1 Corinthians 10:1-13

¹ For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 

Paul gives the Corinthians a warning from Israel’s history which is recorded in the Old Testament during the time of Moses once they fled from Egypt. He reminds them that God was with the Israelites when he parted the red sea, and also via a cloud which guided their journey.

Exodus 13:21 “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

Exodus 14:22 “and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.”

² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

In following Moses they had all been figuratively “baptized” when they went through the sea and in the cloud. Essentially this means that they accepted Moses as their leader, whilst also having the Lord Jesus with them throughout the whole ordeal spiritually guiding them. This wasn’t the John baptism or the Holy Spirit baptism that is mentioned in the New Testament because baptisms of that kind had no existed yet until John came preaching in the wilderness.

 ⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 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.

However, none of the Israelites from that generation never saw the promised land due to their defiance, grumbling, and rejection of God at certain times during their walk. It was only Joshua son of Nun, Caleb, and the next generation of Israelites who saw the promised land God had promised Abraham. Therefore, Paul warns the Christians in Corinth to continue to abide in Christ and to do what He says, to stand firm in their faith, and when it comes to temptation to set their eyes on God, so that they too can see their heavenly place.

Paul also reveals to them that there is no temptation that they will experience that God hasn’t been able to overcome and provide a way for them to endure such things and reject evil. God himself provides that escape for the Christians, just as Christ had accompanied Israel out of Egypt and provided a way for them.

 

 

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Paul, Scripture, warning from israels history

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

In these verses Paul suggests that he has become all things (to assume a different way of speech or action depending on who he was speaking to) to everyone, to the gentile he became like a gentile, and to the Jew he became like a Jew hoping that this would result in people being saved.

This then is an explanation to the Corinthians of which some were judging Paul (as per previous passage) of his call to apostleship. Some were judging based on food sacrificed to idols, celebrating feasts, etc, which Paul would have “become like them” in some of these circumstances. If he was with the Jews he would have celebrated feasts, if he was with the Gentiles he would have ate with them unless for the consciences of others.

By reading this passage of the letter the Corinthians might understand better Paul’s motives for why he would be one way with the Jews with and another way with the Gentiles.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul gives the Corinthians an analogy of running a race that is to support his apostleship and to serve as an example for them for their spiritual walk. He argues that he himself has undergone strict training where he has tried and tested his own teachings so that when he preaches to others he isn’t just speaking aimlessly but there is intention with what he says and how he behaves and acts to both Jews and Gentiles.

In the same way Paul tries to encourage the Corinthians to also go into training so that they to will be equipped. Everyone who runs in a race has to prepare themselves, they don’t just run the race hoping to wing it through. The purpose of training is to learn the techniques so they are able to endure the race.

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, freedom, God, Jesus, New Testament, running a race, Scripture, self-discipline

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

¹ Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ² Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. ³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

Continuing from the previous passages on food sacrificed to idols and marriage, Paul addresses those who are judging him on his call to apostleship, supposing that maybe he isn’t an apostle and so shouldn’t be treated as the other apostles of Christ. Paul’s argument is that surely he is an apostle seeing as they themselves are the fruit of his testimony, that by their new found belief in Christ they should be able to attest to him having preached the gospel. Likewise, just as the other apostles have the right to food and drink, and a believing wife, so also should Paul and Barnabas. However, those who are judging Paul are obviously saying that they don’t have these rights because those who are judging him don’t believe that he is an apostle.

 ⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰ Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Paul asks more rhetorical questions and quotes Moses law to help the Corinthians understand his position and his ministry. In other words, those who are working spiritually amongst them at such a degree as Paul and the other apostles, then they should have the support of the church, not just spiritually but in other ways such as food, shelter, etc to make their duties as those who oversee the church much easier. His argument is that if they sow spiritual seed for them, then they should at least be able to be given support for their hard work just as the other apostles received provisions from them.

 ¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. ¹⁶ For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

However Paul states here that he hasn’t made use of these rights pertaining to their material support as an apostle. Instead he claims to preach the gospel free of charge, without taking anything in return even though it is his right to have the support from the church. He would rather do what God has entrusted him to do, which is to preach the gospel freely, rather than to preach the gospel because of the rights of an apostle to receive his share.

