WEBVTT

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 Since we're beginning a new sermon series,

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 we just concluded our series through the book of Ephesians.

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 And let me provide a little bit of background

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 for this new letter through 1 Corinthians.

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 So the epistle to the 1 Corinthians

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 written by the Apostle Paul around 55 AD.

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 And Corinth was at the time a Roman colony.

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 And it's a narrow strip of land

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 that connects basically the northern mainland of Greece

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 to the southern peninsula.

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 So it's a narrow strip of land

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 that has the Mediterranean Sea

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 on either side of it to the east and the west.

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 So it's a very strategic location.

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 And because of that, it was a very diverse city.

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 And it's not really not unlike Cambridge and Boston really today.

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 But because of diversity and not just that,

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 the Corinthian church was also very divisive.

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 It was what we might call a problem church.

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 And Paul is having to address a lot of different things.

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 And one of the issues being,

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 they were challenging Apostle Paul's very authority.

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 They were saying, well, I mean, why should we listen to you?

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 I mean, we have these great people to follow.

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 So Paul is addressing a lot of serious problems

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 as he writes this letter.

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 They disagreed on a number of issues,

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 including sexual immorality, lawsuits, marriage and divorce,

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 singleness, spiritual gifts, and public worship.

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 And they were engaging in all this kind of back and forth

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 of one-upmanship with one another.

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 And so Paul is trying to tell them through this letter

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 to stop their one-upmanship and prideful, basically, divisions,

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 and then to unite together for the advancement

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 of the good news of Jesus Christ.

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 So that's really the main point of the reason

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 why Paul writes this letter.

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 And as our church continues to get older,

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 and as our church continues to grow, the Lord willing,

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 by His grace, there will be increasing temptations

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 for disagreements and divisions.

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 And because of that, our hope is that

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 as we go through the first Corinthians together,

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 the sermon series entitled Undivided,

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 that we will come through the end of it

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 stronger in our unity in Christ as a church.

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 And at the root of all forms of divisiveness,

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 and especially the divisiveness of the Corinthian church here,

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 was spiritual pride and elitism,

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 which our passage for today addresses.

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 And there's a book entitled Privilege.

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 The subtitle is The Making of an Adolescent Elite

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 at St. Paul School.

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 It's an interesting sociological study

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 about our social elite and how it develops.

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 And the author's name is Shamus Khan,

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 and he was once a student at St. Paul School,

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 and then he became later a teacher,

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 and then later a researcher at the institution.

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 St. Paul School is a college prep-forter school.

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 It's in New Hampshire.

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 It's one of the most exclusive college prep-forter schools

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 in the whole country.

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 It's one of the eight, I believe,

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 schools in the Eight Schools Association,

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 which is basically the Ivy League of high schools.

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 And so they, it's really hard to get in.

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 And as he was researching this, though,

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 he noted that the most successful students at this school,

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 basically the students that will in the future make up the social elite,

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 are not necessarily the most hardworking students.

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 Instead, he wrote this.

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 He says that they are the students who embody what he calls,

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 in quote,

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 the ease of privilege.

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 He writes,

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 these students,

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 because they were conditioned by their academic,

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 economic, and environmental privilege,

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 they carry themselves with tremendous confidence,

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 and in a sense,

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 this air of superiority about them.

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 And that helps them to get ahead in life,

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 succeed,

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 and to get people's esteem.

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 It's what he calls the ease of privilege.

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 The most successful students,

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 he noted during his research,

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 are people who embody that ease of privilege.

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 But what's interesting about that is also that he notes that

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 while these are the most successful students for this reason,

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 and while they are products of their privilege,

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 they themselves believe that they're successful

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 solely because of their intrinsic talent and hard work.

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 That's kind of the example of social elitism,

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 how that develops.

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 And that kind of mistaken elitism also finds its way in the church.

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 Christians who have been privileged to receive much grace from God

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 can imagine themselves as belonging to this elite class of Christians

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 and look down on other believers.

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 The grace that they have received from God is a gift.

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 They take credit for it themselves

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 and flaunt their own merits.

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 Ah, it's my superior devotion to God.

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 Ah, it's because I serve God more than these people.

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 Ah, it's because I had great mentors and teachers.

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 Oh, it's because of my superior upbringing in a Christian home.

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 Oh, it's because I got a great theological education

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 from this Christian college or seminary.

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 All of us, I would say, have at some point been guilty of this spiritual elitism

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 or have been offended by this spiritual elitism.

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 Probably many of us have done both, right?

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 And the church in Corinth was falling into a similar pitfall.

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 And so Apostle Paul graciously and forcefully addresses this issue

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 in our passage for today.

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 And his main point is this,

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 that those who belong to the church of God

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 by the grace of God should boast only in the cross of Christ.

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 That's the main point.

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 And those will be my three points.

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 It's that the first, the church of God in verses 1 to 3.

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 Second, the grace of God in verses 4 to 9.

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 And lastly, the cross of Christ in verses 10 to 17.

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 Paul begins the letter by identifying himself in verse 1 as the author.

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 Paul called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus

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 and our brother Sosthenes.

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 It's a similar introduction to the one found in Ephesians,

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 but it's actually far more detailed than any other introduction we find

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 in Paul's other epistles.

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 And I think the reason for that is this,

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 because we later learn in the letter that in chapter 4, verses 1 to 5,

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 that these Corinthian believers were judging Paul, right?

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 And we also find out in chapter 9 that they were questioning his apostleship.

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 Is Paul really a true apostle, right?

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 And fully aware of this,

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 so Paul, right from the get-go, emphasized the divine origin of his apostleship.

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 He says,

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 Paul called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 The word apostle can be used generally to refer to the messengers of the gospel,

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 but Paul is using the word in a more formal, official sense

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 to refer to those who belong to the office of apostle,

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 who are laying the foundations of the church

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 by proclaiming authoritatively the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 So he's claiming to be someone who was personally appointed and commissioned

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 by the resurrected Christ to be a church-planting missionary,

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 as 1 Corinthians 9 talks about.

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 So he's saying,

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 I am an apostle by the will of God.

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 And this self-awareness of Paul is very important

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 as we go through this letter as a whole,

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 because on the one hand,

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 Paul is incredibly self-effacing and humble.

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 He doesn't like to take credit for himself.

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 But on the other hand,

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 when it comes to defending his ministry and authority as an apostle,

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 he's very assertive,

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 and he's staunchly defensive of his own basic calling.

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 And I think the reason why we see,

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 on the one hand,

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 great humility and great confidence in Paul at the same time

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 is because he knew,

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 without a doubt,

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 that he were called by the will of God to be an apostle.

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 And so,

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 and that,

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 we'll see,

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 and recognizing that,

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 the fact that he is so,

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 by the grace of God,

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 will be the antidote,

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 will be what heals the spiritual elitism

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 that's besetting the Corinthians at the moment.

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 But Paul also mentions one of his companions,

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 as he writes,

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 he calls him our brother,

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 Sosthenes.

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 It's not clear who he is,

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 but there is a guy that's with the same name

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 that's mentioned in Acts 18, 17,

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 who was a leader in the synagogue there,

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 but later was beaten by an angry Jewish mob.

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 He probably converted to Christianity at this point.

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 And then afterward,

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 joined Paul and his missionary journey.

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 So he mentions him as well

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 as someone who is greeting the Corinthian church.

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 And then,

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 having introduced himself and Sosthenes,

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 Paul names his addressees,

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 the people whom he is addressing in verse 2.

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 To the church of God that is in Corinth,

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 to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,

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 called to be saints together with all those

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 who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 both their Lord and ours.

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 This is very interesting,

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 because nowhere else in all of his letters,

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 except for his two letters to the Corinthian church,

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 Paul addresses his recipients as the church of God.

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 So,

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 in Romans,

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 he says,

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 to all those in Rome

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 who are loved by God

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 and called to be saints.

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 In Galatians,

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 he says,

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 to the churches of Galatia.

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 In Ephesians,

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 he says,

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 to the saints who are in Ephesus.

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 Colossians,

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 he says,

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 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ,

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 the Colossians.

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 In 1 and 2 Thessalonians,

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 he writes,

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 to the church of the Thessalonians in God.

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 But when addressing the Corinthians,

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 he doesn't just call them saints,

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 he doesn't just call them brothers or sisters,

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 he tells them,

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 to the church of God

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 that is in Corinth.

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 And with that phrasing,

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 Paul's intentionally addressing

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 one of their chief problems,

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 namely spiritual pride.

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 Because they don't belong

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 to some special class of Christians

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 distinct from the rest of the churches.

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 He's saying,

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 no,

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 you are one of the churches of God.

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 You belong to him.

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 He is your owner,

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 he is your Lord,

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 and you are the church of God.

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 And because the church belongs to God,

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 they are called sanctified in Christ Jesus,

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 called to be saints.

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 When we hear the word sanctification,

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 we usually think of

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 the progressive sanctification,

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 that Christians,

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 as Christians,

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 we strive to become more like God in our life,

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 and we grow in our holiness day to day.

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 But that's not the kind of sanctification

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 that is in view.

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 What's in view here

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 is what theologians call

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 definitive sanctification,

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 that at the moment we turn to Christ in faith,

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 that we are sanctified,

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 sanctified,

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 that we are,

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 and it's really simultaneous

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 with our justification,

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 that we're considered saints of God

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 in a real way.

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 That's what he references

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 in 1 Corinthians 6,

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 11 later,

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 when he says,

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 you were washed,

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 you were sanctified,

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 you were justified

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 in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ

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 and by the Spirit of our God.

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 It's something that's already taken place.

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 We are sanctified in Christ Jesus

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 when we believe in Jesus for salvation.

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 And then,

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 the fact that they are called to be saints

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 is also speaking about the same reality,

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 right?

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 The words sanctified and saint

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 come from the same Greek word

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 that means holy.

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 And the basic meaning of the word holy

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 is to be set apart,

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 right?

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 So holiness is an attribute of God

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 because God is set apart.

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 He's someone that transcends

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 the created world,

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 right?

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 He's set apart from the rest of the world.

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 And so when something is called holy,

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 where someone is called holy,

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 we're saying that that person

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 is set apart for God's special purposes,

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 right?

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 And so saints are those who are,

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 they're the holy ones.

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 They're the ones who are sanctified.

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 They're the ones who are set apart

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.740
 for God's special purposes.

00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:41.799
 And for that reason,

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:43.439
 church is very special.

00:11:44.200 --> 00:11:46.259
 And Paul freely acknowledges that.

00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:47.759
 However,

00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.279
 the Corinthian church believed

00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.919
 that they were superior to other churches.

00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:56.360
 They were charting an independent course.

00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:58.240
 And because of that,

00:11:58.479 --> 00:12:00.579
 later in 1436,

00:12:00.699 --> 00:12:01.459
 Paul rebukes them.

00:12:01.539 --> 00:12:02.439
 Was it from you

00:12:02.439 --> 00:12:03.639
 that the word of God came?

00:12:03.839 --> 00:12:05.179
 Or are you the only ones

00:12:05.179 --> 00:12:05.979
 it has reached?

00:12:06.479 --> 00:12:06.599
 Right?

00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.759
 So all throughout this letter,

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:10.399
 Paul emphasizes the fact

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.959
 that they belong to,

00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:13.620
 he emphasizes practices

00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.360
 and teachings

00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:16.719
 that are basically found

00:12:16.719 --> 00:12:17.759
 in all the churches.

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.279
 Because Paul wants to bring them back

00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.219
 to,

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.000
 instead of charting

00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.000
 their own independent course,

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.460
 to be united

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.600
 with the practices

00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:25.559
 of the other churches.

00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:25.860
 You know,

00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:26.960
 to reign them back in.

00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:29.200
 And that's what Paul's trying to do

00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:29.960
 in verse 2 here.

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.820
 He's trying to bring them back

00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:32.299
 down to earth.

00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:32.559
 He says,

00:12:32.620 --> 00:12:33.899
 To the church of God

00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:35.220
 that is in Corinth,

00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:37.299
 to those sanctified in Christ Jesus,

00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:38.500
 called to be saints

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:41.299
 together with all those

00:12:41.299 --> 00:12:42.759
 who in every place

00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:43.879
 call upon the name

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.019
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.820
 both their Lord

00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.279
 and ours.

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.779
 Their Lord

00:12:49.779 --> 00:12:50.639
 and our Lord

00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.679
 the same.

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:54.080
 The church in every place

00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.699
 calls on the same name

00:12:55.699 --> 00:12:56.539
 of Jesus Christ.

00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:57.699
 And the Corinthian church

00:12:57.699 --> 00:12:58.500
 is not called to be

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.360
 a superior church,

00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.080
 a better church,

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.240
 a different church,

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:02.360
 but called to be

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.259
 the church

00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.600
 together with all

00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:05.659
 the saints.

