The Center

Isa 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Col 1:15-19 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Col 2:8-10 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

The importance of the center.

The Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Center dynamics.

• Heart; nucleus; focal point; nub; foundation; core.
• Headquarters; the hub; control center; nerve center; the brain;
• Ideas originate in the center.
• Control operates out of the center.
• Purpose, direction and value emanate from the center.
• Forces go out from and back to the center.
• Solar system revolves around the sun.
• Moon revolves around the earth.
• The force of gravity exerted by the sun keeps the solar system in orbit.

In 1543, Nicolas Copernicus published his treatise “The Revolution of Celestial Spheres” where a new view of the world was presented: the heliocentric (sun central) model. Before Copernicus, people believed that the earth was the very center of the Universe. But Copernicus was able to prove otherwise - that it is the sun (not the earth) that is central in the solar system. This discovery shook both the religious and the scientific world. The ramifications were extremely dramatic. Man’s view of the world was forever changed!

Copernicus’ theory was not at all popular initially. Even though the new treatise was dedicated to the Pope, it was considered heretical both by the standards of religion and science. Such was the outrage at such a thought (that the world was not the center of the Universe) that many scientists, including many theologians, would not even look through Copernicus’ telescope! The traditions of men, in the arenas of both science and religion, were that strong.

Yet Copernicus was right and his revolutionary idea was needed if forward progress was to be made.

Spiritual examples and truths based upon center dynamics.

• Tree of knowledge of good and evil was located in the midst of the garden.
• God is in the middle of the earth according to Exodus 8:22.
• The tabernacle was at the center of the camp of Israel. (Numbers 2)

The centrality of the Word.

Ps 119:10-16 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

What does it mean to place God at the center of your life?

Richard Foster, a Quaker, tells a story about a time of temporary homelessness in his childhood during which he learned how to find home in God, giving thanks for it. He calls it “his grateful center.” When he was seven, his parents wanted to move from their home in Nebraska to the West Coast. But they ran out of money before they reached their destination and spent the winter in a cabin in the Rocky Mountains . What was surely a very difficult time for his parents was heaven to this little boy.

For, unlike the coal furnace of their old house, the cabin had a big fireplace. And every night, Richard slept near it on a sofa bed under a big, heavy quilt. He wrote: “Night after night I would fall asleep, watching this strange yellow blaze that warmed us all. I was in my grateful center.”

• Your guiding principles of life come from God.
• Your ultimate meaning in life is embodied in God.
• Your goals and purposes in life focus on God.
• Your true happiness in life is defined by God.
• The one indispensable component of your life is God.

The past week or so has had me filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, concerns, and emotions. My heart has been weighed down with sadness over how some things have progressed in my life of late, including and most especially among Friends.
During worship, though, I was made to understand that I had been placing myself at the center of my concern:
How was I going to get through this?
How was I going to deal with whatever decision I would make in the end?
When I remembered that God is at the center of my faith, when I returned God to that center, I felt a shift inside me. My breathing lightened. My burdens lightened. The fog cleared a bit from my very fuzzy brain.
I can’t say that I’ve reached clearness about how to move forward with certain difficulties, but I can say that I’ll be paying attention to where I am and where God is in relation to how I view my experience in the world over the next couple of days.
It’s as if this simple affirmation, God is at the center, has helped me detach from the worldly worries I was carrying. Detach, yes, but not be so far removed from things that I will slip into denial or procrastination. But by detaching just a bit emotionally as a result of putting God at the center, I have gained some emotional breathing room and a different spiritual view of what I am facing.
Pretty cool.
Blessings,
Liz

Our greatest struggles in life stem from focusing on things that are not at the center of the spiritual universe. The farther we move from the center, the more trouble we encounter in the outposts.

The fact is that we often fail to keep God at the center of our lives.

• Relationships.
• Family.
• Personal welfare.
• Job.

By pointing these things out, some may think that anything not at the center is unimportant. Not true. Just because the earth revolves around the sun doesn’t mean that the earth is not important. But if the earth left its orbiting path and went out on its own, it would be plunged into temperatures so close to absolute zero that everything would freeze.

There are extremely important components or institutions in our lives that must have God at the center if they are to work right and retain their value.

Relationships work best with God at the center of your life.

There are some people who believe that they should put their husbands or wives; boyfriends or girlfriends; mothers or fathers before their relationship to God. In fact, many have been led to believe that to put others first is putting God first!

Eph 5:22-33 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. NKJV

2 Cor 6:13-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.” NKJV

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.(miseo: to love less)

Your family works best with God at the center of your life.

• Family has become more than just sacred in the modern scheme of things; it has almost taken the place of God.
• Family activities are given priority over worship.
• Sins are overlooked if they are committed by family members.
• Family traditions and beliefs supersede the Word of God.
• More sacrifice is done for family than for God.
• As a result, people expect to get all of their love, satisfaction, happiness and joy from their families—-many times with bitter disappointment.

Family togetherness that does not have God at its center loses its sacredness.

• Lot’s family shared the fate of their father.
• Achan’s family shared the fate of their father.

Would You Do It Any Differently? One father said, “My family’s all grown, and the kids are all gone. But if I had to do it all over again, this is what I’d do: 1. I would love my wife more in front of my children. 2. I would laugh with my children more—at our mistakes and our joys. 3. I would listen more, even to the littlest child. 4. I would be more honest about my own weaknesses, never pretending perfection. 5. I would pray differently for my family:instead of focusing on them, I’d focus on me. 6. I would do more things together with my children. 7. I would encourage them more and bestow more praise. 8. I would pay more attention to little things, like deeds and words of thoughtfulness. 9. And then, finally, if I had to do it all over again, I would share God more intimately with my family; every ordinary thing that happened in every ordinary day I would use to direct them to God.”

^[1]

Your personal welfare is best with God at the center of your life.

How do people put their personal welfare ahead of God?

• By wearing the “It’s all about me” t-shirt.
• By becoming vain, self-centered and proud.
• By dismissing the teachings of the Word when it conflicts with their ideas. By seeking fame, popularity and acceptance with the world.
• By rejecting spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, faithfulness.

