Category Archives: 1 Corinthians

Don’t be a smarty pants.

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2 Peter 1:5
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
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Had we written this we probably would have said, “add to your faith knowledge” because in Western culture and the church we value amassing knowledge about God. Our services are built around an instruction time. We have Bible STUDIES, Sunday SCHOOLS and even Bible COLLEGES. We tend to believe knowledge is the answer – knowledge about goodness will lead to goodness. A person who is not good simply needs more instruction. Continue reading →

How to get into ministry

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Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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“Whatsoever you do.” What sort of things would be included in that “whatsoever”? In the previous five verses Paul references four areas of our lives where we are to work “heartily as to the Lord and not unto men” – in our role as a wife or husband (vs 18,19), children and parents (vs 20, 21) and in our role as employees (vs 22).

How would my marriage be different if “whatsoever I did” I did for the Lord and not for my spouse? Would I respond differently if I were doing it for the Lord, not for my wife or not just to keep peace? Would I be more loving, understanding, go the extra mile, if I were doing it “heartily” – with all my heart? Continue reading →

I Am Hopelessly Holy

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1 Peter 1:15, 16
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
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There can be no question that God wants believers to live our lives differently than we did before we became His children. If a profession of faith does not lead to a changed life there is reason to wonder if there has truly been a “born again”, “new creature” experience at the level of the spirit.

However, in my life, this has also led to discouragement, frustration and a near hopelessness because I am so aware of the fact that, though “The Spirit itself beareth witness with (my) spirit, that” I am a child of God (Romans 8:16) I still am no where near “holy in all I do”. Continue reading →

God WILL Give Us More Than We Can Handle

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1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
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Based on this passage I have heard people say “God won’t give us more than we can handle”. I have heard it applied to struggles in relationships, finances, health, most any area of life that can be overwhelming. Not only does this verse not promise that “God won’t give us more than we can handle”, it actually says the opposite.

Paul, the apostle who wrote this, was given more than he could handle. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 he says that while ministering in Asia “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure …” so God will allow more to come into our lives than we can handle.

Why would God allow such a thing? Paul explains that in the next passage.
“This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”. God will regularly “give us more than we can handle” so we can learn to trust Him and not our own strength.

But this passage does not even say God will limit the power of temptation in our lives to something we can handle. It does say that when an overwhelming temptation comes He will provide a way of escape. The way we “bear” up under the temptation is by taking the way of escape.

The conclusion: Though God may not send the overwhelming trials nor the temptations into our lives (James 1:13) He will definitely allow us to experience more than we can handle so we learn to flee temptation and learn to trust Him in times of stress.
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Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

 

 

 

Is sex before marriage a sin?

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I was asked this question via a FaceBook chat.  I anticipated after my answer they would sign-off with a quick “thanks” or try to justify why my answer did not apply.  I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out they were sincerely desiring to know what God had to say about the issue and were willing to follow His instructions.  Here is what I told them.

The Bible is very clear on that issue.  In fact, it is probably one of the most clearly answered questions in all of Scripture.  Typically “fornication” is the term used to refer to sex before marriage whereas “adultery” refers to sex after marriage with anyone other than your spouse.  The Greek word the King James Version translates “fornication” actually includes many forms of sexual immorality (incest, prostitution, harlotry, etc) and so is often simply translated “sexual immorality”, so as not to limit its meaning to fornication.  The Bible is clear that sex before marriage, and all sexual immorality, is a sin and warns of harsh penalties for those involved in it.

Here are just a few Scriptures – and there are many, many more – that address the issue:
(Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9, 13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7; Revelation 21:8).

The Bible teaches self-control and complete abstinence before marriage and a one-man, one-woman relationship after marriage both physically and in the area of the thought life.

How To Measure Your Spiritual Maturity

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… everyone paints devotion (to God) according to his own passions and preferences.
– Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Some people love to pray so in their eyes Christians who pray little are little Christians.  Some love to serve God with their hands and may condemn those who pray for the hungry instead of bringing them bread.  Some have a heart to give and are generous with their goods but miserly with kindness or forgiveness.  We tend to put greater spiritual value on those Christian disciplines we find most fulfilling.  While all these activities are good none are the true measure of our spiritual depth.

The Bible is clear that our love for God and for one another is the only accurate test of our spiritual life.  No gifts, no sacrifice, no spiritual disciplines makes up for an unloving heart – 1 Corinthians 13.

We can disagree on doctrine, the nature of God, the significance and means of baptism, the meaning of election and predestination …  but we can’t deny the Lord’s command to love God and love our neighbor.  We all agree on the love thing.

So, why do I often set that aside (a clear command there can be no debate about) in order to dispute issues that are not so clear – such as those mentioned above?  I suspect that if I were fully engaged in loving God and loving my neighbor, there wouldn’t be much time left to argue with you about all the wacky things you believe.
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1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I rival Jesus when it comes to gifts, giftings and manifestations of power but don’t love others, it is a big zero on God’s scoreboard.  If I’m so smart that sometimes God calls on me for advice but I don’t love others, I am a total loser.  All I may do, all I may know and all I may sacrifice for God may as well be flushed down the toilet if I don’t get real and love others.

How to identify a Christian

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John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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We have developed lots of ways to let the world know we believe in Jesus. Bumper stickers proclaim our faith. Scripture passages on checks, greeting cards and refrigerator magnets; profile descriptions on Facebook; jewelry with crosses, a fish and WWJD all tell the world we are followers of Jesus. Jesus said there would be another way they would know but this seems a little strange to me.  Let me explain.