00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.559
 And sometimes,

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.460
 this is true

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.379
 in the modern day as well,

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:09.600
 right?

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.039
 Specific local churches

00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:12.980
 and specific denominations

00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.159
 can be so enamored

00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.000
 with themselves

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.779
 that they begin to think

00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.480
 that their way

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.100
 of doing things

00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.040
 is the only way

00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:19.960
 of doing things.

00:13:22.060 --> 00:13:23.019
 They think that they have

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.180
 a monopoly on truth

00:13:24.180 --> 00:13:25.680
 and best practices.

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.019
 But the truth is that

00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:28.860
 every church

00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:29.960
 that calls upon

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.820
 the name of our Lord

00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:31.580
 Jesus Christ

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:33.139
 belongs to the same

00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:34.659
 extended family of God

00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:36.000
 and have the same

00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:37.060
 spirit of God.

00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.159
 And in all likelihood,

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:39.040
 for that reason,

00:13:39.540 --> 00:13:40.680
 there are probably

00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.320
 other churches

00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:42.080
 in the world

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.980
 that have done

00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:44.139
 what we're doing

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:45.340
 and have thought about

00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:46.420
 what we are thinking about

00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.139
 and what we're wrestling with.

00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:48.240
 And therefore,

00:13:48.339 --> 00:13:49.039
 we should assume

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:50.219
 not a posture of pride

00:13:50.219 --> 00:13:51.259
 but a posture of humility

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.839
 and a posture of learning

00:13:52.839 --> 00:13:54.079
 as we dialogue

00:13:54.079 --> 00:13:55.120
 with other churches

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.299
 and with the spirit fellowship.

00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.419
 And after addressing

00:13:58.419 --> 00:13:59.079
 his recipients,

00:13:59.279 --> 00:14:00.339
 Paul greets them formally

00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:01.019
 in verse 3,

00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:02.399
 Grace to you

00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.860
 and peace from God

00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.579
 our Father

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:06.479
 and the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:07.779
 That's it.

00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:10.120
 Paul's trademark greeting,

00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:10.419
 right?

00:14:10.439 --> 00:14:11.199
 Grace and peace.

00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:13.879
 And the same one

00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.199
 he uses in Ephesians 1-2,

00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.580
 the standard Greek salutation

00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.820
 was simply greetings

00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.480
 which is a variation

00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.620
 of the word rejoice,

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.160
 right?

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.600
 But Paul transforms that,

00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:26.580
 just changes one constant here

00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:27.780
 and one verb there

00:14:27.780 --> 00:14:28.379
 and he,

00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:30.520
 to turn that into grace

00:14:30.520 --> 00:14:32.180
 so that the Christian,

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:33.580
 distinctively Christian greeting

00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:35.120
 becomes not just greetings

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:36.360
 but grace.

00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:39.000
 And grace refers to

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.200
 God's unmerited favor

00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:43.560
 as one Bible dictionary puts it,

00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:45.639
 the absolutely free expression

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:47.299
 of the loving kindness

00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.259
 of God to men

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.259
 in the bounty

00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:50.379
 and benevolence

00:14:50.379 --> 00:14:51.579
 of the giver.

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.399
 It's unmerited,

00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:55.439
 meaning that we didn't earn it.

00:14:55.539 --> 00:14:56.639
 It's out of God's

00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:57.679
 absolute freedom

00:14:57.679 --> 00:14:58.539
 that he bestows

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.519
 his grace on us.

00:14:59.579 --> 00:15:00.219
 It's a gift

00:15:00.219 --> 00:15:01.439
 given to us

00:15:01.439 --> 00:15:02.859
 out of his sheer bounty

00:15:02.859 --> 00:15:03.899
 and benevolence.

00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:05.399
 And God treats us

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.239
 with the favor

00:15:06.239 --> 00:15:07.139
 that we don't deserve.

00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:08.079
 That's grace.

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.659
 It's the grace,

00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.839
 the reason for God's

00:15:10.839 --> 00:15:11.379
 saving acts,

00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.639
 all of his saving acts.

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.059
 And if grace is the reason

00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.179
 for God's saving activity,

00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:17.120
 then peace

00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.460
 is the result

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.639
 of God's saving activity.

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.320
 The word peace

00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.159
 doesn't refer merely

00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.500
 to an absence of conflict.

00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:24.639
 It's a translation

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.379
 of the Old Testament

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.360
 concept of shalom

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.159
 which refers to

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:28.419
 a state of being whole,

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.159
 of having a life

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.039
 that is whole,

00:15:31.460 --> 00:15:32.879
 well-ordered before God,

00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.299
 according to God's purpose

00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:35.259
 and design.

00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:35.539
 Right?

00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:38.460
 And that's only possible

00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:40.200
 through the grace of God.

00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:40.660
 So really,

00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:42.100
 when he says grace and peace,

00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:43.200
 Paul's summarizing

00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.420
 his entire theology.

00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:45.040
 The grace,

00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:46.520
 the reason why God saves,

00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:47.120
 and the peace,

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.580
 the result of God's

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.240
 saving activity.

00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:51.200
 May that be to you,

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:51.800
 Paul is saying.

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.580
 That's his blessing

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.420
 as he begins

00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:54.640
 his letter.

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.680
 So the true

00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.500
 church of God,

00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:57.759
 then,

00:15:57.820 --> 00:15:58.520
 is the church

00:15:58.520 --> 00:15:59.660
 that has been constituted,

00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:00.580
 that has been formed

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.759
 by the grace

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.540
 and peace

00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:03.860
 from God.

00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.940
 And that's my first point,

00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.980
 the church of God.

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:07.659
 Then,

00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.240
 having greeted

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.139
 the Corinthian believers

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.220
 as the church of God,

00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:10.879
 Paul proceeds

00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.120
 to give thanks to God

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:13.560
 for the grace of God

00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:14.420
 at work in their lives.

00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.340
 And that's my second point,

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.580
 the grace of God.

00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.300
 Paul says in verse 4,

00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.279
 I give thanks to my God

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.440
 always for you

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:23.539
 because of the grace of God

00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.460
 that was given you

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.899
 in Christ Jesus.

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:28.320
 Notice how Christ-centered

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.379
 this whole passage is.

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:29.879
 Right?

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:30.639
 You look at Christ

00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.159
 is mentioned

00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.659
 no less than 12 times

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.500
 in the span

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:35.459
 of just these 17 verses.

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:35.819
 Right?

00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:37.120
 Paul describes himself

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.839
 as an apostle

00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:38.839
 of Christ Jesus

00:16:38.839 --> 00:16:39.579
 in verse 1.

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.600
 Corinthian believers

00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:41.379
 have been sanctified

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.480
 in Christ Jesus

00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:43.079
 in verse 2.

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.179
 And here in verse 4,

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.100
 he says that grace

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:45.699
 was given

00:16:45.699 --> 00:16:48.000
 in Christ Jesus.

00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:49.699
 And Paul's theology

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.699
 is Christ-centered

00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:51.959
 because he understands

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.199
 that all of the

00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.000
 spiritual blessings

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:54.980
 that we receive

00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.839
 from God the Father

00:16:55.839 --> 00:16:56.799
 are mediated

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.000
 through Jesus Christ.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.120
 There's no grace

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.339
 of God that comes to us,

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.159
 that reaches us

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.919
 apart from Jesus Christ,

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.980
 that doesn't come

00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.319
 through Jesus Christ.

00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:09.240
 The Holy Spirit,

00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:09.980
 our comforter

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.119
 and our advocate,

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.440
 would not indwell

00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:14.559
 us apart from Christ.

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.839
 The sweet fellowship

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.639
 that we enjoy

00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.680
 as the body of Christ,

00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:20.779
 as the family of God,

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.039
 would not be ours

00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:24.200
 apart from the grace

00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:26.139
 through Jesus Christ.

00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:27.359
 That's why Paul

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:28.539
 can't help but speak

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:29.279
 so frequently

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.720
 about Christ.

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:31.379
 Right?

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:32.540
 And later in chapter 2,

00:17:32.600 --> 00:17:32.940
 verse 2,

00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:33.320
 he says,

00:17:33.320 --> 00:17:34.840
 I decided to know

00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:36.460
 nothing among you

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:38.440
 except Jesus Christ

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:40.320
 and Him crucified.

00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.760
 As believers,

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.680
 we need to be characterized

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.440
 by that,

00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.220
 the dominance

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.320
 of Christ

00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:47.520
 in our lives.

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.160
 That's why when we gather,

00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:50.280
 we don't tire

00:17:50.280 --> 00:17:51.500
 of speaking about Christ.

00:17:51.580 --> 00:17:52.320
 We don't ever

00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:53.460
 tire of singing

00:17:53.460 --> 00:17:54.280
 about Christ.

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:54.359
 Christ.

00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:57.240
 That's what God

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:57.500
 ordained.

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.099
 God the Father

00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:59.000
 ordained that Christ

00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:59.740
 will be exalted

00:17:59.740 --> 00:18:00.420
 and the Spirit

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.859
 glorifies the Son.

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.359
 That's,

00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:05.160
 and sometimes I think

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:06.740
 we get a little bit,

00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:09.599
 sometimes I've seen people

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.619
 criticize churches

00:18:10.619 --> 00:18:11.460
 that they say

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.639
 are too Christ-centered.

00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:14.220
 That church is

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.099
 too Christ-centered,

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.200
 too gospel-centered.

00:18:16.879 --> 00:18:17.720
 It's imbalanced.

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.500
 There is no such thing.

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:22.740
 to be Christ-centered

00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.819
 is to be profoundly

00:18:23.819 --> 00:18:24.500
 Trinitarian

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.160
 because that's what

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.859
 God the Father

00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:27.220
 ordained.

00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.019
 That's what the Spirit

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:28.680
 of God does.

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:29.819
 They glorify the Son.

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.400
 Every grace we receive

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.200
 comes through

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.839
 Jesus Christ.

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.460
 And I already explained

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.220
 what Paul means

00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:40.680
 by grace earlier,

00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.940
 but here in verse 4,

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.339
 Paul's not simply

00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:44.200
 speaking about,

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.099
 in general,

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.519
 about the grace of God,

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.920
 but he has in mind

00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:48.619
 as he writes this,

00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.639
 a very specific

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.659
 manifestation

00:18:50.659 --> 00:18:52.459
 of the grace of God.

00:18:53.739 --> 00:18:54.799
 He names what

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.379
 he's talking about

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:56.279
 in verse 48.

00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.639
 I give thanks

00:18:57.639 --> 00:18:58.559
 to my God always for you

00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.500
 because of the grace

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.739
 of God that was given you

00:19:00.739 --> 00:19:01.559
 in Christ Jesus

00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:04.719
 that in every way

00:19:04.719 --> 00:19:06.399
 you are enriched in Him,

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.459
 in all speech,

00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:08.399
 in all knowledge,

00:19:08.679 --> 00:19:09.879
 even as the testimony

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.859
 about Christ

00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:12.399
 was confirmed among you

00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:13.579
 so that you are not

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.000
 lacking in any gift

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.039
 as you wait

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:16.679
 for the revealing

00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.659
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:18.479
 who will sustain you

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.059
 to the end,

00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.779
 guiltless in the day

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.799
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.720
 The grace of God

00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:25.360
 was given

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:27.059
 to the church of God

00:19:27.059 --> 00:19:28.420
 with the result

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:30.140
 that in every way

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.120
 the Corinthian believers

00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.599
 were enriched in Him

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.480
 in all speech

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.019
 and knowledge

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.700
 so that they were

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:36.240
 not lacking in any gift.

00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.120
 So especially here

00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.860
 in the context

00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:39.620
 of 1 Corinthians,

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.460
 Paul closely associates

00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.480
 the grace of God

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.920
 with the gifts of God.

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:45.039
 And that's what Paul

00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:45.880
 is doing here too.

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.780
 He's saying that

00:19:46.780 --> 00:19:47.780
 the gifts of God

00:19:47.780 --> 00:19:48.960
 that you have now

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.500
 among you

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.420
 is an expression

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.800
 of the grace of God

00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:52.900
 and in that Paul

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.700
 is rejoicing

00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.900
 and giving thanks

00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.400
 to God for it.

00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.780
 And he describes it

00:19:57.780 --> 00:19:58.060
 this way,

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:58.240
 he says,

00:19:58.320 --> 00:19:58.920
 they were enriched

00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:00.020
 in every way

00:20:00.020 --> 00:20:01.120
 with all speech

00:20:01.120 --> 00:20:02.120
 and all knowledge.

00:20:02.260 --> 00:20:03.860
 So the full spectrum

00:20:03.860 --> 00:20:04.520
 according to Paul

00:20:04.520 --> 00:20:05.420
 of spiritual gifts

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.500
 have been demonstrated,

00:20:06.760 --> 00:20:07.820
 have been witnessed

00:20:07.820 --> 00:20:09.060
 in the context

00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:10.060
 of the Corinthian church.

