A More Excellent Way

 

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-13:13

 Elder Thomas Waters

Jesus said to His Apostles - (John 16:12)  "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now."  The writer of Hebrews said - (Heb 5:12)  "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first (i.e., basic) principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."  A few verses later and in the same context the exhortation is given: (Heb 6:1)  "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.”  The New King James renders 6:1, “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go onto perfection.”  Paul said to Corinthians - (1 Cor 3:2)  "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."

Each of these passages distinguishes between what we often refer to as the “Milk & Meat” of God’s Word.  In each case, people were unprepared for “strong meat.”  In the Hebrews and Corinthians passages, regret is expressed.  Regret, not concerning the nature God’s word, but that the people were unable to handle meat.  In other words, the regret was not that there was meat in God’s word, but that the spiritual progress of the believer was so retarded he was unable to handle meat.

I confess that I often do not know what is meat or what is milk.  I remember during a sermon by Elder T. Roe Scott at the Echeconnee Union, being held that year at Macon Corinth Church, he said something like,

Some people say that the doctrines of election and predestination and the such like are deep and difficult subjects to understand.  But to me, love is a harder subject to understand.  Christ said, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;   That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: This is hard doctrine - it is not easy to love your enemies and love those who hate you.

Through the years I have often reflected on what he said and now, almost twenty years later, I consider his statement profound.  I agree, sometimes the obvious are the most difficult.  Why is that, do you suppose?  I think it has to do with what we call theoretical and practical.  Deep doctrines are often viewed as theoretical (i.e., impractical).  Now I am not saying deep doctrines necessarily are theoretical, but in our ignorance and lack of skill in handling meat sometimes that is how we perceive them.  Moreover, we often view the theoretical as personally safe.  It is safe because it does not threaten me or require repentance, change or obedience.  Consider, for example, the doctrine of the Trinity.  We all agree it is a deep and mysterious doctrine.  It is meat.  We agree that to misunderstand the doctrine of the Trinity opens the door to a host of heresies.  Because of the mystery of the Trinity, we struggle to find the right words to properly state the doctrine.  Yet, most of us consider the doctrine of the Trinity safe.  We don’t feel threatened by it.  How does this deep doctrine affect me?  How must I modify my behavior because God is a Trinity?  What actions must I take, what sins must I repent of, what modifications must I make because God is three in one?

On the other hand, what we often call practical issues (milk) are personally challenging, and require behavior modification and obedience.  For example, the command, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” is not deep.  What this command demands of me is not a great mystery.  It is, in fact, obviously clear.  If you can read these words, you can understand these words.  What it teaches, however directly effects the way I think and live.  It requires obedience and even challenges if I am a Christian or not.

Through the years, I have come to believe that most divisions and problems between believers whether in the home, in the local church or between churches ARE NOT because of great doctrinal issues or problems.  Nor, most often, is the root of the problem ignorance of Scripture, but a stubborn willful act of rebellious sin in ignoring the basic Christian virtues and teachings of the Bible.  Most problems in churches, homes of believers, between brothers in Christ or between churches are due to ignoring the clear teachings of the Bible.  Unfortunately,  unconverted church members are left unchallenged and destructive sinful behavior is allowed to fester because we too often ignore the plain, basic teaching of scripture.  I think more believers get in spitting contests, more churches split, more problems are caused - NOT because we do not understand some deep doctrine like the Trinity, BUT because we fail, we refuse to practice simple Christian virtues.  I realize there are times when very important issues are at stake; issues that we can’t compromise.  Even so, I believe if we applied simple Christian principles much pain and confusion would be avoided.  For example plain, simple, easy to understand virtues like,  (Eph 4:31‑32)  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  {32}  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

1 Corinthians 13 is about the most basic Christian virtue- love.  Now, is the subject of love meat or milk?  I don’t know.  If it is milk, it must be heavy milk.  Whatever it is, meat or milk, Paul said, “I show you a more excellent way”.  The word excellent means - a throwing beyond others, super-eminence, far more,  exceeding, beyond (out of) measure.  So, whether meat or milk, love is a more excellent way.

