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QUESTION 6:
What about those who said, "I am of Christ;” Are they not sectarian also?

ANSWER:
It is important to notice exactly what the Scriptures says. At Corinth there were many sins and false doctrines taught. Some taught that there was no resurrection from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:12) Others were going to law with one another (1 Corinthians 6. Some were attending the temple of idols, others were committing fornication. (1 Corinthians 5:1) Other were abusing the Lord' Supper (1 Corinthians 11:29). These all stemmed from certain unnamed men among them. Paul wisely uses himself and Apollos, as figure of these men. 1 Corinthians 4:6, “And these things, brethren.I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.So he opens this Epistle by stating that there are four groups there and uses, as a figure, of the four men, Paul, Cephas (Peter), Apollos and Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:12) He is not saying here whether any of them are right or wrong. He is merely stating the case, as it was reported to him. (1 Corinthians 1:11) When he gets to their divisions and their carnality he only stated two of those four, Paul and Apollos. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) According to 1 Corinthians 4:6 above, there was nobody there calling themselves after Paul, or Apollos. It does say, in connection with these divisions, that there were some among them that were approved. 1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Who were the approved? 1 Corinthians 3:23, And ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s. Is it wrong to say Christ is God’s? Is it wrong to say we are Christ’s? Do we not belong to Him? 2 Timothy 2:19, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. How can we name His name by calling ourselves anything but “Christians?” James says, “Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?” The word ‘called’ translated 11 times ‘surnamed.’ Shame of those that are born again who are ashamed of identifying themselves by His name only. If you are not a Christian then you must repent and trust Christ because ‘there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ Acts 4:12.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen