Being an Heir

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

BEING AN HEIR

1 Cor 6:7-11

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. 9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

NIV

Continuing on, Paul gives them a stern warning regarding how they treat or behave toward each other. There is no question that we all have come from a life that was completely void of any resemblance of morality. Oh sure, some might say they have always been a good person, maybe even thinking they were born a Christian or had at least been a Christian all their lives. But the fact is, we all were born sinners, and lived a life of sin until the day we died, and were born again. Of course, Paul says that some of them were those offenders that he lists. So maybe some of them were normal sinners, just pagans, unaware of God, or of Jesus. But the point Paul is making is that we who now believe have been washed, we have been sanctified, and God has made us holy, or declared us holy. We have been justified or declared innocent of all charges. Yes, we need to change the way we think and behave, but that is why we have to consider the old self dead. How can a person be born again unless they first die? It seems difficult to understand how we could evolve into being a Christian as birth seems to be a specific moment in time, as it was when we took our first breath as a newborn baby. We celebrate that day each year of our lives, but that person no longer lives, as that person had to die in order for them to be born again, as Jesus took Nicodemus. The person we were born as cannot inherit the kingdom of God, for that person is totally flesh and blood with a deadly spirit bent on sin. Yes, we are still that person of flesh and blood, but that deadly spirit, has to be put to death and needs to be born again of the Spirit of God, and now lives in the Spirit of God and thus is able to inherit the kingdom of God. Does our flesh still cry out for some sort of sin? Unfortunately, it seems that is the case. Why does this happen? Why can’t we just say no to all sin, and live a perfectly clean, completely spiritual life? Why are we resurrecting the old self that is supposed to stay dead? If we have been washed, then we are washed. Is it just a case of the spirit being willing, but the flesh is weak. That seems as though we are making excuses for our weakness when He is strong and should be able to keep us from sin. However, the fact remains that we have been washed, and that does not depend on us, but on God, and what He has done cannot be undone. He has made us holy, He has declared us innocent, He has done that which only He can do and we cannot undo it. Can we turn our back on him? It might seem some have, but that would have to be a complete denial that God is real or that He exists. We still have sin in our life, but we have not turned away from God for it is only in Him have we found the forgiveness for all our sin, and so we live by His declaration, not ours, or being innocent and thus able to inherit His kingdom. Just to think that we are heir to the kingdom of God is awesome. So we live with that peace, that joy, that confidence of our being an heir to the greatest kingdom of all.  

Disputes

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

DISPUTES

1 Cor 6:1-6

6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!   5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another — and this in front of unbelievers!

NIV

Again, it would seem that we would have to include this whole chapter, as it is called, in order to get the fullness of this admonishment. We also know Paul did not write his letter in chapters, still, we have divided it in respect to various concepts he deals with. Although this is still sort of a continuation of his insisting the church expel the wicked man, the one who was sexually immoral with his fathers’ wife, from fellowship. Paul goes on now to speak about having disputes within the church, disputes that are grievous enough to take each other to an ungodly court. Suing each other over issues that should be handled in the church, even by the least knowledgeable believer. The problem here is what kind of disputes is Paul speaking about. What type of dispute would we have today within the church that we would have to take a fellow believer to the civil court to get a judgment against them? In fact, why would we ever have a dispute of any kind? James asks that exact question, although rhetorically, as to what causes fights and quarrels among you. He answers that it is due to the war that wages within us. We want something but we don’t get it. There are several internal issues that can cause disputes within the church. Pride seems to be at the top of the list, as it is rooted in self-centeredness. When we are always about ourselves then it is easy to have hurt feelings, which can cause a hidden resentment, and turn into a quarrel. Another issue that could develop into a dispute is change and inflexibility. Change is a norm, things rarely state static, and if this change is not effectively communicated by church leadership, then those who have a difficult time with change may want to dispute this change as change for the sake of change and see no need. Abuse of power and church politics, which may go hand in hand, can cause all sorts of conflict or disputes within the church. This also sort of coincides with a church that has unclear authority issues as well as issues based on the personality of the leadership. In reality, it goes directly back to James when he says that we want, but we do not get. Disputes are at the core of selfishness, self-centeredness, immaturity in Christ, and living with too much influence from the world rather than from Christ. We need to remember that we are to imitate Jesus and He came not to be served, but to serve. Thus we need to always be aware that we come to church not to be served, but to serve. If that were the case we would not ever have a dispute with each other, especially one that requires the intervention of the ungodly to resolve. It would be a far better church if we never had a dispute, but when we do, let us resolve it as believers.

Walk the Talk

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WALK THE TALK

1 Cor 5:9-13

9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."  

