1 Corinthians 9:19-27 - Relating with the Lost to Win Them

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Serving All Men

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Building on the previous half of this chapter, Paul expands on his rights and responsibilities in proclaiming the gospel in the face of opposition and religious controversy.  He begins by stating his freedom from others in Christ yet quickly follows up with his willing service to them for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake.  He stayed true to what he believed and did not compromise the truth, yet was a cultural chameleon in that he related to the Jews as a fellow Jew and those under the law as one ruled by grace under the moral law while adhering to ritual observance of the ceremonial law where it did not compromise the intent God meant.  He likely looked like a Jew outwardly to these whom he was reaching with the gospel, yet not under the same bondage to the rules of the law in the freedom for which he was set free (Galatians 5:1) in the Lord.  He likewise fit in with the those not under the law, yet not living with lawlessness.  He followed the intent and commands of the moral law in the Ten Commandments written on his heart (2 Corinthians 3:3) while reaching those outside the Jewish system of strict adherence to their interpretation of the law that he might win them to Christ.  He empathized with the weak to win them to the Lord as well, not bragging in his strength but admitting his own frailty to come alongside them just as with the strict Jews and Gentiles alike in walking with and speaking with them and not at them in a superior attitude based on his own intellectual and religious background (Acts 22:3, 2 Corinthians 11:22, Philippians 3:3-5) or achievements in life.  This is the principle of becoming all things to all men in order to bring as many as possible to see and know Christ as are appointed to eternal life (Acts 2:47, 13:48) without himself getting in the way of the gospel message by the way he carefully carried himself and respectfully cared for others in love and concern.  This is for our example as well to not compromise the truth or share in their sins, yet still associate and relate culturally to others that they may stop to hear the good news we bring that we may fellowship with them from all backgrounds, walks of life, religious traditions, and cultures who come from those into Christ with us.  This commitment to proclaiming the gospel of truth in love was painted by the apostle as a race (Philippians 3:12-14) with a prize that gives glory to God and not a plaque for our future abode in the New Jerusalem.  We are urged to run this race towards Jesus Christ to win that prize of His glory like the elders bowing and giving their crowns they earned to their Lord in Revelation 4:10-11 in praise and worship.  We do this with self-control while striving for the eternal that endure like enduring jewels in a crown and not running after the temporal treasures and accolades which turn to dust (1 Corinthians 3:12-14) and are lost to the fire in light of eternity.  We therefore must follow Paul’s example and pleadings to run with certainty and fight the good fight (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12) with targeted purpose and resolve.  This is not shadow boxing but the real deal as we discipline our bodies and souls to the task to avoid being disqualified from the race of the upward call of Jesus Christ in our sanctification and service of the gospel as we are reminded in 1 Peter 3:15-16 by another apostle.  This is relating with the lost to win them to know Christ in all we do for God’s glory while under why it is necessary to be Relating with the Lost to Win Them while keeping firm to the truth and righteousness.