Mark 8:34-38 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? NKJV

Your job works out best with God at the center of your life.

• Some people put their jobs at the center of their lives.
• They sacrifice anything to keep their job.
• They will move anyplace, pay any price or abandon any previous commitment in order to maintain their job.

Here are some precautionary words from the scripture:

1 Tim 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. NKJV

1 Tim 6:17-19 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. NKJV

This does not mean that one should never transfer from one place to another because of a job. It does not mean that one should not accept promotions or even search for a better job. It does mean that the job should never become the center of our lives.

• When we look to our job for life’s meaning, it has become the center.
• When we bow to any demands the job makes on us, it has become the center.

Your church works best when God is at the center of your life.

Rev 3:1-3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. NKJV

Isn’t the church the most important thing in your life?

Okay, I admit—-it’s a trick question. God is the most important thing in your life. But, when God is in the center of your life, the church will function beautifully and properly.

• Sardis was a good church, but there were people who demanded things of it that were not ordained of God.
• The church is what it is.
• It is not your savior; it is not the panacea to your every problem.
• Just as a hospital is not your health, your church is not your spiritual life.
• It is not to be blamed when you think it fails you.
• It is not to be looked upon to supply physical, emotional or even spiritual needs.
• The church is a brotherhood made up of people like yourself.
• The church is where we prove ourselves to God.
• The church facilitates our walk with God.
• The church is where we learn about God.
• The church does not exist for your benefit, although all of us benefit from it.
• The church exists to receive benefit from each of us.

Eph 4:10-14 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; NKJV

• How do you keep God at the center of your life?
• What are you worried about right now?
• What do you hope happens tomorrow or this week?
• When did you last express anger, fear, disgust? About what?
• What was your reaction to the last call to consecration or commitment?
• When was the last time you fasted? For what?
• What was the subject of your last prayer request?
• What if everything would be taken away from you? Where would you turn?
• When did you last express spiritual love to a brother or sister? Did you mean it?
• When you can answer these questions with a focus on God, he is at the center.

Phil 3:7-10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

When the whole of Eastern Canada and the United States was plunged into darkness during the massive power outage, Jay Reynolds, the Director of the Walter R. Sheely Planetarium outside Cleveland , Ohio , told the story of what his dark night came to be. This astronomer saw great opportunity in a pitch-black sky. What could have been a long night of fear became instead a serendipitous, joyful celebration, a time for fellowship and for gratitude.

Before sunset, so that all of his neighbors could see what he was doing, Dr. Reynolds set up his telescope in his front yard, inviting everyone to come over and see the marvels of the sky. The deep, deep black of the sky free of artificial light revealed the galaxies in plain view. The whole sky was live. The planet Mars was brilliant and the Perseid meteor shower as well. Jay Reynolds said: “It was a great night to see the stars the way they were meant to be seen.”

I have no doubt that in the darkness of that night, the neighbors of that street in Bay Village, Ohio, rediscovered their grateful center: gratitude for the thoughtfulness and generosity of their neighbor who loved the night sky so very much, gratitude for a Creator who sets the stars in their courses and binds together Orion and the Pleiades, and gratitude for a night in which to see those stars the way they were meant to be seen.

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^[1] MacArthur, J. (1997, c1985). The fulfilled family. Includes index. Chicago: Moody Press.

Forgiveness: The Way To Spiritual Freedom

Forgiveness is not a virtue of the human spirit.

Pagan and Jewish Ideas: Forgiveness was not a pagan virtue. The large-souled man might disregard offences in cases where he considered them beneath his notice, but to forgive was weak-spirited (F. W. Robertson on <1 Cor 4:12>).

Even in the Old Testament, man’s forgiveness of his fellow-man is infrequently mentioned. In every case the one asking forgiveness is in a position of subserviency, and is petitioning for that to which he has no just right <Gen 50:17; Exo 10:17; 1 Sam 15:25; 25:28>.

The Imprecatory Psalms attest the fact that forgiveness of enemies was not esteemed as a virtue by Israel. They could appeal to the law which enjoined upon them to seek neither the peace nor the prosperity of their avowed enemies (<Deut 23:6>; compare <Ezra 9:12>).

Jesus gave the popular summing-up of the law and not its exact words when he said, “Ye have heard that it was said …. hate thine enemy” <Mt 5:43>, and this certainly does represent their attitude and their understanding of the teaching of the Scriptures. (from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)

Forgiveness is an attribute of God.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Nehemiah 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

We need forgiveness because we have violated the commandments of God—-we have sinned.

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Forgiveness is directly linked to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

What is forgiveness?

Three Greek words:

• Chorizomai: I show grace to you.
• Apoluo: I release you.
• Aphiame: I send away.

The complete meaning of forgiveness, therefore, is this: I show the grace of God unto you, I release you from the debt you owe to me and I send away the offense into the blood of Jesus.

One of the most complete pictures of forgiveness is the story of Joseph and his brethren. Genesis 45

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Why do we have to forgive one another?

Matthew 6:12-15

Matthew 18:21-22

Eph 4:25-32 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 8 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Why do we find it difficult to forgive one another?

• We have been hurt very deeply.
• The offender has hurt someone we love.
• We think the offending person should have known better.
• We believe the offender will just do it again.
• We do not believe the offender is remorseful.
• The offender has not asked for forgiveness.

We already understand some reasons for forgiving one another.

• Because the Bible commands us to forgive.
• Because Jesus forgave his enemies.

But we may not understand the greater reasons for forgiveness.

• Because it has a powerful and profound spiritual impact upon our lives and our relationship with God.
• James 5:15-16 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
• 1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
• We cannot demand forgiveness from God while refusing to grant forgiveness to one another.

Our sensitivity to the Spirit of God will be greatly increased through the act of forgiveness.

Who do you need to forgive?

• Mother, father.
• Husband, wife.
• Ex-husband, ex-wife.
• Authority figure.
• Person in your past.
• God.

Jesus Is the Answer…I mean, REALLY!

