the acts of the apostles-第46节

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where　the　disciples　stood　when　Christ　said　to　them；　〃I　have　yet　many　things
to　say　unto　you；　but　ye　cannot　bear　them　now。〃　John　16：12。　Jealousy；　evil
surmising；　and　accusation　had　closed　the　hearts　of　many　of　the　Corinthian
believers　against　the　full　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　which　〃searcheth　all
things；　yea；　the　deep　things　of　God。〃　1　Corinthians　2：10。　However　wise　they
might　be　in　worldly　knowledge；　they　were　but　babes　in　the　knowledge　of
Christ。

It　had　been　Paul's　work　to　instruct　the　Corinthian　converts　in　the
rudiments；　the　very　alphabet；　of　the　Christian　faith。　He　had　been　obliged　to
instruct　them　as　those　who　were　ignorant　of　the　operations　of　divine　power
upon　the　heart。　At　that　time　they　were　unable　to　comprehend　the　mysteries　of
salvation；　for　〃the　natural　man　receiveth　not　the　things　of　the　Spirit　of
God：　for　they　are　foolishness　unto　him：　neither　can　he　know　them；　because
they

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are　spiritually　discerned。〃　Verse　14。　Paul　had　endeavored　to　sow　the　seed；
which　others　must　water。　Those　who　followed　him　must　carry　forward　the　work
from　the　point　where　he　had　left　it；　giving　spiritual　light　and　knowledge　in
due　season；　as　the　church　was　able　to　bear　it。

When　the　apostle　took　up　his　work　in　Corinth；　he　realized　that　he　must
introduce　most　carefully　the　great　truths　he　wished　to　teach。　He　knew　that
among　his　hearers　would　be　proud　believers　in　human　theories；　and　exponents
of　false　systems　of　worship；　who　were　groping　with　blinds　eyes；　hoping　to
find　in　the　book　of　nature　theories　that　would　contradict　the　reality　of　the
spiritual　and　immortal　life　as　revealed　in　the　Scriptures。　He　also　knew　that
critics　would　endeavor　to　controvert　the　Christian　interpretation　of　the
revealed　word；　and　that　skeptics　would　treat　the　gospel　of　Christ　with
scoffing　and　derision。

As　he　endeavored　to　lead　souls　to　the　foot　of　the　cross；　Paul　did　not
venture　to　rebuke；　directly；　those　who　were　licentious；　or　to　show　how
heinous　was　their　sin　in　the　sight　of　a　holy　God。　Rather　he　set　before　them
the　true　object　of　life　and　tried　to　impress　upon　their　minds　the　lessons　of
the　divine　Teacher；　which；　if　received；　would　lift　them　from　worldliness　and
sin　to　purity　and　righteousness。　He　dwelt　especially　upon　practical
godliness　and　the　holiness　to　which　those　must　attain　who　shall　be　accounted
worthy　of　a　place　in　God's　kingdom。　He　longed　to　see　the　light　of　the　gospel
of　Christ　piercing　the　darkness　of　their　minds；　that　they　might　see　how
offensive　in　the　sight　of　God　were　their　immoral　practices。　Therefore　the
burden　of　his　teaching　among　them　was　Christ　and　Him　crucified。　He

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sought　to　show　them　that　their　most　earnest　study　and　their　greatest　joy
must　be　the　wonderful　truth　of　salvation　through　repentance　toward　God　and
faith　in　the　Lord　Jesus　Christ。

The　philosopher　turns　aside　from　the　light　of　salvation；　because　it　puts　his
proud　theories　to　shame；　the　worldling　refuses　to　receive　it；　because　it
would　separate　him　from　his　earthly　idols。　Paul　saw　that　the　character　of
Christ　must　be　understood　before　men　could　love　Him　or　view　the　cross　with
the　eye　of　faith。　Here　must　begin　that　study　which　shall　be　the　science　and
the　song　of　the　redeemed　through　all　eternity。　In　the　light　of　the　cross
alone　can　the　true　value　of　the　human　soul　be　estimated。

The　refining　influence　of　the　grace　of　God　changes　the　natural　disposition
of　man。　Heaven　would　not　be　desirable　to　the　carnal…minded；　their　natural；
unsanctified　hearts　would　feel　no　attraction　toward　that　pure　and　holy
place；　and　if　it　were　possible　for　them　to　enter；　they　would　find　there
nothing　congenial。　The　propensities　that　control　the　natural　heart　must　be
subdued　by　the　grace　of　Christ　before　fallen　man　is　fitted　to　enter　heaven
and　enjoy　the　society　of　the　pure；　holy　angels。　When　man　dies　to　sin　and　is
quickened　to　new　life　in　Christ；　divine　love　fills　his　heart；　his
understanding　is　sanctified；　he　drinks　from　an　inexhaustible　fountain　of　joy
and　knowledge；　and　the　light　of　an　eternal　day　shines　upon　his　path；　for
with　him　continually　is　the　Light　of　life。

Paul　had　sought　to　impress　upon　the　minds　of　his　Corinthian　brethren　the
fact　that　he　and　the　ministers　associated　with　him　were　but　men　commissioned
by　God　to　teach　the