1 Corinthians 9:1-18 - Rights and Responsibilities of Ministry

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

A Pattern of Self-Denial

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

This passage finds an example in the calling and life of Paul the apostle of rights and responsibilities n ministering the gospel as servants of Jesus Christ our Lord.  It is our obligation and duty (Luke 17:10) to live for the Lord as we have been called to work out our salvation in doing the works prepared by God for each one of us to do according to the individual gifts and calling (1 Peter 4:10-11, Romans 12:6-8) we now have in Christ.  Paul was a unique apostle in that he had seen Jesus Christ personally on the road to Damascus after the Lord had died and arose, while this test of apostleship for the others was accomplished during His life on earth as Immanuel walked among us.  Nonetheless, Paul was called as an apostle to deliver the word of God in the epistles he penned under divine direction and delivered the gospel of salvation from God’s wrath on sin by grace to the readers of this letter where he demonstrated the seal of God on him in the form of these lives he witnessed to and taught according to the last commandment given by Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20) before He ascended back into heaven where He came down from to accomplish all things as they were written (Luke 24:26-27) of Him long before.  Paul therefore laid out his defense to doubters and deniers with the facts of his calling and the work he was doing as prepared by God for him in the work of the gospel with God’s authority and power.  He supported himself though the workers of the gospel have every right according to God to be supported by others in this holy calling and service as the scripture from Moses about muzzling an ox was brought up.  He did this to keep the accusations at bay as he led the way in transparency (2 Corinthians 6:11, 7:2-4) and sincerity before God and men.  He said these things about support and backed them up by saying that the one who plows should plow in hope, and who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope as a visual explanation of support for workers in the kingdom.  Those who plant and sow spiritual things in their flock have every right therefore to be supported by those being served, yet Paul made it transparently clear that he did not exercise his right that the gospel was not further hindered by those opposing him for accepting the support lest that be said was his motivation.  However, the principle stands firm for those mini of the gospel just as those who had served in the temple and were fed from the offerings given to the priests as their sustenance from the gifts of the people by God’s design and command (Leviticus 7:6, 31) as it is written.  He sums this up with, “the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”  Paul resolved not to take the support in this way to avoid accusations and stated instead that his boasting was in Jesus the Lord and not in what he had or did.  To him, proclaiming the gospel was paramount because the necessity of that calling was foremost in his heart and soul as he penned the words, “woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”  This is also for our example to proclaim our own witness to what Jesus Christ has done in His suffering life, atoning death for our curse under the law, and resurrection to life from death with an eternal hope of a life with God.  That is our only boasting, the work of God on our behalf, not our works.  We are accepted in the Beloved to live acceptable lives for this gospel in return out of duty (Luke 17:10) that is willing and not forced on us to earn or lose acceptance or salvation from God.  Paul’s reward was to present the gospel without payment so as not to be accused of abusing his authority given by God.  This is a great testimony for many preachers today to avoid accusations and tarnishing the gospel by greed or self-seeking motives in the light of the rights and responsibilities of ministry as demonstrated in the calling and life of Paul the apostle for our example to imitate. 

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Conscience in Light of Liberty

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Be Sensitive to Conscience

1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

The scriptures show us that idols are lifeless objects of false worship but that our understanding of this should not make us proud in that knowledge.  Other believers need to be gently shown from scripture why they should have no part in putting anything before worship of God and we who have this knowledge need to be humble in our approach.  We also were once lost in sin and had to shake off such things after coming to know Him.  It is up to us to demonstrate love and compassion and not severity of condemnation in exposing the false gods of the world to those needing Christ and those still growing early in their understanding of the Bible and the reasons behind worship based on whom God is and who we are called to be in conformity to Christ to be well pleasing to God.  We whose eyes have been opened know that these idol gods are lifeless nonentities and there is only one true God who has been revealed in Jesus Christ and in no other man or manifestation of anything in God’s creation.  There is one God and Father of all things and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom everything was created (John 1:1-3, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16) and who alone gives us the breath of life and eternal life in Himself.  Those who have not read and understood the scriptures yet may still willingly worship (2 Kings 5:18) false gods in idolatrous ignorance and dirty their weak consciences in the act.  They need to have (Hebrews 5:13-14) their understanding taught by God to discern between good and evil as the Lord exercises their minds through the scriptures and hearts by conviction of their sin and His sovereign holiness.  They need to understand that it is not eating or refusing what is offered to false gods that is at stake but the affection of the heart to God in true liberty after being set free from sin that truly matters.  We who know these truths are not to cause others to stumble in their faith as we eat all foods offered us (1 Corinthians 10:28-30) in thanksgiving to God and influence the weak to believe we agree with the idolaters who worship dead things as gods.  We sin against Christ when we use our knowledge of liberty to mislead the weak in faith and lead them to false conclusions and harm their consciences in the process.  The bottom line of freedom is in the last verse here, “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”  May we walk circumspectly in all we do to build the faith and und of young be and not mislead them into such sin of idolatry.  We need to carefully consider our actions and live to educate and edify them in loving use of what we know and do as we live our conscience in light of our liberty in the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 7:17-40 - Live as You Are Called