“The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

Galatians 2:20

One of the most difficult and yet simplest concepts in the Christian life is looking to Jesus as the answer to all our problems. It is difficult because, in this modern era, we tend to think of peace, joy, happiness as abstract commodities. We want peace in a pill, joy in a shot and happiness in a bottle. Why? Because, a pill has no personality or makes no demands on us. A shot calms our nerves without creating obligations to or complications with a real person. We just want the feeling… with no strings attached. Yet, life never works that way. For example, can you have just the feeling of love unless it is attached to a person? Can you have the feeling of accomplishment without seeing something actually accomplished? No. The feeling is the function of the relationship.

The simplicity of the concept revolves around a one-on-one relationship with Jesus in which we are not required to analyze what a particular feeling is all about. The feeling and the relationship are one and the same. In life, the love, joy and meaning we experience come from healthy family relationships. It doesn’t take a psychologist or psychiatrist to in order to apprehend the actual feeling or sensation that we desire. It is the same as we serve God. We simply invest into our relationship with Jesus Christ and he does all the rest.

For several years, my Dad worked at a machine shop about two blocks away from our house so he walked to work and back. I have warm memories of hearing his whistle as he came down the sidewalk, coming home from work. I would run out to meet him and he would grab me and swing me around, then fling me over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. It was like everything was okay now because “Daddy’s home!”

There is an old song that says: “Many things about tomorrow; I don’t seem to understand; But I know who holds tomorrow; And I know He holds my hand.” It’s time to remind ourselves that much of our search for complex answers to our problems are met in Christ. We may not understand the dynamics of love, joy or happiness, but, if we are in a healthy relationship with Jesus, these intangibles materialize as part of the package. And even beyond this, if we hold his hand, he not only provides these feelings, he becomes the feeling! He becomes the love, joy and happiness. It is in this sense that Jesus really is the answer!

Look at the richness of your relationship to Christ.

Col 1:12-19 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

True Christianity happens when we walk and live in this relationship.

Col 2:6-10 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Jesus, then, is the ongoing answer to all of life’s twists and turns. The answer is not to be separate from Christ, an addition to Christ, a substitute for Christ or the absence of Christ. The answer is always found in a deeper relationship with Christ.

When you are in pain and agony.

Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When you need someone to understand what you are going through.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;

When you are greatly tempted by the world.

Heb 4:15-16 but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When you need protection.

Ps 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

John 10:11-15 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

When you need peace.

Eph 2:12-14 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

When you need love.

1 John 4:16-17 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

When you facing life alone.

Heb 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

When you feel destitute and poor.

Lam 3:21-24 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

When it seems that you don’t have a life.

Phil 3:7-14 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Homework:

• Give your life some thought.
• Zero in on the pressure points, the sore spots and the glaring problems that you deal with on a daily basis.
• Ask yourself whether or not you are substituting something or someone other than Jesus for the answer.
• Study the Word and pray in order to determine what aspect of your relationship with Christ is underdeveloped.

Jesus is the answer!

The Measure of a Man

Rev 21:9-17 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

I. We base most of our observations and actions upon the things we see, know and recognize in the natural world.

A. Illustrate with oversize coat on an smaller man. (God’s ways are too big for us; our ways are too small for God.

B. The laws of nature either restrict us or challenge us.

1. Gravity did not keep Wilber and Orville Wright from their miracle at Kitty Hawk.
2. The popularity of kerosene lanterns did not stop Thomas Edison from discovering the incandescent light.
3. Letter writing, the Pony Express and the Telegraph did not keep Alexander Graham Bell from inventing the telephone.

C. The realms of human experience do not stop us; they only remind us of what hasn’t been done.

1. In 1492, Columbus proved that you could get east by going west.
2. In 1783, 55 delegates drafted a constitution that established the first complete democracy recorded in history.
3. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave rights to minorities that no other nation on earth had ever done.

D. The influence of others cannot stop you; you need only say “I will not longer allow negative, unbelieving faithless forces keep me from the will of God.

1. Joseph succeeded despite the wickedness of his brothers.
2. Daniel won over the scheming princes of the kingdom.
3. The early church survived persecution, hatred, martyrdom, exile, alienation, the tortures of Caligula, the rantings of Nero and the catacombs of Rome.

II. The tendency to be small in our vision is a gigantic barrier to spiritual understanding.

A. Jesus said, “O ye of little faith.”

B. We mentally try to force God into our tiny definitions, our disbelief and our restrictions.

III. Joash and Elijah.

2 Kings 13:14-19 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. 15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. 16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands. 17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

A. The need of Joash.

B. The opportunity for a great victory.

C. Victory limited only by Joash’s vision.

IV. John’s vision.

A. He named himself among the inscriptions on the foundations of the Holy City.

B. According to the measure of a man.

1. Pace= 1 yard.
2. Cubit= length of forearm.
3. Span= distance between thumb and little finger.
4. Palm= handbreadth.
5. Finger= ¼ palm.
6. Reed= 6 cubits.

C. What determines the actual measurement in each case? The size of the man!

V. The new birth changes all our measurements.

A. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. Not according to the old nature.

Eph 2:1-2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

C. Not according to our failures.

2 Cor 4:8-11 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

D. Not according to our sins.

    Ps 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

VI. Salvation is according to the measure of Christ.

A. According to’s of Ephesians:

• Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
• Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
• Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
• Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
• Eph 3:17-20 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

B. God did not design salvation according to our blueprints.

1. Past failures.
2. Poor self-image.
3. Influence of others.
4. Lies of Satan.

Bible Study on First Corinthians

A verse-by-verse study of the sixteen chapters of First Corinthians. 

The City of Corinth

Nelson’s Bible Dictionary describes the ancient city of Corinth in great detail. It was seafarers’ town known for international trade and commerce, but it was also a hotbed of prostitution, gambling and amusements. As one might expect, these types of activities attracted people with sordid reputations and lifestyles. Paul addressed many of their sins in his epistle. The astounding fact is that a strong church was founded and flourished in a city that was arguably one of the most sinful urban centers of ancient times.

Chapter One

Salutation - Chapter 1:1-9

Paul’s Apostleship. Vs. 1.
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,”

The Audience vs 2-3

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. “

Church of God at Corinth

Spiritual description.

