1 CORINTHIANS 1 (NOTES OF A READING)
[p. 3] 1 CORINTHIANS 1 (NOTES OF A READING)
CAC This epistle is important for us, as giving the place the assembly has locally in the mind of God, and the great grace available for it in Christ. It also develops the dangers apt to manifest themselves, and the divine remedy for them. The object of the epistle is really to bring the saints locally into oneness of mind, and the joy of all that grace has conferred upon them as subjects of the work of God. This epistle is serviceable in a day of departure.
Paul had in view in writing it that we should be put in our right place locally. Actually in christendom a vast number of things have sprung up that have not the character of the assembly of God, and we have to go back to the beginning to find its true character. “Sanctified in Christ Jesus” — that is not by being Jews, or better than before, but sanctified in Christ Jesus. God had certain great thoughts in His mind before we were converted (see Psalm 40: 5). We have to get on to that side of things, what is in the mind of God for us; and however wonderful it is, Christ came in to bring it to pass. Saints are set apart from everything displeasing to God. If it got hold of us, it would have a most practical effect. This is built into our faith by the words of the apostle; and if I have never understood it before, it is there for me now. We are not set apart in the flesh, but in Christ Jesus.
Rem Outside all the Adam conditions.
CAC The youngest believer can say, I am in it, it is the mind of God for me. “Of him” (that is, God) “are ye in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1: 30) — as a subject of divine working, the soul is brought into a new region, “in Christ Jesus”. So the youngest believer is entitled to say, I am pleasing to God. It is God bringing in what is of Himself. If not walking in the Spirit I am sure to drop into human thoughts.
[p. 4] If I am full of Christ and what Christ has brought in, I cannot think of myself at all, and I am suitable to be a constituent part of the assembly.
Rem “In Christ Jesus” — it is the anointed Christ; they are linked up with that anointed Man.
CAC It is the question of transfer, of ‘changing your man’, as it has been put. And we are in that Man; what I have of failure would only make me more thankful that I am linked up with the Man of God’s pleasure.
Romans develops deliverance much more than this epistle. Here they allowed things to come in that did not belong to the work of God in us, and we have to learn to set them aside; and we come into the truth by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is descriptive of a Christian in Scripture. In every place there are such; they call on Him in the character in which He has made Himself known. That is not praying. “His name” is the way in which He has made Himself known. It is made known in the gospels, we might say, which present the varied characters of love He has assumed on behalf of His saints. Our knowledge of Christ comes out in how we call upon Him. The first part of our morning meeting consists in calling on His name; and we know Him first of all and most of all through His death. They call upon Him in their heart. They call upon Him not dependently, but worshipfully, as men called upon the name of Jehovah in contrast to all that was idolatrous. Abraham made an altar and called upon the name of Jehovah, in the character in which he knew God. So we call upon His name, responding in heart to the character in which we know Him, in absolute liberty. We lose ourselves when we do that. The varied characters of love which He delights to wear and in which He delights to serve us are all set forth in His name. We come together to call adoringly on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and all that it means.
Spiritual affections and appreciations of Christ are in the [p. 5] saints; they cannot help it. However carnal I am, the Spirit of God can touch these, and there is the flow. So we should detach ourselves from the world and the flesh and occupy ourselves with Christ and all that is of Him. We may hear one pray beautiful words to the Lord, but is it the voice of the heart? “Those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2: 22); “out of a pure heart” means it is genuine. Do they appreciate the Lord in true affection? The Lord would never bring anyone to a sect! It never occurred to God to make anything of my flesh, but to annul all that. “Sanctified in Christ Jesus” is God’s side; then in calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we link ourselves on to that. It is the proper and normal occupation of the assembly.
Nothing is so intended to touch our hearts as the Supper. You cannot think of yourself at the Lord’s supper, you are obliged to think of Him.
God bestows all in the grace of the Head; for there is none of us but would confess we have a glorious Head. And these things are continually brought before the saints. God sees to it that there is the furnishing through gifts and ministry of the light of all the precious thoughts of God. At Corinth the gifts were there, but they needed trimming. But the Lord on His part would not fail to supply what is needed. If we recognise a lack locally, we should ask for it to be met. We should ask for things. Epaphras was labouring that the body should function (Colossians 4: 12). If we were more concerned about contributing, we should get more. How has God furnished His assembly, and how has Christ as Head furnished it, and how has the Spirit furnished it? We look to the Scripture for the answer, and we set ourselves to desire that, and we get it!
This epistle is corrective meal and would neutralise what is deadly in the pot (2 Kings 4: 41).