1:17
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel"
Is baptism important? Of course it is (Romans 6 talks about baptism), and Paul certainly did baptize people. But it seems that the Corinthians were making a big deal about the person who baptized them, whether it was Paul or someone else. The real point is that they were baptized into Christ, not who baptized them. Their focus was getting off of Jesus. They were giving too much importance to their human teachers. (We who are teachers in the church are not special Christians, but we're servants given a responsibility to build up the church.)
Paul was an apostle (meaning "one who is sent") and here he reminds the Corinthians that he was sent by Christ. This should tell them that God has given him authority and responsibility, and they should listen to him as a leader who's been appointed by Jesus.
Paul was a very wise man. He knew exactly what God had appointed him to do, and what he was not appointed to do. Even though baptism is important, Paul's primary mission was to preach the gospel. He did not get carried away with this good project and that good project, and therefore lose his focus. He was totally focused on his goal of preaching.
It's hard, in this world of options, many of them good, to be focused on what God has called us to do, letting the rest fall into second (or third or fourth) place.
The second part of this verse ("not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power") also starts a new section of Paul's letter. He is going to discuss how the gospel of Jesus, focused on the cross, goes against human wisdom and what the world thinks is good. He is also going to reiterate that he was not dependent on perfect public speaking or techniques, but on the Holy Spirit. This is a very important part of 1 Corinthians, and we'll be spending some time talking about it.
Is baptism important? Of course it is (Romans 6 talks about baptism), and Paul certainly did baptize people. But it seems that the Corinthians were making a big deal about the person who baptized them, whether it was Paul or someone else. The real point is that they were baptized into Christ, not who baptized them. Their focus was getting off of Jesus. They were giving too much importance to their human teachers. (We who are teachers in the church are not special Christians, but we're servants given a responsibility to build up the church.)
Paul was an apostle (meaning "one who is sent") and here he reminds the Corinthians that he was sent by Christ. This should tell them that God has given him authority and responsibility, and they should listen to him as a leader who's been appointed by Jesus.
Paul was a very wise man. He knew exactly what God had appointed him to do, and what he was not appointed to do. Even though baptism is important, Paul's primary mission was to preach the gospel. He did not get carried away with this good project and that good project, and therefore lose his focus. He was totally focused on his goal of preaching.
It's hard, in this world of options, many of them good, to be focused on what God has called us to do, letting the rest fall into second (or third or fourth) place.
The second part of this verse ("not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power") also starts a new section of Paul's letter. He is going to discuss how the gospel of Jesus, focused on the cross, goes against human wisdom and what the world thinks is good. He is also going to reiterate that he was not dependent on perfect public speaking or techniques, but on the Holy Spirit. This is a very important part of 1 Corinthians, and we'll be spending some time talking about it.
posted by Rob | 8:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home