1 Corinthians 7:17-40

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Better to marry publicly according to the permission given than to behave badly and be ashamed in private as it was said in the anonymous Pauline commentary thought to have been composed by Ambrose in the fourth century.  But if possible we should live as we are called in Christ as long as we can control our desires without sinning.  The advice overall in this passage is to serve God without distractions of sinful thoughts and actions, which for most of us means we should be married at some point instead of living in sin within or without.  Of course, marriage is not just to satisfy fleshly desires but is also a covenant of companionship and the two are better than one in serving God in most cases as long as the two are equally yoked with Christ holding the threefold cord tying their knot.  Paul makes it clear up front that we should consider all these things in our calling in Christ to know what to do to serve Him and avoid sin.  Just like the example of circumcision, the state we were in when we came to a saving knowledge of our Lord should shape how we live because the bottom line is to keep God’s commandments to live in willing obedience of holiness according to grace and not be swept away with concerns over keeping ceremonial laws or allowing desires for an intimate relationship to keep us from following our Lord as we are called.  We have been bought with such a high price of God’s own Son that we owe it to Him out of willing gratitude to live accordingly that we might do the works prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) from before the foundation of the world.  The state we were in when called is best but the desire for companionship is deeply rooted in the creation of man and woman from the inception (Genesis 2:23-24) of man on this world by God’s good and perfect design and this applies also to other aspects of our state as mentioned here.  The command then to the unmarried from Paul’s perspective was to not seek or vilify marriage but to serve the Lord in the best acceptable state we can.  His own preference was to remain single to be singlemindedly set on task for the gospel, but the reasoning and allowances he gives here are to guide our own decisions in these matters that we may serve the Lord without distraction and without sin.  The time is short and we are advised to make the best of it in our choices to be without the care of worrying and with a heavenly mindset.  His reasoning and recommendation then is to serve as single if possible to give all to God’s work, but not to let passions interfere with that purpose and marry to avoid a worse outcome.  We are to serve the Lord without distraction and in holiness, so that means we should not choose a monastic life if we have normal desires and serve Him in that way as is best.  He goes on to advise widows to stay unmarried that they might give the rest of their lives to God’s service, but even that advice is in the context of the calling and self-control restrictions to serve without distraction.  These are matters for us all to consider if single or widowed, and are given to advise and guide such by those older in the Lord in ministry to them.  Our advice then is to live as you are called. 

1 Corinthians 7:1-16 - Keep your Marriage Covenant

1 Corinthians 7:1-16

Principles of Marriage

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Keep Your Marriage Vows

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

We are reminded to keep our marriage covenant in the face of the world and the society around us which disregards and even mocks the sanctity of this commitment.  We are called as in all areas of life to orient our thoughts and actions with God’s word as our blueprint and not follow inferior definitions and degradation of what the Lord has made to be holy between one woman and one man in this binding covenant agreement.  Sexual immorality would overwhelm most of us if we did not marry, though there are some who are content and self-controlled enough to go it alone without sinning, but they are few and we must face the reality of marriage as normative for us.  Each of the two in the marriage, man and woman, have the ownership of the other’s body in a sense in that they are to give themselves intimately only to one another and not to anyone else as the covenant defines the relationship which God brings together.  Even then we must not withhold intimacy or the temptation to look elsewhere may creep in and lead to sin in thought or deed as Satan tempts us to look outside God’s commands to find satisfaction as in Eden’s Garden (Genesis 3:4-5).  The situation where a believer married an unbeliever or came to faith after marriage should not demand dissolution of the covenant even though the yoke is unequal without Christ between the two.  The instructions given here are to keep the covenant unless the unbeliever leaves of their own will.  This way the children have the chance for the believing parent to influence and teach the truth to them and lead them to know Jesus Christ; if the believer leaves, then that opportunity goes away with custody issues and godly influence reduced or removed from their lives.  It is on the believer’s part therefore to endure the union and,ale the best of it when the unbelieving spouse does not depart the marriage.  We do not have any assurance that we will influence our unbelieving spouse to come to Christ but are called to keep the lead and sanctity of marriage in most cases unless sexual immorality or violence breaks that covenant.  These are hard sayings but we are called to do the best in the holy union of this covenant under God to keep the peace and raise godly children as we keep our marriage covenant.  Thankfully, many believers have married believers and God is often gracious when two who are both unbelievers become one and one comes through faith and repentance to Christ and the other follows suit, but we are instructed here on all possibilities and given instructions on the right way forward. 

