By Russ Ramsey
As you read Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church, you might notice from time to time that his tone sounds angry. That’s because he is fighting for them, which sometimes looks like fighting with them. What is Paul fighting for?
Unity.
Paul wants the church in Corinth to embrace its identity in Christ. He wants them to know “we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). He wants them to realize that we were called by God into fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9). This is the basis for our call to unity.
Paul uses this image of being one body in a variety of ways throughout these letters. He writes about how our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant for holy purposes (1 Corinthians 6). He writes about the Lord’s Supper, when believers gather together to partake of the body of our Lord (1 Corinthians 11). He talks about how the Church is one body, made up of many parts (1 Corinthians 12). He writes about the resurrection of Jesus’ body, and how believers will experience that same resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). He encourages the Corinthian Christians to give to others in need because they are one (2 Corinthians 8).
The image of a body is a great picture of the Church. Just as we want each part of our physical bodies to function in unified and healthy ways, this should be our vision for the Church. Believers in Jesus are not merely a collection of individuals who share a Savior. We are one, united in Christ. This unity lies at the heart of these letters.
So here at the beginning of this reading plan, maybe a good place to start is by asking: where do you need to pursue unity? Is there anyone with whom you need to seek peace? If you aren’t sure how to answer those questions, ask the Lord to show you if there are any relationships in your life that need mending. Ask God to fight for your heart.
As you read through 1 and 2 Corinthians, think about what it means that the Church is one body made up of many parts. Think about what it means to live in that unity. Consider what it means to be part of the body of Christ.
Written by Russ Ramsey
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9 thoughts on "Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"
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Justin Pierce says:
Paul’s opening consideration of the perceived foolishness of Faith in Christ echoes with it a good deal from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. If the Corinthian audience had familiarity in these prophets, it would have been difficult to miss the allusion to an understanding that God has done a new thing through Christ. And that for those who would not accept this new movement of Grace, only destruction awaited them. Just as it did for Israel at the hands of the Babylonians and indeed as it did for those who “are perishing”
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Jonathan Robinson says:
The cross… to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The power of God to save, redeem, restore, give hope in hopelessness. It is the reflection of light in the midst of darkness. When all seems lost, when the sky grows dark and earth quakes, when all the hope seems to be gone, God is at work. The hope of Christ is not found when my circumstances are glorious but when my circumstances are bleak, that’s when Christ comes in like a lion.
We should never count God out of a situation. There is no situation or circumstance of which God cannot restore and redeem. Dare we limit God?! The time of Christ’s death til his resurrection I’m sure seemed like a lifetime for the disciples. Yet, without fail, Christ beats death, the impossible happened, He is Alive! Therefore I need to hope always, never believing the lie of my circumstance, but believing the truth of the Gospel. -
Joshua says:
There are so many things in life that try to tear people apart from the our main purpose in life. Unity is needed in this world to shed off all of the many things that distract us from God and the Holy Spirit.
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Peyton says:
All denominations focus on something different… we are all one however under the universal church. We shouldn’t say one denomination is better than the other, unless it’s heretical, but maybe we should think that one is stronger in another area than the other… churches should maybe see things this way and not be so separated, because a kingdom divided cannot stand.
• How can I seek unity in all the of these denominations? Love. This is what Jesus showed so this must be the answer. -
Emmett Bryant says:
God calls each of us in many ways. Let us be willing as men to follow God’s calling, and in the process pursue His heavenly wisdom that we may do so in peace with our brethren around the world, that we may achieve unity.
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Travis Carbone says:
I think too many people today, including myself see the church as a group of people that gather on Sunday mornings or maybe a few times throughout the week to grow our personal relationships with God, but not to grow in our relationships with each other. I think we treat the church much more like a group of people that all believe in the same thing, than one body.
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Jake says:
Lord God, what relationships do I need to mend? Help me to live in unity with my brothers. God, raise up a cohort of valiente men, iron soldiers for you who would drive your kingdom home to the new classes this last year at West Point. God I love you, Lord help me to seek you with all my heart, to put everything last this year in favor of you. Give me strength and direction to be the man you intend me to be. Father please make the ministry I should be a part of clear.
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Kevin says:
Day 1
God chose us to be his light in the world. How fricken cool? I definitely need some work in the area of unity of the body of God. I often find myself judging people for the most superficial things everyday. People I don’t even know! I hope and pray we change our hearts outlook to be one that sees them as a Child of God. Someone who can be a world changer just like you and I. Stoked for this study dudes. I feel like it’s going to be a great one. ⚒ -
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