Tempting Examples

1 Corinthians 10:11-13   
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.   12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

The history of the rebellion of God’s people teaches us and corrects us with an eye on eternity.  We only stand firm as we kneel before our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  In humility we need to acknowledge that we cannot stand in our own power or righteousness, but in Him alone.  Then when we are tempted, we can realize we are no stronger nor weaker than any other, but that we can turn to our Lord by the guidance and power of of His Spirit and Word to escape or bear through the temptations that come upon us.  That is why reading and studying the entire Bible, with fervent prayer and humility, is crucial to walking rightly with our God.  

Tempting Christ

1 Corinthians 10:6-10   
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

The example of those who were set free from bondage in Egypt, from sin in a symbolic sense, shows us how easy it is to go back to our own gods of self instead of waiting patiently in hope on the Creator and Sustainer of our souls.  They ended up in more and more sin with their idol of gold, until many were punished by death.  They tempted Christ and the serpent began to kill as begun in Eden, until they by faith looked up to the one on a tree for deliverance.  They complained about the sameness of the miraculous manna to sustain them for 40 years instead of being thankful... So we must not desire wrongly as they did, not substitute anything for God and His will.  In our patience we possess our souls.  

Rock of Baptism

1 Corinthians 10:1-5    
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

The Israelites were baptized or immersed in God’s grace of deliverance (salvation) by passing through the parted waters of the Red Sea, and in the cloud of God’s presence leading in the day and over the tabernacle.  They ate of God’s word and manna for spiritual and physical food, they drank from Christ’s mercy, the true Rock from which the water of life would flow as later explained to Nicodemus.  But they did not trust and obey, they did not have the faith of Moses or Abraham who “believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.”  This is why they wandered for 40 years in the desert until they most all died.  Only the few who believed lived.  So only those trusting Christ and His finished work now will live in His presence with no veil to separate. This is good news! 

Run to the Prize

1 Corinthians 9:24-27   
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.

Here is motivation to persevere; when life in Christ is seen with a goal, and that goal is the heavenward call of God in Christ, then strength from Him and the will to press homeward as best we can is found.  We are told to run to win what does not rot or fade like Greek prizes on the head or self-satisfying trophies.  No, we are to have the absolute goal of certain eternity for God’s glory motivate us, fighting the good fight to the last breath beyond physical and spiritual measure, daily conquering sin and self so we can please God with the words of life, the gospel of salvation.  Disqualification is giving into failure instead of getting up, dying daily, and being resolute in following Christ.  We run to win for Him. 

Adapting and Overcoming

1 Corinthians 9:19-23   
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.

Freedom in Christ does not negate empathy and cultural understanding to best communicate the gospel  without being offensive.  Paul did not live lawlessly, yet did not push the laws over grace to the non-Jews.  Likewise, he respected the background of the fellow Jews as he spoke to them from the traditions and culture of his fathers.  But he put his Heavenly Father first by staying true to the gospel and its holiness from the heart into action.  He did all this to bring the grace of God’s mercy in the gospel of Christ to all.  So should we serve all to win their hearts to God in Him by the good message we bring, not preaching culture, but the unifying grace of salvation.  

Gospel Necessity

1 Corinthians 9:15-18   
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.

Though Paul had every right by scriptural example, he chose to not take wages for bringing the gospel, instead working as a tentmaker.  He did this to avoid being seen as holding this over others, as being deserving or authoritatively expecting to receive something in return.  He willingly was sold out to Christ and His gospel, not because he had to, but because the love of his Savior compelled him.  It was necessary and of his desire to preach the gospel at any cost, knowing there was no boasting because it was Christ working through him.  We also should never think we just “have to” preach the gospel, but it should be the driving love of God in us to be able to do nothing less.  

Don’t Muzzle the Ox!