NIV

Oh, what a sad state of affairs this early church in Corinth must have been. For Paul to indicate there were members or attenders of this church who professed Christ but lived immorally and were greedy swindlers and idolaters. It is interesting the meaning of the three Greek words. The word translated as sexually immoral is specifically referring to male prostitutes, of which there were many in this morally bankrupt city. The oldest temple was that of Aphrodite which by the time Paul was there had fallen into ruins according to historians. However, the successors of its one thousand cult prostitutes still practiced their trade in the city below where the temple stood. Then there were those who coveted what others had, and those who were aggressively eager to take what others had, and of course, those who worshipped idols, or idolized things. The world was full of these types of people, and it seems nothing has changed since those days. Our world today is no different, in fact, there may be even more sin abounding. Maybe even newer methods have been developed in the sexual immorality area, along with finding more concepts to fulfill the pervasiveness of greed, along with fleecing others of their resources. As far as idols, we could say there are more than we can count. That is the world and we need not be bothered with judging it, as God will do that all in due time. But the problem is not in the world but in the church. Paul was not concerned about judging the corrupted world, but that its influence had invaded the church, or at least to the point that there were some who said they were believers, but that was in word only, as they continued to live under the influence of the world. Do we have that in the church today? That would be horrible if it were true. Have we ever expelled anyone because of their wicked behavior? Maybe we just do not have anyone who fits into that category. Hopefully, we all have changed from our old and depraved ways and have rejected all such attitudes and behaviors. Certainly, we would not think such immorality exists in the church, but what about swindlers, or those who are greedy? Certainly, there are those among us, in the church that fleece the flock, so to speak, that take and take from others so to live the abundant life. Do we expel them? It seems we simply tolerate them. Yet, at the same time, we need to be careful not to be influenced by the ways of the world ourselves. There are so many ways in which the world can be deceptive and invade the church, in general, conducts itself and we need to be aware and beware not to allow it to affect the way we think or behave. If we say we are Christian, then we need to live as Christians. Words sound good, but actions speak volumes. As it has been said, a picture is worth a thousand words, so it is with the picture of our life versus the words of our mouth. Thus we have to make sure we walk the talk.

Leaven Free

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LEAVEN FREE

1 Cor 5:6-8

6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

NIV

Is the pride of their sin, that which Paul just mentioned about a man having illegal relations with this father’s wife, the same as this boasting which is not good? Is this the yeast that works through the whole batch of dough, or is Paul talking about spiritual pride, spiritual boasting, or perhaps the boasting is about having this freedom in Christ that what this man did was not actually considered a sin but freedom in Christ? It is most likely this is not about this man. But it is about the whole of the church boasting in their wisdom, in their superior knowledge and being about setting up and supporting their respective teachers, as Paul mentioned before about some follow Paul, some Apollos, some Christ. This is not the way of the Lord, we should all be united in the faith, having but one Lord, one Good Shepherd. We should be united around the word of God. This idea that Paul is presenting here is that Jesus is our Passover Lamb. In the Jewish tradition of Passover, they are to purge their homes of any evidence of leaven. There is not to be one single morsel of leaven anywhere in the house. Here Paul uses that analogy of the old yeast, purging the church of malice and wickedness and having bread without yeast, which is the bread of sincerity and truth. We can learn this lesson both as a church as a whole and in a personal sense. Of course, if we learn it in a personal sense, that would bring it right into the church as a whole. But that would require every one of us to learn it personally. If there is one who refuses to purge all malice and wickedness personally, then the church is in danger of that yeast spreading throughout. These Greek words translated as malice and wickedness carry various meanings. degrees of ill feelings, non-forgiveness, improper attitudes such as pride, arrogance, feeling superior, thinking more of ourselves than we should, as well as behaviors that should not be. Sincerity and truth on, the other hand, is being like Christ. He said that he is the way, the life and, the truth. Jesus never, nor has God ever lied about anything whatsoever. Jesus has never been insincere about anything. He is our Passover Lamb, and so as we indulge ourselves in Jesus, such as the Jews were to do with their Passover Lamb, eating every bit of it, ingesting all of Jesus, so to speak, then we would be so full of Christ, we would have no room for any leaven at all. We may not be able to have much effect on how others deal with this, but we as individuals need to make sure our bread, our life, is leaven free.