• Sanctified
• Called to be saints
• Universal church

Attitude of the epistle 4-9

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

• Grace and peace
• Thanksgiving for Corinthians
• Desire for enrichment
• Confirmation of their testimony
• Reminder of God’s faithfulness

Appeal to Christian unity. vs. 10-12

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”

• Speak the same thing. vs. 10
• Joined in same mind and judgement.
• Contentions among you.
• Party factions.

Illustration of Christ.

• Questions Paul asked.
• Discussion of baptism.

The Gospel

• The importance of preaching the Gospel.
• Fallacy of human wisdom.

Requirements of Jews and Greeks

• Jews want a sign.
• Long history of signs among Jews Josh. 4:5-6; Jud. 6:15 -17; Matt. 12:38-39.
• God gave the Jews a sign of Christ. Isaiah 7:14
• But the Jews crucified the sign.
• Therefore the sign became a stumblingblock. vs. 23.
• Tongues as evidence. Acts 10:46
• Tongues as a sign refers to gift of tongues. 1 Cor. 14:22.
• Greeks want wisdom.
• They evidently considered signs superstition
• Christ crucified appeared as foolishness to them.
• God’s affection for the foolish. vs. 24-31.

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Chapter Two

Addressing the Problem

• No superficial speech or human wisdom I Cor. 2:1
• No prying or investigation (vs 2)
• Great caution and respect (vs 3)
• Reliance on the Holy Ghost (vs 4)
• The strongest foundation (vs 5)

Practical Teaching

• How much should Christians know about each other?
• Keep your relationships as pure and spiritual as possible. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Proverbs 26:20.  Never mock or make light of someone’s experience with God.

Hidden Wisdom

• Not the wisdom of this world (vs 6)
• Not the wisdom of worldly leaders (vs 6)
• God’s secret wisdom (vs 7) What issues did Paul later address that worldly wisdom would not comprehend?
• The cross due to lack of God’s wisdom (vs 8)

More Practical Teaching

Avoid theological debates with those who have only human wisdom. Recognize that there will be issues that you will not grasp with the human mind. They can be understood in the Spirit alone.

Spiritual Wisdom

• Revelations of the Spirit (vs 10)
• Deep things of God (vs 10)
• Man knows human issues (vs 11)
• Man does not know Spiritual issues (vs 11)

The Spiritual Man

• We have received the Spirit of God (Vs 12)
• We know things freely given to us by God (Vs 12)

“That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Cor 1:5-7

The Spiritual Man (cont’d)

We speak in words that the Holy Ghost teaches (Vs 13)
What are the words of the world?

• Intuition
• Heuristics
• Odds/statistics
• Cosmic forces
• Psychology

What Are the Words of the Holy Ghost?

• Fruit of the Spirit
• Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness Temperance Galatians 5:22-23
• Gifts of the Spirit
• Your vocabulary is predicated upon your belief system.

The Spiritual Man (cont’d)

• We compare spiritual things with spiritual things (Vs 13)
• 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
• 1 Peter 2:1-9

Essentiality of the Spirit

• Prophecies: Eze. 36:26-27; Joel 2:28
• Promises: John 7:37-39; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 2:38-29
• Fulfillment: Acts 8:14 -17; 10:44 -48; 19:2-7
• Necessary: Romans 8:9-11.

The Natural Man

• Does not receive the Spirit (Vs 14)
• Spiritual things are foolish to him (Vs 14)
• No spiritual discernment (Vs 14)
• Spiritual judgment (Vs 15)
• The mind of Christ (Vs 16)

Spiritual Insight, Spiritual judgment (Vs 15)

In I Corinthians 2, Paul uses anakrinetai which means to examine, call to account, to discern.
“The spiritual man is able to consider and appraise all things because he is not only inspired to understand what he sees, he is also furnished with a moral standard by which all things may be measured.” (Barrett)

Christ: The Only Judge

• “But we have the mind of Christ”
• “We” not “I”
• Mind of Christ: “thoughts, counsels, plans and knowledge of Christ known through the agency of the Holy Spirit” (Rienecker)

Chapter Three

Carnal Christians

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

What is carnality?

• Sensual, worldly, non-spiritual; relating to or given to the crude desires and appetites of the FLESH or body.
• The carnal person makes no place for eternal values in his day-to-day life.

Contrast: Spiritual/Carnal

The apostle Paul contrasts “spiritual people”—that is, those who are under the control of the Holy Spirit—with those who are “carnal”—those under the control of the flesh (1 Cor. 3:1-4; Rom. 8:5-7). The word carnal is usually reserved in the New Testament to describe worldly Christians. (from Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

• Babes: Spiritual immaturity.
• Envying and strife
• Divisions
• Instability (Ephesians 4:14 )
• Failure to progress (Hebrews 5:12 )
• Yielding to temptation (1 John 2:14 )
• Lack of Spiritual Insight
• Unable to use spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:4; Gal. 5:15 -26)
• Key Truth: Carnality in Christians stops the effective working of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the individual.

The Secret of Growth

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Division of Spiritual Labor

• Some plant the seed: Witness
• Others water: Befriend, pray
• Still others harvest the fruit: Lead to Christ
• Others cultivate: Disciple, teach
• There is no place for spiritual pride or a superior attitude in the church

No one person is totally responsible for the success of the church.

• Nehemiah 4:16-17
• Matthew 18:19

Every person and every job is important to the work of God.

• Believe that God knew what He was doing in placing you in the church.
• Accept the gifts that God had given you.
• Do not covet other’s gifts, calling or positions.
• Always remember the overall plan.

Chapter Four

Stewardship Requirements

• The Steward’s Role 1 Cor 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
• The Steward’s Requirement I Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Faithfulness

• Will not compromise convictions.
• Will not become derelict in duties.
• Will not let discouragement change him.
• Will not excuse himself.
• Keeps the call uppermost in his mind.

Characteristics Of Faithfulness

• Prov 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
• Prov 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
• Prov 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Stewardship Revelations

• The Steward’s Rating. Vs. 3-4
• The Steward’s Reward

1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

Stewardship Reason

• The Teaching of the Steward. Vs. 6
• The Tests of the Steward. Vs. 7
  Are you better than others?
  Are you self-sufficient?
  If you are not self-sufficient, why are you acting like you are?
• The Steward’s Ridiculousness. Vs. 8

1 Cor 4:8-10 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise …

Paul said, in effect, “I wish you were as smart as you think you are!”