In essence Paul’s concern is that the gospel is preached and his heart has always been for others and not himself. This is displayed here by Paul not making use of his rights as an apostle.

 

 

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

 ¹ Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ² Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. ³ But whoever loves God is known by God.

Paul changes the topic to food sacrificed to idols as there were people in Corinth and also in surrounding provinces that were worshipping false idols with the food that they would eat. Here Paul states that “we” being the Christians, all “possess knowledge” being the knowledge of the true God and that idols are false and essentially hold no value to the food that they eat. We can see in verse 4-6 how Paul starts to explain this knowledge.

 ⁴ So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” ⁵ For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶ yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Even though people have claimed gods and lords in existence Paul claims that there is really only one true God – The Father and Jesus Christ who are displayed here in complete unity with each other in that all things came from the one true God (The Father and The Son) and we all live through the one true God (The Father and The Son).

⁷ But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. ⁸ But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. ⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰ For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? ¹¹ So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

And we read here Paul’s main concern is for those Christians whose consciences are weak. They think that if they eat the food that was sacrificed to a false idol it would do them harm. In this case it is better for them not to eat because of their conscience. For those Christians who understand and keep hold of the knowledge that there is only one true God, to them they can eat what they like because they know that it comes from the Father.  However Paul cautions those Christians not to be a stumbling block for those who have a weak conscience. It would be better if they also didn’t eat food sacrificed to false idols if it meant that the conscience of their brother or sister would be left unharmed by their actions. He continues this in 1 Corinthians 10:14-33, not wanting anyone to be participants of those who worship false gods or demons. For the sake of the other persons conscience. Paul’s heart is that we do all things for the glory of God and to have other people in mind not ourselves.

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, food sacrificed to idols, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. ²⁹ What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; ³⁰ those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; ³¹ those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Paul addresses here that there isn’t a whole lot of time for everyone because the current world is passing away. So he states that if people are married then they should stay that way but if they are single then don’t worry about looking for a partner because there’s really not much time on earth anyway. In doing this they can concern themselves with preaching the gospel and leading people to Christ rather than worrying about themselves and if they have a relationship with a man/woman or not. Paul’s heart was always for the church. Not that he saw anything wrong with marriage, he recognised that it was a blessing in itself, but he urges people to set their hearts on the kingdom rather than in the world.

1 John 2:17 “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Isaiah 65:17 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

 ³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Once again Paul gives them his conclusion as to what he has observed with those who are married or seek to marry. That their devotion to God would be divided, not that its a sin to support your wife/husband, but just to let them know that if they were single then they could devote undivided time to the Lord. Of course this isn’t possible for everyone as there would have been people that were married or looking to get married, but Paul is saying this because he wants their hearts to be set on the Lord and the kingdom not on this world.

 

 ³⁶ If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. ³⁷ But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. ³⁸ So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.

For those who can’t help the way they feel towards the woman Paul suggests that they marry. Here Paul shows the Corinthians that he does actually recognise that marriage is a good thing and isn’t a sin as long as it is under the covering of marriage. However, he also says that if they choose not to marry then its also a good thing because now they can both dedicate their time to God, which is “better”.

 

 ³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. ⁴⁰ In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

In terms of the marriage covenant with God, the only time someone can remarry is if her husband dies because otherwise she would be committing adultery. But Paul thinks that the woman is happier if she doesn’t remarry, something he is convicted of in his spirit.

Romans 7:2 “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.”

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, God, Jesus, New Testament, unmarried

1 Corinthians 7:17-24

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 

Proceeding the previous passage on sexual relations in marriage and those who have married unbelievers, Paul reaffirms here that whether you were married to a Christian, non-Christian, single, or whatever state they happened to be in when they came to Christ, that they should remain where they are because God has called them according to his time and there is purpose for them in their current situation. Paul gives a couple of examples below.

¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

For those who aren’t circumcised according to the law given through Moses shouldn’t feel compelled to be, and those who were circumcised when they came to know Christ shouldn’t try to reverse it. Not sure how this could have been done physically, but the point here is that God isn’t looking at their appearance or the boasting of flesh, but salvation has come upon them whether they are circumcised or not. It is no longer a requirement for them to be circumcised to belong in God’s family, nor should any believer feel ashamed if they were circumcised. It is more important for them to keep the commands of God, which are in a persons heart.

 ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Paul’s second example is to the those who are slaves of men. He says that those who were slaves at the time of their salvation should remain as a slave as it’s where God has called them to be, except the difference is now they are Christians and can live holy lives serving as an example to others. This is similar to the book of Philemon where Onesimus runs away from his master only to be sent back by Paul.

However if God frees them from their position as a slave then they should leave as a freed man, or if they can attain freedom from their masters then they can do that too. But Paul says not to let it bother them that they are a slave, this is because its where God has called them.

For those who have come to know God and were not slaves shouldn’t seek to become slaves of men but rather to God. This is because they were bought at the price of the precious blood of Jesus and because of Jesus they have received freedom.

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, change of status, Christianity, circumcision, corinthians, God, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:1-16

¹ Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” ² But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. ³ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 

Paul introduces the next topic of sexual matters fittingly after he speaks about sexual immorality in the previous passage. In verse 1 he states that its a good thing that men and women don’t have sexual relations. He is talking about those who are not under the covenant of marriage and also those who are able to control themselves in this area as some are able to do just as Paul was. But in the case that they are unable to hold themselves, rather than commit sexual immorality before God, he says that the men and women should have sexual relations with his/her own husband/wife under the covenant of marriage.

In verse 4 Paul continues to explain the covenant of marriage in regards to sexual relationship. That both the husband and wife are completely united with one another and therefore both should fulfill their sexual relations as husband and wife for each other out of love. This doesn’t mean it should be forced upon either partner, but rather as a gift of love to each other. If the husband/wife had the ability to control themselves from sexual relations even with their own husband/wife then that is also good if both of them consent. If either husband/wife can’t control themselves then they should come together.

⁵ Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command. 

Paul suggests that husband/wife shouldn’t deprive each other of sex, as marriage was given as a blessing for this purpose and in this way they can continue to serve God. In this way neither of them will be tempted to stray outside of their marriage. In verse 6 Paul states that what he has just proposed isn’t a command from God but rather how he has judged the matter of ‘holding back’ sexual relations in marriage. If they choose to follow what he says in regards to not depriving each other is up to the individual. Every situation/relationship is different so if its harmful to one person then obviously the right decision should be made for that individual.

⁷ I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

In verse 7 Paul states that he wished they were all as he was, in relation to the previous verse, intending that they would have the kind of self-control that he had. But he then affirms that everyone has their own gift from God, and acknowledges the fact that there are some who have full self-control over sexual matters, while there are others who might excel more in other gift areas.

 ⁸ Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. ⁹ But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

As per previous verse, Paul addresses the widows and unmarried men and women. It would be good if they stayed unmarried (in other scriptures Paul gives reasons for why it would be good, such as devoting their time wholly to God and not being divided) but just as Paul had mentioned that some aren’t able to control themselves sexually just as he can, they should get married.

 ¹⁰ To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

In keeping with God’s commandment on marriage Paul tells the Corinthians that if they are married they shouldn’t seek divorce but rather to be reconciled to each other out of love. If a married couple do divorce due to adultery, which is the only grounds for a divorce given through Moses, then they should remain unmarried. The only time they would be free from this is if her ex-husband/wife is no longer alive. Then they would be free to re-marry. But Paul heavily encourages all married couples to stay together rather than seek divorce.

Matthew 5:32 “But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.”

Luke 16 :18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Romans 7:2 “For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.”

 ¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

To those who are Christians and are married to non-Christians Paul continues to uphold the covenant of marriage in that the Christian should not seek divorce because of their differences in belief, that is of course that the non-Christian is willing to live with the Christian.

