Fruitful friends of the conquering King

John 15:1-17 ESV

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.  "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.  These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Rev. Dr. Ed Gross

We are not called to plant churches. We are called to make disciples. Churches, we have. Disciplers, we have few. To be a disciple in the first century, there is a set of requirements. We are called to the same things as modern-day christians. We are called to teach people to obey christ.

It is not enough to hear and understand the words of Christ. We are to make it true in our lives. That is what we are to do.

True obedience comes from a heart of love. Obedience is not love. It comes from love. If we love God, then we will obey.

After obedience to God, Christ brings us into intimate friendship with Christ. The order matters. We are friends by our obedience in christ.

Do all this and we will have fruit. Rabbis would teach and then release disciples to become rabbis themselves. Rabbis then make more disciples. This is fruit. Fruit that remains attached to the vine.

Watch what you do for the weak

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 ESV

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Today's topic is on Christian freedom. Drinking, smoking, and clubbing. Paul is addressing the eating of foods sacrificed to idols. Corinth was multi-theistic and multi-demonistic. People believed that demons could enter the body through food. So people believed that sacrificing this meat to idols purged it from demonic presence. It was sold in the market. Much like organic foods in the modern day. Some believers were stumbled by this food; others were not stumbled.

There are differences between people in knowledge of faith.

There is a difference between people when it comes to theological knowledge. There were people in the Corinthian church who understood. But even though they were right, they had a proud attitude towards those who don't know. They were puffed up. In this, they were in the wrong. It is not simply a matter of possessing knowledge of God. There is more  to it than just theology. It must impact our lives. Knowing God means having theology that changes us.

There is a difference between POSSESSING KNOWLEDGE of the gospel and being POSSESSED BY KNOWLEDGE of the gospel.

The one who loves is the one who knows God.

There is a difference between christians in terms  of conscience.

While idols are nothing, there are people who worshiped these idols. They had weak consciences. The subjective truth in their mind is that idols are real. For these, the food was wrong to eat. Our conscience is based on our beliefs. So for those who have certain beliefs, doing things that are not sins (as delineated by the bible) causes them to stumble.

Guilting and pressuring those with weak conscience to do things that make them guilty IS a sin. We should avoid any actions that may stumble them. In our knowledge of other's  consciences, we are called to abstain from those things.

In addition, there are areas where a christian is weak. For these areas, the conscience is a good and right warning. They should abstain for their own good. This is not a weak conscience; it is a weakness that is to be respected.

When we ignore other's conscience and their weaknesses, we do three things:

We defile their conscience.

This teaches them to ignore their conscience...and disables their ability to avoid spiritual danger.

We stumble their faith.

We are tearing them down. Impeding their spiritual growth.

We sin against Christ.

Mark 9:42 ESV

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."

There must be a difference in our choices and actions depending on who we are with.

For those who can handle alcohol maturely, grabbing a couple beers is okay. But for those who struggle with alcoholism, we should not drink with them or bring them into the bar.

Romans 14: if we don't have a clear conscience about something, then we shouldn't do it. Because all that we do should come from faith.

Can I?
Is it explicitly forbidden in scripture?

Should I?
Does it glorify God? (1 Cor 10:31)
Is it beneficial to me? (1Cor 10:23)
Is it beneficial to others? (1 Cor 8, Romans 14)

The driving force behind all this:

Philippians 2:4-8 ESV

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Church matters: sexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9-20 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The world's view on sex has caused much damage, pain, and suffering. The church can some much light and restoration here.

God's design for sex

Paul was fighting this idea called dualism.  It saw the body and spirit as separate. This thinking meant that the body was seen as unimportant. Sex was just like eating; an appetite to be sated. Others saw sex as dirty and marriage something to be avoided.

Paul advocates neither of these. He told Christians that their body matters. It was not to be denigrated. It was the temple. In addition, we get a resurrection body.  Jesus was resurrected  with a body, with scars. He even ate fish. This implies the body is  neither bad or unspiritual. It is to be used for God.