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:13.200
 And what does it mean?

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:13.740
 What does it mean

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:15.220
 by speech and all knowledge?

00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:16.799
 So later in 1 Corinthians 12,

00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.279
 Paul lists the various gifts

00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.980
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.599
 And then in verse 8

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.200
 of that chapter,

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.519
 he specifically mentions

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.220
 the utterance of wisdom

00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:26.200
 and the utterance of knowledge.

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:27.720
 So the word utterance

00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.480
 is the same word

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.279
 that is translated here

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.960
 as speech.

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.599
 And knowledge,

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:31.940
 of course,

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.539
 is the same word.

00:20:32.619 --> 00:20:33.539
 So by all speech

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.139
 and knowledge,

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.119
 Paul's referring

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:36.899
 not to just talking,

00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.800
 but to various gifts

00:20:38.800 --> 00:20:40.700
 of spirit-inspired speech.

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.519
 So such as knowledge,

00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:43.120
 wisdom,

00:20:43.420 --> 00:20:43.759
 tongues,

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.340
 prophecy

00:20:44.340 --> 00:20:46.200
 that he all specifically

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:48.160
 mentions in 1 Corinthians 12-14.

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.580
 And interestingly enough,

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:50.800
 though,

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.940
 this is helpful

00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.720
 because in those later chapters,

00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:55.600
 Paul's offering

00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:56.840
 a stern rebuke,

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:57.560
 a correction

00:20:57.560 --> 00:20:59.420
 of how the Corinthian church

00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:02.560
 was thinking too highly

00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:03.160
 of themselves

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.340
 because of their gifts

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:04.900
 of speech

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.080
 and knowledge.

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.139
 in particular,

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:08.059
 the gift of tongues,

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:10.159
 which is a form

00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.500
 of spiritual speech

00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.319
 addressed to God.

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.879
 And I'll teach on the tongues

00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.559
 more specifically

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:16.659
 when we get to 1 Corinthians 14.

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:17.819
 And they thought

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.740
 that because they spoke

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.099
 in tongues

00:21:19.099 --> 00:21:20.419
 that they had spiritually alive.

00:21:20.679 --> 00:21:21.659
 We're already there.

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:23.099
 We're enjoying

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.859
 the fullness

00:21:23.859 --> 00:21:25.019
 of God's presence

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.939
 in the kingdom now.

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.899
 And so they were

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:29.339
 puffed up because of it.

00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:31.019
 And because of this

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.980
 disproportionately enlarged

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.000
 view of spiritual gifts

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.899
 of speech and knowledge,

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.859
 they used them

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.779
 in an unruly

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.819
 and disorderly manner

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:39.339
 in the corporate worship context.

00:21:39.719 --> 00:21:40.379
 And that's why

00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.699
 Paul corrects them later.

00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:43.179
 And so when you keep

00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:44.299
 that context in mind,

00:21:44.419 --> 00:21:45.519
 it's remarkable

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.359
 that Paul thanks God

00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:49.240
 for those very gifts

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:49.939
 that's causing

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:50.699
 all these problems

00:21:50.699 --> 00:21:51.859
 in the Corinthian church.

00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.419
 He says,

00:21:53.719 --> 00:21:54.419
 these very gifts

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.439
 of speech and knowledge

00:21:55.439 --> 00:21:56.219
 are the source

00:21:56.219 --> 00:21:57.199
 that they're

00:21:57.199 --> 00:21:58.099
 manifestation

00:21:58.099 --> 00:22:00.019
 of God's grace.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.160
 gifts.

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.400
 This is a helpful example

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.500
 of not throwing

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.200
 the baby out

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.920
 with the bathwater.

00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:08.599
 So they are

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.900
 definitely

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.400
 misunderstanding

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.200
 the spiritual gifts

00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:13.079
 and definitely

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:14.019
 misusing

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.819
 the spiritual gifts.

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.519
 But nevertheless,

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:16.379
 Paul says,

00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.519
 that is a real

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.200
 and good demonstration

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.079
 of God's grace.

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.920
 And for that part

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.119
 of that,

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.059
 I thank God.

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:27.079
 And Paul is,

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:27.299
 I think,

00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:28.319
 completely sincere

00:22:28.319 --> 00:22:28.980
 when he offers

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.720
 that thanksgiving.

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.019
 It's,

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.619
 I think that's remarkable

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:35.980
 because,

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.259
 you know,

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:37.399
 it's easy for me

00:22:37.399 --> 00:22:38.460
 to thank God

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.099
 for you guys.

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:41.179
 I can pray this passage

00:22:41.179 --> 00:22:42.159
 on behalf of you guys

00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:42.740
 because I'm thankful

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.500
 for you all.

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:44.879
 And it's easy

00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.559
 for me to do that.

00:22:45.679 --> 00:22:47.500
 But to be in Paul's shoes,

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.700
 to be writing

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.639
 to the church,

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.559
 that's challenging

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.940
 his very apostleship.

00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:56.759
 And for him

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:58.099
 to write about

00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.759
 the very things

00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.259
 that's causing

00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.720
 the strike

00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.139
 and discord

00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:00.519
 in the church

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:00.960
 and for him

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.339
 to say,

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:01.799
 you know what,

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.179
 I know you're

00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:04.099
 kind of messing

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:05.259
 the use of that up,

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.960
 but I still thank God

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.799
 that that's an evidence

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.839
 of God's grace for you.

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.039
 That's such a helpful

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.919
 practice for us

00:23:10.919 --> 00:23:11.460
 as we relate

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.079
 to one another.

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.759
 That helps us

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.720
 to bear with one another,

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.159
 doesn't it?

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.279
 Yeah,

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:22.779
 you were

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:25.039
 sinning in that way.

00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:25.460
 Yeah,

00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:26.119
 you are messing

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.920
 that up in that way.

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.819
 But you know what,

00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:28.799
 I see that grace

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:29.500
 of God in you.

00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:35.579
 And even as he's

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.220
 thanking God

00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.799
 for the Corinthians,

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.879
 the gifts that are

00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.859
 among the Corinthian believers,

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.759
 he also pastorally

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.819
 redirects them.

00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.279
 Right?

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.819
 And he does that

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.420
 in two ways.

00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:45.799
 First,

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.339
 rather than emphasizing

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.200
 the gifts

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.440
 in and of themselves,

00:23:50.399 --> 00:23:51.319
 Paul emphasizes

00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.519
 the grace of God

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.740
 in giving these gifts

00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:54.480
 to them.

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.919
 So he focuses

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.539
 on God

00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.619
 as the giver

00:23:57.619 --> 00:23:59.200
 instead of the recipients

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.299
 as the gifted.

00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.019
 Right?

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.960
 And by redirecting

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.679
 the Corinthian believers

00:24:03.679 --> 00:24:04.539
 focused in that way,

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.480
 he calls for greater

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.439
 humility among them.

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:06.819
 He's saying,

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:07.720
 in essence,

00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.460
 what you have

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.799
 is a gift from God.

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.919
 You didn't earn it,

00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:12.539
 so why boast about it

00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.899
 as if you didn't

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.839
 receive it freely

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.460
 from the Lord?

00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:18.220
 In the same way,

00:24:18.299 --> 00:24:18.859
 when we encounter

00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.159
 highly gifted people

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.759
 in our church,

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.080
 and there's quite a few

00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:23.640
 highly gifted people

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.240
 in our church,

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.740
 as you look at them,

00:24:25.800 --> 00:24:27.300
 we shouldn't admire them

00:24:27.300 --> 00:24:28.279
 in and of themselves

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.980
 and be jealous of them,

00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.960
 but rather we should

00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.420
 adore and thank God

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.420
 for the gifts

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.320
 that they have.

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.320
 It's good to acknowledge

00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:39.240
 one another's gifts,

00:24:39.580 --> 00:24:40.240
 that's true,

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.720
 but our focus

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.279
 shouldn't be,

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.279
 oh, how gifted

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.600
 is so and so,

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.320
 but rather,

00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.360
 oh, how generous

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.660
 of our God

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.740
 to give them those gifts.

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:52.799
 Second,

00:24:53.099 --> 00:24:54.019
 he redirects them

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.480
 another way,

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:54.700
 second,

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.720
 the Corinthian believers

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.500
 thought that the

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.220
 spiritual gifts

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.140
 were evidence

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.920
 of their spiritual arrival.

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.980
 I mentioned this earlier,

00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:01.299
 right?

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.920
 And he addresses this

00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.940
 in greater depth

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:04.799
 in chapter 4

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.640
 and chapter 13,

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.799
 but they were basically

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.900
 acting as if their salvation

00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.440
 was already fulfilled

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.359
 and consummated,

00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:11.759
 right?

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.339
 They have all that

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:14.240
 is needful

00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.019
 to enjoy

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.940
 the fullness of Christ.

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.860
 That's what they believed

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.860
 because they had these

00:25:19.860 --> 00:25:21.240
 gifts of tongues

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.059
 and prophecy

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.840
 and all of this.

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.740
 But what Paul reminds them

00:25:24.740 --> 00:25:25.240
 of is that

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.480
 the gifts that they

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.299
 possess currently

00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:28.700
 is not evidence

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.759
 of their arrival,

00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.000
 but evidence of their

00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.779
 waiting for arrival,

00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:34.799
 arrival and return

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.620
 of Jesus Christ.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.279
 So he says in

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.160
 verses 7 to 8,

00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.560
 so that you are not

00:25:38.560 --> 00:25:39.600
 lacking in any gift

00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:41.060
 as you wait

00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:42.259
 for the revealing

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.880
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.120
 who will sustain you

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.680
 to the end,

00:25:46.040 --> 00:25:47.460
 guiltless in the day

00:25:47.460 --> 00:25:49.720
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.680
 Paul says very clearly

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.779
 in chapter 13

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.220
 of this epistle

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:55.519
 that the spiritual gifts

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.580
 like prophecy and tongues

00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:57.580
 will cease

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.920
 when Christ returns

00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:00.400
 because their purpose

00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:01.960
 is to build up the church

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:03.920
 until they are fully built up.

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:05.320
 So the very existence

00:26:05.320 --> 00:26:06.100
 of those gifts

00:26:06.100 --> 00:26:06.840
 is a sign

00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:08.400
 that we have not arrived,

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:10.080
 that we are not done

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.700
 being sanctified,

00:26:10.820 --> 00:26:12.100
 we are not done growing,

00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:14.039
 that we need to wait eagerly

00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:14.620
 for the coming,

00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.720
 second coming of Christ.

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.779
 And I think

00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.560
 those two things

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:18.100
 are connected.

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.080
 Perhaps it's because

00:26:19.080 --> 00:26:20.320
 we are not eagerly

00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:22.039
 awaiting the return of Christ.

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.360
 We are not eagerly

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.380
 preparing ourselves

00:26:24.380 --> 00:26:25.500
 for the return of Christ

00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.700
 and for that reason

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.860
 we don't eagerly desire

00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:28.900
 the spiritual gifts.

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:31.660
 because if we see

00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.900
 the need for our preparation,

00:26:33.060 --> 00:26:33.700
 if we see

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.519
 and anticipate

00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.259
 the coming of Christ,

00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:35.980
 then we will want

00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.900
 to be edified,

00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:38.500
 we will want to be built up

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.440
 and the spiritual gifts

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.680
 are given for that purpose.

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:45.660
 And so Paul wisely

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.480
 reorients

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.759
 these Corinthian believers

00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:49.040
 even while he's sincerely

00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:50.240
 thanking God for them.

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.060
 And then Paul expresses

00:26:53.060 --> 00:26:54.220
 his faith that God

00:26:54.220 --> 00:26:55.600
 will sustain them

00:26:55.600 --> 00:26:56.340
 to the end,

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.340
 guiltless in the day

00:26:58.339 --> 00:27:00.799
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.919
 Man, the Corinthians

00:27:02.919 --> 00:27:04.740
 are far from guiltless

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:06.240
 and misguided

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:07.299
 in so many ways.

00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:09.059
 So what gives Paul

00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:09.959
 such confidence

00:27:09.959 --> 00:27:12.379
 that they will be sustained

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.220
 until the end?

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.919
 The answer we find

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:16.519
 in verse 9.

00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:20.500
 God is faithful

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:22.980
 by whom you were called

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.179
 into the fellowship

00:27:24.179 --> 00:27:25.119
 of his Son,

00:27:25.459 --> 00:27:26.399
 Jesus Christ,

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.599
 our Lord.

00:27:28.339 --> 00:27:29.939
 I'm so grateful

00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:30.579
 for that verse.

