Introduction to 1 & 2 Corinthians – Part IV


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Sermon Notes

God’s wisdom for His Church, which lived(es) amidst a prosperous, arrogant and aggressively rebellious culture, yet is commanded by God to become and remain holy (moral and separate).

World Morality at Corinth

  • Morally Bankrupt Culture {Typical or Unique?}
    • Sexual Perversions (All Kinds)
    • Drunkenness
    • Gambling Addictions
    • Gluttony
    • Selfishness/Greed
    • Injustice/Corruption/Deception (at All Levels)
    • Brutality/Abuse
    • Divorce/Abandonment
    • Slavery
    • Superstition/Mystery Religions
    • Religious Temple Prostitution (Venus/Aphrodite)
    • Religious Temple Healing Worship (Asclepius)
    • Religious Polytheism/Plurality
  • Autonomous Human Reasoning (Philosophy Not under/submitted to God) (No Ultimate Authority/Justice) (Strongly Influenced by Athenian Philosophy/“The Spirit of the Age-Time”)
    • Anthropocentric (Man-centered) (Self-centered)
    • Instant Gratification/Pleasure Driven-Ruled by the Flesh
    • Overwhelmed/Confused by an Absence of Absolute Truth, Reality, Purpose and Meaning (Significance) to which We Were Designed and Created by God
    • Anti-revelation – no knowledge apart from the sinful human nature
    • Anti-supernatural (miracle and resurrection)
    • No salvation from sin/guilt/shame/death/personal punishment under God’s wrath
  • Strong Hellenizing Influence upon the People of the Empire (Influence toward the Adoption of Greek Ideas/Values)
  • John 1:9-13
    There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
  • Colossians 2:8-15
    See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.