7 Warnings to the Church Today from the Churches in the New Testament

Based on Paul's letters to the churches.

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I promise we’ll get back to our study of Romans soon.

The problems and dangers that the church faces today are really not that different from what the church faced during the first century. Perhaps some things look a little different, but the issues we face today are pretty much the same ones they faced then.

We’ll look at the main idea of Paul’s letters to the churches and consider the warning for us today.

Romans: Forgetting the power of the gospel.

The book of Romans is a “deep dive” into the gospel of Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

After closely examining the “nuts and bolts” of the gospel of Christ in Romans 1-11, Paul turns his attention to practical, everyday Christian living based on a proper understanding of the gospel (Romans 12-16).

Having a proper understanding and foundation in the gospel of Christ is essential for the church - in what we believe, teach, and even how we live every day.

1 and 2 Corinthians: Ignoring the dangers of division.

Perhaps no church recorded in the New Testament had more problems than Corinth - and the first problem Paul addressed, and the one he spent the most time on, was the division in that church.

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Many of the problems the church in Corinth had can be traced back to the underlying issue of division. The way they lived their lives, how they ate the Lord’s Supper, what they believed and taught about the resurrection, and even their rejection of Paul as a true apostle of Christ were all rooted in the division that plagued the church.

Without a commitment in the church to not “think” or “go beyond what is written” (2 Corinthians 4:6), division will abound, and problems will overrun the church.

Galatians: Embracing a perverted gospel.

The churches in the region of Galatia were listening to some who were teaching a “gospel of a different kind.”

 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

This “perverted gospel” was taught by some of the same people who taught, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). It was a “merging” or “meshing” of the Law of Moses with the gospel of Christ - and it ultimately undermined who Jesus is and what He did.

The church must teach and hold to the true, pure gospel of Christ as being sufficient for our needs. To bring anything else alongside the gospel of Christ is to undermine and discredit everything Jesus has done.

Ephesians: Forgetting God’s purpose for the church.

Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus doesn’t really address any specific problem the church had. But a strong emphasis is placed on the church, the body of Christ, those who are in Christ, and the blessings that are theirs in Him.

That now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:10-11)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

In a religious world today that de-emphasizes the importance of the church, the letter of Ephesians exalts the church as being the body and bride of Christ and calls us to live a life imitating the one who has saved us and glorifying Him.

Philippians: Rejecting Christ’s example of humility.

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi spoke of the Christian’s joy in Christ and the importance of having the Lord’s mind of humble service.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:4-8)

In urging the Christians to continue to rejoice, to keep pressing toward the goal, and even to resolve conflicts in the church, Paul pointed the church back to the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ and how He submitted Himself to doing the Father’s will.

It is vitally important that the church today remember our Lord’s humility and follow His example. For “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Colossians: Exalting the wisdom of man.

The Christians in Colosse were in danger of teaching that combined elements of the gospel, Judaism, and the philosophy of men. Part of this false teaching minimized Christ - especially the fact that Jesus is God and Man.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.  (Colossians 2:8-10)

Similar in some ways to Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the Colossians needed to remain on guard not to dilute the gospel of Christ with the “wisdom” of this world. Trying to use man’s wisdom to explain who Jesus is and what He has done will always fail.

The church today must take great care not to allow the so-called “wisdom” of men and philosophies of men to “re-interpret” our thinking about the gospel or to make us think we have some “special knowledge” that others do not have access to.

1 and 2 Thessalonians: Succumbing to discouragement in hard times.

The Thessalonians faith set an encouraging example for many others (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8). And yet they had gone through some discouraging and difficult times themselves and needed encouragement and comfort.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

The church in Thessalonica was reminded that Jesus would return for them and that God’s justice would be handed out to those who persecuted and afflicted them (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

As the church faces persecution and hardship, we mustn’t forget that God will serve justice upon wickedness in His own time - and that He longs to bring us home to be with Him.

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These seven warnings applied to the Lord’s church in the first century and still apply to Christians today.

May we take to heart the warnings and encouragement God provides us in His word.