00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:32.559
 The basis for Paul's faith

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.480
 that the Corinthians

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.319
 would be sustained

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.839
 to the end

00:27:34.839 --> 00:27:36.659
 is not their faithfulness

00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:38.699
 but God's faithfulness.

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:42.299
 Because even if we are faithless,

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.759
 he remains faithful

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.980
 for he cannot deny himself.

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:48.179
 2 Timothy 2.13

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:50.440
 Now that does not mean

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:51.400
 that we do not have to

00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.460
 persevere in our faith.

00:27:52.460 --> 00:27:54.039
 We do have to persevere

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.620
 to the end.

00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:57.160
 But the preserving grace

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:57.799
 of God

00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:00.000
 is prior to our own perseverance

00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.120
 because it's God

00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.560
 who enables our perseverance.

00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:04.620
 Our perseverance itself

00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:07.279
 depends on God's faithfulness.

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.460
 And that's why

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.100
 the subject of the verb

00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.640
 is God.

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.060
 In verse 8,

00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:11.799
 he says that God

00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:12.720
 will sustain them

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.500
 to the end.

00:28:13.580 --> 00:28:14.240
 Some people debate

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.940
 whether the subject

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:16.019
 is Christ or God,

00:28:16.120 --> 00:28:16.620
 but either way,

00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.739
 it's the same difference.

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.639
 It's God,

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.319
 not us,

00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:20.279
 who is sustaining.

00:28:21.899 --> 00:28:23.079
 The word sustain

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.859
 in verse 8

00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.719
 actually is exactly

00:28:24.719 --> 00:28:25.479
 the same word

00:28:25.479 --> 00:28:26.899
 that is translated

00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:27.759
 as confirmed

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:29.039
 in verse 6.

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.179
 So Paul repeats

00:28:30.179 --> 00:28:31.219
 that same word

00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.019
 to emphasize

00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:32.959
 the fact that

00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:33.439
 the God

00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.179
 who initially

00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:35.219
 confirmed

00:28:35.219 --> 00:28:35.879
 the testimony

00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:36.619
 about Christ

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:37.199
 in our midst,

00:28:37.479 --> 00:28:38.559
 he's the same God

00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.419
 who will confirm

00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:40.379
 our salvation

00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.679
 in the end.

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:46.799
 It's God

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.400
 who guarantees

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.039
 our salvation

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.700
 from the beginning

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.180
 to the end.

00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.220
 That's what makes

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.900
 Paul so hopeful.

00:28:54.320 --> 00:28:55.560
 And that attitude

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.680
 also informed

00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:58.200
 Paul's perspective

00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.900
 about the Corinthians.

00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.700
 That's super helpful

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.440
 for us as well.

00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:02.220
 As we look at

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:04.000
 each other's shortcoming

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.060
 as the family of God,

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:08.919
 we remind ourselves

00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:11.679
 as we see

00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:12.980
 each other's sins,

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:15.539
 we remind ourselves

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:17.819
 that's just dross

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:19.299
 that is being removed

00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:21.259
 from the gold

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:22.819
 that will be.

00:29:26.419 --> 00:29:27.099
 That's not

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.139
 who we will be

00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:28.619
 in the end.

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.799
 God's going to sustain

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.679
 us to the end

00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:32.299
 because God

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:33.159
 is faithful.

00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:34.740
 So that gives us

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.800
 hope as we pray

00:29:35.800 --> 00:29:36.420
 for one another

00:29:36.420 --> 00:29:37.240
 and as we live

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:37.740
 together

00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:38.540
 in seeking

00:29:38.540 --> 00:29:39.440
 to grow in Christ.

00:29:41.040 --> 00:29:41.720
 So that's my

00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.080
 second point,

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.960
 the grace of God.

00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.640
 We belong

00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:44.779
 to the church of God

00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:46.380
 by the grace of God.

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.920
 And after

00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:50.120
 the introductory

00:29:50.120 --> 00:29:51.040
 greeting and thanksgiving,

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.840
 Paul turns to the

00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.779
 main body of his

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.820
 letter in verse 10

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.500
 where he teaches

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.400
 that those who belong

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:56.340
 to the church of God

00:29:56.340 --> 00:29:57.740
 by the grace of God

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.740
 should boast only

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.880
 in the cross

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.860
 of Christ.

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.720
 And that's my third point,

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.660
 the cross of Christ

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:05.300
 and he finds it

00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:06.400
 necessary to emphasize

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:07.420
 the cross of Christ

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.279
 for this reason.

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.460
 Let's read verse 10

00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.860
 together.

00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.880
 I appeal to you,

00:30:12.040 --> 00:30:12.320
 brothers,

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.620
 by the name

00:30:13.620 --> 00:30:15.120
 of our Lord Jesus Christ

00:30:15.120 --> 00:30:16.500
 that all of you

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.080
 agree

00:30:17.080 --> 00:30:18.519
 and that there be

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.420
 no divisions

00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.019
 among you

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:21.060
 but that you be

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.400
 united in the same

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:23.640
 mind and the same

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.460
 judgment.

00:30:25.840 --> 00:30:26.980
 The word that is

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:28.120
 translated agree

00:30:28.120 --> 00:30:29.200
 literally means

00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.779
 speak the same

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.800
 in Greek.

00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:32.599
 And so

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.700
 three times

00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.299
 in this verse

00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.200
 Paul is repeating

00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.819
 this word

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.379
 same.

00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:37.220
 So he says

00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:38.099
 to emphasize

00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.319
 the importance

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:39.680
 of unity

00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.259
 he exhorts

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.980
 him to speak

00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.539
 the same

00:30:41.539 --> 00:30:42.299
 and to have

00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:42.919
 the same

00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.319
 mind

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:43.859
 and to have

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.539
 the same

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.379
 judgment.

00:30:46.059 --> 00:30:46.579
 And Paul

00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.299
 does that,

00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.039
 exhorts this

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.720
 with the authority

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.319
 of Christ.

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:49.659
 He says,

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.720
 I appeal to you

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.500
 brothers by the

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.559
 name of our

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.919
 Lord Jesus Christ

00:30:53.919 --> 00:30:55.119
 that all of you

00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.980
 agree and that

00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:56.539
 there be no

00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.980
 divisions among

00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.279
 you.

00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.899
 you know,

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.180
 for us

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.819
 moderners,

00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.839
 telling other

00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:03.819
 people to

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.660
 agree with

00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.039
 each other

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.660
 kind of strikes

00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.460
 us as a little

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.220
 strange and

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.599
 maybe a little

00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:08.139
 bit pushy,

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:08.440
 right?

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.180
 I mean,

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:09.599
 how can you

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.099
 tell someone

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.619
 to agree?

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.220
 If they agree,

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.559
 they agree.

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:11.980
 If they don't,

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.399
 they don't,

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:12.579
 right?

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:12.819
 I mean,

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.119
 how can you

00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:13.599
 tell someone

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:14.059
 to agree?

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.279
 And that's

00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:15.700
 kind of how

00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.279
 we think about

00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:16.420
 it.

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.359
 But when it

00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:17.980
 comes to our

00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.960
 confession of

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.420
 faith,

00:31:19.619 --> 00:31:19.720
 right?

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.500
 Because Paul's

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.039
 not here,

00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.160
 and this is

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.700
 actually not,

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.980
 for Paul this

00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.619
 is actually kind of

00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:27.479
 common when he

00:31:27.479 --> 00:31:28.000
 tells people to

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.439
 have the same

00:31:28.439 --> 00:31:29.000
 mind and agree.

00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:29.779
 And in

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.500
 Philippians 4,

00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:30.739
 2,

00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.219
 actually he

00:31:31.219 --> 00:31:31.339
 says,

00:31:31.479 --> 00:31:32.019
 I entreat

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.659
 Eodia and

00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:33.159
 I entreat

00:31:33.159 --> 00:31:34.259
 Syntyche to

00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:35.399
 agree in the

00:31:35.399 --> 00:31:35.639
 Lord,

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.039
 right?

00:31:36.079 --> 00:31:36.759
 So he tells

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.299
 them to agree

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:37.559
 because they

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.279
 were disagreeing

00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:38.879
 about something.

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.219
 So this is a

00:31:40.219 --> 00:31:41.399
 very different,

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.919
 it's radically

00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:42.639
 different from

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.419
 our kind of

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.919
 modern day

00:31:43.919 --> 00:31:44.759
 perception of

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.779
 agreement and

00:31:45.779 --> 00:31:46.439
 people's own

00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:47.399
 opinions because

00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.459
 the modern

00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:49.219
 motto is to

00:31:49.219 --> 00:31:49.959
 each is home,

00:31:50.199 --> 00:31:50.779
 to each his

00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:50.959
 own,

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.159
 right?

00:31:52.199 --> 00:31:52.899
 Whatever you

00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.199
 believe,

00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:53.759
 you believe,

00:31:53.879 --> 00:31:54.239
 and I'll

00:31:54.239 --> 00:31:54.500
 believe,

00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:54.959
 I'll

00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:55.139
 believe.

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:55.399
 I mean,

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:55.799
 that's really

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.199
 the modern

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.559
 attitude.

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.420
 But for

00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:57.680
 Paul,

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.240
 that's not

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.700
 the attitude.

00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.160
 He says,

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.160
 I appeal to

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.299
 you,

00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:00.480
 brothers,

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.059
 by the name

00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.259
 of our

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.660
 Lord Jesus

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.120
 Christ that

00:32:02.120 --> 00:32:02.700
 all of you

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.059
 agree.

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.200
 In Paul's

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:04.500
 thinking,

00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:04.980
 he believes

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.319
 that in the

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:05.819
 context of

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.220
 the church,

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.059
 it's possible

00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:07.740
 for believers

00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.799
 to agree.

00:32:10.080 --> 00:32:10.840
 But what

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:11.240
 are we supposed

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.100
 to agree on?

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.960
 Paul is not

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.519
 telling us to

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.279
 agree on every

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.620
 single personal

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.480
 preference or

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.400
 taste or

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:18.799
 opinion,

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.660
 but when it

00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.319
 comes to our

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.340
 confession of

00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:21.940
 faith,

00:32:22.340 --> 00:32:23.039
 when it comes

00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:24.120
 to our knowledge

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.660
 about Jesus

00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.240
 Christ,

00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:26.819
 Paul expects

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:28.299
 and enjoins

00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:29.099
 agreement.

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.339
 In short,

00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:30.799
 he's calling

00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.599
 for unity,

00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.099
 not uniformity,

00:32:33.420 --> 00:32:34.000
 and he says

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.759
 in Ephesians

00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.620
 4.13 that

00:32:35.620 --> 00:32:36.019
 the church

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.620
 should strive

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.460
 to attain

00:32:37.460 --> 00:32:38.359
 to the

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.380
 unity of

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.180
 the faith

00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.240
 and of the

00:32:41.240 --> 00:32:42.180
 knowledge of

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.140
 the Son of

00:32:43.140 --> 00:32:43.539
 God.

00:32:43.799 --> 00:32:44.660
 So he's calling

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.240
 here for a

00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:46.440
 confessional unity

00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.480
 that deals with

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.620
 the content of

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.000
 our faith,

00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:50.000
 especially that

00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.599
 which concerns

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.539
 the knowledge of

00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.099
 the Son of

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.339
 God.

00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:55.139
 And the fact

00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.579
 that that's the

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.119
 kind of unity

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.699
 Paul has in

00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.299
 mind is

00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.079
 confirmed in

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.639
 later verses.

00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.059
 You get

00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.220
 verses 11-13

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:00.599
 with me.

00:33:00.699 --> 00:33:00.879
 It says,

00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.039
 For it has

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.839
 been reported

00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:04.000
 to me by

00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:04.759
 Chloe's people

00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.359
 that there is

00:33:05.359 --> 00:33:06.099
 quarreling among

00:33:06.099 --> 00:33:07.159
 you, my

00:33:07.159 --> 00:33:07.579
 brothers.

00:33:08.899 --> 00:33:09.740
 What I mean

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:10.319
 is that each

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.919
 one of you

00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:11.299
 says,

00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:12.119
 I follow

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:12.519
 Paul,

00:33:12.919 --> 00:33:13.959
 or I follow

00:33:13.959 --> 00:33:14.599
 Apollos,

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.639
 or I follow

00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:16.159
 Cephas,

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.599
 or I follow

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.199
 Christ.

00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:20.360
 Is Christ

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.840
 divided?

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:22.200
 Was Paul

00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:23.059
 crucified for

00:33:23.059 --> 00:33:23.299
 you?

00:33:24.059 --> 00:33:24.640
 Or were

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.240
 you baptized

00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:25.980
 in the name

00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.559
 of Paul?

