Chapter 6
The Imperfect Early Church
The early church, in spite of their carnality, in spite of their childish ways, were still gifted by the Holy Spirit and able to exercise those spiritual gifts.
The Apostle Paul instructed them how to exercise their spiritual gifts in their church meetings; and they were such that Paul expected them to be able to follow his instruction!
1 Corinthians 14 (KJV)
“³¹ For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”
Yet, these Corinthian Church believers had plenty of problems; they, like the other early churches, needed exhortation, reproof and correction.
In spite of their carnality, they were told by the Apostle that they were sanctified in Christ Jesus. Paul was able to do this because their New Nature in Christ in Heaven is blameless, incorruptible and undefiled.
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”
— 1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV)
All believers are called to walk in their New Creation in Christ and put to death the flesh in their earthly members.
“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”
-2 Corinthians 5:17 AMPC
The Letters to the churches are devoted to providing this exhortation, reproof and correction. And the True Church is expected, as the Scriptures teach, to be able to provide this exhortation to fellow believers using Scripture.
Colossians 3 (KJV)
“⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
Ephesians 1 (KJV)
“³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
1 Peter 1 (KJV)
“⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
This early church was filled with pride! Puffing up men, those who brought the Word; following after men, divisions and contentions!
1 Corinthians 3 (KJV)
“²¹ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;”
1 Corinthians 3 (KJV)
“³ For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
⁴ For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
⁵ Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
⁶ I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
⁷ So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
“²² Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;”
“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)
1 Corinthians 4 (KJV)
“⁷ For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
⁸ Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.”
“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.”
— 1 Corinthians 1:11 (KJV)
1 Corinthians 3 (KJV)
“¹ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
…
³ For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”