By God's design, the only proper context  for sex, and any form of sexual contact is in marriage, between a man and a woman. Both sex and marriage serve as an illustration of the Gospel.

Sex illustrates the Gospel these ways:
For procreation (bearing fruit)
To communicate exclusive love (to give everything to another, no other)
For bonding (intimacy and union)

Distortion of sex

The culture tells us to just go with what feels right. To be true to ourselves. Waiting for sex sounds old-fashioned. Marriage, so outdated.

Our desires can be twisted. Pedophiles illustrate this.  Wanting sex with young children is wrong regardless of what we desire.

In addition,  we are free in Christ. We need not worry about dietary restrictions. But we cannot do what we wish without consequences. We find ourselves enslaved by our twisted desires. This is idolatry. We have placed our twisted sexual desires above God. Idols promise but cannot deliver. So the desires increase, but the fulfillment is not to be found.

Dealing with sex as a church

Sex and any sexual contact is reserved for marriage.

We are to treat those we date as a brother and sister in Christ.

When we dress consider how we might be stumbling others.

Be open about our sexual struggle; don't stigmatize those who have persistent sexual struggles.

Homosexuality is not something exclusive. It is listed along with adultery, thievery, greed, and idolatry. These lifestyles can disqualify you from the kingdom. Not the desire, but the consistent lifestyle of living this way. Fighting  these desires is hard and sometimes lifelong. But we win in Christ, for we have been sanctified, justified and raised in Him.

Church Matters: Disciple

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

A community that takes discipline seriously will do more for your spiritual growth than any interesting sermon will.

This message will not be popular with the culture around us.

How it is the mark of a gospel centered church

Paul is not surprised that this man is in a relationship with his step-mom. This was so beyond the pale even the pagans didn't tolerate it. Corinth is known for wild behavior, but even this is something they didn't tolerate.

Paul is appalled by how the church is acting in this situation. The church in Corinth had a gospel with grace that had no bound in behavior. It doesn't challenge or call people to live differently. This gospel does not call us to hate sin and cheapens grace.

The motivation of church discipline

We are God's holy people.

"Cleansing the old leaven" means instead of using yeast they used spoiled dough to make their bread rise. Why get rid of all the leaven? Because this can cause effects to the entire batch of dough. A little sin can cause contamination to the whole of the dough. We are not cleansing to become pure. God calls us pure, therefore cleanse yourselves of find. We are holy, so act accordingly.

We are God's family.

The LORD disciplines those he loves. All good discipline comes from love. We also need to be willing to cause some pain in the cause of loving them. We discipline those within the family, not non-believers. "Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? Our lifestyle is to match the faith we profess.

We are God's ambassadors.

Whether we like it or not, we represent God on earth. Non-believers look to the church for a glimpse of God. What appeal do we have for the glory of Christ to those who don't know Him? To act otherwise is to dirty the image of God to unbelievers.

The method of church discipline
Kicking people out and handing people over to Satan is not the first step of church discipline. This is the last resort.

How you go: gently and humbly

Galatians 6:1 ESV
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

This should happen informally and privately on a regular basis, especially within community groups.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The process looks like this:

One-on-one (informal)
Bring one or two along (informal)
Tell it to the church (formal)
Treat them as unbeliever (formal)

To get from informal to formal discipline,  judgement comes from an unrepentant heart, as a characteristic. Not just fighting greed, but just straight greedy. There is not  any attempt to fight sin. There is no fruit that is found in those who have the Spirit. No evidence of life-saving faith. Then we are called to treat them as unbelievers; one in need of the gospel. The reason to push him out of the church is to show him or her that they have strayed from the path of Christ. We are not to be mean to them. We are to call them to repentance, just like any unbeliever. To follow the one LORD and Savior.

Church Matters: Division

1 Corinthians 3:1-9, 16-23 ESV

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

John Calvin, John Piper, Armenian?

Division impacts both those within as well as those without the church. It hurts people who are a part of the church. It adlai hurts the reputation of the church.

The character and cause of division

The corinthian church felt it was a theologically sound church. But Paul calls them children. He was looking at how they were acting and said this  spoke of their maturity. The division and contention  starts from this: Natural preferences become Exclusive Absolutes.

