Faith Not Sight

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Faith is all about what we KNOW. We know that when our earth-house (human body) dies, we will be in our eternal abode which is prepared for us by Jesus Christ. We know that by comparison, the earth-house is inferior; burdened by earth-life, therefore we groan with anticipation for that which is superior and eternal. The Holy Spirit indwelling is our “guarantee” or pledge; a down-payment on the permanent dwelling we will have in eternity. We will not be bodiless beings, but will have bodies, like that of Jesus Christ.

Our present circumstances are temporary. We are physically absent from the Lord now, and must go on what we know about Him and His perfect provision for us (FAITH). We do not see Him, but we know Him, and His Word, and His love and His truth and His grace, and all His essence. His character (essence) is our anchor, our assurance of salvation, our peace. We long for the eternal, but we know we have work to do here, as representatives of our Lord, until He is ready to call us home from this battlefield. Our most important priority in life is to please Him. Our work as believers will be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ. That judgment is for believers only, and will happen immediately after the rapture of the Church.

The following is copied from Warren Dowd’s Grace Notes:

There are three thrones on which the Lord Jesus Christ will sit.
The judgment seat is in heaven after the rapture.
The throne in Jerusalem during the millennium.
The great white throne in heaven after the millennium.
There is a general principle of scripture that every member of the human race is accountable to God.
God will evaluate every man according to his deeds. Jer. 17:10; 32:19.
All unbelievers will be evaluated at the great white throne. Rev. 20:12.
All believers in Christ will be evaluated at the judgment seat. Matt. 26:34-40 and 2 Cor. 5:10
The judgment seat of Christ is an evaluation of a Christian's production during his Christian life on earth. There is no judgment of sin at the judgment seat. Believer's sins were judged at the cross and Christ was our atonement for sin. (2 Cor. 5:10)
In John 15 and Gal. 5, bad deeds (phaulos), refer to actions, which may not be sinful, but which are worthless in the sight of God. These are human choices which do not measure up to God’s standard of righteousness. These deeds are human good (wood, hay and stubble), which are produced by believers when they are in a carnal state, not filled with the Holy Spirit, during periods when sin is not being confessed on a regular basis.
Divine good (gold, silver and precious stones) is agathos, which is production by a believer who is walking in fellowship and who is controlled by the Holy Spirit. In fellowship, a Christian will be controlled by the Holy Spirit, will be occupied with Christ in his thoughts and speech, and will live in the Bible. The power for his production comes directly from God and not from himself.
All production of the Christian believer (phaulos or agathos) will be evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ. The instrument of evaluation is fire. The production which is not burned up during the evaluation (the gold, silver and precious stones) is the basis of eternal rewards for the believer.
1 Cor. 3:11-14
A believer should never try to evaluate another believer's production. "To his own master he stands or falls..."
Matt. 7:1,2; Rom. 14:4

We can only answer for ourselves. There is one person I can control. That is a full-time job. Our faith is applicable only to our own production. We cannot apply our faith to someone else, as much as we would like to. Our faith can, however, inform and encourage them, in their pilgrimage to maturity. It is our faith; our spirit-inspired work, that will earn reward. God knows all about that. It is something only He can see.

Earthen Vessels

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 NASB

Paul knew he was a minister of the gospel by the grace of God, through no virtue of his own. His priority was always the unadulterated Word of God, accurately presented, free from all speculation, mysticism and shameful manipulation. Give them the Word. They will believe it or not. We don’t need to dress it up to make it more attractive to the worldlings, or the mystics, or the legalists. It is GOD’s Word. The Word was with him before anything was created (John 1:1). It (He) created and sustains US. We do not need to defend or make excuses for It (Him). The Word Itself (Himself) will awaken the spirits of those who are positive to the truth about God. It will not return void, but will accomplish that whereunto it was sent (Isaiah 55:11).