The Church at Corinth had many deep and festering problems.  A survey of 1 Corinthians reveals some of the problems within the church.

Chapters 1-3 reveal the problem of divisions in the church.  The church (members) suffered from a severe case of pride - which lead to sectarian spirit - which lead to a division - which lead to Apostolic condemnation.  The prideful sectarianism which divided the church, was a reproach to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Ultimately, the issue at stake was God’s glory.  Some gloried in who they knew or who had baptized them, some in their heritage, some in their wisdom, and still others in their gifts.  Paul said “no flesh should glory in his presence.”  Therefore, Paul commands, (1 Cor 1:31)  "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Chapters 4- 10 reveal problems with personal relationships in the church.  Such problems as uncensored immorality in Church (chap 5), lawsuits between members in the church (chap 6), sexual purity (chaps 6-7), confusion over spiritual liberties and what was lawful to eat or drink, (chap 8), the limits/sacrifice of personal rights (chap 9), and proper social etiquette (Chap 10).  Once again, Paul understands there is a bigger issue at stake, a reason why we should strive to live godly - God’s glory.  That which should guide a believer’s actions and liberties is God’s glory.  Paul said, (1 Cor 10:31)  "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Chap 11-16 reveal problems in worship and doctrine.  When reading the book, if you have not blushed before, you should now.  There were gluttony and  drunkenness at Lord’s supper (chap 11), confusion and charismatic excesses in worship (chaps 12-14), and false teachings concerning the resurrection (chap 15).  Although not directly stated, I believe the central issue is once again God’s glory.  (In this light, consider 1 Corinthians 14:20-25).

Quite frankly, the degree and number of problems within the Corinthian church lead me years ago to question the validity of what some call bars of fellowship between churches.  I know of no case in the Bible where one church raised such bars against another.  If ever there was a church that had problems it was the church at Corinth; sexual immorality and un-brotherly conduct among the members; confusion and  charismatic excesses in worship; drunkenness at Communion and doctrinal heresies concerning the resurrection.  Yet, Paul recognized the church at Corinth and labored with them to set right that which was lacking.  Generally speaking, I think the desire to raise bars of fellowship between churches reveals the same prideful, sectarian spirit that the Apostle Paul censored in Corinth.  The Apostle Paul is more concerned in showing the folks at Corinth a more excellent way instead of raising some imaginary bars of fellowship.

The more excellent way is about God’s glory:

1)   Unity - proper interpersonal relationship of believers leads to God’s glory.

2)   Purity - personal sanctification of a believer leads to God’s glory.

3)   Worship - proper worship (how and why) is to be for God’s glory.

4)   Evangelism - the fact we do and how we do is to be for God’s glory.

5)   Glory - The “More Excellent Way” is about how we best honor and glorify God.

6)   Love - The More Excellent Way (the way beyond others), is love

Consider the place the Bible gives to love.

1)   (Col 3:14)  "And above all these things (i.e., tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forgiveness) put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

2)   (1 Tim 1:5)  "Now the end (tel'‑os - to set out for a definite point or goal, the point aimed at, uttermost) of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:"

3)   (1 Pet 4:8)  "And above all things have fervent (i.e., - intense) charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

4)   (John 13:34-35)  "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

5)   (Rom 13:8)  "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

6)   (Eph 5:2)  "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

7)   (1 John 4:7-8)  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

 

Why is love a More Excellent Way?  Because it is God’s way.

a.    Love is who God is.  “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8, 16).  Concerning this verse, Jerry Bridges writes, “Love is not defined here as an action, nor even as a character trait, but as an essential part of God’s nature . . . God was love long before he had any creatures to be the objects of his love, even from all eternity” (Practice of Godliness, 247-248)

b.    Love is how God does things.  Why are we told to love our enemies?  God does.  Why are we told to love brothers in Christ?  God does.  Why are we told to sacrifice self for others?  Christ did.