Spiritual Fathers and the Body of Christ

House of God
Today’s Topic: Spiritual Fathers and the Body of Christ:
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29-33; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 3:10-15;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
We discussed this in our series on Sonship but it is worth re-visiting this now. Paul in the opening to the letter at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11) spoke of the household divisions that are happening within the Corinthians but Paul then later in the letter presents a problem or does he, in 1 Corinthians 4:14,15: “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons (children) I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Now Jesus tells us call no man father on Earth for one is your Father, which is in Heaven (Matthew 23:9). Now do we have problem here? On one hand we have Paul saying I am your father in Christ Jesus but Christ is saying call no man father on earth.

The first thing we should know is that scripture does not contradict itself. Jesus speaking on earth and Holy Spirit speaking through man is always together because they are the Spirit of Truth. So how can this be? You must know the meaning of the word father in the scripture and how it is being used. The word father has nine different meaning but for the sake of time the word father, Jesus was speaking about means progenitor and that is exclusive to God. So when Paul speaks of being a father, he is speaking as being a spiritual father, one who maturely represents the nature and ways of the Father in the earth. Now if we go back to 1 Corinthians 4:11-21 Paul is speaking like a father and now I want to show you spiritual fathers in a small capsule.

How do we know Paul was a spiritual father:
1. He called the church at Corinth his sons (male and female) – 1 Corinthians 1:14
2. Calls Timothy (Timotheous) is beloved son – 1 Corinthians 1:17
3. Spiritual father gives direction and correction to set in order the sons of God – 1 Corinthians 11:17-21
Now Paul “threatens” the people at Corinth in a unique way in 1 Corinthians 4:21:”What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” Now let’s bring this scripture to today’s church? I am paraphrasing: “Who is he to tell me he is going to whip me! Who is he to tell me what I better do! Who is he anyway, he ain’t my momma or daddy! I do not care what father he think he is, I ain’t trying to hear him!” All of these phrases points to one mentality, orphan. Orphans cannot stand to be disciplined because they see discipline as violence. Can we look at those statements and see this type of mentality when an elder person, mother or father in the church tries to correct in obvious wrong behavior, the reaction of the people, whether it be young or older?

No one can come into maturity without discipline and based on what we see we have a lot of orphans and undisciplined children running around the church and in some cases running the church. Now that we have this snapshot of spiritual father, how can we avoid the divisions within the body of Christ as it pertains to spiritual houses that the church at Corinth were having? We avoid these confusions by understanding the House or family that we belong to.

The House of God is the oldest family on the Earth. The House is made up of a Father and His Sons who are guided by His Spirit. This family exists in Heaven and on Earth. The Kingdom of God is the center of rulership for this family and its headquarters is in Heaven on the Throne. The sons of God in the Earth bring the rulership of the King from Heaven to Earth and demonstrate the character and ways of the Father in Heaven. They are guided by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit arranges them in households to ultimately bring the family to the end where God will be all in all.

In the next series we will look at oversight in the Kingdom of God and the role of Eldership. I pray you have enjoyed this series. May God Bless you in your continue maturity in Christ.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.