The gospel is veiled, or hidden, only to those who refuse to believe God’s Word. They are natural men, with no human spirits. They are therefore incapable of comprehending the plan and purpose of God. Satan himself has blinded them, with their own consent; because if they WANTED to understand, God the Holy Spirit would open their eyes. Paul, himself, had been violently opposed to Christianity, because he thought it denied the truth of God. He was sincerely wrong, however, and was willing to understand truth when it was presented to him. That’s the difference in unbelievers. Some are willing, and waiting to be awakened. Others are determined to reject and deny the Lord Jesus Christ and the Way of the cross. They cannot ever understand, because they are willfully blind.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

There are phrases here and there in the Bible that send me into ecstasy. “this treasure in earthen vessels” is one of them. "This treasure" is the glorious gospel of Christ. "Earthen vessels" are clay pitchers. We Christians are entirely human; common; ordinary; made of earth, descended from the earth-man, Adam. God has chosen to use US, lowly earthlings, to be the conduits of His gospel message—to teach His Word to His Churches—to represent His character in the world. WE, clay pots, are the ambassadors of Jesus Christ in the devil’s world. No matter what circumstances we are in, we manifest Jesus—His life and His death—in our bodies. His death defines our life. We are doing this because as weak as we are, we humans know our God is all powerful and has a plan and purpose for us in whatever generation we live. He has assigned His angels to observe how we, with the indwelling Holy Spirit, will endure the tribulations of the angelic conflict on our field of battle. His Holy Spirit and His written Word, stored in our souls, are our equipment. We have instant access to Him anywhere, anytime, by the exercise of prayer. Spoken or unspoken. Eloquent or crude. He understands us, and the Holy Spirit helps our inadequacies. Earthen vessels. Clay pots. Vessels to be USED, not set on a shelf and polished. Somehow, this concept thrills me beyond expression. I may soar for a while, on this one.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

We speak what we believe. We know that God, Who raised Jesus, will raise us all, making His grace evident to the universe. So, yeah, our bodies are dying, but our eternal souls and spirits are thriving in the nurture of God’s Word. All we see around us is perishing, temporary. But we have spiritual, eternal realities which are of far greater importance than anything we can see, hear or touch. Those realities are our present position and our destiny, IN CHRIST.

The Veil

You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:2-6

The mutual testimony of fellowship between believers in Jesus Christ is evidence enough of our steadfastness in the faith, and yours. We are God’s work, through the ministry of His Holy Spirit. The agape love we have learned and express toward out brethren is entirely from God. The law was written on tablets of stone, but was not as powerful as the love written in believers’ hearts, by Jesus Christ Himself. The law brought death (kills), but the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. That truth, not our own sufficiency, is our confidence.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11

That law, carved in stone by God Himself, was accompanied by such glory that the Israelites couldn’t look on Moses face without being blinded. This was true, even though it was fading all the while. The glory of the new covenant, however, far surpasses the glory of the law. The law, which brought condemnation, cannot give life and dulls by comparison to the new glory of permanent grace in Jesus Christ.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,  not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

Moses wore a veil to hide the blinding glory of his face, to protect the Israelites from the intolerable glare, and so they wouldn’t be aware that it diminished daily. They didn’t comprehend the purpose of the law they were given then (hardened hearts) can only think in terms of legalism. That law actually represented Jesus Christ, whom they could not see. Even now, Paul says, when Israel reads the law of Moses, the veil still obscures the glory.

Faith in Jesus Christ removes the veil. The Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom reigns. We can handle the glory of God’s Word, because the Holy Spirit makes it clear to us. We are actually being changed into that same glory as we grow in grace and knowledge of Him.

Legalism blinds. Grace reveals. As long as they cling to their legalism, they will never know grace. Consequently, they cannot see the glory of Christ’s truth. They are yet natural men (carnal), with no comprehension of the Plan of God.

What joy is experienced by those who have learned Christ, are growing in Him, and have confidence in His perfect provision for our permanent peace. That joy is shared by all the brethren who are relaxed in the truth of His gospel, fellowshipping in the Spirit of the Lord. We know perfect freedom. We see His glory. We ARE His glory, having become the gospel to the unsaved world.