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.319
 So Paul,

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:29.740
 this is so

00:33:29.740 --> 00:33:30.279
 fascinating,

00:33:30.420 --> 00:33:30.940
 but Paul

00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:31.460
 received a

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:31.860
 report from

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.440
 Chloe's people.

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:32.900
 I have no

00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:33.420
 idea who

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:33.880
 those people

00:33:33.880 --> 00:33:34.160
 are,

00:33:34.299 --> 00:33:35.160
 but most

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:36.000
 likely Chloe's

00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:37.940
 people didn't

00:33:37.940 --> 00:33:38.700
 belong to the

00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.279
 Corinthian church

00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:39.819
 because he

00:33:39.819 --> 00:33:40.500
 cites their

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.019
 report as

00:33:41.019 --> 00:33:41.539
 something that's

00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.759
 credible and

00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.160
 objective,

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.700
 something that

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.100
 the Corinthian

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.640
 believers would

00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:45.039
 accept.

00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:46.100
 And if they

00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:46.640
 were one of

00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.380
 the factions in

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:47.779
 the Corinthian

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.059
 church,

00:33:48.200 --> 00:33:49.279
 it probably

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.819
 would not be

00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.200
 a reliable

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.759
 thing to

00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.460
 cite.

00:33:51.940 --> 00:33:52.120
 And so

00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:52.360
 Paul,

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.080
 these are

00:33:53.080 --> 00:33:53.380
 probably

00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:53.880
 kind of

00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.600
 third-party

00:33:54.600 --> 00:33:55.860
 believers who

00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:56.100
 are on

00:33:56.100 --> 00:33:56.720
 their way to

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.380
 Paul,

00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.080
 stopped by

00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:58.480
 the Corinthian

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.860
 church and

00:33:58.860 --> 00:33:59.799
 got to

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.319
 witness this

00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:00.880
 first hand.

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:01.860
 And they're

00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:02.880
 reporting some

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:04.019
 serious issues

00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:04.519
 in the

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:05.680
 Corinthian church

00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.319
 that they are

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.100
 taking on

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.880
 names of

00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.780
 various Christian

00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.980
 leaders as

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.820
 slogans for

00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.720
 themselves and

00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:12.699
 declaring allegiance

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.780
 to them in

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.699
 a position to

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.300
 others.

00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.059
 The fact that

00:34:18.059 --> 00:34:18.840
 only some

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.299
 of the people

00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:19.619
 said,

00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:20.199
 I follow

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.639
 Paul,

00:34:20.759 --> 00:34:21.440
 shows clearly

00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.759
 that there

00:34:21.759 --> 00:34:22.139
 were people

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.360
 in the

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.679
 Corinthian

00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:23.440
 church who

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.259
 opposed Paul

00:34:24.259 --> 00:34:24.820
 himself.

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.440
 Others

00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:27.739
 claimed,

00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:28.119
 I follow

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.719
 Apollos,

00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:28.920
 or I

00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.579
 follow Cephas,

00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:29.940
 which is

00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.340
 Peter.

00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:31.639
 And still

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.179
 others,

00:34:32.400 --> 00:34:32.920
 arrogantly,

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.000
 claiming to

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.840
 rise above

00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.299
 the fray,

00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:35.779
 they said,

00:34:35.980 --> 00:34:36.500
 oh, I

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.559
 follow Christ.

00:34:37.559 --> 00:34:37.599
 Christ.

00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:40.799
 I mean, that

00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.480
 seems pious

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:41.779
 on the

00:34:41.779 --> 00:34:42.920
 surface, but

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:44.380
 claiming to

00:34:44.380 --> 00:34:46.779
 saying, I

00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.739
 follow Christ,

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.179
 not as a

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.719
 way of trying

00:34:49.719 --> 00:34:50.139
 to bring

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.860
 people together

00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:51.599
 into unity,

00:34:52.179 --> 00:34:52.960
 but as

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.799
 another one of

00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:54.340
 the factions

00:34:54.340 --> 00:34:54.900
 saying, oh,

00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.519
 you follow

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.099
 Paul, I

00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:56.779
 follow Christ.

00:34:56.860 --> 00:34:57.139
 I mean, that

00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:57.719
 shows their

00:34:57.719 --> 00:34:58.279
 immaturity.

00:34:59.139 --> 00:35:00.179
 This is also a

00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.699
 problematic

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.440
 attitude that

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:01.840
 they had.

00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.619
 They suffered

00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:04.480
 from the same

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:05.699
 spiritual elitism

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:06.500
 that the

00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:06.960
 others were

00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:07.500
 guilty of,

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:07.799
 even though

00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.319
 they're saying

00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:08.960
 what is true,

00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.359
 that we

00:35:09.359 --> 00:35:09.639
 should all

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.219
 follow Christ.

00:35:11.379 --> 00:35:12.019
 And we

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.460
 can easily

00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.039
 become guilty

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.339
 of this

00:35:13.339 --> 00:35:13.719
 ourselves,

00:35:13.839 --> 00:35:14.199
 can't we?

00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:15.639
 At the

00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.259
 local level,

00:35:16.379 --> 00:35:16.819
 a group of

00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:17.359
 believers can

00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:18.159
 say, you

00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.799
 know, I

00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.679
 follow pastor

00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:20.439
 so-and-so.

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.359
 He preaches

00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:23.779
 the best

00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.239
 sermons.

00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:27.379
 Oh, yeah?

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.019
 Others can

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:29.299
 say, I

00:35:29.299 --> 00:35:30.059
 follow pastor

00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.879
 so-and-so.

00:35:31.899 --> 00:35:32.899
 He's wiser

00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:33.679
 and more

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.099
 mature.

00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:35.399
 Right?

00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:37.599
 At the

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.179
 more regional

00:35:38.179 --> 00:35:38.779
 level, a

00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.099
 group of

00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:40.079
 believers can

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:40.859
 say, oh, I

00:35:40.859 --> 00:35:41.579
 follow John

00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:41.960
 Piper.

00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:44.019
 He's the

00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.659
 most biblical

00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.359
 and bold.

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.779
 And then

00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:48.259
 others can

00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:48.679
 say, oh,

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:48.899
 yeah?

00:35:49.679 --> 00:35:50.319
 But he's so

00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:51.259
 overbearing and

00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:51.960
 inflexible.

00:35:52.419 --> 00:35:53.279
 I follow Tim

00:35:53.279 --> 00:35:53.619
 Keller.

00:35:54.419 --> 00:35:55.099
 He's much more

00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.779
 reasonable and

00:35:55.779 --> 00:35:56.259
 nuanced.

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.819
 At a more

00:35:58.819 --> 00:35:59.579
 historical level,

00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.039
 people can

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:00.539
 say, you

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.919
 know, I

00:36:00.919 --> 00:36:01.699
 follow John

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.099
 Wesley.

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.919
 Because he

00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:04.759
 really understands

00:36:04.759 --> 00:36:05.439
 the prominence

00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:05.880
 of the Holy

00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.300
 Spirit.

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:08.260
 And then

00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:08.659
 others will

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.380
 say, oh,

00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:09.579
 yeah?

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:10.740
 I follow

00:36:10.740 --> 00:36:11.340
 John Calvin.

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.740
 Only he

00:36:13.740 --> 00:36:14.420
 really understood

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:14.980
 the doctrines

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.539
 of grace.

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:19.019
 That hits way

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.579
 too close to

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:19.920
 home, doesn't

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.079
 it?

00:36:20.820 --> 00:36:21.599
 It does for

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:21.960
 me, too.

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:25.579
 The problem

00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.179
 is not these

00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.019
 men's ministry

00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.700
 per se, but

00:36:28.700 --> 00:36:29.579
 that we use

00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.579
 their names for

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.440
 the purpose of

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.280
 asserting our

00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:32.760
 spiritual

00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:33.480
 superiority

00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:36.240
 over other

00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:36.660
 people.

00:36:37.820 --> 00:36:38.180
 That we are

00:36:38.180 --> 00:36:39.260
 dividing and

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:41.000
 quarreling rather

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.540
 than seeking

00:36:41.540 --> 00:36:42.200
 agreement,

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.680
 seeking unity.

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.340
 A similar

00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:46.800
 thing was

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.540
 happening within

00:36:47.540 --> 00:36:48.120
 the Corinthian

00:36:48.120 --> 00:36:48.400
 church.

00:36:48.580 --> 00:36:49.080
 And we

00:36:49.080 --> 00:36:49.460
 don't know

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:49.980
 the details

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.580
 of what each

00:36:50.580 --> 00:36:50.820
 of these

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.180
 groups of

00:36:51.180 --> 00:36:51.680
 people were

00:36:51.680 --> 00:36:52.320
 claiming for

00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:52.720
 themselves,

00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:53.380
 but there

00:36:53.380 --> 00:36:53.960
 seems to

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.720
 have been a

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.680
 particularly loyal

00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:56.320
 following of

00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:57.000
 Apollos,

00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:58.380
 because Paul

00:36:58.380 --> 00:36:58.940
 specifically

00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.440
 mentions

00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.860
 Apollos several

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.400
 times throughout

00:37:01.400 --> 00:37:01.840
 his letter.

00:37:02.559 --> 00:37:03.240
 He says in

00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:03.780
 chapter 3,

00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:04.639
 verse 3-7,

00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.720
 For while there

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:06.539
 is jealousy and

00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.360
 strife among

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.000
 you, are you

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.559
 not of the

00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:09.179
 flesh and

00:37:09.179 --> 00:37:09.880
 behaving only

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.380
 in a human

00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:10.700
 way?

00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:11.639
 For when one

00:37:11.639 --> 00:37:11.980
 says, I

00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.740
 follow Paul,

00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:13.260
 and another,

00:37:13.420 --> 00:37:13.900
 I follow

00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.840
 Apollos, are

00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:15.480
 you not being

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.179
 merely human?

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.440
 What then is

00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.039
 Apollos?

00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:18.940
 What is

00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:20.039
 Paul, servant

00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:20.539
 through whom

00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.300
 you believe as

00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:21.639
 the Lord

00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.240
 assigned to

00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:22.559
 each?

00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:23.579
 I planted

00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.079
 Apollos'

00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:24.659
 water, but

00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.360
 God gave

00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:25.920
 the growth.

00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:26.780
 So neither

00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.599
 he who plants

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:28.500
 nor he who

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.059
 waters is

00:37:29.059 --> 00:37:29.960
 anything, but

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.079
 only God

00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:32.039
 who gives

00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:33.019
 the growth.

00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.000
 And then

00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.900
 later, in

00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.659
 chapter 4,

00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.259
 verse 6, he

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:39.079
 encourages the

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.820
 Corinthian believers

00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:40.759
 to learn from

00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:42.039
 his example and

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.559
 Apollos'

00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.759
 example, and

00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.860
 to not to go

00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.480
 beyond, I'm

00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.179
 quoting, not to

00:37:46.179 --> 00:37:46.840
 go beyond what

00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:47.679
 is written, that

00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.239
 none of you may

00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:49.440
 be puffed up in

00:37:49.440 --> 00:37:50.299
 favor of one

00:37:50.299 --> 00:37:51.599
 against another.

00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:52.219
 So that's the

00:37:52.219 --> 00:37:52.779
 problem here.

00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.779
 Some people were

00:37:53.779 --> 00:37:54.900
 getting puffed up

00:37:54.900 --> 00:37:55.739
 in favor of

00:37:55.739 --> 00:37:56.659
 Apollos against

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.659
 Paul, and

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.360
 vice versa.

00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:01.099
 And we

00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:02.159
 could infer

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:02.840
 what the

00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:03.239
 problem might

00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:03.500
 have been,

00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:04.159
 because Acts

00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:05.159
 18.24

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:05.820
 teaches us

00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.599
 that Apollos

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:07.420
 was a native

00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:08.400
 of Alexandria,

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.159
 an eloquent

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.679
 man, competent

00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.759
 in the

00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:13.119
 scriptures.

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.699
 Alexandria was

00:38:15.699 --> 00:38:16.159
 an ancient

00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:17.079
 city famous

00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:18.039
 as the center

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:18.519
 of Greek

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:20.000
 philosophy, and

00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.840
 Apollos was a

00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:21.440
 learned and

00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.239
 eloquent man,

00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:22.679
 and the fact

00:38:22.679 --> 00:38:22.920
 that he's

00:38:22.920 --> 00:38:23.659
 described as

00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:24.759
 eloquent probably

00:38:24.759 --> 00:38:25.759
 refers to his

00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:26.980
 Greek training,

00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:27.799
 formal training

00:38:27.800 --> 00:38:28.420
 in Greek

00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:29.720
 rhetoric, which

00:38:29.720 --> 00:38:30.420
 means he was a

00:38:30.420 --> 00:38:31.400
 trained philosopher

00:38:31.400 --> 00:38:32.180
 and a trained

00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:33.620
 orator like the

00:38:33.620 --> 00:38:34.519
 traveling Greek

00:38:34.519 --> 00:38:35.320
 philosophers of

00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:35.880
 that time.