1 Corinthians 9:8-14  
 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.

Paul continues to show from scripture that we who labor in the gospel do so first of all in hope, knowing the work is never for nothing, no matter the opposition or hardship.  Yet he also reminds those being ministered to that they should be meeting the needs of those doing the work of that ministry.  Paul and the others worked to sow and reap in the Corinthians, and lived from the gospel in spiritual ways and in physical by food and shelter to sustain them.  He summarized by saying that preachers live from the gospel for the work of ministry to continue.  That pattern holds today - not to get rich, but to be dedicated to Christ’s work. 

Called and Commissioned

1 Corinthians 9:1-7    
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?

Paul was called and commissioned by Christ Himself on the Damascus Road, seeing Him there in that blinding light.  The Corinthians were fruit of his labor, demonstrating his apostleship.  To answer their criticism of his eating in freedom, no longer under the Law, to answer why he taught it is best to remain single to mind God’s work yet have a wife, to address the accusations that he did not have to work or earn his way with the gospel — these he defended in truth and directness.  He used examples of funded armies and being fed from he flock tended to show that God arranged those who labor in His work should be sustained by it and those being ministered to. 

Free Not to be a Stumbling Block

1 Corinthians 8:9-13   
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.

Being set free from sin’s penalty of God’s wrath does not make us free to cause others to stumble.  Here it is the freedom to eat any food, but not when others see it was for idolatrous use by some.  Just because we have knowledge of freedom does not negate our duty to love others and be sensitive until they see that same freedom.  As we mature in Christ, some things we are offended by become non-essentials.  What is essential is love that does no harm to a neighbor.  We must control our liberty out of concern for our brothers, not wounding their consciences.  Let all things be done in Christ’s love.

Idle Idols

1 Corinthians 8:4-8   
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.

The problem in Corinth with all the false gods was the amount of food dedicated to them for sale, much like the Muslim’s food they make to give to others.  We do not partake if told, yet can certainly eat all food the one God made.  He is the only God whom created and sustains everyone and everything.  Not all know that, and willingly eat what is made to honor another so-called god by eating its sacrifices.  We should eat as God gives, but not knowingly to honor one as if it was the Creator and Lord.  In the end again, the food has no power in it, so we can eat all He made, yet need to know what honors God and honor Him, especially before others to testify of His glory.  

Love Knows Him

1 Corinthians 8:1-3    
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.

In beginning to talk about idols and freedom in Christ, Paul looks first at the heart attitude.  Simply knowing about Christian liberty and missing the love of God for others in our actions simply misses the mark.  Knowledge by itself leads to pride, which is ironic since we know nothing that God does not first give us to know.  Pride leaves God aside to credit oneself instead.  If we know God’s love and then love others because of and by means of His love, then our knowledge has value as seen in our application to others in humility.  If we know God, we can love; if we are able to love rightly, it is proof we know Him.  In He matter of idols in the verses to follow, we will see how to put our freedom and knowledge under love’s dominion. 

Steadfast Will

1 Corinthians 7:36-40   
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.

Continuing from the previous verses, this passage fits best as addressing a man marrying if the passions cannot be controlled to live a single life.  At that point it is better to marry than eventually fall into sin.  But those who can stay the course alone without overwhelming desires and a will to remain single can do so to serve God alone.  Then he addresses widows along a similar line, advising to remain single even though she can remarry a believer.  Paul still believes it is best to stay as a widow and devote herself to God.  The underlying theme is to serve God in holiness and commitment without distraction when possible. 

Careless Marriage Concerns

1 Corinthians 7:32-35    
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.

Paul again shows singleness and marriage as what can be used for His glory as he speaks of worry and divided cares.  We certainly can be devoted to the Lord and married, and the single may be tempted and be better off married, yet in either case we must put Christ first to be without care or distraction from the eternal.  We can do all things in Him.  This passage is not saying it is bad to be married and we can do so much more as unmarried, but that we must not allow trials and cares of this life to choke out God’s work in and through us. 

Called Contentment

1 Corinthians 7:25-31   
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.

The principle here is to be content in our calling, married or single.  To serve God fully and avoid the distress the increasingly evil world brings up, it may be best for some to even remain single to avoid what comes upon the children (“woe to those in those days”).  Because the time grows short and this world and its system is passing away while we head for eternity, it behooves is to focus on that upward call of Christ as we run this race, not allowing the distress around us to make us lose sight of making disciples and glorifying God.  What we do leverage in this world must be by God’s standards for eternal gain, not for ourselves in the now.  Godliness with contentment is such great eternal gain! 