Discipline and Forgiveness

For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 2 Corinthians 2:1-11

We saw in I Corinthians Paul’s severe chastisement of this congregation for not having disciplined one among them who was living in open incest with his stepmother. That kind of behavior being tolerated for one indicates even more carnality being practiced by others, which may or may not be obvious, but causes great harm to the local church, hindering the spiritual growth of the entire body. Indeed, after Timothy visited and reported the large-scale infiltration of false teachers, Paul sent in Titus, his best trouble-shooter, to shape up the congregation.

When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,  my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 2:12-13

Paul, as the apostle, had authority to teach the Church the gospel and church doctrines, and to instruct them in church discipline, but their salvation in no way depended on him. They stood firm on their own faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he reminded them in chapter 1 verse 24. He was in no position to “lord it over your faith,” but was their helper in understanding what their faith was all about. It was his great joy to be of help to them, as he knew their joy would grow in proportion to their knowledge of Jesus Christ. Because of the tension of this relationship at the time, Paul delayed his visit even longer, because he needed to hear from Titus about any results he'd had with the corrective teaching he was sent to do. Paul didn’t want to come and confront them with more burdensome criticism just yet. That is no fun, and would not be encouraging to them or to him.

He had learned now, from Titus, that corrections had been made, except for a few real wolves among them. Also, the incestuous member had been disciplined by the congregation, as Paul had advised them to do, and he had repented. Apparently for some, that wasn’t enough (maybe the Judaizers? Just a guess), and they were still holding his sin over his head. Paul said in verses 6-8, he’s been punished enough. He has repented. Forgive him, or he will become the victim of his own bitterness and depression. He needs your comfort now, not your ostracism. This is exactly the kind of discord Satan loves to take advantage of, to make us foolishly self-destructive in our witness and to neutralize our testimony to the world. If we are bickering and blaming each other, we are not proclaiming the glory of Christ. You forgive the repentant brother, Paul said, and I forgive him also, for your sake.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?  For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

The “triumphal procession” of Christ and his Church is our testimony to the world, a “fragrance of knowledge” of Him and His work everywhere. We are the aroma—a sweet savor—an atmosphere of Jesus’ love and grace—to the lost and the saved. We represent the gospel message wherever we are. Our job is to represent it accurately. The same gospel brings life to the believer and death to the rejector We are not responsible for results. The hearers can accept it or reject it, but we must proclaim it.

“in the sight of God we speak Christ."

God of All Comfort

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:1-2 ESV

A year or so (or maybe less) after the writing of I Corinthians, Paul wrote this 2^nd epistle to the Corinthian saints. There had been a constant undercurrent of rebellion in that congregation, led by Judaizers (Jewish legalists, claiming to be Christian, but demanding ritual and works of the law as evidence of salvation). Religion hates grace and will sabotage it every way possible. Besides simply promoting false doctrine, these rebels rejected Paul’s apostolic authority and systematically undermined his teaching of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Paul, himself had been working in Ephesus amid fierce opposition there, and was delayed in his intended visit to Corinth. He had sent Timothy to speak for him and to bring back a report from the Church. The news was not very good, because of this ongoing controversy, and the legalists were beginning to gain the upper hand. He had sent Titus then, to set things straight, and apparently the damage had been repaired with the majority of the saints, but there remained a pocket of discord among some in the congregation.

Paul stated his apostleship “by the will of God.” We’ve noted before that Paul didn’t seek this position. He had been intently trying to destroy the Church when he was way-laid by Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road and appointed an apostle to the Gentiles. From that point on, there was no question in his own mind about his commission. He knew, also, that this had been his destiny from eternity past. So, “grace to you,” Corinthians, “and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Timothy and I know exactly Whose we are and what our assignment is, regarding the Church. We greet you in the Name of God.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Paul had been under extreme pressure in Ephesus, from the unbelieving opposition, we know, but he also seems to have become very ill, perhaps to the point of death. He thought he was dying, but God healed him and strengthened him again to do his work. Paul knew his affliction had humbled him and that God alone had delivered him, enabling him to move on with the ministry of the gospel.

