If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22)

A Hard Thing To Say But True

The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. Reading the epistle, it is a wonder why God had not removed the candlestick from the divine room of blessings. The church was divided by carnality, prejudice, hatred, false teaching, immorality, infighting, division, and chaotic worship services. Paul addressed each one head-on with the force of divine authority. No quarter was given for the sin that plagued the church of God at Corinth. The apostle put the church and its problems in the cross-hairs of divine truth. When it came to the end of his letter, Paul left it in the hearts of the saints with perfect clarity and simplicity.

After writing about all the problems plaguing the church, Paul summed up the need of the hour. In one simple yet powerful sentence, the apostle laid it all on the line. Yes, the church had a problem with brethren exalting preachers above Christ. That was not the problem. The church acted like a bunch of babies in their relationships with one another. That was not the problem. Some of the saints had written Paul about morality questions, and the apostle addressed each one. That was not the problem. Every story Paul outlined in his letter was of great significance to the corruption of the church, but none of those things was the problem. The underlying problem with the church at Corinth was by their actions; they let the world know they did not love Jesus Christ.

When it came to the deep-seated problem in the church, Paul reminded them the greatest commandment of all is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and body. The Corinthians saints had failed miserably in this matter. Their problems veiled the deeper issue of failing to love God as they should. Paul’s statement was harsh and to the point. If a man does not love God first, he will be cursed. He does not suggest cursing in the worldly view. Paul wanted to turn the minds of the Corinthians away from the petty issues of brotherhood to the greater command of love to the Lord. Churches filled with strife have failed to remember who the church belongs to. A judgment will be brought against such unloving brethren.

Paul’s statement also highlights a problem on the individual level. When brethren become weak and refuse to follow the will of the Father, they fall out of love with God to a place where they no longer love God. The reason the man at Corinth with his father’s wife needed to repent was not because of social status or influence. It was foundationally because he did not love God if he continued in his sin. The way to demonstrate a love for God was to repent. By God’s grace, the man repented when he put God first in his heart. That is the problem and the solution to sin.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he jeopardizes his soul and eternal life. That needs to be clearly stated to those who trifle with God’s word. How often are brethren acting in sinful ways with only kind admonitions to repent without the reality of their actions explained? Paul’s letter to Corinth is an example of how to have a godly conversation with people about sin. The first thing Paul said was he was thankful for the brethren. He then illuminated each problem the church faced with the proper use of authority. Near the end of his letter, he appealed for unity as a body of Christ. Paul showed them the hope of heaven and the promise of eternal resurrection. As he closed out his letter, he sternly warned that the church at Corinth needed to love the Lord God.

If you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be accused in a lake of fire forever. Jesus told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would keep His commandments. If you are not keeping the commandments of the Lord, you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, and you do not love God. Stop kidding yourself. A great day is coming. Only those who love the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Heed the warning of God. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be accursed.