His reason is because the non-believer in the marriage will be made holy because of the believer (not “saved” but made holy). Likewise their children would be made holy. This could be due to the fact that there is at least one person in the family who is a believer and can proclaim the gospel to their family members, thus saving them from death. Also the believer can bring up their children in the ways of the Lord.

 ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. ¹⁶ How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

The only grounds for them to leave each other (only between a married believer and unbeliever) is if the unbeliever chooses to.  In this case, the believing wife or husband isn’t bound to their unbelieving partner any more as God calls them to live in peace. Any disharmony would be due to their difference in belief. However Paul makes it clear in verse 16 that the believer may be able to save their unbelieving husband/wife. So those who do believe in God and are married to an unbeliever should always seek to lead them to Christ rather than seek divorce.

1 Peter 3:1 “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,”

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, corinthians, God, Jesus, marriage, New Testament, Scripture, sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 

In regards to sexual matters in Corinth there were several beliefs that existed amongst the believers that Paul had to address in his letter. The first is given in verse 12 “I have the right to do anything”. To Paul this may have been permissible in that they weren’t doing anything against God or his design, however he also interjects them by saying that not everything they do in regards to sexual matters is necessarily beneficial to them. Likewise they should not allow themselves to be mastered by anything.

For example it would be similar to eating. You may be allowed to eat anything but eating junk food everyday wouldn’t necessarily be good for you (not everything is beneficial). Likewise neither would being addicted to eating too much food every day be good for them (not to be mastered by anything).

¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Paul addresses a specific excuse in verse 13  ”Food for the stomach and the stomach for food” or in other words they would say to Paul that God had made their bodies to be used for sex, and likewise sex exists for the body. However Paul corrects them and says that the body is actually made for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. It was not made for sexual immorality or to do things that don’t glorify God.

For example the body may have been designed to be able to be used for sex, it wasn’t intended to be used for sexual acts such as prostitution or homosexuality because these acts are immoral and against God’s design. There are several other sexual immoral acts that go against God’s will, such as what Paul addressed earlier in Corinthians regarding a man who slept with his mother. So although God has allowed sex to be apart of their lives, they should do so according to God’s blessing.

¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. ¹⁵ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶ Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” ¹⁷ But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

Those who are raised in Christ should be holy just as Christ is holy, no longer taking on the sinful nature and its lusts but being made new in Christ Jesus so that God will raise them from the dead also on the last day. This is what Paul means when he states in verse 14 that by God’s power Christ was raised from the dead, and he will raise the believers also. How can God raise someone from the dead and join with him in his heavenly kingdom if they call themselves believers yet continue in their sin? It says in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that the disobedient will not inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore Paul urges them to live holy lives and be united with the Lord in spirit because God will raise them from the dead just as he raised Christ.

Romans 13:13 “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.”

1 Corinthians 6:9 “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”

Genesis 2:24 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

 

 ¹⁸ Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

As with the previous verse when two people come together in intimacy they become united together. It is the same in these next verses that believers are also united with the Lord. If the believers are united with the Lord then they should honour the Lord with their bodies, including sexual matters.

Romans 8:9 “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

Paul warns them to flee from sexual immorality because it is a sin against their own body and they will be affected by it on a more personal level than that of other sins that generally occur outside of the body.

Not only this, but seeing as they are believers of Christ and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, they should keep themselves from grieving the Holy Spirit who lives inside of them.

Further more, they became children of God at a price that was dear to God. If God had paid such a high price as to take away His very life on the cross, then as believers they ought to honour God by walking away from sin and living pure lives instead.

Revelation 5:9 “And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, church divisions, corinthians, God, Jesus, New Testament, prostitution, Scripture, sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

¹ If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? ² Or do you not know that the Lord’s people 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, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned 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 takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

Paul introduces another topic on lawsuits amongst the believers in Corinth. Though it seems as if his tone has changed since the beginning of this letter from approaching them as a loving father to now approaching this topic and the previous topic on sexual immorality with a rod of discipline.

His case is that believers who are having disputes with one another immediately go to court and seek the advice of those who are non-believers. This is a problem for him because he is expecting them to rely on God and also the Spirit of God who lives within those who believe and are equipped for providing godly advice according to his word. If they ask those outside of the church who are still living in sin it would be like the blind leading the blind. 