Having experienced such suffering and such comfort in his suffering, Paul now was equipped to comfort others in similar adversities. It makes a difference when you have actually experienced the affliction you see someone else dealing with. It inspires empathy in you for them, and it inspires confidence in them that you really do understand their situation.

Those of us who have suffered rejection and ridicule from people we care about, because of our faith, can identify with those of all generations who have endured that same humiliation. People who have to try to defend the gospel of grace to those who think you must perform a certain way or you are not saved share the experience of these early Christians who had to contend with not only the pagans, but also the Judaizers for their faith. Paul had these circumstances to deal with and was also physically sick at the time the Corinthian saints were being led astray by the false teachers. It was God's mercy and comfort, not Paul's toughness, that pulled him through. He learned to depend on God's grace and God's perfect timing.

He knew he had experienced those things to better enable him to minister to the Churches in their afflictions. He knew what they were enduring, because he had endured it, and God had comforted him so that he could comfort the Church. It is a universal principle of Christianity. It strengthens our bond with the brethren. It confirms our faith in God’s provision. Christ is the believers’ comfort, extended through His Body, the Church.

“as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.”

Everything has a purpose within the Royal Family of God.

Christian Giving

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. I Corinthians 16:1-4

Apparently in answer to a question posed by the Corinthian believers, Paul instructed them about collecting money for the impoverished saints at Jerusalem. In the Body of Christ, we not only learn from each other and pray for each other, but also help where we know other local churches are in need. The Jerusalem Church had suffered severe persecution and poverty from the beginning, so other local congregations were eager to help. Paul was happy to help these Corinthians with their planned contribution to the cause.

Giving is a privilege of the Christian Way of Life. If we have, we can share with those who do not have. What we have has been given by God’s grace, and we are encouraged to give generously, as God has given to us. Even those of us who are not rich monetarily can derive great pleasure in just being able to share with others who are in need. It must be really gratifying to be able to give out of great abundance.

It is important to note that Paul didn’t set a percentage of income for this weekly collection. There is a correct time: the first day of every week—Sunday. Each is to put “something” aside for the collection. How much? “As he may prosper.” That makes it an individual decision, between the believer and God, according to his level of income and what he is able to and motivated to contribute. It is private, personal, and based on the believer’s ability and willingness to give. There must be no coercion or embarrassment, false promises or legalism involved. Paul wanted the congregation to deal with this detail before he arrived--he wasn’t interested in handling the money—and to have trustworthy people designated to deliver this gift. If they want Paul to go, these couriers would accompany him. That’s accountability. Accountability matters.

Love gives. At every opportunity. Regularly. Generously. Graciously. It’s all about attitude. Not in order to receive, but because we HAVE received. God knows. God sees. God rewards.

In verses 5-8 Paul stated his intention to come for an extended visit, not just a “pass-through,” but it would be a while, because there was work to be done at Ephesus, with lots of opposition, so he’d be busy there for some time.

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. I Corinthians 16:10-11

Paul had led young Timothy to the Lord and was training him in the ministry. He totally trusted Timothy’s faithfulness and integrity. These Gentile saints had better treat him with respect, provide him with whatever he came for. His assistance was always valuable to Paul.

Also, they were urged to treat these other saints with respect and dignity, as they, too were special to Paul: It is great to have like-minded friends among the Body of Christ, who when you speak they can identify with your priorities, because they worship the same Lord and love His Word. Verses 15-20:

Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

“Holy Kiss:” expression of friendship, fellowship, and common faith. You know and love these people because they believe the same Lord and love the same doctrine you do. It is an eternal bond. To those of us who love Jesus Christ and His Word, Paul and Peter and Timothy and these other early saints are just as familiar and beloved as the people we sat in Church with this morning. We know them. They are our people. The Royal Family of God.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. I Corinthians 16:21-24

Paul authenticated this writing with his own greeting and signature. Strangely, there are some believers who do not really love our Lord, though they have accepted His gift of eternal life. He Himself said in John’s gospel “if you love me you’ll keep my word,” (John 14:23-24) meaning some would not love Him or keep His Word. Those who do not are under a curse until He comes, meaning they cannot ever be really at peace in this world, because they do not totally identify themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, even though He has saved them. They hinder the Holy Spirit’s work in their lives by their selfishness, and never really grow up in grace. Nevertheless, His grace is with His Church. As is Paul's love. 

