What does "Is Christ divided?" reveal about unity in the body of Christ? Why Paul Asked “Is Christ divided?” 1 Corinthians 1:13: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” Paul fires three rapid-fire questions at the Corinthians. The first—“Is Christ divided?”—cuts straight to the heart. Because Jesus is one, His body must live as one. Any fracture among believers contradicts what is true of Christ Himself. What the Rhetorical Question Teaches About Unity • Christ is singular, never fragmented. Therefore any split gatherings, competing loyalties, or party spirits are out of step with His nature. • Unity is not optional; it flows from who Jesus is. To deny unity is to misrepresent Him. • The crucifixion and baptism references remind us that our salvation and identity come from one Lord alone, not from leaders we admire. Roots of Division in Corinth—and Today • Celebrity culture: “I follow Paul… Apollos… Cephas” (1 Corinthians 1:12). Lifting human teachers above Christ breeds factions. • Worldly wisdom: They prized eloquence (1 Corinthians 1:17). When style outranks substance, cracks appear. • Pride: The Corinthians boasted in themselves (1 Corinthians 4:7). Pride always splinters fellowship. Christ’s Nature Demands Our Oneness • John 17:21: “That all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You… so that the world may believe.” • Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” • Colossians 1:18: “He is the head of the body, the church.” A body with one head cannot have multiple competing parts fighting for control. Practical Ways to Guard and Display Unity • Keep the cross central—focus on the One who was crucified for all (1 Corinthians 2:2). • Honor diverse gifts without ranking them (1 Corinthians 12:4-27). • Speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), refusing gossip or party slogans. • Submit to Scripture over personal preference—let God’s Word be the final authority. • Pursue reconciliation quickly (Matthew 5:23-24) to close the door on lingering division. • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper worthily (1 Corinthians 11:17-34), remembering it proclaims one body broken for many. Other Scriptures that Echo the Call to One Body • Psalm 133:1—“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” • Romans 12:4-5—“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” • Philippians 2:2—“Be like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.” Living It Out Together Christ is not divided; therefore His church must not be. Where He reigns as undisputed Lord, unity flourishes. Let every gathering, decision, and relationship echo the oneness that already exists in our Savior. |
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