was a witness to salvation available through faith in Christ – this was not a vague belief but a specific and personal one.  Jesus and his completed works is our hope and salvation is offered by God to all who believe in Christ Jesus.

It really does matter what we believe.  We can believe clapping our hands will make tinkerbell live but really????  Our sincerity does not matter in reality.  Good works will not get us eternal life.  There is not anything we can do – that is good enough – to earn salvation.  The Bible is clear that faith in the redemptive works in Jesus Christ will provide justification from God:   that we will be made right with God through faith in Christ Jesus.

(2) if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (3) how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery

(5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.  (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul – possibly as a circular letter to be read in all the churches Paul had founded in Asia – while he was a prisoner in Rome.  This letter teaches God’s sovereign plan; the fellowship of Christians in the church as the body of Christ and the reconciliation of the universe – all creation – in Christ.

In the verses we study today Paul tells his readers that the mystery revealed to him to communicate was a direct revelation of God’s word to him to proclaim authoritatively.  Paul’s teachings were to be verified by signs and miracles and become foundations of the Church.  This mystery revealed to Paul to dispense is the inclusion of Gentiles in the kingdom of God  in equal standing with Jewish believers in Christ.  This long hidden purpose of God regarding Christ – not for Israel only – was that every bit of life finds it’s final solution in the Lord Jesus.  The call to the Gentiles was predicted but the full import of the call was not known until this revelation.  What was not predicted was that Jews would not have a privileged position over Gentiles.   The great truth was that Gentiles should be fellow heirs of God’s promise in Christ by the gospel.  The relationship between Jew and Gentile is the one new man, in peace, by the cross.

It was difficult for Jews to accept that Jews and Gentiles would form the “one new man” – one body, the church. This “corporate relationship” is a logical consequence of the gospel that God accepts all who believe in Christ crucified and risen.  This is the revealed mystery and this is a stumbling block for Jews.