We see this often in worship. From traditional hymns to contemporary christian music, there is contention over the proper way to worship. Or introverted vs. extroverted christians. Or in myers-briggs, judging vs. perceiving.

What does all this come from? The need in our hearts to justify ourselves.

The consequence of divisiveness

Paul speaks of not only the church, but also the consequence for those who act divisively. "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him." The person who acts in a way to destroy the unity  and peace of the church will DESTROY this person. We should not soften the language here. God will destroy this divisive person. The church is called the children of God, the bride of Christ, and the body of Christ. God cares much more for the church than we can imagine.

The cure for division

How do we guard against division? The us vs. them mentality comes from worldly wisdom which is foolishness to God. Paul tells them that Paul, Apollos, and Cephas are all of the church and sent by God. They all have something to share, something to give. One LORD, one faith, one baptism. Whether presbyterian, pentecostal, or baptist, they are all given to us through Christ.

ABANDON ALL ATTEMPTS TO PROVE THEIR WORTH IN WORLDLY WAYS AND REST IN THE INFINITE WORTH WE HAVE IN CHRIST.

We are always striving to find sanctuary from insecurity. We want  someone to look down on. We want self significance. This is us trying to prove ourselves. God is unimpressed; it all seems so silly.

Church matters: Weak Fools

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

What mattered to the Corinthians

The city of  Corinth had a reputation for riches and worldliness. It was like Las Vegas and New York. They were concerned about image and reputation. People were about being self-sufficient and working hard. They were  proud of their philosophical history, being wise.

This concern about image and reputation lead to the rise of factions. People started saying they followed different people, Paul or Apollo. They divided the church.

What really matters

The church has forgotten the gospel. This is what really matters. The gospel acts as a rebuke to the world. "has God not made foolish the wisdom of the wise" But this applies just as much to us. We are also caught up in promoting ourselves.  This applies even to pastors and their sermons.

There is a spirit of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. It is not just a Corinthian thing, not just a 2012 thing; it is a human thing. We want glory for ourselves. So we look at the gospel and find the complete opposite. We find a humiliating and embarrassing way of salvation. Jews were looking for a messiah of power and might.  Greeks were looking for a glorious God. And they find a Jesus who submits himself to a shameful death. God is saying that His weakness is still stronger than man's strength. God picks the weak, the lowly, the despised.  This shows the world that reputation, wisdom, and image count for nothing in the kingdom of God.

What a church that matters looks like

1. A church that accepts looking foolish.

The church looks foolish to the world when it is preaching the gospel properly.

2. A unity in diversity.

The church should have a diversity of race, culture, socio-economic, status... What binds us is salvation though grace, a gift from God. We are unable to boast.

3.  Be willing to speak of our weakness

In true community, we are ready to speak of our weakness.  It is only in our willing vulnerability that true community, true accountability happens.We no longer need to hide.

4. Boast in weakness to show God's greatness.

The church speaks of weakness rather than our own strength. This gives glory to God.

The Apostolic Gospel

2 Timothy 1:13-15 ESV

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

2 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 3:1-5, 10-15 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ

Rev. Ed Gross

This letter was written by Paul from prison to one who had struggled in the faith with him, Timothy.  Paul was passing the torch.

The disciple were  pledged to follow their masters. Wherever they went, how they understood the scriptures. The disciples were challenged in their hearts. They would be called to tough places and tough decisions.

Timothy is charged to protect and preserve the gospel with the help of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is not to be generalized or altered. In trying to be relevant, the temptations are to change the focus from Christ. The gospel is more than just words. We are guarding a pattern.

We are to pass on and entrust others with the gospel. It is not done at a distance; it is done up close. We are to invite people into our lives to see the gospel at work in our marriages, our workplace, our personal lives. This is the gospel we are called to pass on.

Training happens this way: Watch me, Do it with me, Show me, and finally, do it alone. This is how discipleship works.

We are called to live in the  gospel. By living in the word: memorizing, obeying, and meditating on it. This  is the path to victory over Satan.