1 Corinthians 1:20 “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

In verse 2 Paul mentions that the believers will judge the world and the angels. This authority was also given to the twelve followers of Christ who sit on twelve thrones. They were given the authority to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. It is the judge’s duty to determine the outcome of cases and for the believers, they were given such a high authority from God to be judge’s and to oversee the outcome of the world at the end time. If they have been given such a position from God, then Paul is saying that they should also be competent enough to be able to judge the more trivial cases without having to go to non-believers who think with worldly wisdom and not Godly wisdom. Not only this, but in taking their fellow Christian to court they do this in front of unbelievers and therefore not showing them a good example of the love of God in their lives. The implication then, is two-fold. One, they should be able to practise their authority. Two, they should be able to be a good example for those outside of the church.

Revelation 20:4 “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

 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 and sisters. ⁹ Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 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.

Paul warns them in these next verses that because there have been lawsuits amongst them, they have been defeated by this world. So instead of doing what is right they are now doing things that go against God’s will. Paul lists a number of things that will prevent a Christian from inheriting the kingdom of God. Although they call themselves Christians, if they continue in doing wrong then they cannot inherit the kingdom. Just as it was with the Israelites. They committed sin before God after being delivered from Egypt (the land of their enemies) and God wasn’t pleased so they ended up wandering the desert for 40 years. No one in that generation inherited the promised land. It is the same in this sense. That now they are saved in Christ, washed clean from sin, and sanctified by his grace , they should live holy lives and no longer continue in sin. But if they do all the things Paul has listed then they won’t inherit the kingdom.

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, church divisions, corinthians, God, Jesus, lawsuits, New Testament, Scripture, sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 5:1-13

¹ It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. ² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? ³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Paul introduces the next topic in his letter on sexual immorality but more importantly what to do if there is someone who is a Christian yet is living a sinful life.

In verse 1 Paul gives us an example of someone living a sinful life yet calls themselves a Christian. This particular person in the church in Corinth is sleeping with his own mother, and he is also proud of what he is doing. Paul then goes on to say that they should have put the person out of fellowship so that his sinful nature can be destroyed and he can be saved by God. By giving him over to Satan means that he will have to live a life outside of the blessing, therefore once again seeing how destructible life is without God, in the hopes that this man will come to repentance and be saved.

 ⁶ Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? ⁷Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The problem that the church in Corinth had was to do with boasting. Paul not only found them boasting amongst the teachers and elders as was with the previous passages but now here they also boast about their sins! It is an example of how a little can affect the whole church. Paul tells them to get rid of their sinful nature and become new in Christ because that is who they really are.

He states in verse 8 let us keep the festival. The festival he refers to is the passover festival where the Jews would eat unleavened bread symbolic of the removal of sin, with bitter herbs symbolic of Christ’s affliction, a whole male lamb without defect symbolic of Christ’s body that he sacrificed. In “keeping the festival” what Paul is really alluding to is to remove sin from their lives and keep holy, truthful, and sincere with God, because that is why Christ suffered on the cross for them so that they could do that.

Exodus 12:8 “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.”

 ⁹ I wrote to 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 to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 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 person from among you.”

It must have been in a previous letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians that they shouldn’t associate with anyone who calls themselves a Christian and is sexually immoral. Yet the church was still doing such things as can be seen in this passage with the guy who is sleeping with his mother. He warns them again not to associate with Christians who do this. He also states that he isn’t talking about those who don’t know God yet because in this case they would have a chance to bring them to Christ. But he is speaking of those who already know God yet continue living as if they did not. To those people he says not to associate with them for a number of reasons. Firstly, it encourages their sinful actions rather than discourages it. If they were to expel the immoral brother/sister in then they would see that what they were doing is not good for them. Secondly, a little yeast will work through the entire dough. In other words that sinful persons actions will affect the church and all those within the church may end up just as he is, boasting of his deeds.

Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, boasting, Christianity, church divisions, corinthians, God, incest, Jesus, New Testament, Scripture