We Are Fools For Christ’s Sake!

(1 Corinthians 4:8-13)…..You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! ⁹ For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we aredishonored! ¹¹ To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. ¹² And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³ being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul, is emphasizing to the believers in Corinth that there is a difference between those who think they are serving God and those who really are. While some of the Corinthian believer’s were studying the philosophy of man’s wisdom, being carnal in divisions, rivalries, and following certain leaders thinking they’ve got everything, know everything. The Apostles were following Christ. The apostles were eyewitnesses to the events of Christ (Acts 10:39-42) (2 Peter 1:16-18). They saw Jesus, they touched Him, ate with Him – etc. – (1 John 1:1-3). Yet God – ordained – the apostles of Christ to suffer so much after what they have been allowed to see and do? 

“For we have been made a spectacle to the world” – spectacle – (gr. – Theatron) – (english – theatre) – put on display before angles and men. They would take them all to the great amphitheater, and they would have a celebration – all the gladiators would come out and fight with one another and with the wild animals, and then at the very end they would bring out the – dregs of humanity – the worthless criminals – they would feed them to the lions.

The testimony of the apostles (4:10-13) (2 Corinthians 11:22-28) (Hebrews 11:30-39). These were special Christians, who were living real faith, who payed a cost in their faith. Paul’s thought, “this is the real Christianity” not sitting around getting puffed up in religious activity. 

Why would God purpose to have such Christians suffer? – For an example for us to follow – the impact it should have on us!

• We would believe the testimony of Christ through the power of Christ living in them 
• Read: (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)
• The question is – “What is our Christianity like?” 

Are we more like the Corinthians – carnal in our behavior – contentious – divisive – etc.? Or are we like the apostles – the believer’s of (Hebrews 11) – that no matter what is thought of us – we believe God and we live like we believe.