1 Corinthians - session 2
Chapters 4 - 16
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In the "intro" of The Student Bible (NIV), I found this comment, "Corinth was the last place to start a church". The city of Corinth was known to be a free style community, which included much immorality. Paul gave the Believers thanksgiving from the heart. Just the fact that the church was surviving was a blessing (1 Cor. 1:4-9).
However, there were divisions among them. Oh, how relevant this is for us today! Paul did not mince words. He knew what to emphasize. As you read verses 20-31, you can imagine any modern day church having the same type of problem. There was much conflict between those who "know they are right" and those who brag that "THEY are right". I remember a minister once saying, "The differences that divide us do not pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven." Paul reached for a higher truth as he wrote,
However, there were divisions among them. Oh, how relevant this is for us today! Paul did not mince words. He knew what to emphasize. As you read verses 20-31, you can imagine any modern day church having the same type of problem. There was much conflict between those who "know they are right" and those who brag that "THEY are right". I remember a minister once saying, "The differences that divide us do not pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven." Paul reached for a higher truth as he wrote,
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Paul reminded them that "we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us" (1 Cor. 2:12). Through the Spirit of God "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). In my own mind, I can hear Paul saying, "now USE it!" Paul admonished them when he wrote
Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? God's temple is sacred and you are that temple. (1 Cor.3:16-17)
Paul was strident in his rejection of sexual immorality. Later he wrote, "Everything is permissible for me, but not beneficial.[he was speaking of the rules of eating certain foods] . . . I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Cor. 6:12). Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God (6:15-20).
The "LOVE" chapter is the most often quoted from I Corinthians, but the second best known concerns the Spiritual Gifts. One finds this in chapter 12. They are listed as:
The "LOVE" chapter is the most often quoted from I Corinthians, but the second best known concerns the Spiritual Gifts. One finds this in chapter 12. They are listed as:
WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, FAITH, HEALING, MIRACULOUS POWERS, PROPHECY,
DISCERNMENT, SPEAKING IN TONGUES, INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
All of these gifts given by the Holy Spirit of God are of vital importance to the nurture and growth of the church. Paul gave a believable metaphoric picture of how all of these gifts are meant to work together in any Christian group. He aligned the gifts with different parts of the human body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you," and the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you". (1 Cor. 12:21)
Paul seemed to have been given the gift to present the truth in a simple, believable way just as Jesus did in His day. Paul grew in the Spirit of Christ and often exhibited the mind of Christ.
The love chapter is often quoted at weddings. This is chapter 13.
The love chapter is often quoted at weddings. This is chapter 13.
Love is patient and kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, (1 Cor. 13:4)
Please go over the whole chapter even if you think you know it by heart. It is quite profound!
Usually I refer to the first three verses of chapter 13 to help us understand that the amazing Spiritual Gifts are worth nothing without love. This of course ties in with what God told Samuel in the Old Testament 1 Sam. 16:7, "Man looks upon appearances, but the Lord looks upon the heart."
Paul pointed out how little we know, but at the end of our earthly lives "we shall see face to face". So for now, three things remain. We have:
FAITH
Trusting in the faithfulness of God in Christ
HOPE
Assurance of our Salvation
LOVE
The Spirit of Christ's love on us
Usually I refer to the first three verses of chapter 13 to help us understand that the amazing Spiritual Gifts are worth nothing without love. This of course ties in with what God told Samuel in the Old Testament 1 Sam. 16:7, "Man looks upon appearances, but the Lord looks upon the heart."
Paul pointed out how little we know, but at the end of our earthly lives "we shall see face to face". So for now, three things remain. We have:
FAITH
Trusting in the faithfulness of God in Christ
HOPE
Assurance of our Salvation
LOVE
The Spirit of Christ's love on us
. . . and the greatest of these is LOVE. (1 Cor. 13:13)
Often we hear these phrases at a memorial service for a loved one. It gives much comfort to the bereaved. "For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. Oh, death where is your victory, where is your sting? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 14:52-56)
God bless!
God bless!