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 - Glorify God in Body and Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We are called to do the works prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10) which are not just specific purposes to each individual called in Christ, but also the general things that apply to all believers in our sanctification that aligns us with the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) in our ongoing sanctification.  These works prepared for us are those which are not only lawful according to scripture but ones done in self-control and for the glory of God.  If something is acceptable to do but done in an unacceptable manner then it may start to control us and lead to sin.  The example of food is given as a picture of putting only what is healthy into our bodies and not for our indulgence leading to other consequences much like sexual immorality does to our bodies and souls.  Sexual morality is that which is done between a man and wife wed together and not with any else just as eating all food we see and do not need, including what is not ours, can do to us as we live for our unrestrained desires (1 John 2:15-16).  We should control our desires and use of these bodies according to His word and do God’s will (1 John 2:17) instead.  These temples of our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19) are designed for worship of God in holiness and not for our unlawful passing pleasures (Hebrews 11:25) of sin.  This is why the parallel of the temple is fitting as we consider the gross immorality and idolatry of Israel in the physical temple which included prostitution in pagan worship where holiness to the Lord was to be found.  Our bodies are the new temples where God resides as the Holy Spirit in us and we dare not desecrate these bodies therefore with sexual sins instead of holy sexual relations with our spouse and no other.  We worship one God in this temple and our marriages are a representation and expression of that relationship with God in these bodies.  How then can we expect to desecrate these bodies, these temples which the Holy God inhabits, and not suffer the due consequences?  We are one flesh (Genesis 2:24) with the spouse we are joined to in the covenant of marriage and we are made one with the Lord Jesus Christ in our spirits.  If we are committed to one then we are committed to the other.  The call then to we weak and fallen humans is to run as fast as we can from situations that tempt us to sexual immorality as Joseph gave us the example in Genesis 39:11-12 with the temptress who was his master’s wife that tried to compromise his faith through his body and the desire for pleasure.  Such sins tarnish the walls of our souls in these temples as no other sin does in such a manner.  These temple bodies then are to be maintained in holiness where the Holy Spirit lives and where we worship our Lord as those bought at the price of His Son who never sinned to earn our salvation as a spotless sacrifice.  Due to all these truths we are called to “glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  Flee sin.  Worship God in holiness of body and soul. 

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 - Church Discipline, not Court Satisfaction

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Do Not Sue the Brethren

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

God’s justice and judgment should be handled within His church in the form and practice of scriptural church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 and according to the general principles of addressing sin and restoring offenders to fellowship.  Just as in Corinth, we see today too often how believers go to secular courts and engage dishonest lawyers to extract revenge compensation out of those who offend us instead of forgiving with just restitution when appropriate.  There are times when the courts must administer the law of the land under the leaders put in place by God according to criminal law, but what is spoken of here is petty arguments over theft and other minor offenses which could be handled within the church and without dragging the name of the Lord into disrespect by our selfishness lacking forgiveness and love.  We will judge the world with Christ in the final judgment as it says here, so how can we not deal with these matters to restore instead of harm the offending ones further?  We need wisdom and courage with compassion to judge fairly and godly in the church among fellow believers, which even the Corinthians had a difficult time finding and appointing qualified leaders to address church discipline.  Brethren should not be fighting it out in the world’s legal arena but among fellow members of the household of God as good householders of His kingdom.  He even goes further to say it is often better to just accept wrong done to us and not seek compensation as vengeance for being cheated to justify our lack of love and compassion for one another.  This is especially odious when we ourselves have done the same to others and have been forgiven much, just like the parable in Matthew 18:32-33, 34-35 where the unforgiving servant is held to account by God for not showing compassion in return.  Those who are this unrighteous may not even be aware of what grievous sins which are crimes against God they have been saved from and forgiven by the goodness of grace and need this reminder!  The list of these include those who once were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners who would not inherit the kingdom of God unless they had been forgiven by the washing of water by the word word and Spirit (Ephesians 5:26-27, Titus 3:5) and made holy in Christ’s righteousness and forgiveness of immeasurable grace.  We do not therefore continue in these sins nor excuse them, but in thankfulness avoid them as new creations in Christ.  Since we have been forgiven of these heinous crimes against the holiness of God and have been justified by His grace () by the Spirit of the living God, how can we continue in these sins and not forgive others who so sin against us (Matthew 6:12, Mark 11:25)?  Humility in our salvation demands compassion and forgiveness in dealing with those who offend us, especially in the body of Christ where we have the mechanism of church discipline and the power of prayer to gently correct (2 Timothy 2:25-26) to see repentance and restoration with God and man.  We should seek church discipline and not court satisfaction for those who wrong us.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 - No Sanctuary for Sexual Immorality

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Immorality Defiles the Church

