Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul tells us the godly qualities to look out for in God’s servants. The word “minister” has the basic meaning one who acts under orders of another to carry out his will, an assistant or helper. In our text, it refers to those who work with Christ to accomplish His purposes – a trusted servant or minister. Just as Joshua was an assistant to Moses and Timothy was an assistant to Paul.
The church is united in Christ. Christ is sent by God the Father to save men from their sins and to prepare them for eternity in heaven. When men try to divide the church by rising factions, the Apostle Paul, the mission of the church is compromised.
The Apostle Paul tells us that we belong to Christ. He alone is Master, not any earthly person whether it’s Paul, Apollos or Peter. In fact, we are bought by Him at a price. Jesus Christ paid the ransom for our sins by His life and death! He alone, both divinely God and fully man, is the mediator between God and man. We owe our salvation to Him. We are to serve Him for all that He has given us on earth and in heaven.
Every servant of God serves Christ as his Master whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter). God’s people must not regard them as the Master. God’s servants carry out their Master’s will. With the correct understanding, division and strife will cease in the church, arising from factions…
As such, all division must cease, rather enjoy what God has put in place to further the faith and interest of His people. May God’s people give honour and glory to Him as they enjoy all His benefits. Amen.
By five thoughts of self-exaltation, Lucifer was cast out from heaven – Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Sin did not begin on earth with the fall of Adam and Eve but with the fall of Lucifer who later came as the serpent to tempt Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).
The Apostle Paul cites Psalm 94:11 “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” He does so to caution the believers in Corinth to weigh carefully the words of man. He urges them not to rely on human wisdom to order their lives. Rather on the Word of God.
The wisdom of God is revealed in His written Word. Believers are to take the time to consider because it is most profitable to the human soul. Faith in God’s Word is the beginning of wisdom. And appropriating God’s wisdom makes one wise unto salvation, understanding the things in the spiritual realm that impact the physical realm. The things that make for true peace and joy in the heart surpasses the blind accumulation of riches for mortal security.
The Apostle Paul quotes Job 5:13 “He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.” The admonition is that God’s people be wise in the things of God. To take hold eternal life through salvation in Jesus Christ. To put aside the wisdom of this world and to take the time to imbibe the wisdom of God.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the body of Christ, the household of God, the saints as the temple of God in Ephesians 2:19-22 too. Each person individually as together as a building wherein God dwells, built upon Jesus Christ as the foundation.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Believers are to live holy lives because they been made clean of all their sins by Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross through faith. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers. They are the temple of God. But if believers having been freed from the bondage of sin chooses to go back to the filth of sin, defiling themselves, God will deal with such ones.