Technicalities of Resurrection

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I Corinthians 15:35-49

There is very simple agricultural logic in this scripture. A thing does not reproduce until it undergoes a death process. John 24:12 (Jesus speaking) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The day I first read that, I understood that Jesus must die in order to accomplish our salvation and multiply His kingdom. From that point on, I was oriented to the plan of God. The concept of multiplication through death, therefore, has great spiritual meaning for me. A modern adage says “you can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the number of apples in a seed.” Wonderfully expressive of God’s design for reproduction. You can save a seed on a shelf, dried, and it will not ever change. Put in in the ground, though, and water it and very soon it will spring to new life, grow and reproduce in kind..and on…and on….duplicating the type of life that was in the seed from the beginning.

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:50-58

It should be obvious, brethren, that we will not inherit the kingdom of God in THESE bodies of corruption. Our bodies are saturated with the Old Sin Nature, which has been part of human dna since Adam sinned. His human spirit died (that’s what he used to fellowship with Jesus Christ in the garden), causing his cell structure to degenerate gradually until the body of flesh died also. It is not only about behavior, it is the source of illnesses and degeneration of the body. The body must die, because we cannot enter God’s presence with the Old Sin Nature intact. The body dies, and with it the OSN dies. How then can we function without a body? We can’t. God will give us a resurrected body; pure, not corrupt; clean and acceptable to Himself. Only Jesus has that now. His is the prototype. He is preparing to return and receive us to Himself, and when that happens we will be instantaneously changed!

Not all will have lain in the ground. Some will be still alive at the coming of the Lord for His own. He, who spoke the worlds into being can instantly change the fleshly bodies of His people into incorruptible, imperishable eternal bodies, suitable for heavenly citizenship. We do receive a reactivated human spirit at salvation, so God can communicate truth to us, but as long as we live in human flesh the spirit is competing with the OSN for dominance. When we are changed (resurrected), that will never again be an issue. Death has lost its sting, because through physical death we receive our immortality, the power of sin is overcome and we are the victors through our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s because of RESURRECTION! Even if you haven’t liked the idea, Corinthians, get used to it, because it is coming. As for now, stand fast in your faith, serving the Lord in whatever He has given you to do.

Your work will be rewarded. He KNOWS.

Bodily Resurrection

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. I Corinthians 15:12-19

At issue: Greeks don’t want to believe in the resurrection of the dead. Paul’s response: if there is no resurrection of the dead, Jesus has not been raised and we’ve been wasting our breath preaching and you’ve wasted your faith in a resurrected Lord. Without the resurrection, you are not saved. If our only hope as believers is in the here and now, we are to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. I Corinthians 15:20-28

BUT, Christ HAS been raised. He is the firstfruits of God’s people. Man caused death in the human race, and by a man death has been overcome. Adam’s deliberate disobedience caused spiritual and physical death for all humanity, and Jesus’ perfect obedience defeated spiritual and physical death for all of us.

There is an order of the resurrections, like a battalion passing in review: #1. Jesus first, leading the parade of resurrected humans to heaven. #2. The Church (those who belong to Jesus) when He returns at the rapture to claim His bride (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). #3. Then the general resurrection at the end of the millennial kingdom. That’s when Jesus will destroy Satan’s hierarchy, putting all His enemies under His feet. Then He will destroy death. Then the kingdom will have been fully restored to God, Who created it and believing humanity will be restored to original sinlessness, to reign with Him forever.

Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour?  I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. I Corinthians 15:29-34

Verse 29 is somewhat confusing to us moderns, but it has to do with the irony of these Greeks who denied the resurrection practicing a ritual in which they were baptized “for the dead,” apparently identifying themselves by that obscure ritual with people who have previously died. Paul was dishing out a little sanctified sarcasm here. He was good at it, when trying to awaken the spiritually ignorant to the realities of the faith. “So, there is no resurrection? Then what is the point of that practice? Can you explain it to me? Huh?”

But more to the point: why do I (Paul) and other apostles and teachers risk our very lives every day to bring you the gospel, to the salvation of your souls and bodies, if there is no resurrection? Why don’t we just party like it’s 1999? If we’re a dying breed with no future, why do we hold hope for eternity?

Somebody’s deceiving you, Corinthians. You are sinning by allowing your faith to be corrupted this way. You should know better by now. Aren’t you ashamed?!

In Accordance with the Scriptures

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. I Corinthians 15:1-11

Having gone to great lengths with their housekeeping issues in this epistle to the Corinthian saints, Paul now reminds them of the gospel he preached and they received, before launching into the doctrine of the resurrection(s). The word gospel means “good news.” The good news is that the Messiah has  come and fulfilled the plan of God for man’s salvation. Paul “makes known” to them again what they have believed in, thereby receiving eternal life, and in which they stand. The perfect tense of the verb “stand” means forever. Eternal security. They have received eternal life at the moment they believed in Jesus. They are continually “being saved” or delivered from the world system, by holding on to their faith in the word Paul preached. They, or someone they know, has denied the reality of the resurrection. If there were no resurrection, “you have believed in vain.”

Of first importance in Paul’s teaching is this: 1. Christ died as the propitiation for our sins, as the scriptures taught. 2. He was buried--proof that His human body had died. 3. He has been raised—perfect tense of the verb “raised” means he was raised once and remains alive forever. This is all according to the scriptures. Again, the principle: if it contradicts the written Word of God it is not the plan of God. Jesus executed His Father’s perfect plan. That is what he came to do.

The long list of eyewitnesses to Christ’s resurrection included Peter (Cephas) and all of the apostles, then hundreds, many of whom were still living to attest to it 25 years later. There was a meeting with James, the Lord’s brother, then again to all the apostles. Then to Paul…too late to have had the close companionship with Jesus the original apostles had enjoyed, and had thereby been somewhat prepared for the life of service. Too early to be included with the eventual salvation of Israel that Paul knew would be coming in the latter days. “Untimely born,” a man unique to the position he was given, when he, too, saw the resurrected Lord Jesus. It was sudden and unexpected, but Paul never had any doubt who it was. He who had been a vicious persecutor of Christians instantly became a member of the Body of Christ.

Note from J. Vernon McGee: There is no gospel without the resurrection. Jesus died, was buried, was resurrected, according to the scriptures. That’s the gospel. The gospel is not the sermon on the Mount or the Ten Commandments.

Greeks didn’t believe in the resurrection of the body. They considered the body the source of everything that is wrong with humanity and thought that bodily death was a good riddance. The truth of Jesus’ resurrection, therefore, was difficult for the Greek believers to absorb, even though they accepted the death and burial. Paul wanted them to understand there is no salvation without the resurrection, also. The physical body must die, to be sure, and the old sin nature dies with it. In resurrection, though, we are raised incorruptible, in a perfect body like that of our Lord. It is part of the whole grace package. It is what will make us acceptable in heaven. The Father planned it. The Son executed it. The Holy Spirit helps us to comprehend it. The apostle Paul worked hard to preach this truth to everyone he could reach.

Ecstatics

2000 years ago, when the Holy Spirit became the universal energizer of Christianity, charismatic gifts were given to jump-start the Church’s understanding of and sharing of the gospel to the whole civilized world. Spectacular gifts of the Spirit, especially tongues, involved ecstatics (fits of delight or rapture—World English Dictionary).