Live as Called

1 Corinthians 7:20-24   
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.

We are to be content in what gives us in life, striving only in pursuit of godliness and God’s glory.  The station in life is not the pursuit, but the means.  We should use that in our calling.  These verses do not condone slavery, as some may attempt to do, but rather show the personal response from within that abominable state.  Of course, slavery here was either willing bondslaves of their own people, or sometimes conquered people in the Roman world, and not the more egregious form of the past few hundred years.  Nonetheless, slavery is contrasted with freedom in Christ, and so we individually serve Christ in that freedom while corporately stand against the stain of human bondage that is opposed to the One who sets us free.  But do not forget that we are slaves of righteousness and of Christ, He being our Lord and Master, yet He is no human slaver, but compassionate and good.

Obedient to the Call

1 Corinthians 7:17-19   
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.

God calls us out individually and gives the appropriate gifts and talents, and also calls us to walk out these with Him.  The example here was for Jew and Gentile, as to being called out in Christ as circumcised to be associated as one of God’s people or not circumcised as one of His.  The bottom line here is to be called as God’s to follow Him as we trust and obey Jesus Christ, God’s Son and our redeemer.  What makes us His people is His calling us to be His, not our own identification or decision.  So we live as called without trying to be Jewish or Gentile, but Christ’s. 

Marriage Grace

1 Corinthians 7:12-16   
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?

Paul continues on marriage with a believer married to an unbeliever after finishing the direction for believers who separate, to stay single or reconcile. Then he says even an unbeliever is not to be abandoned by divorce, letting God’s grace keep the marriage unless the unbeliever leaves.  We for our part are not to do so.  This the children can be kept in contact with God to become holy and possibly believers as well. We cannot make the unbeliever believe, so if they do choose to go, our arguments against that never guarantee salvation. 

Control and Marriage

1 Corinthians 7:8-11    
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. 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.

For the unmarried, they can serve God well if they can remain so, no matter if they were married before or not.  Yet the reality of God’s design and our desires makes it most often best to marry; here it is also pointed out that a gauge of this is our desires.  Since most of us marry, we are told to stay together as God brought us (just as He brought us to Christ as His bride and are to remain).  Yet if this happens and one leaves, reconciliation is the best outcome.  What He brings together must remain so, whether with Him or a spouse. 

Marriage Intimacy

1 Corinthians 7:5-7  
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.

For those who are married, we must not withhold intimacy for too long in order to avoid temptation, because even the best self-control has limits.  Satan loves to take advantage of our weak nature, making us pridefully ignore this, but God reminds us to keep our temple clean with an undefined bed.  Paul says this for our good, based on our fallen nature and the battles we wage in our old nature.  Not all can fight such desires to be so committed to God alone to be single, for that is not a common gift, so we protect what God has called us to in imitation of the church as Christ’s bride.  Notice also that when we do abstain for a short time, it is to allow us to deepen our relationship with God in prayer and fasting.

Marriage Authority

1 Corinthians 7:1-4   
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.

The Corinthians asked Paul about what God wanted them to do about relationships between men and women, and he began with the hands off approach.  He meant they should not get intimate unless married, and if the urges grew strong, to marry for the designed moral place for intimacy.  Couples then give each other that affection, not to others.  It comes down to authority as God has over us; in marriage, each has authority over the other in matters of the body for intimacy.  We do not flirt with other false gods or idols (having been joined to Christ as His bride), and we must not in the marriage realm either.  Holy is the marriage covenant, just as we are to be holy for our Lord in union with Him. 