00:38:37.560 --> 00:38:38.360
 And Corinthians,

00:38:38.580 --> 00:38:39.240
 it seems, were

00:38:39.240 --> 00:38:40.340
 enamored with

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.420
 Apollos' gift,

00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:42.920
 with his

00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.440
 ability.

00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:46.220
 And so they

00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:46.840
 developed a

00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.240
 cult of

00:38:47.240 --> 00:38:48.080
 personality around

00:38:48.080 --> 00:38:48.340
 him.

00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:50.039
 And that

00:38:50.039 --> 00:38:50.580
 happens so

00:38:50.580 --> 00:38:51.180
 often nowadays

00:38:51.180 --> 00:38:51.560
 too, when

00:38:51.560 --> 00:38:52.060
 someone that's

00:38:52.060 --> 00:38:52.760
 very charismatic

00:38:52.760 --> 00:38:53.720
 or gifted, a

00:38:53.720 --> 00:38:54.080
 cult of

00:38:54.080 --> 00:38:55.019
 personality develops

00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:55.460
 around a

00:38:55.460 --> 00:38:55.780
 person.

00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:57.580
 And they

00:38:57.580 --> 00:38:57.900
 were saying

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:58.260
 to Paul,

00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.000
 Paul, okay,

00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:00.600
 well, he's an

00:39:00.600 --> 00:39:01.820
 accomplished Jewish

00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:02.540
 theologian, we'll

00:39:02.540 --> 00:39:04.240
 admit that, but

00:39:04.240 --> 00:39:07.420
 Apollos, he's the

00:39:07.420 --> 00:39:08.280
 Greek philosopher.

00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:09.720
 Have you ever

00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:10.460
 heard him preach?

00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:14.080
 He's got the

00:39:14.080 --> 00:39:14.640
 real goods.

00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:15.220
 We follow

00:39:15.220 --> 00:39:16.060
 Apollos.

00:39:16.360 --> 00:39:16.920
 That's the

00:39:16.920 --> 00:39:17.640
 attitude that

00:39:17.640 --> 00:39:18.720
 Paul's dealing

00:39:18.720 --> 00:39:19.080
 with.

00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.700
 And so that's

00:39:20.700 --> 00:39:21.340
 what he seems to

00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:22.160
 be aiming at

00:39:22.160 --> 00:39:22.760
 when in chapter

00:39:22.760 --> 00:39:23.400
 two, verses

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.080
 one to five,

00:39:24.160 --> 00:39:24.740
 it's a preview of

00:39:24.740 --> 00:39:25.200
 next week where

00:39:25.199 --> 00:39:25.500
 he says,

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.659
 And I, when I

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:27.239
 came to you,

00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:28.139
 brothers, did

00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.239
 not come proclaiming

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:29.539
 to you the

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.399
 testimony of God

00:39:30.399 --> 00:39:31.519
 with lofty

00:39:31.519 --> 00:39:32.419
 speech or

00:39:32.419 --> 00:39:32.960
 wisdom.

00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:34.619
 For I decided to

00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:35.539
 know nothing

00:39:35.539 --> 00:39:36.379
 among you except

00:39:36.379 --> 00:39:37.439
 Jesus Christ and

00:39:37.439 --> 00:39:38.119
 him crucified.

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.399
 And I was with

00:39:39.399 --> 00:39:40.339
 you in weakness

00:39:40.339 --> 00:39:41.659
 and in fear and

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.659
 much trembling.

00:39:42.980 --> 00:39:43.759
 And my speech and

00:39:43.759 --> 00:39:44.339
 my message were

00:39:44.339 --> 00:39:45.159
 not in plausible

00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:46.000
 words of wisdom,

00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:47.219
 but in demonstration

00:39:47.219 --> 00:39:48.839
 of the spirit and

00:39:48.839 --> 00:39:50.019
 of power so that

00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.879
 your faith might

00:39:50.879 --> 00:39:52.000
 not rest in the

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.919
 wisdom of man,

00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:54.199
 but in the

00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:55.539
 power of God.

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.299
 All of this is

00:39:58.299 --> 00:39:59.379
 absurd nonsense

00:39:59.379 --> 00:39:59.799
 to Paul.

00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.379
 Because he

00:40:01.379 --> 00:40:02.299
 corrects the

00:40:02.299 --> 00:40:02.859
 Corinthians in

00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:03.679
 verse 13 with a

00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:04.579
 series of rhetorical

00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:05.079
 questions.

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.679
 Is Christ divided?

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:08.219
 Was Paul crucified

00:40:08.219 --> 00:40:08.839
 for you?

00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:09.699
 Or were you

00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:10.619
 baptized in the

00:40:10.619 --> 00:40:11.759
 name of Paul?

00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:13.719
 There's only one

00:40:13.719 --> 00:40:14.659
 Jesus Christ, and

00:40:14.659 --> 00:40:15.079
 that means there's

00:40:15.079 --> 00:40:16.759
 only one body of

00:40:16.759 --> 00:40:17.559
 Christ, which is the

00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:18.699
 church of God, so

00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:20.139
 that divisions and

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:21.239
 factions should have

00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:22.779
 no place in the

00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:23.199
 church.

00:40:25.679 --> 00:40:26.439
 And Paul's

00:40:26.439 --> 00:40:27.019
 clearly not

00:40:27.019 --> 00:40:27.759
 impressed, even

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.379
 with the people

00:40:28.379 --> 00:40:29.039
 who are saying,

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:30.039
 I follow Paul,

00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:30.399
 right?

00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:31.739
 He's saying,

00:40:31.859 --> 00:40:32.579
 what is Paul?

00:40:33.179 --> 00:40:34.159
 Was Paul crucified

00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.659
 for you?

00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.439
 If they thought

00:40:36.439 --> 00:40:36.759
 that they're going

00:40:36.759 --> 00:40:37.419
 to win some points

00:40:37.419 --> 00:40:38.239
 with Paul by saying,

00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:39.219
 oh, I follow Paul,

00:40:39.299 --> 00:40:39.959
 they were dead

00:40:39.959 --> 00:40:40.399
 wrong.

00:40:42.179 --> 00:40:43.339
 He's not impressed

00:40:43.339 --> 00:40:44.099
 that his name is

00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:44.799
 being used as a

00:40:44.799 --> 00:40:45.279
 slogan, because

00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:46.239
 that's not what he

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:47.079
 wants for himself

00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:48.139
 or Apollos or

00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:48.979
 anyone else.

00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:50.360
 to be baptized

00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:51.159
 into the name

00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:51.880
 of someone is

00:40:51.880 --> 00:40:53.039
 to owe your

00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:54.000
 allegiance to that

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:54.340
 person.

00:40:54.619 --> 00:40:55.380
 That's why Christians

00:40:55.380 --> 00:40:56.079
 are baptized in the

00:40:56.079 --> 00:40:56.579
 name of the Father

00:40:56.579 --> 00:40:57.079
 and the Son and

00:40:57.079 --> 00:40:57.659
 the Holy Spirit.

00:40:57.900 --> 00:40:58.800
 So of course they

00:40:58.800 --> 00:40:59.719
 were not baptized

00:40:59.719 --> 00:41:01.179
 in the name of

00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:01.519
 Paul.

00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:04.619
 But it seems that

00:41:04.619 --> 00:41:05.260
 the Corinthians are

00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:06.119
 making a big deal

00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:07.099
 of who baptized

00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:07.460
 them.

00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:08.320
 Oh, you got

00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:09.139
 baptized by Paul?

00:41:09.260 --> 00:41:09.619
 Guess what?

00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:10.440
 I got baptized by

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:10.960
 Apollos.

00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:14.320
 But Paul rebukes

00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:14.960
 this kind of

00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:15.300
 attitude.

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.119
 And the mention

00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:17.740
 of baptism

00:41:17.740 --> 00:41:18.960
 sidetracks Paul

00:41:18.960 --> 00:41:19.740
 for a bit, and

00:41:19.740 --> 00:41:20.280
 you guys probably

00:41:20.280 --> 00:41:20.820
 noticed that as

00:41:20.820 --> 00:41:21.340
 we were reading,

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.860
 in verses 14 to

00:41:22.860 --> 00:41:23.539
 16 he says,

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:24.880
 I thank God

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:25.500
 that I baptized

00:41:25.500 --> 00:41:26.099
 none of you

00:41:26.099 --> 00:41:27.460
 except Crispus

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.199
 and Gaius, so

00:41:28.199 --> 00:41:28.880
 that no one may

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.380
 say that you

00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:29.840
 were baptized

00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:30.760
 in my name.

00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:32.420
 Well, I did

00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:33.320
 baptize also the

00:41:33.320 --> 00:41:34.340
 house of Stephanas.

00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:36.139
 Beyond that, I

00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:36.639
 do not know

00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:36.980
 whether I

00:41:36.980 --> 00:41:37.659
 baptized anyone

00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:38.039
 else.

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.380
 It's really

00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:40.559
 kind of a

00:41:40.559 --> 00:41:41.340
 funny little

00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:41.920
 glimpse into

00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.679
 Paul's thinking,

00:41:42.780 --> 00:41:43.380
 right, as he's

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:43.880
 writing this,

00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:44.699
 kind of ad hoc,

00:41:44.840 --> 00:41:45.340
 right, he's just,

00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:47.940
 and Gaius

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:49.260
 mentioned Acts

00:41:49.260 --> 00:41:51.179
 18, 8, I

00:41:51.179 --> 00:41:52.760
 mean, Crispus

00:41:52.760 --> 00:41:53.119
 is mentioned

00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:53.760
 there, and Gaius

00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:54.000
 is mentioned

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:54.559
 in Romans 16,

00:41:54.599 --> 00:41:54.940
 23.

00:41:55.460 --> 00:41:55.900
 He doesn't

00:41:55.900 --> 00:41:56.440
 think that he

00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:57.139
 baptized anyone

00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:57.820
 except for those

00:41:57.820 --> 00:41:58.340
 guys, and then

00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:59.079
 as he's writing,

00:41:59.220 --> 00:41:59.840
 his memory is

00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:00.280
 dropped, and

00:42:00.280 --> 00:42:00.720
 everyone's, oh

00:42:00.720 --> 00:42:01.800
 wait, but I did

00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:02.340
 baptize the

00:42:02.340 --> 00:42:03.159
 Stephanas, the

00:42:03.159 --> 00:42:03.539
 household of

00:42:03.539 --> 00:42:04.460
 Stephanas, but

00:42:04.460 --> 00:42:05.300
 apart from that,

00:42:05.340 --> 00:42:05.800
 I don't think I

00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:06.519
 baptized anyone

00:42:06.519 --> 00:42:07.260
 else, right?

00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:08.059
 It's like, so

00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:08.579
 he's like, it's

00:42:08.579 --> 00:42:10.260
 kind of a

00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:11.000
 humorous glimpse

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.860
 into his own

00:42:11.860 --> 00:42:12.760
 humanity, right?

00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:14.280
 Paul's a man

00:42:14.280 --> 00:42:15.440
 just like us, he

00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:16.780
 forgets just like

00:42:16.780 --> 00:42:17.600
 us, and he

00:42:17.600 --> 00:42:18.280
 sometimes remembers

00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:19.080
 things just like

00:42:19.080 --> 00:42:20.180
 us, and so

00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:20.880
 even though this

00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:21.200
 was an

00:42:21.200 --> 00:42:21.900
 unintentional

00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:22.280
 thing, it

00:42:22.280 --> 00:42:23.280
 kind of proves

00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:24.460
 his point in

00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.280
 an uncalculated

00:42:25.280 --> 00:42:26.160
 way that we

00:42:26.160 --> 00:42:27.260
 shouldn't idolize

00:42:27.260 --> 00:42:28.240
 him, we

00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:28.800
 shouldn't follow

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.560
 him, he's just

00:42:29.560 --> 00:42:31.780
 a man, we

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.160
 should follow

00:42:32.160 --> 00:42:32.720
 Christ.

00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:35.140
 The ministers

00:42:35.140 --> 00:42:36.180
 of the gospel

00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:37.380
 are just tools,

00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.960
 just servants,

00:42:39.240 --> 00:42:40.240
 how ridiculous

00:42:40.240 --> 00:42:41.160
 than to give

00:42:41.159 --> 00:42:42.460
 their name such

00:42:42.460 --> 00:42:44.099
 prominence in

00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:44.539
 the Christian

00:42:44.539 --> 00:42:44.920
 life.

