1 Corinthians 4:6-21

A Father

Open your Bible to…

1Cor. 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Pray

Intro

√ A Father

The last illustration Paul uses in chapter 4 to describe the character and attitude of God’s workers is that of a father.

Please note that Paul isn’t taking the title of “father”, he certainly understood Jesus’ admonition against the use of that title (ref. Matt. 23:8-12) which is limited to God.

Rather, he is comparing himself and his work at Corinth to that of a spiritual father as he was the one through whom God birthed new life into the Corinthian people as he wrote in vs. 15.

Paul’s purpose in this last illustration was to remind his friends at Corinth of the special relationship and ministry he had with those at the church.

Ap. A picture of our heavenly Father

The last few generations of Americans has largely been deprived of good and godly fathers.

That’s not to say there aren’t any good fathers out there, there certainly are and we have many wonderful dads here in our fellowship.

However, with over half of all marriages ending in divorce, absentee fathers, and children born out of wedlock, a huge portion of our population today has no idea what a father is supposed to be!

The tragedy is that when people come to faith in Christ and they read that God is our “heavenly Father” they have nothing to relate that concept to because they didn’t have a father in the home, or if they did he wasn’t a good and godly role model.

Ex. My own spiritual retardation

One of my greatest challenges in my own Christian experience has been getting my mind around God’s faithfulness and unconditional love.

I think that’s because I didn’t experience those qualities in my relationship with my dad who was largely absent during my childhood.

So when I read in the Bible that God is my “heavenly Father” I don’t make the good connection God intended because I don’t have anything to relate that truth to.

So, this section of chapter 4 is helpful to all of us but especially to those who didn’t have a good and godly father because Paul shows through his example what that father should be…

…and by extension how our heavenly Father ministers to us.

Fathered the Family (vs. 14-15)

1Cor. 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

1Cor. 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

√ Fathered the Family

Paul’s first point to the believers at Corinth is that while what he had already written to them may have been hard to receive that it was motivated by his love for them as their spiritual father.

He wasn’t out to humiliate them or make them feel like second-class citizens in God’s Kingdom.

Rather, because he loved them as a father loves his children he exposed their sinful activity and attitudes in the hope that they wouldn’t continue on a path that would lead to their harm and destruction.

How did Paul gain this special relationship with the believers at Corinth?

By introducing them to the Lord and bringing them to salvation!

As he writes in vs. 15…

“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.“

Please understand that he’s not taking credit for their conversion, that’s the work of the Holy Spirit…

…rather he’s reminding them of the special relationship they have because God used Paul to bring about their spiritual re-birth.

In that sense them Paul would always have a unique place in their lives.

They might enjoy the ministry of many pastors, guest speakers, and even other Apostles…

…but Paul was the one who brought them into a relationship with Jesus Christ and that he continued to care for them as his own children something the itinerant preachers did not do.

Ex. My spiritual “parents”

In my own conversion experience it was the unrelenting work of two girls that brought me to faith in Jesus!

My girlfriend at the time, Barbara, and her friend Erin.

While we haven’t been in contact for many years I am forever grateful for their willingness to put up with all my stupid questions and bonehead arguments and patiently point me to Jesus.

Ap. You have spiritual parents!

Think back to whom it was that God used to bring you to faith in Christ.

Write their name(s) down this morning and if you haven’t been in touch with them for some time write them a note this week and thank them for their part in your salvation.

They might not even be walking with the Lord any longer!

But, pray for them, thank the Lord for them, and let them know how grateful you are for their part in saving you from an eternity separated from God!

So, Paul had a unique place as a spiritual father in the lives of the believers at Corinth because God used him to bring them to the new birth in Jesus and continued to be a father through his love and involvement in their lives.

Example to the Family (vs. 16-17)

1Cor. 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

1Cor. 4:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

√ Example to the Family

When my kids were growing up and they got in trouble everyone knew where their rambunctious, overactive, and rebellious spirit came from…

…me!

Much as I tried to blame some of it on Cindy the reality is that she was just about a perfect child while I was a challenge to my mom, teachers, and anyone else in authority and my kids got my DNA!

But more important than our genetic makeup is the example we follow in life and my kids have always seen a consistent and godly example in my life and Cindy’s.

The Bible confirms what modern research has found and that is that children imitate their parents!

Both the good and the bad behavior.

In fact, research shows that kids learn to drink, do drugs, and practice immorality primarily from their parents not their peers!

Ex. P & J

That’s why you hear a lot of parents tell their kids…

“Do what I say, not what I do!”

But not Paul! Paul wasn’t afraid to point to his life and walk with Christ and call his spiritual children to…

“imitate me” ~ vs. 16

The Old King James translates it…

“be ye followers of me.”

The Greek word is mimetes from which we get our English, “mimic”.

The point is that Paul’s life, his character, behavior, speech and attitude were so much like the Lord’s that he could say with confidence…

…mimic, copy, imitate me!

Why did Paul write that?

Because the quickest cure for the bad behavior and ungodly attitudes of the believers in Corinth was to simply start acting like their spiritual father!

WWPD!

You see while they had not personally seen Jesus they had seen Paul during the year and a half that he lived and taught in Corinth.

During that time living in the midst of the most corrupt and immoral city in the Roman Empire they observed Paul’s life and attitude.

His life was a reflection of what the Scripture tells us of Jesus.