Jesus says the identification badge that will convince the world that we are His followers is our love for one another.  Notice He didn’t say it would be how we love the lost – though certainly other passages say we need to love, pray for and bless them. He said they would know we are His disciples by how we treat other believers.  I find that strange but actually quite a relief.

It should be much easier to love other believers than it is to love unbelievers.  After all, some of “those people” are actually enemies of the cross.  Some might actually hate or despise us for our faith. Some would ridicule or reject any expressions of love.  How nice that all we have to do is love one another to demonstrate we are followers of Jesus.  That should be easy.  Right?

Unfortunately the evidence is that we often don’t even do an excellent job of loving, forgiving, caring for and ministering to each other.  From the very start of the church we “bite and devour one another” (Galatians 5:15), “there is jealousy and quarreling among” us (1 Corinthians 3:3) and we are experts at “passing judgment on one another” (Romans 14:13).  We say we love everyone but the most basic sign we are His followers is that we simply love other Christians.  Let’s at least start there.

Is there something you can do today to demonstrate to the world that you are His disciple?
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1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Follow Your Course Not Others

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Hebrews 12:1
…”run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
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In a marathon it is not up to each runner to plot his own course. That has been carefully done by those in charge of the race. In the same way, the Lord has marked out a course for each of our lives. Our duty is not to create the course but to find the markers He has laid out and follow the course “marked out for us”.

He has given “coaches” to help us find these markers – authorities in our lives such as parents, teachers, the law (doing that which is legal) and, of primary importance, His Word and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. These coaches are faithful guides if we will listen and not let our own desires drown out their counsel.

The course chosen for me is not the same course chosen for others so I cannot look at how other Christians are running their race to determine my course, my pace or criticize their course or pace. Others may take routes that seem like “shortcuts” to me and I will be tempted to let that be my standard. But I must keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who knows the course set for me, the author and finisher of my faith – the One who laid out my course and will guide me all the way through it.

The course laid out for others may take them places my course does not allow me to go and vice versa.  I will only give account for how I run my race.  Unless, of course, I start judging the way others are running theirs and then I will also give account for my judgments.
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1 Corinthians 8:9, 12
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. … And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.

 

The Bible Teaches Situational Ethics

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Acts 15:28-29 [the church in Jerusalem is telling the new Gentile converts that they do not have to obey the entire law of Moses but here were some things they should not do.]
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.
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Wow, it sure was easy to be a Christian back then, wasn’t it?   Just four things to avoid and “you will do well”.  In 2000 years we have added a lot to that list.  But, though these are called “essentials”, Paul later changes some of these requirements based upon the situation.  Can something be right for one person but wrong for another person?  Are there only two choices?  Here is a summary of what the Word says.

Idols really are nothing but wood or stone.  But some people who used to worship idols may have a hard time feeling right about eating meat offered to idols.  If that is the case, even though there is nothing intrinsically wrong with eating it, it would be wrong for them to violate their conscience.  Furthermore, even though I realize there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, if I am in a situation where it will cause one to stumble or be tempted to violate their own conscience by following my lead, then I will choose to not eat meat offered to idols or any meat for that matter.  My brother’s conscience is so much more important than food.  [See 1 Corinthians 8 & Romans 4]

Based upon the situation, the condition of your heart and dictates of your conscience, what another person may be able to do may be wrong for you to do.  Contrariwise, what another might feel is wrong may be OK for you.  [Obviously we are not talking about anything in direct violation of Scriptural teaching but rather matters of conscience.]  How can this be so?

God understands the weak areas of my soul, areas that might tempt me where another might not have a problem.  For example, there is no Biblical command against using “a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” (1 Timothy 5:23) but because I know my biological father was often drunk, likely an alcoholic, for me it would be a violation of conscience to become a casual or social drinker.  There may be propensities toward evil in our soul that we are not aware of that God wants to protect us from by telling us “No, don’t go there” when He allows others to participate freely.  It is so important we listen to that inner voice and obey, even if it does not make sense or even if others, even Christians, freely participate.  Additionally it is also important we not decide what is right and wrong for everyone else. (Again, we are not referring to actions the Scripture clearly calls sin.)
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Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Lost Shepherds

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Matthew 9:36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
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What an amazing statement. They were in Israel, near Jerusalem, a city and country filled with religious leaders; people who studied, taught, debated, memorized and revered God’s law but there were no shepherds for God’s people.  Surrounded by folks who claimed to love God, Jesus could find no one guarding or caring for God’s most precious treasure, His people.

As one God has allowed to serve as a “religious leader” this challenges me to be more – more than just a teacher of God’s Word, more than just one who studies, believes and even memorizes God’s Word, even more than one who loves God and His Word. This challenges me to be certain I am also loving God’s people; shepherding them, guarding, guiding, protecting, feeding, tending to and caring for the flock of God.

In a world filled with scribes who carefully reproduced God’s Laws, teachers of that Law, religious leaders and an entire nation that prided itself on being God’s chosen race, Jesus had compassion, pitied “harassed and helpless” people because no one cared for their souls. When God looks at the people He has brought into my life I don’t want Him to pity them because they are wandering without a shepherd, no one who cares about them.

Lord, in this life I’ll never fully understand the Scriptures and be able to teach and minister as You taught and ministered. But you never commanded me to KNOW as You know. You did however, command me to LOVE as You love. Divine Shepherd, use me as a channel of Your love for Your sheep; the ones in the fold and the lost ones still wandering.
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1 Corinthians 13:2
If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.