00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:47.639
 Nowadays,

00:42:47.920 --> 00:42:48.579
 vocational

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:49.379
 ministers are

00:42:49.379 --> 00:42:50.779
 not highly

00:42:50.779 --> 00:42:51.500
 regarded outside

00:42:51.500 --> 00:42:52.019
 of the church,

00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:54.719
 but there is

00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.319
 still a measure

00:42:55.319 --> 00:42:56.219
 of prestige and

00:42:56.219 --> 00:42:57.139
 respect that

00:42:57.139 --> 00:42:57.759
 comes from

00:42:57.759 --> 00:42:58.399
 within the

00:42:58.399 --> 00:42:58.960
 church toward

00:42:58.960 --> 00:42:59.359
 ministers.

00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.399
 And ministers,

00:43:02.739 --> 00:43:03.259
 and I'm aware

00:43:03.259 --> 00:43:04.460
 of this, have

00:43:04.460 --> 00:43:05.179
 to be careful,

00:43:05.359 --> 00:43:06.039
 have to watch

00:43:06.039 --> 00:43:06.739
 their hearts,

00:43:07.299 --> 00:43:08.139
 lest they become

00:43:08.139 --> 00:43:08.960
 accustomed to

00:43:08.960 --> 00:43:11.079
 that, comfortable

00:43:11.079 --> 00:43:11.639
 with the

00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.139
 praise and

00:43:12.139 --> 00:43:13.279
 esteem, and

00:43:13.279 --> 00:43:14.500
 seek that, and

00:43:14.500 --> 00:43:15.139
 demand that from

00:43:15.139 --> 00:43:15.599
 other people.

00:43:18.579 --> 00:43:19.179
 Hannah and I

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:19.579
 are, this is a

00:43:19.579 --> 00:43:20.059
 good opportunity

00:43:20.059 --> 00:43:20.539
 to let you

00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:21.019
 guys know, I

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.559
 guess, is that

00:43:21.559 --> 00:43:21.880
 Hannah and I

00:43:21.880 --> 00:43:22.440
 are going on

00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:23.239
 our annual

00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:24.019
 vacation starting

00:43:24.019 --> 00:43:25.259
 tomorrow, and

00:43:25.259 --> 00:43:26.480
 with the kids,

00:43:26.639 --> 00:43:27.199
 we're going to

00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:27.840
 Seattle to visit

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:29.279
 my parents, and

00:43:29.279 --> 00:43:30.599
 taking time away

00:43:30.599 --> 00:43:31.099
 like this on

00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:31.779
 occasion I think

00:43:31.779 --> 00:43:32.199
 is a great

00:43:32.199 --> 00:43:33.119
 opportunity for

00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:34.319
 us, and for

00:43:34.319 --> 00:43:35.179
 me personally, and

00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:35.799
 for the church.

00:43:36.500 --> 00:43:37.000
 And the reason

00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:37.500
 why I think that

00:43:37.500 --> 00:43:38.019
 is because for

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.719
 me it's an

00:43:38.719 --> 00:43:39.460
 exercise in

00:43:39.460 --> 00:43:40.260
 relinquishing my

00:43:40.260 --> 00:43:41.000
 control over the

00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:41.300
 church.

00:43:42.659 --> 00:43:43.840
 It's an exercise

00:43:43.840 --> 00:43:44.780
 in humility to

00:43:44.780 --> 00:43:45.440
 recognize that, you

00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:45.880
 know what, the

00:43:45.880 --> 00:43:46.420
 church really

00:43:46.420 --> 00:43:47.159
 doesn't need me.

00:43:47.960 --> 00:43:48.780
 If the Lord

00:43:48.780 --> 00:43:49.880
 wills it, he

00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:50.480
 will grow the

00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.320
 church even if I

00:43:51.320 --> 00:43:51.760
 fall off the

00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:52.539
 planet tomorrow.

00:43:54.579 --> 00:43:55.559
 I'm not essential

00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:56.280
 to this church,

00:43:56.460 --> 00:43:57.039
 Christ is.

00:43:59.420 --> 00:44:00.179
 And for the

00:44:00.179 --> 00:44:00.639
 church, I think

00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:01.059
 it's a great

00:44:01.059 --> 00:44:01.880
 opportunity to hear

00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:02.559
 other voices,

00:44:03.059 --> 00:44:03.860
 people still

00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:04.720
 scriptural, yes,

00:44:04.800 --> 00:44:05.579
 but people

00:44:05.579 --> 00:44:06.539
 speaking from

00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:07.220
 different backgrounds

00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:07.980
 and experiences.

00:44:08.879 --> 00:44:09.419
 And it's a

00:44:09.419 --> 00:44:10.359
 reminder for all

00:44:10.359 --> 00:44:10.939
 of you to take

00:44:10.939 --> 00:44:11.759
 ownership of the

00:44:11.759 --> 00:44:12.379
 church since it

00:44:12.379 --> 00:44:13.759
 belongs to God, and

00:44:13.759 --> 00:44:14.439
 because of that it

00:44:14.439 --> 00:44:15.439
 belongs to all of

00:44:15.439 --> 00:44:16.239
 you who belong to

00:44:16.239 --> 00:44:16.519
 God.

00:44:17.480 --> 00:44:18.659
 It's a reminder to

00:44:18.659 --> 00:44:19.759
 not build a church

00:44:19.759 --> 00:44:20.699
 around Sean, but

00:44:20.699 --> 00:44:21.659
 around the cross of

00:44:21.659 --> 00:44:22.059
 Christ.

00:44:26.379 --> 00:44:27.259
 And so Paul

00:44:27.259 --> 00:44:28.139
 concludes this

00:44:28.139 --> 00:44:28.859
 section by

00:44:28.859 --> 00:44:29.739
 reorienting the

00:44:29.739 --> 00:44:30.519
 Corinthian church to

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.599
 focus on the

00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:33.000
 gospel, the cross of

00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:34.139
 Christ in verse 17.

00:44:34.419 --> 00:44:34.539
 It says,

00:44:34.539 --> 00:44:36.199
 for Christ did

00:44:36.199 --> 00:44:37.259
 not send me to

00:44:37.259 --> 00:44:38.219
 baptize, but to

00:44:38.219 --> 00:44:39.239
 preach the gospel,

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:41.219
 and not with words

00:44:41.219 --> 00:44:42.300
 of eloquent wisdom,

00:44:42.779 --> 00:44:43.699
 lest the cross of

00:44:43.699 --> 00:44:45.320
 Christ be emptied of

00:44:45.320 --> 00:44:46.440
 its power.

00:44:48.119 --> 00:44:48.699
 Just a

00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:49.500
 qualification here.

00:44:49.539 --> 00:44:50.500
 Paul is not saying

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:51.679
 here that baptism is

00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:52.219
 unimportant.

00:44:52.980 --> 00:44:54.340
 He says in Romans 6,

00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:54.840
 3 to 4,

00:44:54.920 --> 00:44:55.599
 do you not know

00:44:55.599 --> 00:44:56.380
 that all of us who

00:44:56.380 --> 00:44:57.199
 have been baptized

00:44:57.199 --> 00:44:58.539
 into Christ Jesus

00:44:58.539 --> 00:45:00.039
 were baptized into

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:00.539
 his death?

00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:01.519
 We were buried

00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:02.239
 therefore with him

00:45:02.239 --> 00:45:03.019
 by baptism into

00:45:03.019 --> 00:45:04.039
 death in order that

00:45:04.039 --> 00:45:05.340
 just as Christ was

00:45:05.340 --> 00:45:05.920
 raised from the

00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:06.619
 dead by the glory

00:45:06.619 --> 00:45:07.539
 of the Father, we

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:09.019
 too might walk in

00:45:09.019 --> 00:45:10.119
 newness of life.

00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:11.420
 So Paul clearly

00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:12.079
 understood that

00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:13.019
 baptism is important

00:45:13.019 --> 00:45:14.179
 for the life of

00:45:14.179 --> 00:45:15.079
 the believer, but

00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:15.840
 what he is saying

00:45:15.840 --> 00:45:17.079
 here is that

00:45:17.079 --> 00:45:18.840
 baptism apart from

00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:19.759
 faith in the

00:45:19.759 --> 00:45:21.519
 gospel is useless.

00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:25.219
 Baptism is intended

00:45:25.219 --> 00:45:26.519
 to be an outward

00:45:26.519 --> 00:45:27.739
 profession of an

00:45:27.739 --> 00:45:29.659
 inward faith, and

00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.920
 baptism is effective

00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:32.539
 only insofar as it

00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:33.139
 is a genuine

00:45:33.139 --> 00:45:34.019
 expression of

00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:34.820
 of our repentance

00:45:34.820 --> 00:45:36.780
 and faith in God.

00:45:38.639 --> 00:45:40.019
 If baptism, imagine

00:45:40.019 --> 00:45:40.759
 this, in and of

00:45:40.759 --> 00:45:41.960
 itself saved people,

00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:42.940
 Paul would never

00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:43.579
 have to preach the

00:45:43.579 --> 00:45:43.840
 gospel.

00:45:44.199 --> 00:45:45.099
 All he has to do is

00:45:45.099 --> 00:45:45.699
 gather a large

00:45:45.699 --> 00:45:46.860
 class and have them

00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:47.820
 line up and just

00:45:47.820 --> 00:45:48.719
 dunk them all in the

00:45:48.719 --> 00:45:48.860
 water.

00:45:49.860 --> 00:45:50.599
 Everybody will be

00:45:50.599 --> 00:45:50.860
 saved.

00:45:50.960 --> 00:45:51.259
 Hooray.

00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:52.559
 No need to preach

00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:52.960
 the gospel.

00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:53.920
 But Paul doesn't do

00:45:53.920 --> 00:45:54.880
 that because apart

00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:55.800
 from faith in the

00:45:55.800 --> 00:45:57.380
 gospel, which only

00:45:57.380 --> 00:45:58.219
 comes through the

00:45:58.219 --> 00:45:59.280
 hearing of the word,

00:45:59.599 --> 00:46:00.579
 which only comes if

00:46:00.579 --> 00:46:01.699
 someone preaches the

00:46:01.699 --> 00:46:03.739
 gospel, baptism is

00:46:03.739 --> 00:46:04.119
 useless.

00:46:04.279 --> 00:46:05.879
 So Paul made it the

00:46:05.879 --> 00:46:07.099
 focus of his ministry

00:46:07.099 --> 00:46:08.539
 to preach the

00:46:08.539 --> 00:46:09.039
 gospel.

00:46:13.339 --> 00:46:14.619
 And Paul preached,

00:46:14.679 --> 00:46:16.779
 he says, not with

00:46:16.779 --> 00:46:18.059
 words of eloquent

00:46:18.059 --> 00:46:19.599
 wisdom, lest the

00:46:19.599 --> 00:46:20.619
 cross of Christ be

00:46:20.619 --> 00:46:21.960
 emptied of its power.

00:46:23.259 --> 00:46:24.559
 In next week's

00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:25.980
 passage, Paul contrasts

00:46:25.980 --> 00:46:27.259
 divine wisdom from

00:46:27.260 --> 00:46:28.100
 human wisdom.

00:46:28.820 --> 00:46:29.780
 And that's a preview

00:46:29.780 --> 00:46:31.160
 of that.

00:46:31.360 --> 00:46:32.860
 The word wisdom is a

00:46:32.860 --> 00:46:33.640
 key word that

00:46:33.640 --> 00:46:34.820
 occurs throughout the

00:46:34.820 --> 00:46:35.700
 book of 1 Corinthians

00:46:35.700 --> 00:46:36.980
 and it's something

00:46:36.980 --> 00:46:37.820
 that the Corinthians

00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:38.760
 really cherished,

00:46:38.860 --> 00:46:39.380
 kind of like what I

00:46:39.380 --> 00:46:39.960
 mentioned with

00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:41.040
 relation to Apollos,

00:46:41.120 --> 00:46:41.260
 right?

00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.280
 This wisdom,

00:46:42.480 --> 00:46:43.220
 philosophy, this

00:46:43.220 --> 00:46:44.500
 system of thought,

00:46:44.600 --> 00:46:44.760
 right?

00:46:45.260 --> 00:46:46.500
 And they put a

00:46:46.500 --> 00:46:47.560
 premium value on the

00:46:47.560 --> 00:46:48.400
 Greek philosophical

00:46:48.400 --> 00:46:49.340
 tradition, rhetorical

00:46:49.340 --> 00:46:49.720
 tradition.

00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:51.180
 But Paul argues that

00:46:51.180 --> 00:46:52.580
 in his ministry, he

00:46:52.580 --> 00:46:54.080
 intentionally avoided

00:46:54.080 --> 00:46:56.280
 such teaching, lest the

00:46:56.280 --> 00:46:57.680
 cross of Christ be

00:46:57.680 --> 00:46:59.580
 emptied of its power.

