Church Authority Serves Godliness

1. We must always desire what is good v7.

• only God can keep men from evil.
• the apostles' desire for the good of the Corinthians not governed by self-interest.

2. Christ gives power to church officers for the truth only v8.
   The apostle exercised his God-given power to serve the interests of the truth.

3. The desirability of submission to the truth without demonstration of apostolic authority v9.

4. Christ only endorses what edifies the church v10.

Application regarding church discipline:

• Christ has never committed any arbitrary authority to the church or its officers.
• No minister, elder or member should ever feel disappointed if discipline should prove unecessary.
• All desire for pre-eminence in the church must be ruthlessly mortified.