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Immorality Must Be Judged

9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

There is no sanctuary for sexual immorality in God’s house and in His people for God is holy and calls us out of the world into His righteousness as set apart from sin to follow and honor Him.  In Corinth we find the same immoral actions of disobedience in the church as we are shocked to find to this day among we who are called to be like the Lord and not like the first Adam pursuing the passing pleasures of sin in our flesh.  Our pursuit of feeling good should be inwardly and outwardly in the presence and pleasing of the one who bought us out of sin’s punishment into the grace of willful obedience in conforming to Christ.  In Corinth we see a man having sexual relations with his stepmother, an abominable act even in today’s lust-driven society.  The worst sin was the response of the church in not dealing with the unspeakable act but rather arrogantly responded by allowing the offender to continue in fellowship as they likely considered themselves proudly tolerant of such sin without holding the man to account for it.  Paul directed the leaders of that church to excommunicate the offender instead so that the sin did not spread to others who may be emboldened to repeat the same error by the bad example of tolerance.  This is the main reason church discipline is necessary for the health of the entire body of the local and universal church.  By barring such offenders from fellowship they are faced with the devil (1 Timothy 1:20) who influences the whole world under his sway until that unrepentant sinner eventually turns back in godly remorse (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) and is restored to fellowship in a right stand with God and man as the fleshy desires are put to death (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5).  This also allows those who are among us in the local church who may not know the Lord to come to full repentance and faith as they turn from sin to Him and follow in willing obedience tot the truth.  Since Christ is our Passover who suffered bitterly and ascribed Himself as the Lamb of God to cover the sin on our doorsteps that we may be saved from destruction in judgment, so we also eat the bread of unleavened purity by not allowing sin to permeate the body as we remind ourselves each time we celebrate and consider while sharing in the Lord’s Supper in communion with Him.  Sincerity and truth are to be in our unleavened bread of these bodies as He is holy and we imitate Him.  We are further warned of undue close association with such immoral people, not as close friends in the world who do not know Christ and would attempt to corrupt us by this association, but with those within the body who claim Christ but are unrepentant and continuing in sins such as sexual immorality, covetous greed, idolatrous worship of other things than God, reviling in hateful response to others (as in political zeal we see today), drunken behavior, and extortioners who use lies and deception for personal gain.  We are not here to judge those outside of Christ and His church (His word does that - John 12:48), but are to judge those within the church by church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17) when repentance is rejected until it comes and restoration is accomplished.  There is not to be sanctuary offered for sexual or other continuing unrepentant sin, but correction and discipline offered with tough love to restore the sinner into right fellowship with God and man.  May we not be like those in Corinth who looked the other way and needed to be reminded to not accept immorality in our midst, but have the courage to love others enough in the church to deal with such sin.  May we not become judgmental of the lost around us and point out their sins with accusations and condemnation, but judge those within our walls instead as good householders of His church.

1 Corinthians 4:1-21 - Imitate Those who Imitate Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21 

Stewards of the Mysteries of God

1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

Fools for Christ’s Sake

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Paul’s Paternal Care

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

We are like the Corinthians in that we are also urged to imitate those who imitate Christ as the apostle Paul did before the world to see clearly and sincerely.  Paul and the other apostles with the teachers alongside them presented their examples as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God for us all to follow afterwards.  He made it clear that stewards of these mysteries were to faithfully reveal them as God did in Christ by His indwelling Spirit in them and us.  If we are also faithful then we know that we can stand against false judgment of others who oppose us and even against ourselves when we doubt; God alone justifies each of us and judges our works to hold us accountable but not to condemnation (1 Corinthians 3:14-15) as we read last time.  We are therefore told to hold fast and not to judge anything before the time of the final judgment when the Lord comes to reveal the hidden motives and intentions of our hearts in His good grace.  Our praise will come from God who alone can say well done to His good and faithful servants.  He goes on to use his example along with faithful Apollos who worked alongside Paul as patterns of grace that we do not elevate servants to the lofty position of their master that we also do not allow pride to imagine the ones God gifts and uses are any better than any other servant-followers of Jesus Christ.  Whatever gifts we have are from God and not our own works or labors apart from what He puts in us to serve one another.  This is why pastor and Christian writer and teacher worship are contrary to the examples and teaching of scripture (1 Corinthians 3:4-7) and must be avoided at all costs.  False humility is the other side of this coin which we are warned of; the gifts we have received we are not to deny nor downplay, but humbly acknowledge and use for the gospel’s sake to honor the Lord.  We have everything to love godly and effective lives as servants of Christ acc to the gifts we are given as wise stewards and not in denial or boasting for what is the Lord’s anyway.  We are infinitely rich and completely full in Christ!  We see then that the apostles were meant to suffer most in bringing the final written word of God to us and canonize it for our instruction while still realizing we will suffer similar persecution for Christ’s and the gospel’s sake.  Paul wrote all these things to warn and encourage us and not to put any to shame for coming up short of the fullness of understanding or serving the Lord.  He specifically spoke to the believers reading this letter at Corinth to remind them that he was a spiritual parent to them because he had taught them and brought them up to maturity as grown men and women in Christ by the power and wisdom of the Spirit of God working in and through him.  This is the basis for his plea to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1) and also for our own spiritual mentors who lead us to Christ and discipled us with follow-up teaching and practical life lessons according to the scriptures.  Just as Paul sent Timothy to them, we are to receive and send those we disciple (2 Timothy 2:2) who are faithful to also make and teach disciples who follow and lead others to follow Christ.  This discipleship is part of the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) that we are to faithfully follow and lead others to Christ and to teach them all things to maturity to do the same.  This kingdom of God we teach and preach is in His power and not our own, not just words we teach but the acts of God’s Spirit working salvation and sanctification in each one.  May we be faithful and humble in exercising the gifts and calling we each have been entrusted with as we imitate those who imitate Christ. 