Run From Immorality

1 Corinthians 6:18-20    
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.

Sexual sins desecrate our bodies which are the temples where God lives as the Holy Spirit.  By using what is set apart for God for our own pleasures which are unholy (not set apart by God’s standards), we rebel against His authority and design for what is good for us as well.  We do not even own our own lives, and are set free from sin to stay away from it.  Who would want to be released from a death sentence in prison and then murder again to return?  Jesus Christ bought us from sin at the price of His life, giving up His position in the heavens for the years of suffering on earth for us.  We are His by design and by reconciling redemption.  How can we treat that immense and invaluable grace with impunity?  

Holiness to the LORD

1 Corinthians 6:15-17    
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.

Since we have become united with Christ in the spirit, we are each part of His body as the church.  This is why we cannot go to a prostitute to pay for the passing pleasures of sin while submitting Christ and other believers as His body to such unholy unions.  When God created sex, it is for joining together for life to one other, not to many.  Therefore, we are to be joined to one Lord as well, and that is what it means to be holy - set aside for that one only.  Since we are one with Christ and our bodies are the temple we worship Him in, where His glory comes to permanently rest and reside as was temporary with Moses, so must we worship in the beauty of “Holiness to the Lord” written inside on our minds and hearts as the Levitical priests used to wear outwardly on their heads to make us acceptable to the Lord.

Exodus 28:36-38   36 “You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet:HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37 And you shall put it on a blue cord, that it may be on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban. 38 So it shall be on Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things which the children of Israel hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.

Lawful Freedom

1 Corinthians 6:12-14   
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.

While we are free from sin and the power of the Law, what we do either is helpful as it honors God, or it is destructive for us.  What we allow to dominate us becomes our idol, and violates the first commandment.  What we take in matters; this is true for physical and spiritual matters.  The body itself is to be set aside for God first and our spouse second, and there is no third.  We do not serve the pleasure of our own worship and gratification, but the living God.  We will be resurrected and face Him forever, so the direction of our thoughts and actions of life should be guided by the freedom from sin to be holy for Him. 

Courting Humility

1 Corinthians 6:7-11   
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.

We fail God and our brothers, breaking the two greatest commandments, when we go to court without going to each other or through the church leadership to reconcile with each other.  Here we learn it is better to accept mistreatment, but instead often join those doing so to us, as in cheating and doing wrong to them or in retribution.  We need to remember that we were like others in the world before Christ, unrighteous and sinful, falling ever short of the kingdom of God.  The only difference now is that we were rescued and reconciled by His righteousness and made holy in Him alone.  We are not better, so humility should see our salvation of grace to show those who spitefully misuse us.  And not sue each other. 

Dare You?

1 Corinthians 6:1-6   
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!

The Corinthians seemed to be a litigious bunch.  They would sooner take some fellow believer to civilian court than deal with the situations according to the Scriptures among the elders and each other.  We will sit with Christ to judge the world and fallen angels at the final judgment day, the ones who rebelled against God and who cannot be saved.  Therefore, we who have been saved in grace and mercy should show that reconciling mercy and grace in matters between each other before that time.  It is shameful before God and man to not seek wise elders to judge within the church, instead suing and seeking revenge among those who do not know reconciling grace.  True and loving church discipline can also bear witness to the world of God in and through us. 

Judge Within

1 Corinthians 5:12-13    
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.”

The church is not here to judge the world and accuse every sinner, but point them to their Savior whose word holds them already as condemned, yet offering freeing forgiveness by grace alone.  We are not to judge each sin, but simply state the state of all men and women.  We bring good news, words of life, to all under God’s judgment; adding our own does nothing good.  However, within the church we are to judge the actions of His people, not them to condemn, and so expose sin to be dealt with in restorative love.  This may include putting them out of the fellowship if they refuse to turn and continue in sinning.  But we condemn no one.  That is for God alone to do.  Therefore, we judge sin among the redeemed, not the lost. 

The Company We Keep

1 Corinthians 5:9-11   
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.

The issue for church discipline here in the church at Corinth was sexual immorality.  The principle and command here is to not associate with those living in sin in the church, who profess to be reborn followers of Christ.  We are not to pull out of the world which is rampant with sexually sinful people, for God’s word already holds them and all others as sinners under His just wrath.  No, but we are to shun those within the true church who continue in unrepentant sin, including the sexual as well as drunks and others.  Paul went as far as to specify not even dining with those who refuse to confess and repent.  The goal is to bring them to conviction and restorative repentance.  Of course, this is all to be done in love.

