Comforted in One True Savior (LD 11; 1 Cor. 1:10-17)

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Paul addresses a fractured church, divided into factions based on allegiance to specific leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or even Christ in a tribalistic sense. These divisions reveal the human tendency to seek identity and superiority in secondary things, even in the church. Paul responds by re-centering their focus on Christ alone, emphasizing that their unity and salvation are rooted not in the messengers, but in the message of the cross.

Human hearts naturally turn good things, like church leaders or even the gospel, into ultimate things that ironically look away from Christ. We are those who create idols that divide rather than finding significance in Christ. But Paul dismantles these divisions by reminding the Corinthians of the gospel’s leveling power: none of them were baptized into Paul or Apollos—they were baptized into Christ. The cross is not just the means of salvation; it’s the ultimate unifier, declaring that all believers are equally in need of grace.

The key takeaway is that the gospel creates a new identity transcending tribalism. In Christ, there’s no room for boasting in human leaders or factions because everything we have is a gift. This passage challenges us to examine where we are tempted to find our worth outside of Jesus and invites us to center our hearts and community on the One who unites us all.