00:47:02.040 --> 00:47:03.580
 Imagine you have a

00:47:03.580 --> 00:47:04.940
 jewel of singular

00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:06.920
 beauty, maybe a very

00:47:06.920 --> 00:47:07.920
 rare and precious

00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:08.380
 diamond.

00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:11.760
 Then you would not

00:47:11.760 --> 00:47:13.160
 encumber that diamond

00:47:13.160 --> 00:47:14.280
 with a whole bunch of

00:47:14.280 --> 00:47:15.620
 distracting and ornate

00:47:15.620 --> 00:47:16.060
 setting.

00:47:16.880 --> 00:47:17.900
 No, you would want a

00:47:17.900 --> 00:47:18.980
 setting that's simple,

00:47:19.400 --> 00:47:20.460
 that highlights and

00:47:20.460 --> 00:47:21.519
 points to the beauty

00:47:21.519 --> 00:47:22.900
 of the diamond, that

00:47:22.900 --> 00:47:23.920
 doesn't distract from

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:24.120
 it.

00:47:24.119 --> 00:47:26.179
 For Paul, that's the

00:47:26.179 --> 00:47:26.539
 gospel.

00:47:27.400 --> 00:47:28.259
 That's the cross of

00:47:28.259 --> 00:47:28.639
 Christ.

00:47:29.099 --> 00:47:30.460
 So let's not encumber

00:47:30.460 --> 00:47:30.779
 it.

00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:32.739
 Let's not put a

00:47:32.739 --> 00:47:33.400
 varnish on it.

00:47:33.400 --> 00:47:35.460
 Let's not cover it up,

00:47:35.559 --> 00:47:36.639
 detract from it with

00:47:36.639 --> 00:47:37.579
 other things.

00:47:37.819 --> 00:47:38.779
 Lest the cross of

00:47:38.779 --> 00:47:40.500
 Christ be emptied of

00:47:40.500 --> 00:47:41.460
 its power.

00:47:43.019 --> 00:47:43.779
 Paul didn't want

00:47:43.779 --> 00:47:45.279
 anyone to be drawn to

00:47:45.279 --> 00:47:46.460
 Jesus by human

00:47:46.460 --> 00:47:47.420
 eloquence or wisdom.

00:47:47.859 --> 00:47:48.859
 He didn't want any

00:47:48.859 --> 00:47:49.739
 onlooker from the

00:47:49.739 --> 00:47:50.699
 outside to be able to

00:47:50.699 --> 00:47:52.239
 see a conversion and

00:47:52.239 --> 00:47:53.319
 say, oh, that

00:47:53.320 --> 00:47:54.720
 person became a

00:47:54.720 --> 00:47:57.240
 Christian just because

00:47:57.240 --> 00:47:58.580
 he was beguiled by

00:47:58.580 --> 00:47:59.460
 that preacher's

00:47:59.460 --> 00:48:01.300
 eloquence or

00:48:01.300 --> 00:48:01.660
 wisdom.

00:48:02.720 --> 00:48:04.019
 He wanted everyone

00:48:04.019 --> 00:48:04.880
 looking on to be able

00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:06.539
 to say, that guy,

00:48:06.700 --> 00:48:07.539
 that person came to

00:48:07.539 --> 00:48:09.140
 Jesus because of the

00:48:09.140 --> 00:48:10.380
 power of the cross.

00:48:19.660 --> 00:48:20.660
 Think about that for a

00:48:20.660 --> 00:48:21.340
 minute in the context

00:48:21.340 --> 00:48:22.019
 of our church.

00:48:23.820 --> 00:48:25.620
 What are we trying to

00:48:25.620 --> 00:48:26.820
 draw people with?

00:48:28.780 --> 00:48:30.420
 What are we trying to

00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:31.519
 win people with?

00:48:35.600 --> 00:48:37.260
 Is it how friendly and

00:48:37.260 --> 00:48:37.880
 social we are?

00:48:39.260 --> 00:48:40.559
 Is it how good our

00:48:40.559 --> 00:48:41.200
 music is?

00:48:43.440 --> 00:48:44.680
 Is it good preaching?

00:48:44.679 --> 00:48:48.659
 Is it a smooth service?

00:48:49.659 --> 00:48:50.719
 Is it a particular

00:48:50.719 --> 00:48:51.519
 personality?

00:48:52.519 --> 00:48:53.940
 Is it the benefits that

00:48:53.940 --> 00:48:54.679
 we give to them,

00:48:54.759 --> 00:48:55.480
 material benefits?

00:48:56.879 --> 00:48:58.779
 If the answer is

00:48:58.779 --> 00:49:00.659
 anything other than

00:49:00.659 --> 00:49:02.460
 the cross of Christ,

00:49:02.699 --> 00:49:04.000
 then our ministry is

00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:05.919
 fundamentally misaligned.

00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:11.760
 God is the power of the

00:49:11.760 --> 00:49:12.559
 cross of Christ.

00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:14.559
 Paul is referring to the

00:49:14.559 --> 00:49:15.700
 saving power of the

00:49:15.700 --> 00:49:16.940
 cross of Christ, the

00:49:16.940 --> 00:49:19.159
 gospel, the good news of

00:49:19.159 --> 00:49:19.840
 Jesus Christ.

00:49:19.980 --> 00:49:21.360
 It's that we are sinful,

00:49:21.780 --> 00:49:23.980
 that we have no hope of

00:49:23.980 --> 00:49:26.240
 saving ourselves, that we

00:49:26.240 --> 00:49:27.200
 who are the creatures who

00:49:27.200 --> 00:49:28.340
 were created for God's

00:49:28.340 --> 00:49:30.240
 glory to live for him, we

00:49:30.240 --> 00:49:32.360
 thought to usurp God's

00:49:32.360 --> 00:49:33.920
 own authority, to place

00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:35.680
 ourselves on his throne

00:49:35.680 --> 00:49:36.519
 and to live for

00:49:36.519 --> 00:49:37.139
 ourselves.

00:49:37.400 --> 00:49:38.519
 That's what we did.

00:49:38.720 --> 00:49:39.960
 That's what we call sin.

00:49:42.220 --> 00:49:44.920
 But God, who had every

00:49:44.920 --> 00:49:48.000
 right for the sake of

00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:49.639
 justice to punish us, to

00:49:49.639 --> 00:49:52.380
 condemn us for eternity, in

00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:54.659
 love, out of grace and

00:49:54.659 --> 00:49:56.599
 mercy toward us, sends his

00:49:56.599 --> 00:49:59.360
 only son to die for us on

00:49:59.360 --> 00:50:00.840
 the cross for our sins.

00:50:01.860 --> 00:50:03.680
 We put ourselves where only

00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:05.239
 God deserved to be.

00:50:06.379 --> 00:50:08.919
 And God substitutes his son

00:50:08.919 --> 00:50:11.139
 to the place, the cross,

00:50:11.500 --> 00:50:13.399
 where only we deserve to

00:50:13.399 --> 00:50:13.559
 be.

00:50:14.199 --> 00:50:16.159
 That's the gospel of Jesus

00:50:16.159 --> 00:50:16.579
 Christ.

00:50:18.019 --> 00:50:20.500
 And for Paul, that's the

00:50:20.500 --> 00:50:22.960
 power of God for salvation.

00:50:24.440 --> 00:50:25.980
 That beautiful, glorious

00:50:25.980 --> 00:50:27.739
 exchange has to be the

00:50:27.739 --> 00:50:30.079
 center of our lives, has to

00:50:30.079 --> 00:50:31.719
 the ballast for our church.

00:50:33.940 --> 00:50:35.659
 For those of you who are

00:50:35.659 --> 00:50:36.980
 not yet a believer in

00:50:36.980 --> 00:50:37.860
 Jesus Christ, I would

00:50:37.860 --> 00:50:38.920
 plead with you today.

00:50:39.759 --> 00:50:42.099
 There is grace sufficient

00:50:42.099 --> 00:50:43.739
 for you, and you can know

00:50:43.739 --> 00:50:45.619
 the peace of God if you

00:50:45.619 --> 00:50:46.400
 turn to Jesus.

00:50:51.059 --> 00:50:52.659
 Put your faith in the cross

00:50:52.659 --> 00:50:53.119
 of Christ.

00:50:53.119 --> 00:50:55.239
 And for those of you who are

00:50:55.239 --> 00:50:56.900
 already believers, let's

00:50:56.900 --> 00:50:58.380
 remember together that those

00:50:58.380 --> 00:51:00.079
 who belong to the church of

00:51:00.079 --> 00:51:02.059
 God by the grace of God

00:51:02.059 --> 00:51:04.839
 should boast only in the

00:51:04.839 --> 00:51:06.339
 cross of Christ.

00:51:07.639 --> 00:51:09.420
 Let's daily lay aside our

00:51:09.420 --> 00:51:12.859
 crowns, subdue our pride,

00:51:14.099 --> 00:51:15.900
 forsake our spiritual elitism,

00:51:16.579 --> 00:51:18.159
 and seek to live in humility

00:51:18.159 --> 00:51:20.960
 and unity with one another in

00:51:20.960 --> 00:51:21.579
 Jesus Christ.

00:51:22.519 --> 00:51:23.320
 Let's pray together.

00:51:39.000 --> 00:51:40.179
 God, you have

00:51:40.179 --> 00:51:45.420
 loved us so freely.

00:51:45.420 --> 00:51:50.320
 You have been bountiful

00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:51.159
 toward us.

00:51:52.460 --> 00:51:54.139
 You have not been stingy.

00:51:57.000 --> 00:51:59.000
 You have been so patient

00:51:59.000 --> 00:51:59.680
 with us.

00:52:05.579 --> 00:52:08.559
 And it's that grace,

00:52:09.380 --> 00:52:12.820
 power to cross the

00:52:12.820 --> 00:52:13.180
 Christ.

00:52:15.420 --> 00:52:17.659
 that alone can enable us

00:52:17.659 --> 00:52:20.039
 to be gracious toward one

00:52:20.039 --> 00:52:22.460
 another, to forgive one

00:52:22.460 --> 00:52:22.780
 another.

00:52:25.280 --> 00:52:27.860
 So we pray, God, for your

00:52:27.860 --> 00:52:28.180
 help.

00:52:30.900 --> 00:52:32.280
 That you would so

00:52:32.280 --> 00:52:36.720
 fill our hearts with your

00:52:36.720 --> 00:52:40.680
 grace, with your love, that

00:52:40.680 --> 00:52:42.159
 we would overflow in our

00:52:42.159 --> 00:52:43.500
 dealings with one another

00:52:43.500 --> 00:52:45.539
 with such grace and love.

00:52:46.900 --> 00:52:48.579
 So that our church would be

00:52:48.579 --> 00:52:50.179
 characterized by the peace

00:52:50.179 --> 00:52:52.000
 that Christ won for us.

00:52:52.739 --> 00:52:54.760
 Peace with you, Father, and

00:52:54.760 --> 00:52:55.679
 peace with one another.

00:52:59.679 --> 00:53:02.760
 Let our boast always and ever

00:53:02.760 --> 00:53:05.480
 be Christ crucified.

00:53:05.480 --> 00:53:08.139
 not our own righteousness,

00:53:08.920 --> 00:53:10.400
 not our own merits,

00:53:11.800 --> 00:53:13.639
 not our own strivings and

00:53:13.639 --> 00:53:14.099
 efforts.

00:53:17.420 --> 00:53:19.059
 We entrust ourselves to you.

00:53:21.059 --> 00:53:22.340
 You are the Lord and the

00:53:22.340 --> 00:53:23.199
 builder of our church.

00:53:23.980 --> 00:53:24.639
 Thank you, Lord.

00:53:24.760 --> 00:53:25.659
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:53:26.019 --> 00:53:26.280
 Amen.

00:53:26.280 --> 00:53:26.420
 Amen.

00:53:26.420 --> 00:53:26.460
 Amen.

00:53:26.460 --> 00:53:26.539
 Amen.

00:53:26.539 --> 00:53:26.579
 Amen.

00:53:26.579 --> 00:53:26.599
 Amen.

00:53:26.599 --> 00:53:26.719
 Amen.

00:53:26.719 --> 00:53:26.860
 Amen.

00:53:26.860 --> 00:53:27.019
 Amen.

00:53:27.019 --> 00:53:27.079
 Amen.

00:53:27.079 --> 00:53:27.340
 Amen.

00:53:27.340 --> 00:53:27.400
 Amen.

00:53:27.400 --> 00:53:28.500
 Amen.

00:53:28.500 --> 00:53:28.519
 Amen.

00:53:28.519 --> 00:53:28.559
 Amen.

00:53:28.559 --> 00:53:29.119
 Amen.

00:53:29.119 --> 00:53:29.139
 Amen.

00:53:29.139 --> 00:53:29.199
 Amen.

00:53:29.199 --> 00:53:29.240
 Amen.