The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-11, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  Copyright John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

I would like you to explain the last chapter in 1 Corinthians. I know that  it is disciplinary to the people of Corinthians, but why would Paul, in verse  22, say, "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed?" I get the  point or the idea, but he is talking to Christians.

Answer

Yes, he's talking to Christians with the recognition that in the Corinthian assembly there is always the reality that some may not know the Lord. You  have that in many, many places. I would stand in this pulpit and say to you,  "You are the Church, you are my Church," but I would say, "If any of you do  not love the Lord Jesus Christ--you are going to be cursed." He is speaking  to a wider audience and obviously there were people in the Corinthian  Church. . . .for example, well, all through Corinthians, the Corinthian  Letter, it is apparent that they had a lot of problems. There were people,  obviously, who were claiming to be Christians, but one could make the  argument that, if indeed they were making the claim--they were lacking the  reality. 

I am thinking particularly of. . . .chapter 10 comes to mind, where he says  in verse 12 (1 Corinthians 10:12), "Let him who thinks he stands take  heed. . . ." What? "Lest he fall." Some of them were acting immorally,  some of them were in idolatry, and he is saying, "You know you better make  sure your heart is right!" And he uses the illustration of Israel--people  destroyed in the wilderness, never entered the Promised Land--sort of an  analogy. 

I think also in chapter 12, verse 3, it's indicating that some people, under  some Satanic influence were cursing Jesus! And he is saying if people are  standing up and cursing Jesus, it is certainly not by the Spirit of the Lord.  So there must have been an awful lot of confusion in the Corinthian Church, 
there obviously were people confused about spiritual gifts--confusing all  kinds of pagan ecstasies, so that it was very likely that what Paul is saying  at the end is, "I don't care what your claim is--if you don't love the Lord  Jesus Christ--you are going to be cursed." I think that is the best way to  understand that, and that could be true of any church, or any  congregation--you don't make the assumption that because people are there, in  that congregation, they necessarily all know Christ. 

What he is saying is, "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ--let  them be cursed." That just reiterates God. . . .God would say that. And  then he says, "Maranatha," to indicate that Jesus is coming, so whatever you  do, you better do, because there is an inevitability when the Lord comes in  judgment.