Attitudes That Destroy

• Exaggerated sense of self-importance.
• Feeling that you are indispensable.
• An unteachable spirit.
• Resistance to leadership.
• Haughtiness and spiritual pride.
• Unwillingness to become abased.

A Steward Talks To Stewards

Verses 14-21.

• Warning
• Spiritual fatherhood
• Remember what I taught you.
• The right to investigate.
• The authority to enforce the rules.
• The power to punish.

Chapter Five

Immorality in the church

5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

• A sin even the Gentiles find abhorrent
• Common reports vs. gossip

The evils of fornication

• A sin against God
• A sin against one’s own body
• A sin against another’s body
• An insult to the sanctity of marriage
• A crime against potential children
• A disruption to stable relationships
• A harbinger of disease

No justification for fornication

• It is lust, not love. I John 2:15-17
• It is selfish, not caring.
• The Bible strongly condemns it. (I Cor. 6:18; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3)
• It maligns the conscience.
• No privacy from God’s eyes.

Response to condemnation

5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

• Refusal to admit wrongdoing
• Failure to repent
• Unwilling to confront the offender

Apostolic authority

5:3-4 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

• The sinner is to be returned to the dominion of Satan. (Col. 1:12-13)
• Destruction of flesh: Repentance
• Spirit may be saved: The only hope

The purity of the church

5:6-7 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

The lesson of the leaven

• Like leaven, sin is an active ingredient
• Exodus 13:7; Galatians 5:7-9
• Social sins must be confronted by the church.
• Too many people are at risk
• The sin is too insidious
• Open rebuke is a warning to all

Bread of sincerity

5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

• Feast: Probably Passover/Easter celebration.
• Sincerity: helikrineias “the quality of having been proven in the sunlight”

Separate from corrupt persons

5:9-11 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world…for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator…

The duty of the church

5:12-13 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Condoning sin eventually destroys the church. Don’t let it happen.

Chapter Six

I. Resolving Conflicts Between Christians

• Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
• Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
• Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
• If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
• I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
• But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
• Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
• Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

The absurdity of going to judgment before the unjust.

• The saints shall judge the world. vs. 1-2
• The size of the dispute should not matter. vs. 2
• If we judge angels, how much more things of this life? vs. 3

The propriety of settling differences before other saints.

• Even the least esteemed can judge. vs. 4
• A wise man should be among you. vs. 5.
• The whole problem exposes an underlying fault. vs. 6-7.

The honorable attitude to possess in conflict.

• Better to be defrauded. vs. 7.
• Instead, you defraud your brethren. vs. 8.

The Christ Method of resolving conflicts between brethren.

• Matthew 18:15-17 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, (1) go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
• But if he will not hear thee, then (2) take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
• And if he shall neglect to hear them, (3) tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Practical pointers in doing business with other believers.

• Do not expect favors, discounts or gifts just because someone is in the church.
• If there is a possibility that a misunderstanding could develop, put it in writing or bring someone else in as a witness to the contract.
• Remember, people are still people, not angels.
• Be prepared to suffer loss rather than file a lawsuit. If you cannot take that risk, don’t do the deal in the first place.
• Even families break up over business deals (or estate settlements!)

Appreciating the Transformation of Christians

• Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God .
• And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The Kingdom of God

• Used interchangeably with the Kingdom of Heaven
• Refers to the present and future state of the saints.

Certain people are disqualified from inheriting the Kingdom of God .

• Disqualified on the basis of their conduct and deeds.
• Good qualities do not compensate for wrong doing.
• What kind of people are disqualified?

• Fornicators
• Adulterers
• Effeminate
• Abusers of themselves with mankind
• Thieves
• Covetous
• Drunkards
• Revilers
• Extortioners

You used to be the same kind of people, but you were transformed

• Now you are washed.
• Now you are sanctified.
• Now you are justified.
• This happened in the name of our Lord Jesus
• This happend by the Spirit of our God.

The Question of Expediency

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.

Expedient: ex·pe·di·ent (îk-spê¹dê-ent) adjective

Appropriate to a purpose.

a. Serving to promote one’s interest: was merciful only when mercy was expedient. b. Based on or marked by a concern for self-interest rather than principle; self-interested.

Obsolete. Speedy; expeditious. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition is licensed from Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Many questions are not to be framed in the right/wrong context, but whether they are expedient or inexpedient.

• Paul shows that going to law against a brother is so inexpedient—-that is that it brings so much shame and injury to the church—-that it has no place in the litany of church behaviors.
• Addictions, entanglements, unequally yoked relationships spell danger to the Christian.
• Meats for the belly principle: Don’t lose your soul over something that has no eternal value. vs 13.

The Sanctity of the Body

• Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
• Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
• What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Chapter Seven

The Jewish Religious Practice

• Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
• Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
• External evidences of religion are of no value without keeping the commandments of God. The marks of religion are subordinate to faith and truth.

Stay In Your Calling

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

The laws of Paul’s day would have made leaving one’s position as a servant a crime. We have freedom of choice today. The spiritual lesson, however, is still important.

• Do not force changes in your life against the will of God.
• Pray, prepare, do what you can, and let God open the door.
• Let spiritual desires, rather than carnal or temporal, drive you.
• The question is: How can I use my position to serve God better?—-not how can I use God to get a better position?

Marriage is Sanctified

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Propriety of Marriage

• Evidently, there was a strong feeling among the Corinthians that marriage was not proper. Paul’s teaching about marriage seems to be as follows:
• If you are married, stay married. You have made a covenant.
• If you are single, stay single. You are not encumbered.
• If you have a desire to marry, go ahead. It is not sinful.
• If you marry, however, expect trouble.

The Demands of the Married Life

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Duties Toward Unmarried Daughters

• But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
• Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
• So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

Obligations Of Marriage

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Til death us do part

• Widows may re-marry, but only to believers.
• Widows who remain unmarried may make the better choice.

Chapter Eight

The Knowledge Of One True God

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Knowledge should never lift us up with pride.

