The UNIFIED church

 

1 Corinthians 1:9

King James Version

9 God is faithful, 

by whom ye were called 

unto the fellowship of his Son 

Jesus Christ our Lord.

How must churches be?

People comprise a church.

So, how must people of that church be?

SPIRIT led me to a lovely chapter by apostle Paul.

Wherein he attends to the matter of division among its members, admonishing them:

1 Corinthians 1:11-14

King James Version

11 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.

12 Now this I say, 

that every one of you saith, 

I am of Paul; 

and I of Apollos; 

and I of Cephas; 

and I of Christ.

13 Is Christ divided? 

was Paul crucified for you? 

or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, 

but Crispus and Gaius;

Herein we shall find what the apostle says a unified church must be:

1 Corinthians 1:2

King James Version

2 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 their's and our's:

1 Corinthians 1:5-8

King James Version

5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, 

in all utterance, 

and in all knowledge;

6 Even as the testimony of Christ 

was confirmed in you:

7 So that ye come behind in no gift; 

waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, 

that ye may be blameless 

in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:10

King James Version

10 Now I beseech you, brethren, 

by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

that ye all speak the same thing, 

and that there be no divisions among you; 

but that ye be perfectly joined together

 in the same mind 

and in the same judgment.

Apostle Paul reminds them of what we need to focus on.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18

King James Version

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, 

but to preach the gospel: 

not with wisdom of words, 

lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish 

foolishness; 

but unto us which are saved 

it is the power of God.

He continues to teach them about the CROSS of CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 1:23

King James Version

23 But we preach Christ crucified, 

unto the Jews a stumblingblock, 

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

He reminds them to be humble before GOD.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29

King James Version

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world 

to confound the wise; 

and God hath chosen the weak things of the world 

to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, 

and things which are despised, 

hath God chosen, yea, 

and things which are not, 

to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Reminding us all, that all GLORY belongs to GOD alone.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

King James Version

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus,

 who of God is made unto us wisdom, 

and righteousness, 

and sanctification, 

and redemption:

31 That, 

according as it is written, 

He that glorieth, 

let him glory in the Lord.

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CHURCH of GOD

 

1 Corinthians 3:16

King James Version

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

In one curious conversation, I learned something new.

A co-commuter asked what church people must have?

Being a baby born again then, I had no ready answer.

But he had.

He said it should be a "church of God".

Intrigued, I committed it to memory.

Promising myself to search Scripture for its truth.

And here's what I found:

1 Corinthians 1:2-3

King James Version

2 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 their's and our's:

3 Grace be unto you, 

and peace, 

from God our Father, 

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31-32

King James Version

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, 

or whatsoever ye do, 

do all to the glory of God.

32 Give none offence, 

neither to the Jews, 

nor to the Gentiles, 

nor to the church of God:

1 Corinthians 11:16

King James Version

16 But if any man seem to be contentious, 

we have no such custom, 

neither the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:18-22

King James Version

18 For first of all, 

when ye come together in the church, 

I hear that there be divisions among you; 

and I partly believe it.

19 For there must be also heresies among you, 

that they which are approved 

may be made manifest among you.

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, 

this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

21 For in eating every one taketh before other 

his own supper: 

and one is hungry, 

and another is drunken.

22 What? 

have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? 

or despise ye the church of God, 

and shame them that have not? 

what shall I say to you? 

shall I praise you in this? 

I praise you not.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10

King James Version

9 For I am the least of the apostles, 

that am not meet to be called an apostle, 

because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: 

and his grace which was bestowed upon me 

was not in vain; 

but I laboured more abundantly than they all: 

yet not I, 

but the grace of God which was with me.

2 Corinthians 1:1-2

King James Version

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ 

by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 

unto the church of God which is at Corinth, 

with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, 

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:11-13

King James Version

11 But I certify you, brethren, 

that the gospel which was preached of me 

is not after man.

12 For I neither received it of man, 

neither was I taught it, 

but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past 

in the Jews' religion, 

how that beyond measure 

I persecuted the church of God, 

and wasted it:

1 Timothy 3:1-5

King James Version

3 This is a true saying, 

if a man desire the office of a bishop, 

he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, 

the husband of one wife, 

vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, 

given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, 

no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; 

but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, 

having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, 

how shall he take care of the church of God?)

A common ingredient of all the verses above?

It was written by the devoted apostle Paul.

All verses so very worthy of personal meditation.

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