1 Corinthians 11 - Pastor Malcolm

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