• If we scorn those in this world who do not know God, we should be reminded that even we know nothing in comparison to what we ought to know.
• Idolatry: The deification of a person, an object or an idea as something to be worshipped. Idols do not have to be images of gods. They can be intellectual concepts as well. Covetousness is idolatry as we see in Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:5. What do people make into idols today?

There is one God manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul makes this point for two reasons:

• 1) There is not a multiplicity of Gods. Monotheism is the bedrock concept of God in the Bible;
• 2) This one God will not be manifested in different ways according to different cultures and traditions. (Acts 17:16-31).

The Knowledge That Grants Liberty

• Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
• But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
• Paul is teaching us that food is food. The knowledge that there are no such things as gods besides the one true God, makes worship rites of idols of no consequence. The is no spiritual significance attached to eating or refusing to eat the food offered to idols.
• Believers need not be afraid of symbols, chants, objects of pagan worship, nor any of the signs of idolatry, witchcraft or satanism. When we say we don’t believe in them, we mean that we don’t believe they hold any supernatural power or meaning. The knowledge of the truth grants us liberty from fear or oppression from idolatry.

The Liberty That Must Not Be Abused

• But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
• When we study his words, Paul is still teaching against eating those things offered to idols, but for different reasons. We do not partake because it will put a stumbling block in the path of our brother.
• We must place the welfare of our brother at the top of our priority list. People who live by the creed that they don’t care what other believers think or say, actually sin against Christ.
• The church is the body of Christ. If we are truly sensitive to Christ, we manifest it by our treatment of others in the body.
• “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Cor 12:25 -27

Chapter Nine

Challenges to Paul’s Apostleship

Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Paul’s Refutation and Defense

Evidently, powerful anti-Paul forces in the Corinthian church were attempting to discredit his apostolic authority. By claiming that he was not responsible for evangelizing Corinth , they were trying to define his role as subordinate to the congregation. Paul refuted their charges in the following way:

• He is a true apostle.
• He is Roman born.
• He is an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. (II Cor. 12; Gal. 1)
• The Corinthian church is proof of his apostleship.
• He has the right to eat, drink, get married and work a secular job.

The Care of the Ministry

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

While the integrity of the ministry has suffered in the last few years, the scriptures are clear that the church ought to support the ministry. Responsibilities to do right lie on both sides of the issue. (I Peter 5:1-3)

The Pure Motives of Paul

But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Paul recognized the tremendous power resident in his apostleship. This power is not “carte blanche.” It should not be used recklessly or to get personal gain. That is why he took time to establish two things:

• 1) His right to claim his apostleship, and
• 2) His record matches his claim.

Soulwinning, the Number One Priority

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Even the Call of God Requires Excellence

• Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
• The ordination of God, powerful though it may be, is not enough to survive mediocrity, laziness or lack of integrity. It behooves every child of God to apply discipline, mastery and total dedication to his Christian walk. If Paul could become a castaway, we are not immune to the ravages of spiritual pride and moral failure.

Chapter Ten

The Common Faith

• Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
• The Corinthians were not ignorant of the facts, but of the meaning of the facts.
• “All” indicates the integrity of the church. We are not multiculturalists who celebrate our diversity. We are believers who enjoy the uniform experience of the new birth.
• “Under the cloud.” He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. Psalm 105:39 Jesus Christ is our propitiation, or covering. “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:2
• They were all baptized “unto” Moses, meaning that they accepted Moses as their Heaven-sent guide and teacher.
• The spiritual meat and drink has two references:
• The communion service. (Vs. 16-17; 11:20 -34)
• The doctrine (Heb. 5:12 ) and the Holy Spirit (John 4:14 ).

The Consequences of Sin

• But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
• Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who passed the test.
• Lusting for evil, idolatry, fornication and murmuring constitute dangerous practices that will destroy us as well as it destroyed Israel .
• “Tempting Christ” means to act in an unappreciative, obnoxious way toward God and His offer of salvation. Exodus 21:1-6. Today, people who reject God’s method of salvation put themselves in the same position.

The Defenses Against Sin

• Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
• Spiritual arrogance and pride has a blinding effect upon our view of reality. We must always hold in mind our dependence upon Christ.
• There is an escape route for every fire.

The Purpose of the Communion Service

• The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
• For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
• Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
• All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
• But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
• Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God : Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Chapter Eleven

God’s Order For the Home

• Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
• Be ye followers… Paul expected the believers to respond to his leadership. Their submission, however, was not to be based on blind faith, but on the Apostle’s submission to Christ. The rejection of legitimate leadership is a rejection to the theme of unity.
• Keep the ordinances. We ordinarily think of the ordinances of God as baptism and the communion service. The fact that Paul mentions it in such close relationship to the authority question and the hair question is very significant. He praises the Corinthians for faithfulness in keeping the ordinances, but here he also teaches them to keep their places and relationships in the right way. Doing a few good things does not justify rebellion against the major tenets of faith.

The question of authority.

• Woman, man, Christ (humanity) and God (Deity). This is the way God intended for it to be.
• Woman is of man. Genesis 2:20-25.
• Man is of God. Genesis 2:7
• Christ is of God. John 1:1, 14; Luke 3:38.
• God is self-existing. Genesis 1:1
• The modern feminist movement rejects this structure as sexist and chauvinistic. When this umbrella of authority is respected, however, it is not demeaning, but fulfilling and satisfying. True strength in the home exists when proper authority flows downward from God as He has ordained. This is because God, who is ever faithful, never acts improperly nor does he fail to do the right thing. Thus, the mother and father who stay within this structure, have God’s authority when they raise their children.

The Covering For the Head

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Facts we can glean from the scriptures:

• The man that prays or prophecies must not cover his head.
• The woman that prays or prophecies must cover her head.
• The woman who uncovers her head dishonors her husband.
• The woman who uncovers her head may as well shave her head.
• The woman who uncovers her head may as well be shorn.
• It is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven.
• Therefore, the woman must be covered.

