1 Corinthians 4:20

Scripture: 1 Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Teaching: Today we jump back one verse to 1 Corinthians 4:20 to better grasp what Paul is saying there. Paul is in the midst of admonishing the Corinthians for their seeming lack of fear of the Lord, or at least, their lack of respect for Paul. Instead, they stubbornly persisted in pride and arrogance to the detriment of the Body of Christ. As we will see in the next chapter, their arrogance led them to accept rampant sexual sin in their midst without thought to what God’s Word says nor what such an endorsement would do to the unity and doctrine of the Church. We’ll get more into that next week, but for now, notice that it is pride and arrogance driving their behavior, not an aloofness or ignorance to God’s Word. It is rather a purposeful disregard of the Lord in favor of what they themselves desire. While Paul’s letter is strongly worded and directly addresses the issues, verse 20 is Paul’s reminder to the Corinthians that words or talk are not what constitute God’s Kingdom – God’s power does. While they may feel comfortable now minimizing or ignoring Paul’s words, he is prepared to return in person and demonstrate the power God had gifted him as an Apostle. What Paul is saying here is that the Kingdom of God is not simply doctrines, preferences, or a social club – it is the embodiment of the Holy Spirit sent to the world to bring salvation in Christ Jesus. Just as Paul taught earlier in this letter, the power of God is demonstrated in the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:4-5). Words and talk can do many things, but Paul was aware that it is not the words themselves but the power behind them that matters.

Takeaway: If God’s Word were only words to live by or be inspired by, they would be both wise and inspiring. However, God’s Word written on a page is not the power, God himself is the power and His character and sovereign-existence makes His Word powerful. Said another way, it is powerful because of Who said it. If the Kingdom of God were merely words, it would be fair-game to challenge them with other words – and many try to today. Whether it is other religions, secular philosophies, or simply prideful disregard, God’s Word could be met on a level playing field with other words if not for whose Word’s they are. But God is the Creator and His power to accomplish His Word makes it altogether above any other. Isaiah 55:11 says, “My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” In Matthew 24:35, Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  When Paul says that the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power, it was a powerful reminder to the prideful Corinthians that the Church is not a gathering of like-minded people who agree upon written doctrines or a social club – it is a Spirit-empowered entity that operates in this age to fulfill the Word of God. So, when the Corinthians chose to satisfy themselves, create their own doctrines and preferences, and trust in their own wisdom, Paul’s stern words in 1 Corinthians 4:20 would have woken them up to their own misguided ways. They should do the same for us today. When we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior truly, an abiding trust and reverence for His Word will accompany that profession of faith. This is the case because we believe the One who said them has done all the things He says He has done, and has the power to do all He says He will.