That’s why Paul writes…

“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ…” ~ vs. 17

Paul knew that if they would call to mind his godly life and once more follow his example that their lives and the church would return to a good and godly witness for Jesus.

Ap. Can you say to your children imitate me!

Parents, and especially you fathers, we have a high calling in Christ!

The Lord has called us to be good and godly examples to our family.

In fact that’s such an important quality to God that He makes it a criteria for ministry! (ref. 1 Tim. 3:4-5).

If we aren’t a godly example to our family how will we ever be one to the church!

So, parents, and especially you who are called to ministry in the church, always remember that your children, both those of your flesh and your spiritual kids…

…are watching your example whether it be good or bad.

Faithful to Discipline the Family (vs. 18-21)

1Cor. 4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

1Cor. 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

1Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

1Cor. 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Let me read this section from the NLT as Paul’s thoughts come across more clearly…

1Cor. 4:18 I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again.

1Cor. 4:19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord will let me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God’s power.

1Cor. 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

1Cor. 4:21 Which do you choose? Should I come with punishment and scolding, or should I come with quiet love and gentleness?

√ Faithful to Discipline the Children

The last characteristic of a loving father is that he must be faithful to discipline his children.

That’s not a pleasant task but it is necessary when children are disobedient.

Such was the case with Paul’s spiritual children at the church in Corinth.

During Paul’s absence from them they had drifted into sinful activity and attitudes.

Paul had already written to them and addressed those issues in a previous letter, which we do not have (ref. 1 Cor. 5:9).

However, some at Corinth disregarded Paul’s letter and authority and boasted that they weren’t worried about him or the discipline he threatened to implement.

So, here he addresses those at Corinth who were unrepentant and who had publicly expressed their doubt that Paul had the gumption to show up and deal with them!

Note vs. 19 (from the NLT)…

“But I will come—and soon—if the Lord will let me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God’s power.” ~ NLT

His point is that it was easy to talk a big talk while Paul was away, but would they continue to boast when he showed up in Corinth!

The truth was that God had given Paul a place of spiritual authority in the church and the power to deal with rebels!

Paul had God’s power and wasn’t afraid to use it.

Ex. Elymas the sorcerer

Resisted Paul as he shared the Gospel with Sergius Paulus the Roman proconsul on the island of Paphos.

When Paul grew weary of his resistance he pronounced a curse on him and made him blind!

Another example of the power of God to deal with sin in the church is that of Ananias and Sapphire!

So, Paul had the authority and power to deal with the people in Corinth who were leading the church astray and wasn’t afraid to confront them.

Ap. Good & godly fathers discipline their kids ~ just as our Heavenly Father does!

The author of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines us for our own benefit!

Heb. 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,

Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

Heb. 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

Heb. 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?

Heb. 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Heb. 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

Heb. 12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Heb. 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The lesson here and in our text this morning is that our Heavenly Father, and all good fathers, love their children so much that they are willing to confront sinful activity so as to save them from harm, heartache and destruction.

That’s not fun!

It takes courage to confront a wayward child with their sin.

Yet, a loving father like God is willing to do so even if it means that the child may be angry with them or worse, separate themselves from their father.

To avoid the conflict doesn’t help the child nor is it loving!

Ex. David and his children

For all of David’s good qualities there was one area where he consistently failed and that was to be a good father.

When Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar David ignored it and refused to deal with it.

That led Tamar’s brother Absalom to take matters into his own hands and he murdered Amnon.

Once more David failed to address the situation and after a time of exile restored Absalom who undermined David’s authority and then led a rebellion which ended in his own death.

David’s unwillingness to discipline his children led to great distress in their lives and that of the kingdom and ultimately to the death of two of his sons.

Ap. Moral authority

As I compare David and Paul I think that the reason that Paul wasn’t afraid to deal with discipline issues where David was comes down to moral authority.

That is, perhaps David’s unwillingness to deal with his own children’s moral failures was that he had morally compromised himself in his adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband.

Though he repented and found forgiveness it’s my opinion that he never felt that he had the moral high ground to address those same failures in his kid’s lives as they could say…

“Who are you to judge me! You did the same things and now you want to play God in my life!”

Paul on the other hand maintained his character and integrity to such a degree that he could say…

“imitate me!” ~ vs. 16

My encouragement to you parents is to be faithful to discipline your children and to address the sin in their life rather than ignore it.

Having said that remember our example of Paul and David and that it will be easier for you to deal with your kids if you maintain the moral high ground!

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t deal with sin issues if like David you’ve lost the moral high ground…you should and you must!

But you will have to first deal with your own sin and once forgiven and repentant go to your son or daughter and deal with them.

What do you do if they say…

“Who are you to judge me! You did the same things and now you want to play God in my life!”

Be honest with them about your failures, tell them about your repentance and God’s forgiveness, and use your life as a model for how to get right with God.

But don’t ignore their sin because that’s a recipe for disaster!

So, a loving father (parent) is willing to deal with sin in the lives of his children.

Close

√ A father

Our text here reminds all of us and especially those who are called to a place of leadership in the church are that we are called to be spiritual parents…

Because we birthed the believers into new life in Christ.

Therefore we should be careful to live a godly life so that they can follow our example as we follow Christ.

That we have a duty to correct and discipline our spiritual children when they go astray.

We’re also reminded how much God loves us in that He willingly made us His own children by His Grace and that He won’t leave us in our sin!