The Spiritual Basis For Uncut Hair

• For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
• Again, the Apostle Paul refers back to the creation story. The ordinance on cut hair for men and uncut hair for women is not simply a Corinthian, Jewish or Gentile custom. It has its basis in the origin of mankind.
• Also, uncut hair on the woman bears a relationship to angels. Some scholars see this as a reference back to the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. The angels wings provided a covering for mercy. (The covering of blood on the doorposts and lintels provided a covering of protection against the death angel in Egypt .) Evidently, there is a spiritual power that a woman possesses by virtue of her uncut hair. (Sign of authority: NIV)

The Grammatical Basis for the Hair Question (I Corinthians 11:1-16)

• The grammar
• Shaven ( xuraw, exurhmenei, xurasqai) Cut off the hair, shear, shave
• Shorn ( keirw, keirasqw, keirasqai)
• Active voice: to cut off, shear, shave
• Middle voice: cut one’s hair, have one’s hair cut
• Shame (aiscros)
• Ugly, shameful, disgraceful
• Long hair ( komh, koma)
• Wear the hair long, let one’s hair grow long
• Uncut hair (Vocab. of the G. N. T., Bauer, Moulton, Milligan)
• The conclusion

Long hair is the woman’s God-given glory
Uncut hair is the only rendering that leaves out any question
The ministry should not endorse anything that is a disgrace.

Answering some objections

Only a Corinthian custom. (Untrue, as earlier stated)

Shorn means shear, as shearing sheep.

Active voice means shear

Middle voice means cut

Contextual law rules here: Paul is talking about people, not sheep.

How long is long? As long as uncut hair will grow.

Should be a personal conviction. (All churches held this custom or practice.)

Doing That Which Pleases God

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Man and woman are not independent of each other. What one does has a bearing on the other. A man cannot rebell against his authority and still expect his wife to have the same respect for him as she always did.

The Apostle Paul appeals to ten principles to establish the truth of his teaching on hair:

His own authority. vs 1

God’s authority structure. vs 3

The shamefulness of being shorn or shaven. vs 6

The image and glory of God. vs 7

The glory of the man. vs 7

Order of creation. vs 8-9

The angels. vs 10

Self-evident. vs 13

Nature. vs 14.

The glory of the woman. vs 15.

The covering for a woman is her long, uncut hair.

A Final Word

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

The Apostle here aserts that contention against his teaching will not be tolerated. He is not saying that we have no custom regarding hair. He is saying that there is no other custom. “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” (NIV)

If you use flawed human reasoning, or if you resort to comparison with the world around you as a benchmark of behavior, you may see no need to observe this passage. In so doing, however, you violate a spiritual principle set forth here in the scripture. It is better it is to submit to the Word of God. But even that is not the full answer. The real power comes when a woman truly celebrates her God-ordained place and wears her long hair as a symbol of glory and power.

Chapter Eleven, Part B

The Destructiveness of Disunity

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Their assembling together should have led to edification, but disunity caused it to be destructive.

Here are guidelines for coming to church:

Come to worship.

Come to fellowship.

Come to uplift and edify.

Come to receive instruction and inspiration.

Come to be changed.

The dilemma of division:

If we disagree with someone in the church, how can we continue to fellowship with them as if nothing is wrong? Wouldn’t that be compromising our convictions?

The strength and depth of feelings about different issues varies between people depending on their background, experience and training.

If you are right, you must show patience, understanding, spiritual maturity and kindness toward the brother or sister you think is wrong.

Unless you are the pastor, you are never commissioned to contend for your differing view if it is not the teaching of the church.

Hierarchy of Essential Beliefs

Faith in God. Hebrews 11:6

Belief in the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16

Primary Bible Commands

Salvation. Acts 2:38

Faith in Christ. John 3:16; Acts 4:12

Secondary Teachings of the Church Body

(Hebrews 13:7.17; Romans 14:4)

Discipleship

Maturity

Standards

Non-Essentials

Personal Convictions

Law of Respectful Room (Romans 14:5-6)

Law of Unity (1 Corinthians 12:18 -20)

Personal Preferences

Music, Worship Styles, Choices in Life

1 Corinthians 10:23

Strictly Individual Beliefs

John 21:21-22

Heresies serve the purpose of revealing those who are approved of God.

Abuses of the Lord’s Supper

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God , and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Communion service is not for feast and fellowship.

Everybody was trying to rush in ahead of others to eat.

Some don’t get anything to eat; others get drunk on the communion wine.

The communion supper was not be a sort of caste system to give some a higher status than others. (Vs. 22)

The Pattern and Purpose of the Lord’s Supper.

The Pattern For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

The reenactment of the Lord’s supper helps to recreate the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

Remembering the actual event keeps us from drifting away from the original purpose of Calvary .

The Purpose For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

We must keep (shew) the cross in our lives. (Galatians 2:20)

Taking communion unworthily is to consider it as just something to eat and drink, without considering the full meaning behind it. Such a person is classified with those who crucified Jesus in the first place. (This should be kept in the context of the Corinthian abuse and not taken to mean that we should be fearful of the Lord’s supper.)

The need for self-examination. Only the person who takes communion can know his own heart.

Partaking unworthily causes one to bring damnation to his own soul.

Discern the Lord’s body:

Understand the sinless sacrifice of The Lamb.

Understand that each communicant is a part of that body.

Understand that the church is the body of Christ.

Do not abuse the Lord’s Supper. Abuse has caused sickness and death.

Self-judgement means that we avoid the judgement of God.

The Lord chastens those whom he loves. (Prov. 13:24; Heb. 12:6-7)

Behave properly at the communion service

Don’t make communion a festive occasion. If you do, it only serves to condemn you.

Chapter Twelve

Spiritual gifts have a place in the church.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

We ought to know what and how the spiritual gifts work.

“Dumb” Greek: aphonos, voiceless. God does speak to us through spiritual gifts.

The danger of the Gentile idols was that their high priests could say anything they desired. Spiritual gifts, however, cannot be legitimately used to corrupt the true doctrine. If they are abused this way, it is a clear sign that the person doing it is not of God.

[Of God … Holy.] The same Spirit is called at one time “the Spirit OF GOD,” at another, “the HOLY Ghost,” or ‘Holy Spirit. ‘ Infinite Holiness is almost synonymous with Godhead. The saying, ‘Jesus is accursed’ cannot emanate from “the Spirit of God,” but from the evil Spirit. The saying, ‘Jesus is Lord, ‘ cannot emanate from man’s natural spirit, but from “the Holy Ghost. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

Spiritual gifts illustrate the theme of unity.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Diversities of gifts do not mean a plurality of spirits.