No Dual Citizenship

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

NO DUAL CITIZENSHIP

1 Cor 5:1-5

5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

NIV

This is a difficult passage to understand in one sense, yet it can be understood in another sense. We think there may have been far more sexual immorality going on in this early church than just the one particular situation that is referred to here. There is much debate among the scholars of old, and we guess that debate continues among today’s scholars. It also seems to us that scholars enjoy the debate as much as the truth. This situation is centered on a son having illegal relations with the wife of his father. The debate is over the situation of the father and his wife. Were they divorced and it would seem this son was from another woman as Paul does not say he was engaged immorally with his mother, so most believe this woman was his step-mother. Others think the husband or father of the son was dead, but Paul makes reference in his second letter about the wrongdoer and the one who was wronged. Nevertheless, this behavior was not even tolerated among the non-believers. Why this happened can only be attributed to the baseness that lurks within the heart of man. Still, Paul indicates they were proud of this situation as if it was the right thing to do, that it was acceptable behavior. This putting out of fellowship was what Paul was saying should have happened. Handing him over to Satan is not actually what is meant as if Satan was there waiting for him, to torture and torment this fellow. In reality, there are two kingdoms. The kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. We once lived under the rule of the kingdom of this world. It is under the influence of Satan and lives with no concern for God. The kingdom of God is under the influence and rule of God. So then, when someone, as Paul suggests, is removed from fellowship, removed from the church, excommunicated in this sense, he is sent packing back to the world, and under the influence of Satan. This might include being subject to all the illnesses and diseases of the world without the hope of healing that Jesus offers. Here we might take a lesson. We too have this choice of the two kingdoms, and it would seem impossible to live in both at the same time. We are either in one or the other. We either live under the influence of God or of Satan. Yet, when we yield to temptation are we not yielding, in some sense, to the influence of Satan? How can that be? This son was certainly doing more than yielding to temptation, he was living in that temptation, given over to it, fully engaged, and giving no concern for the instructions of the Lord. When we fall, when we give in on occasion, we are remorseful and embarrassed because of our weakness. We seek forgiveness and pray that the Spirit will give us the strength to overcome any further outbreaks, responses, or mistakes in our behavior or attitudes. For we have been moved from the kingdom of this world and brought into the kingdom of God. Our passport is Jesus, and our citizenship in the world has been revoked for we are not allowed to have dual citizenship.  

Talk is Cheap

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

TALK IS CHEAP

1 Cor 4:18-21

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

NIV

The key to this warning regarding those who are arrogant is the Greek word translated as arrogant. It means to be puffed up, or inflated, as to have an inflated ego. In the sense that it is used here,  it would imply there were believers among them who were puffed up about how spiritual they were, or how much knowledge they had as if they were now the teachers. But Paul makes it clear the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power. This Greek word translated as power is the base word we have for dynamite or explosive power, and in the sense of Christianity, it would carry the meaning of miraculous power. This would have to mean that if we talk the talk our life in Christ does not have much power, however, if we walk the talk then we are living in Christ with power. This power needs to be evident in our lives, and it is not about how strong we are, but what kind of miracles are evident in us. These may show up as the gift of the Spirit, for if we laid hands on a sick person and they were healed instantly that would be miraculous. If we spoke words of God, words of His wisdom, would that not be a miracle. There is the gift of miracles which is not defined as to what kind of type of happenings that means. In fact, Paul is going to outline or enumerate all the gifts of the Spirit later in this very letter indicating this life we live as a believer should be evidenced by the power of the Spirit working in our lives. This is far above and beyond our human abilities or efforts, for we are weak, but He is strong. We have no power within us, but the Spirit is full of power. So then whatever works we do and there is no affirmation of the working of the Spirit, it would be simply us doing works without power. Many non-believers are just as capable or even superior to us in many tasks or works. However, if there is no confirmation of spiritual power, the Spirit is missing and thus it is only by human efforts, and those will not stand in the presence of God. When the Spirit is evident, there will be power, dynamite power, and explosive power which belongs only to God. However, He gifts that power to us through the Spirit, so then we should be living in power, for if we only talk the walk, being puffed up, then talk is cheap, but if we walk in the Spirit, in humility, then we walk in power.

Live Our Words

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LIVE OUR WORDS

1 Cor 4:14-17

14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

NIV

Paul is still referring to this division in the church when he makes this comment about them having ten thousand guardians in Christ. It would seem there were more than just a few evangelists making the circuit and spreading several versions of the gospel, or perhaps having a great deal of charisma drawing people to follow their brand of the gospel. There is a difference between teaching the gospel and living it. Paul says that he lives the way of Christ and that is what he has been teaching. Maybe that should be our life lesson not just for today, but for every day. What good does it claim to be a believer in Jesus, if we do not live like we are a Christian? When Paul tells them to imitate him, as their spiritual father, or in other words, like father, like son, he is not insisting they live perfect lives, as Paul was not a perfect man. By his own testimony, he said in his letter to Timothy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of which he was the chief or the worst. He also made it clear that he did that which he did not want to do, and did not do that which he should do. This imitating him is in regards to living by the grace of God, living a life in Christ Jesus, but also living as what we confess. If we tell people we are Christians, then our behavior should match. This does not mean we have to act all holy roller in front of them or be this mild manner reporting that is hidden his superman outfit under his suit. We can be out there, having fun, being an impact on the world around us, but at the same time being that go-to person when people need prayer, or have an issue they need advice about. They know we believe and we are outward in our faith, open and frank about the love of Jesus. We can even live a bold and courageous life, being an extrovert in the sense of living our faith out loud. We need not keep ourselves isolated from those terrible sinners, even the ones that use foul language or live an alternative lifestyle, or perhaps simply hate religion, or religious things or standards, thinking Christians are hypocrites. Paul never was shy, even to the point of being beaten and suffered horrible treatment from some people groups. If we are to imitate him, which he says is in fact, imitating Christ, then we need to be about sharing the message of grace, the message of the availability of the forgiveness of God through Jesus. But as we speak it, we need to live it as well. That is we must live in the grace of God, in Christ Jesus, living in the forgiveness of God. We cannot live like those parents who say, do as I say, not as I do, but we should be careful to do that which we say, to live as we speak, live our words.