Who has deceived thee so often as thyself? – Benjamin Franklin

For the worst of all deceptions is self-deception. How can it help being terrible, when the deceiver is always present and never stirs from the spot? – Plato

Jeremiah 19:7
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

1 John 1:8

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

James 1:22

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Galatians 6:3

³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

What should we pay attention to teachings about church divisions?

Overview of 1 Corinthians 1-4

1 Cor 3:3

³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

1 Cor 3:1-4 – When you exalt human leaders, you are immature, worldly and not spiritual

1 Cor 3:5-9 – Human leaders are all servants of God and everything depends on God, not humans

1 Cor 3:10-15 – There is reward for those who faithfully give their best and build on the foundation that is Christ      

1 Cor 3:16-17 – They are all God’s temple and God will destroy those who destroy his temple

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 (ESV)

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” ²¹ So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Two imperatives / instructions

v18: Let no one deceive himself.

v21: Let no one boast in men.

Let no one deceive himself.

1 Corinthians 8:2

² Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.

1 Corinthians 10:12

¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

1 Corinthians 14:37

³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

1 Corinthians 3:19

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:20b

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:21

²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:27

²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.

For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” (See Job 5:13)

 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (See Ps 94:11)

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Let no one boast in men (v21)

“All things are yours.”

Romans 8:16-17

 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Confront our self-deception and boasting in others

1) Self-love

2) Human pride

3) Lack of true belonging

Heidelberg Catechism

Q1. What is your only comfort in life and death?

That I am not my own, 

but belong with body and soul,

both in life and in death, 

to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 

He has fully paid for all my sins

with his precious blood, 

and has set me free

from all the power of the devil. 
He also preserves me in such a way 

that without the will of my heavenly Father

not a hair can fall from my head; 

indeed, all things must work together

for my salvation. 

Therefore, by his Holy Spirit

he also assures me

of eternal life 

and makes me heartily willing and ready

from now on to live for him.

Christ-centredness is key to overcoming divisions.

Remember we are of Christ

I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas (1:12)

God chose the Corinthians (1:26–28),

Paul proclaimed “the testimony of God” (2:1),

Their faith rested on “the power of God” (2:5),

They received “the Spirit of God” (2:12).

It was God who caused the growth of the church (3:6–7),

You are  “God’s field” and “God’s building” (3:9).

You  are “God’s temple” (3:16-17)

You (all) are of Christ. (3:23)

You (all) belong to Christ

You (all) are Christ’s

You (all) are of Christ.