Differences of administrations do not mean there are different gods.

Differences of operations means that one God operates in different ways.

The purpose of the gifts.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body.

Not to advance one’s personal agenda.

Not to prove one’s spirituality.

Not to correct, reprove, rebuke, instruct. That is the province of scripture.

2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Types of the Gifts

Word of wisdom: The ability to know how to apply knowledge.

Word of knowledge: The impartation of knowledge not humanly possible to know.

Faith: Uncommon faith that enables one to believe despite all obstacles or other difficulties.

Gifts of healing: The act of healing is a spiritual gift from God. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 God is the healer, although He uses people as vessels or instruments to do the work. The plural (gifts) show that one can receive healing many times. It also may indicate that some people are used by God in healing certain kinds of diseases or physical problems.

Working of miracles: The power to do supernatural acts.

Prophecy: Not foretelling, but forth-telling. Preaching.

Discerning of spirits: Insight into spiritual realms, knowing motives.

Tongues: Speaking in a language not learned.

Not tongues of initial baptism of the Holy Ghost.

A message to the church.

Never disruptive.

Interpretation of tongues:

Interpretation, not translation.

Not by human understanding.

Has the force of prophecy.

The unity of the body.

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Diversity in unity.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

There is a descending order in the church in terms of the significance of the gifts.

Everyone does not have all the gifts that are resident in the church.

Coveting the gifts is not the best way to obtain them.

Chapter Thirteen

The Supremacy of Love

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

The Word “Love”

Eros: Physical, fleshly

Phileo: Brotherly love, family love

Agape: Love without expectation of return

What Is Real Love?

Tells the Truth “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

Obeys God “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Receives Discipline “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6

Description Over Definition

Charity suffereth long, and is kind;

charity envieth not;

charity vaunteth not itself,

is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly,

seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.


Love is Enduring

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;

Love is a motive, not a gimmick.

Love is an attitude, not an act.

Have Tongues Ceased?

Whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Tongues will last for the entire church age. I Corinthians 1:7

If tongues ceased, exactly when and where did it happen?

Tongues will continue as long as knowledge is incomplete.

What is “That which is perfect”?

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Is “that which is perfect” the Bible?

No. That which is perfect is the one who is coming, the Lord Jesus Christ.


The Maturity of Love

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.


Love is the Greatest

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Faith and hope will become unnecessary at the consummation of the ages. But love will continue throughout eternity.

Chapter Fourteen

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Confusion in Corinth

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.


Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Need for Interpretation

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Praying in Tongues

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

The Sign of Tongues

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.


Tongues in the Church

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Regulations on the Gift of Tongues

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.


Regulations on Prophecy

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.


Role of Women in the Church

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.


Jesus’ view of women

Mary of Bethany . Capable of spiritual worship and intellectual understanding.

Woman at the well. Received some of Christ’s greatest teaching on the Holy Ghost.

Woman accused of adultery. Spared her from punishment of the law and illustrated his grace in her.

Women in Acts

Acts 1:14 . Inclusion of women.

Acts 2 was promised to women as well as men. (Acts 2:17-18) This reference to women was deliberate.

Acts 21:8-9. Daughters of Philip were used in prophecy.

Apostle Paul’s View of Women

Romans 16 - Ten of twenty-nine names are of women.

Four women, Mary, Tryphene, Tryphosa, and Persis “worked very hard” in the cause of the Gospel.

Pricilla, along with her husband, Aquila , were called “fellow-helpers” (sunergos) with Paul, a term also used for men.

Women: New Testament Principles

Speaking: No authoritative teaching

Obedience: The context of the law

Submission to husband

Definitive roles:

Teaching under submission

Teaching young women

Spiritual gifts

Summary of Thoughts

36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.



Chapter Fifteen

The Imperatives of the Gospel

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.


The Definition of the Gospel

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:


The Eyewitnesses of the Resurrection

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.


Paul’s Divine Ordination

8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


The Dividends of Grace

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.


General Resurrection

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.


Resurrection and Faith

For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.


Resurrection and Hope

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.


Adam and Christ

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.


The Ultimate Victory of Life

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.


The Subjection of the Sonship

For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.


Baptism for the Dead

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?


Present Advantage of the Resurrection

I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus , what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communica-tions corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.


Death before Resurrection

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:


Transformation through Resurrection

And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.


Glorified Bodies

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.


The Glory of the Resurrrected Body

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.


Life-Receiving to Life-Giving

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.


Origins

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.


Impact of the Resurrection

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.


The Kingdom Incorruptible

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.


Rapture Resurrection

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.


Victory Over Death

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


Labor’s Reward

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.


Chapter Sixteen

God’s Financial Plan

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia , even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.


Giving in the New Testament

Paul was consistent with his Jewish upbringing. (Vs. 1)

Tithing predated the Law (Gen. 14:20-24)

Malachi 3:8-10

Alternative to N. T. Tithing - Acts 2:44 -47

Prerogatives of the Church

And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem . And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Why Organization?

“Know them that labor…” I Thess. 5:12

Approval of the church. (Vs. 3)

United efforts. (Vs. 19)

Need for submission. (Vs. 19, Heb. 13:17 )

Importance of Missionary Plans

Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia : for I do pass through Macedonia . And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
Spirituality vs. Mysticism

Spirituality does not mean impulsiveness.

Orderliness and planning is consistent with true spirituality. (I Cor. 14:40. Order used 4 times in I Corinthians.)

Prove your impulses by prayer, fasting and counsel. (Romans 12:2)

Opportunities and Obstacles

But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.


Concerns for the Ministry

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren. As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.


Christianity is not for Weaklings

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Be alert.

Be steadfast.

Be courageous.

Be strong.

The Highest Motivation

Let all your things be done with charity.

Addicted to the Ministry

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

Spiritual Refreshers

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

Careful Salutations

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

Warning

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Anathema (cursed)

Maranatha (Jesus is Coming

Closing of the Epistle

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.