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 - Doing God’s Work in Wisdom

1 Corinthians 3:1-23 

Carnal Sectarianism

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Watering, Working, Warning

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Worldly Wisdom

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

Doing the work of God requires humility in unity of the faith as well as work for the gospel of Jesus Christ according to godly wisdom found only in our position and standing in Him.  Worldly people following this sinful flesh vie for position and importance with influence over others but if we walk in the Spirit towards spiritual maturity and put these works to death then we are free to work God’s works instead.  Instead of jealousy, strife, and partisan alignments, we should be seeking the unity of the faith according to the word while not compromising the essential truths or seeking self importance.  This of course in not putting devotion to a single pastor or favorite writer of doctrine above any other who also speaks the truth.  Such partisanship is carnal according to this passage if we end up putting Christ second in the competition and comparisons of who we wholeheartedly follow. Remember to heed the instructions here to understand that each of us has a part to play in God’s work done through us as prepared (Ephesians 2:10) because we are the members of His body (Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-13, 15-16) of whom we move in response to His direction as our head to proclaim the gospel and teach one another these truths of grace to live by.  We have been given the mind of Christ not to act in place of Him, but in concert under His direction with imparted understanding.  One plants seeds of the gospel in men and women, another waters that with further instruction for understanding, but it is always God who works in the hearts and souls for conviction and conversion to salvation.  We are His instruments and not the conductor of this work.  We should be about our Father’s business in proclamation of the Gospel and in following up with the watering of the seeds we have planted whenever possible, yet allowing others to water after us when needed as we trust God to work in the souls for the gift of faith to be imparted that they might be led to repentance and made a new creation (Galatians 2:20) by His work and not by attempting to force a conversion by our insistence for the hearers to pray a prayer without understanding and conviction for true salvation.  Our reward in heaven then is doing God’s work in God’s way and not to gain importance in the number of souls we allegedly save.  God has laid the foundation of Jesus Christ for us to build on and we labor together to teach new and maturing believers all things as the great commission tells us (Matthew 28:19-20) to do in His work prepared for us as the ambassadors and workers of the Kingdom of Heaven.  We ourselves and those we teach must be careful to follow the blueprint of scripture given to build wisely on this foundation with the Cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-6) set firmly in place.  We are told to use materials that last eternally and not temporally, for those represented by gold, silver, precious stones will last through the testing of fire, but the examples of wood, hay, and straw are consumed and leave nothing of value behind to offer back to God when we face Him.  The enduring works according to God’s word will endure and be rewarded while the ones which turn to ash are only suitable for sackcloth.  In the end we see that salvation is not at stake here but reward to offer back in worship to God for, “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  We do not lose our salvation but only the opportunity to glorify and honor the Lord with our work here.  True wisdom recognizes these truths and strives for holiness and not desecration of these temples which are our own bodies given to honor the One who bought us at such a great price!   Our own wisdom only gets us into trouble.  We must therefore boast in God’s work for and through us.  We have been given everything for life and godliness and should therefore live for Him because we belong to Him.