The Yeast of These

1 Corinthians 5:6-8   
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.

Glorying in our position over others or our knowledge and gifts is never good.  These come from God, and it is our misuse and abuse that turns them to evil to match our carnal nature.  Like yeast, a tiny amount of boasting pride and sinful actions not repented of quickly rise to fill our souls with the stench of festering sin.  Christ gave the example of bread with no yeast as a Passover meal, symbolizing keeping sin out.  Our yeast as here is often ill will, evil wickedness in thought and deed, and insincerity with lies.  We in Christ are or be holy as He is, and to flee sin in imitation of Him as we live truthfully and honestly before God and man.  Glorying in anything besides Christ is folly. 

Deal. With. Sin.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5   
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.

When sexual immorality or other ongoing and unrepentant sin is uncovered in the church, it must be dealt with for the soul’s purity and restoration.  This is seen here to be done with mournful sorrow, not anger or hate.  Yet it must be decisively dealt with.  Paul was with the Corinthians from a distance as a shepherd to pray and work through dealing with the unrepentant.  They were to put him out of the congregation until the offender took responsibility for the sin and turned from it.  The goal was restoring the sinner to repentance and holiness before God as one of His.  Sin cannot be winked at while looking away, nor is it to be a hateful attack, for Godly discipline is for our good, not evil. 

Puffing

1 Corinthians 4:18-21    
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?

The proud and boasting ones scoffed at Paul even coming to Corinth to deal with the problems, but he assured them that he was coming.  He also informed them that he was bringing the words of God’s power and authority, not human words of the inflated braggarts.  Therefore, he offered them the choice of who to listen to, choosing to face rebuke or to find gentle and loving correction.  When sin is not dealt with in the church (church discipline), rebuke is needed.  When it is dealt with, restoration in loving and gentle correction can occur.  Unfortunately, many churches want to deal with too much gentleness, too harshly, or not deal at all with issues which leads to eventual severity or to festering of the sin that corrupts the body further.  The goal must be restorative reconciliation by addressing sin. 

Imitation of Life

1 Corinthians 4:14-17   
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.

Paul demonstrates here the heart of an under-shepherd.  He sees the believers as children; mostly as God’s in Christ, but in a sense as his own due to his concern and care for them.  Unlike Rome, he was not demanding they worship and call him ‘father,” but served them instead.  He witnessed to them the gospel words of life, so he felt responsible to disciple and shepherd them.  Because of these things due to the grace of God in Paul and his working out that sanctification, he urged them to follow in his footsteps.  When he could not visit to minister, he sent a trusted disciple in his place who was so like minded.  All of this is a pattern of ministry for us.  Bear witness to the gospel for God to quicken others into eternal life, follow up, disciple, shepherd, and bring up others to do the same. 

Display Models

1 Corinthians 4:9-13   
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.

The apostles ushered in the church from Jesus’ direct teaching, called out and set apart for finalizing the scriptures with the words of the New Testament of Jesus Christ by His blood.  Because of this, they endured much suffering in showing the glory of God from the gospel of the scriptures, hidden in the Old Testament.  They gave all to labor to know Christ and make Him known, no matter how much they were slandered and attacked with word and stone.  They responded in love as they valued the souls of the lost while being treated as dirt.  They loved Jesus and loved others as He does.  Then they spoke and wrote down God’s words and work for us, leaving the example we should learn from to follow. 

Reason as it is Written

1 Corinthians 4:6-8   
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!

Since there is no boasting in God’s under shepherds like Paul and Apollos, then there can be no inflation of our own value above others either.  We are no different or better than another, for we all received the same grace and mercy in Christ, and the gifts we each received are His, not our own accomplishments.  We have all we need in Christ; we reign as kings in Him together, rich and complete in Him.  Therefore we do not exalt pastors or teachers, but glory in Christ alone for His gifts and glory. There is no reason to desire another’s gifts or calling, but only contentment in our equal calling and value as being created in His image and called out for His purpose. 

