Assessments and evaluations of all kinds are commonplace in our lives, serving to motivate us to do what is right. Or at very least, to do what is compliant with the laws and authorities that are above us. So we understand the idea of being assessed. In this passage, Paul paints the picture of the church as an institution, which one day will be assessed for its build quality. As we have see thus far, the Corinthians failed in terms of building correctly because they succumbed to all sorts or worldly pressures and influences.

Whilst life for the new believer can appear sweet owing to the reconciliation they now have with God through Christ, it soon dawns on them that life actually is a whole lot more demanding and filled with more struggles than before. The reason is the allies they once had have now become their enemies; one of them being Satan and the forces he controls in the world. And then of course, internally, the believer still has to contend with the flesh that still rears its ugly head from time to time with its sinful desires. 

In the previous passages we have seen Paul using the argument that man’s fallen intellectual capacity prevents him from working out the matters of God. It is only when human wisdom is confronted by God’s wisdom that spiritual change can happen. Now, the passage before begins in verse 6 by addressing those who are ‘mature’. This refers to a person who is saved. It is a general reference to those who are redeemed by God. It’s not necessarily a reference to those who are advanced in the faith; it merely refers to those who are in the faith.

Paul has been drawing a contrast between manmade wisdom and Godly wisdom, and how overconfidence in human intellectual capacity and ability leads to folly. Like the Corinthian church, we too can become obsessed and impressed with human intellect. And looking around us we can see that morally, it hasn’t got us very far. 

The sin of pride is a root that produces all kinds of fruit. And much of this fruit was being seen in the church at Corinth in the way they chose to follow their favourite leaders. Their choices betrayed their love for style, method, charisma, intellectualism and rhetoric. But Paul confronted their sinful behaviour with the centrality of the Cross.

In last week’s study of the introductory passage wee see Paul establishing the identity of true believers. Noteworthy by its absence is a vote of thanks to the Corinthians, as was Paul’s practice to other churches. However he does thank God for them. In the passage before us, Paul launches into the primary problem that was rearing its ugly head in the Corinthian church - that of partiality. The believers had forgotten their God-given status as saints and instead, were following their fleshly instincts which was causing disunity amongst them. So Paul exhorts them to rise above this divisive problem by focusing their minds on some basic yet hard-hitting truths.

Problems in the church are plentiful and always have been. These are problems that split churches, divide families and friends, and rob us of the peace that ought to be ours in the Gospel. No wonder there are many who prefer to remain outside, professing to love Jesus but hating the church. The Corinthian church was a prime example of a church in turmoil. That too, despite being founded by Paul himself. And so, because it was floundering in chaos, Paul writes to confront them about their issues.