Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

B26L2 Why would the apostle Paul thank God that he barely baptized anyone? In this verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 1:8-17, Les Feldick tackles the divisions plaguing the Corinthian church — believers saved out of gross paganism and idolatry who were now splitting into factions around Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ. But before addressing their divisions, Les unpacks one of the most comforting promises in Scripture: that even carnal, struggling believers are confirmed blameless by Christ at His coming — not because of their faithfulness, but because God is faithful. This lesson continues the introduction to 1 Corinthians, reviewing verses 7-8 on the believer's blameless standing before moving into the problems that plagued this troubled assembly. Les explains the four factions in Corinth — those claiming Paul, those drawn to the eloquent Apollos, Jewish believers clinging to Peter, and those who rejected all human teachers claiming to follow only Christ. He then takes a deep dive into Acts 18 to examine who Apollos was — an eloquent, instructed man from Alexandria who knew only the baptism of John until Priscilla and Aquila expounded the way of God more perfectly to him. Les also cross-references Galatians 1-2 to defend Paul's unique apostolic authority, showing that Paul received his gospel directly by revelation from the ascended Christ, not from the Twelve. The lesson closes with Paul's stunning statement in verse 17 — that Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel — and why the cross must never be made of no effect. 📖 Key Topics Covered: 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 — why carnal believers are still confirmed blameless at Christ's coming The four divisions in the Corinthian church: followers of Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ Acts 18:24-28 — who Apollos was and how Priscilla and Aquila taught him the full gospel Galatians 1:11-2:2 — Paul's gospel came by direct revelation, not from the Twelve Why Paul spent 14 years before going to Jerusalem and what he communicated to the apostles 1 Corinthians 1:13-17 — why Paul thanked God he baptized almost no one The danger of following men instead of Christ and how it divides the body Why the gospel must take priority over baptism and all other practices This study of 1 Corinthians 1 covers the believer's eternal security, the difference between the kingdom gospel and the gospel of grace. 📖 Visit our website: www.lesfeldickbiblestudy.com If this study blessed you, please LIKE the video and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear this teaching. 00:00 — Introduction: 1 Corinthians 1 — The Carnal Corinthian Church 00:30 — Review of Verses 7-8: Carnal Believers Confirmed Blameless at Christ's Coming 01:34 — Saved Out of Paganism and Idolatry — The Corinthians' Background 02:08 — Even Carnal Believers Will Be Taken at the Rapture 02:46 — Verse 9: God Is Faithful — Not Because We Are Faithful 03:01 — The Abrahamic Covenant: A Covenant God Will Never Break 03:40 — God Will Never Forsake Us — The Believer's Eternal Security 04:02 — Verse 10: Paul Beseeches — Not a Legalistic Command but a Plea 04:52 — The First Problem: Divisions in the Corinthian Assembly 05:25 — House Churches in the Apostolic Age — Small Congregations 06:02 — Verse 11: The House of Chloe Reports Contentions 06:58 — Verse 12: The Four Factions — Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ 07:35 — The Danger of Getting Hung Up on One Man 07:48 — Acts 18:24-28 — Who Was Apollos? An Eloquent Man from Alexandria 08:42 — Apollos Was Instructed — Unlike Paul Who Received Direct Revelation 09:35 — Priscilla and Aquila Expound the Way of God More Perfectly to Apollos 11:03 — Apollos Now Believed Through Grace and Ministered in Corinth 12:16 — The Jewish Believers in Corinth Who Clung to Peter 13:06 — Why Jewish Believers Struggled with Paul's Gospel of Grace 14:08 — The Modern Parallel: "I Follow Jesus, Not Paul" 15:44 — Galatians 1:11-12 — Paul's Gospel Not After Man but by Revelation 16:35 — Galatians 1:16-17 — Paul Went to Arabia, Not Jerusalem 17:53 — The Gospels Belong to the Old Testament — Before the Cross 18:27 — Galatians 1:11-2:2 — Paul Communicated His Gospel to the Twelve 19:41 — 14 Years Later: Paul Went to Jerusalem by Revelation 20:21 — Paul's Gospel to the Gentiles vs. Peter's Gospel to the Jews 21:02 — The Gospel of Grace — What Very Few People Comprehend 22:12 — The Tragedy of People Who Never Stop to Think of Eternity 22:49 — Verse 13: Is Christ Divided? Paul Confronts the Factions 23:32 — Was Paul Crucified for You? Were You Baptized in Paul's Name? 23:56 — Verse 14-16: Paul Thanks God He Baptized Almost No One 24:44 — Verse 17: Christ Sent Me Not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel 25:48 — The Gospel Defined: Christ Died, Was Buried, and Rose Again 26:17 — Growing in Grace, Knowledge, and Works — Why We're Left Here 27:10 — The Glorious Eternity Awaiting Every Believer