Stewards of Mystery

1 Corinthians 4:1-5   
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.

If we minister the gospel through preaching or teaching, it must be as servants, not lording over others.  It must also be as good stewards of the gifts and callings in Christ, showing what God said and giving the understanding for us to live by.  This stewardship must be applied conscientiously and humbly, therefore.  We cannot judge ourselves when we fail, but seek forgiveness if needed and perseverance if undeserved.  The best judgement comes from God, so we wait for the final day before Him and not on man’s assessment or accusations before then.  We press on, knowing God will open our books and reveal all the hidden motives and circumstances.  Our praise comes from Him alone. 

All Things are Yours

1 Corinthians 3:21-23    
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.

Because all wisdom originates in God, we have nothing to brag about in what we know.  Humility must focus first on the source of our salvation as grace, not our efforts or choices, and then on the mind of Christ that gives us eyes to see and ears to hear.  All that God reveals to us in His word can therefore only be understood by His wisdom given to us.  How can we boast in what we know to others when it is God alone who is wise and not us?   We then understand God, man, sin, salvation, and all other doctrines and our inheritance because they come from His mind to ours, and we belong to Him in Christ. 

Wisdom of Fools

1 Corinthians 3:18-20   
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.”

When we view apparent wisdom from ourselves over God’s, we only deceive ourselves.  To be wise from God’s view (in truth) means we realize our utter foolishness apart from His word and Spirit to interpret what He means and how it affects us.  He sees our empty plans and catches us by them in time, knowing our ideas lead to nothing of temporal or lasting value.  In Psalm 94:10-12 where verse 20 quotes from, we see the larger context of His instruction of wisdom, His understanding of all our thoughts, and the need for us to be taught wisdom by Him.  

Psalms 94:10-12 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile. 12 Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, And teach out of Your law,

God’s Temple

1 Corinthians 3:16-17    
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.

We are called to be holy temples for the holy God to live in and receive worship.  Our bodies are set apart for His use and glory, not our own pleasure and misuse.  Here we see the gravity of the charge to not corrupt or destroy these vessels made for honor.  If we continue in polluting these, He has the right and loving moral duty to destroy these before we continue to do more damage.  As seen in 1 Corinthians 3:15, however, the destruction is not of our eternal souls, but the temporal bodies we are misusing.  We are called out from sin’s destruction to holiness because He is holy and living in us. 

Foundational Security

1 Corinthians 3:12-15    
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.

We are to build wisely upon Christ as our rock, our soul foundation.  Likening our spiritual construction with valuable building materials, we see that the real value is in things that last in the Architect’s eye.  In the end, He is the inspector of our work.  If we use inferior materials which burn easily, we labor in vain and are not up to the Master’s code; we lose much if we cut corners in our lives.  Yet we have security, but He tests our hearts.  Though the loss would be great, we do not lose the ground our foundation stands upon.  Job 24:23 He gives them security, and they rely on it; Yet His eyes are on their ways.

Solid Foundation

1 Corinthians 3:9-11   
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.

We are built on the solid foundation that only God can lay, Jesus Christ our rock.  We bear witness to these good words of life while God enacts the change, and we labor with others in His field of souls for Him to build upon.  By His wisdom and word we watch to see how we can help others build on that sure foundation, praying for wisdom as we rely on God’s work in us and them by grace through faith.  So we work on our own building and others’ by relying on the Scriptures and Spirit.

Planting, Watering, Growth

1 Corinthians 3:5-8   
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.

The spiritual mind sees God’s ministers as instruments of the gospel, not the ones saving the souls of the lost and perishing.  We can bear witness with His word as we plant seeds for God to germinate, we water by explaining the scriptures for who and what Christ has done, but God gives life and subsequent growth.  He gets the glory and praise, never us.  So we labor to plant seeds of truth and water with prayer and explanation, earning treasures in heaven for God’s glory alone in Christ.