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truth；　that　they　were　all　engaged　in　the　same　work；　and　that　they　were　alike
dependent　upon　God　for　success　in　their　labors。　The　discussion　that　had
arisen　in　the　church　regarding　the　relative　merits　of　different　ministers
was　not　in　the　order　of　God；　but　was　the　result　of　cherishing　the　attributes
of　the　natural　heart。　〃While　one　saith；　I　am　of　Paul；　and　another；　I　am　of
Apollos；　are　ye　not　carnal？　Who　then　is　Paul；　and　who　is　Apollos；　but
ministers　by　whom　ye　believed；　even　as　the　Lord　gave　to　every　man？　I　have
planted；　Apollos　watered；　but　God　gave　the　increase。　So　then　neither　is　he
that　planteth　anything；　neither　he　that　watereth；　but　God　that　giveth　the
increase。〃　1　Corinthians　3：4…7。

It　was　Paul　who　had　first　preached　the　gospel　in　Corinth；　and　who　had
organized　the　church　there。　This　was　the　work　that　the　Lord　had　assigned
him。　Later；　by　God's　direction；　other　workers　were　brought　in；　to　stand　in
their　lot　and　place。　The　seed　sown　must　be　watered；　and　this　Apollos　was　to
do。　He　followed　Paul　in　his　work；　to　give　further　instruction；　and　to　help
the　seed　sown　to　develop。　He　won　his　way　to　the　hearts　of　the　people；　but　it
was　God　who　gave　the　increase。　It　is　not　human；　but　divine　power；　that　works
transformation　of　character。　Those　who　plant　and　those　who　water　do　not
cause　the　growth　of　the　seed；　they　work　under　God；　as　His　appointed
agencies；　co…operating　with　Him　in　His　work。　To　the　Master　Worker　belongs
the　honor　and　glory　that　comes　with　success。

God's　servants　do　not　all　possess　the　same　gifts；　but　they　are　all　His
workmen。　Each　is　to　learn　of　the　Great　Teacher；

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and　is　then　to　communicate　what　he　has　learned。　God　has　given　to　each　of　His
messengers　an　individual　work。　There　is　a　diversity　of　gifts；　but　all　the
workers　are　to　blend　in　harmony；　controlled　by　the　sanctifying　influence　of
the　Holy　Spirit。　As　they　make　known　the　gospel　of　salvation；　many　will　be
convicted　and　converted　by　the　power　of　God。　The　human　instrumentality　is
hid　with　Christ　in　God；　and　Christ　appears　as　the　chiefest　among　ten
thousand；　the　One　altogether　lovely。

〃Now　he　that　planteth　and　he　that　watereth　are　one：　and　every　man　shall
receive　his　own　reward　according　to　his　own　labor。　For　we　are　laborers
together　with　God：　ye　are　God's　husbandry；　ye　are　God's　building。〃　Verses　8；
9。　In　this　scripture　the　apostle　compares　the　church　to　a　cultivated　field；
in　which　the　husbandmen　labor；　caring　for　the　vines　of　the　Lord's　planting；
and　also　to　a　building；　which　is　to　grow　into　a　holy　temple　for　the　Lord。
God　is　the　Master　Worker；　and　He　has　appointed　to　each　man　his　work。　All　are
to　labor　under　His　supervision；　letting　Him　work　for　and　through　His
workmen。　He　gives　them　tact　and　skill；　and　if　they　heed　His　instruction；
crowns　their　efforts　with　success。

God's　servants　are　to　work　together；　blending　in　kindly；　courteous　order；
〃in　honor　preferring　one　another。〃　Romans　12：10。　There　is　to　be　no　unkind
criticism；　no　pulling　to　pieces　of　another's　work；　and　there　are　to　be　no
separate　parties。　Every　man　to　whom　the　Lord　has　entrusted　a　message　has　his
specific　work。　Each　one　has　an　individuality　of　his　own；　which　he　is　not　to
sink　in　that　of　any　other　man。　Yet　each

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is　to　work　in　harmony　with　his　brethren。　In　their　service　God's　workers　are
to　be　essentially　one。　No　one　is　to　set　himself　up　as　a　criterion；　speaking
disrespectfully　of　his　fellow　workers　or　treating　them　as　inferior。　Under
God　each　is　to　do　his　appointed　work；　respected；　loved；　and　encouraged　by
the　other　laborers。　Together　they　are　to　carry　the　work　forward　to
completion。

These　principles　are　dwelt　upon　at　length　in　Paul's　first　letter　to　the
Corinthian　church。　The　apostle　refers　to　〃the　ministers　of　Christ〃　as
〃stewards　of　the　mysteries　of　God；〃　and　of　their　work　he　declares：　〃It　is
required　in　stewards；　that　a　man　be　found　faithful。　But　with　me　it　is　a　very
small　thing　that　I　should　be　judged　of　you；　or　of　man's　judgment：　yea；　I
judge　not　mine　own　self。　For　I　know　nothing　by　myself；　yet　I　am　not　hereby
justified：　but　He　that　judgeth　me　is　the　Lord。　Therefore　judge　nothing
before　the　time；　until　the　Lord　come；　who　both　will　bring　to　light　the
hidden　things　of　darkness；　and　will　make　manifest　the　counsels　of　the
hearts：　and　then　shall　every　man　have　praise　of　God。〃
1　Corinthians　4：1…5。

It　is　not　given　to　any　human　being　to　judge　between　the　different　servants
of　God。　The　Lord　alone　is　the　judge　of　man's　work；　and　He　will　give　to　each
his　just　reward。

The　apostle；　continuing；　referred　directly　to　the　comparisons　that　had　been
made　between　his　labors　and　those　of　Apollos：　〃These　things；　brethren；　I
have　in　a　figure　transferred　to　myself　and　to　Apollos　for　your　sakes；　that
ye　might　learn　in　us　not　to　think　of　men　ab