Sermon preached on 23rd Sept, 2012 at FBC
Ordering Disorder
INTRODUCTION
·
Paul’s excitement of the Gospel as a deeply learned
Pharisee who has been born again in his encounter with the Lord Jesus
·
In the OT, after atoning for his own sin and the sins
of the nation, only one Jew can enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple ONCE a
year to come into the presence of God with a chain tied to his ankle should he
be struck done so that he can be pulled out;
·
With the temple of Jerusalem still standing at the
time of Paul’s letter, Paul introduces a new paradigm of the temple as the
people of God in whom the Spirit of God dwells, no longer a static, physical
body in Jerusalem but a mobile, spiritual body of believers;
·
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul now moves a step further
whereby the people of God is not only the living temple of God but the BODY of
Christ with Ch 12 to 14 introducing the many-sided gifts given to this Body.
·
Even more amazing is the Gospel telling us that Christ
is in you!
DIVINE
COVERING – AUTHORITY/SUBMISSION
·
WOMAN/MAN/CHRIST/GOD
§ GREEKS: No
covering of heads signifying independence distinguishing from slaves who have
to cover their heads and women as a sign of protectiveness by men
§ ROMANS: Men
cover their heads in spiritual activities
§ JEWISH
CUSTOM: All are to cover the heads. However, do the Christians have to follow
the Jews?
·
CREATION: teaches that it is shameful for men to have
long hair but long hair given to women for their glory
·
ISSUE is authority and submission from the heart, not
what you put over your head although it is nice to do so, but not as a legal
requirement
·
The equality of men and women through the Cross yet
recognizing that each have different roles
DIVINE BODY
·
DIVISIONS: not the same as in earlier chapters
involving personalities and teaching
·
Now, the difference between the “haves” & the
“have-nots”, with one looking down on the other
·
What was the INTENT ?
§ REMEMBERING
CHRIST’S DEATH: by giving His Body and His Blood for the forgiveness of our sins
§ RECOGNIZING
CHRIST’S BODY:
·
Reconciliation instead of not working with one another,
shunning one another – Key: Dealing
with the hurts/ disappointments inside towards one another through the Cross
·
Not to cut off one another: just like cutting off our
own body parts
·
Caring for one another by sharing and waiting for one
another
§ NOT AS
LITERAL BODY & BLOOD OF CHRIST: for healing
·
Otherwise,
becomes “magical”, it is Christ who heals
·
Then we sacrifice Jesus over and over again: there is
only one sacrifice – Jesus, the perfect sacrifice once for all
·
CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THE BODY OF CHRIST: Judgment,
Weakness, Sickness, Death
§ It is not
the sick who takes the Lord’s Supper that gets healed, but the healthy who get
weak, sick & died because of God’s judgment in not recognizing Christ’s
Body
·
RESPONSE
§ Recognize
Christ’s Body by not despising those who have less and waiting for one another
& sharing with one another