Solid Food

1 Corinthians 3:1-4    
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?

When the mind is set on leaders, self, or competition, it is as carnal as a baby.  An infant only desires what entertains itself, and cannot swallow meatier food than the basics.  Paul here used that comparison to show the Corinthians that they were obsessed with such feeding of the flesh nature and not the spiritual.  Along with their spiritual malnourishment came the fleshly arguments and resulting splits from that comparison and cliquish mentality.  We can learn from this to feed our spirit by His word, not aligning with spiritual “giants” or favorite leaders, but with Christ as the head. 

Bankrupt Wisdom

1 Corinthians 2:13-16   
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Knowing the bankruptcy of our wisdom apart from God, we should be speaking what He says as written in the Scriptures and with verity testified to by His Spirit living in us.  We use the context of the Bible to interpret itself, using it as the rule to understand the wisdom God put there for us.  Our fallen natural man of flesh refuses to accept what it cannot grasp, seeing a seemingly foolish set of stories and sayings.  These can only be comprehended by spiritual means from God’s own mind.  Ah, but those of us who are His have that mind opened to ours for spiritual understanding.  We have the mind of Christ Himself! 

To Know Things of God

1 Corinthians 2:11-12    
11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

We do not know all that is in another person’s heart unless they reveal it to us truthfully.  This is infinitely more true with God; unless He reveals His thoughts to us, we cannot presume to know or understand what is on His mind.  Yet for those of us who have been reborn by God through faith in Christ alone, we are able to know what He has told us in His word by His interpretive presence as the Holy Spirit living in us.  God Himself interprets what we read and hear from the Scriptures.  There we see the things freely given through His grace in Christ to us sinners. 

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

1 Corinthians 2:9-10   
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

We are born at odds with God, not knowing Him nor His work that would be done in Christ, though it was set in place before the universe was created.  We are utterly unable to see or hear or feel what God has planned.  But when He opens the eyes of our heart by His Spirit, we are shown these very deep things of God and the Scriptures come alive to burn brightly in our souls.  Only the regenerated who have His Spirit living in them understanding these things and can truly love Him.

Wisdom of the Mature

1 Corinthians 2:6-8    
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Wisdom is not of the world, but is also heard mainly by those more grown in their faith.  The world’s wisdom and its rulers literally do come to nothing for building us up, but God’s wisdom does - yet it must be shown to us by God Himself.  He hid who the Messiah, the Christ, was through all history until He walked among us as Emmanuel.   God kept this wisdom from before creation and time to give us by His Spirit as the Scriptures recorded until the time planned for had arrived.  For if His wisdom and plan were revealed sooner, nobody would want to crucify Christ, and we would have no ransom, remaining dead in our sin.  But the wisdom of God had a plan and executed it.  It was for His glory and ours.

Fear and Trembling

1 Corinthians 2:1-5   
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

To preach, teach, and encourage others is not based on a polished approach of coached words and well thought out ideas, but telling of what God says and what it means so we can live accordingly.  Paul made it a point to lift Jesus Christ up to view on the cross, that is, the person and work of Christ by His words and why He did it all.  So Paul was fearful and careful to acknowledge his weakness and God’s greatness.  He did not use man’s philosophical arguments, but relied on God’s Spirit to explain the word of God.  He did this so others would trust in Jesus and His power, not Paul the preacher and teacher (God’s instrument). 

Glory in the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:30-31    
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

The only thing we have in which to glory is Christ.  Not our sinful selves, not our efforts or accomplishments, not our reason or wisdom.  Jesus Christ came as we are, yet as divine also that His sinless suffering and sacrifice would be counted to us as sinlessness by spiritual and legal proxy.  He died for us to make us acceptable to the Father - without blemish in positional holiness, though we still sin as sinners saved in His grace.  He redeemed us, bought us back as a ransom, from our sin and its due wrath of God.  So we glory in Christ alone, for we had no part in our reconciliation. 

Chosen Calling of Foolish

1 Corinthians 1:26-29   
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

There are some whom God chooses with great minds and wisdom (such as Paul the learned Pharisee and great theologians through the ages), but most are ordinary people with the extraordinary God using them.  He purposefully chooses the weak to show His strength over all others, and the worldly foolish to display His wisdom in us.  He calls out and enables the humble and seemingly insignificant to present to the world as witnesses to His omniscience and glory as the sovereign Lord over all.  He alone then receives the glory, and man’s best accomplishments are seen as shadows in His unapproachable light. 

Signs and Wisdom, or Christ?

1 Corinthians 1:22-25    
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The chosen people of God, Israel, wanted proof of Christ and the gospel.  Those from the other nations, some of whom would be chosen as promised to Abraham, demanded proof by reason and philosophy.  But God called us as His chosen people to all bear witness to and tell forth the good news of all wisdom and power in Christ’s simple work that is the gospel.  Our wisdom is foolish compared to the Almighty, and the smallest things He does are infinitely greater than all the accomplishments of man through history.  God calls and chooses His people from all nations to look past wisdom and works to see the completed work of Christ and His atoning death, promise of eternal life in the resurrection, and resulting justification in all He already has done for us.  How could we ask for more? 

Foolish Message Crossed

1 Corinthians 1:18-21   
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”  20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

The worldly wisdom of man’s imagination sees Jesus’s crucifixion as utter nonsense.  Yet these are all heading to utter ruin as they charge into God’s wrath and judgment, while those of us being delivered from that as His see the cross as the Almighty’s power to save dead men by putting to death our sin and counting Christ alone as our goodness and righteousness. Therefore God makes human wisdom foolish and our arguments futile.  The message of the gospel and its cross is foolish to those requiring their wisdom and work to improve themselves into seemingly good people worthy of their own salvation.  But God saves the one who trusts that His simple message and work are the only way, no matter how foolish it may appear against our unfounded wisdom. 

Follow the Leader

1 Corinthians 1:12-17   
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?   14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

The leader we must follow is Jesus Christ, not a man in His place.  Under-shepherds follow the Shepherd of our souls, and serve Him as we also should.  We are crucified in Christ alone and baptized in His name.  The making of disciples is of Christ, not men or churches, and the emphasis here is that gospel of the cross, the crucified one, not on the ordinance of baptism.  When the gospel is preached, the redeemed will be baptized into Christ and then outwardly as a demonstration of that inward work of God, but the message of the gospel’s cross outweighs human wisdom and affections. 

Essentials First

1 Corinthians 1:10-11    
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

The church must be like minded in the essentials, including doctrine and practice.  Being of the same mind and judgment avoids schisms and arguments, and is what makes the body healthy.  This means we need to be well fed by the pastors and elders, as well as foraging in the word individually.  We are to be built up to build each other up, and that leads to the truths being seen by all before God and thus one another.  Contentions and division result when we do not study diligently to show ourselves approved to God, and result in an unhealthy body that is unresponsive to our head, who is Christ. 

Enriching Grace

1 Corinthians 1:4-9   
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s grace richly furnishes us to know and to speak His words, bearing witness to that saving and justifying grace which is our testimony.  He gives gifts to do His work as we look forward to His return as He keeps us until the end - we persevere by God’s work in us by His own righteousness that makes us blameless in the Father’s sight.  Because God called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light of fellowship, so we know that faithfulness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.  What thanks can we not then give for all these things, both in ourselves and in others for this grace in which we stand?

1 Corinthians - All Saints Call

1 Corinthians 1:1-3    
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was called and appointed by God’s will to the position in Christ and the role in His body for His glory.  So he writes, along with a coworker in Christ, to the church at Corinth.  He addresses those who are in Christ’s righteousness and therefore saints (holy because they are in Him, not for earning the title by doing good and having men call them saints).  He includes all as saints who call on Jesus’s Christ as Lord, all reborn and saved in Him alone, not just those directly spoken to in this letter.  So he begins with God’s peace and grace already theirs in Jesus, reminding and encouraging these of His call and their election as God’s people.