At the time of this writing, a little more than 20 years after the Day of Pentecost, the Church was beginning to develop beyond babyhood. The charismatic gifts of the Spirit had done the job they were intended to do: get the gospel distributed widely and quickly, throughout known civilization. Purpose: to evangelize the Jews in Gentile languages! Isaiah 28:11-12:

For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people, to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”;
yet they would not hear.

That was the whole issue with the gift of tongues. God’s people, Israel, had rejected His Messiah. He had always known they would, because they were a rebellious people. This prophecy from Isaiah promised that they would receive the gospel, but in foreign languages of nations where they had been dispersed because of disobedience. These were the languages of the nations to whom Israel was supposed to have witnessed! Strange, guttural languages. Not their native Hebrew. This was God’s special irony. This people, whom He loved; who bore His Name, would be the first to receive His message of salvation by grace, but not in the manner they would have expected to hear it.

In chapters 12 and 13, Paul taught the Corinthians about the gifts of the Spirit, their use in the assembly and which were the “best.” Since faith, hope and love would remain after the spectacular gifts phased out, those  virtues should now be cultivated. Now the teaching and ministering gifts would come to the forefront in their meetings.

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.  Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?  For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. I Corinthians 14:13-19

His implication in this passage (14:1-19) is that the ecstatics accompanying the gift of tongues was something those who were so gifted wanted to continue in, and others were desiring to receive. The time for those gifts is ending, he said. There’s no one else here to whom those languages communicate. If you’re speaking in a tongue, you are speaking only to God. Since the one speaking couldn’t even understand his own words, it must have been about the thrill. Paul said now let’s edify each other with prophecy (teaching of Church doctrines).

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. I Corinthians 14:20-25

The time had come for the Church to speak in clearly understood common language the truths of the Church. Tongues had been a sign to unbelievers, to grab their attention with the truth about the perfect person and finished work of Jesus Christ in their own language, so they couldn’t miss the message. With clearly expressed prophecy, anyone coming into the meeting can understand your words and is faced with the decision: believe and be saved, or reject and perish. If he was saved but ignorant of spiritual truth, the clear teaching of prophecy would set him straight on the doctrines he needed for growth.

Paul wanted to encourage the Church to reorient their thinking to the gifts which would be most conducive to the spiritual growth of the whole congregation. He mentioned in verses 18-19 that he could speak in tongues too, but if he was going to speak, he wanted it to benefit the hearers. Else, what was the point? Verse 33: For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. I Corinthians 14:33-35

Women were not to be prominent in the Church. We saw in the teaching about head coverings (Chain of Command, June 17 2012, Chapter 11) that Paul insisted on certain decorum with the women in the congregation, if they were speaking. Now, in Chapter 14 he plainly states that the women should keep silent in the assembly. Most of us modern Christians don’t really get this, and I’ll concede it may have been a cultural taboo, but Paul was the apostle, therefore the authoritative spokesman for Jesus Christ. Because of the debauchery of the idol temples (including prostitution and female predominance) and the general decadence of the Gentile population, the most sensible and orderly manner of worship was to be practiced. Frankly, even in the rules of the Jewish temple, it seems pretty obvious that the women were a real distraction to the males in attendance. At least the Christian women were allowed to assemble WITH their men. Not so in Israel. These last few sentences express my own personal opinion, as an observer of human nature. I, personally, have no problem keeping silent in the congregation. God’s design is for the men to take spiritual leadership. Whether they do or not, that is the plan. We women need to respect that. A lot of men are only too willing to abdicate their responsibility.

Verse 40: But all things should be done decently and in order.

The Greatest

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. I Corinthians 13:1-3

After enumerating the most familiar (and desirable?) gifts of the Holy Spirit in chapter 12, Paul now instructed the Corinthian saints in  “ a still more excellent way” (12:31). The Church members were recognizing their individual spiritual gifts and putting them into practice in the assembly. Being human, they had their opinions about which gifts were better or more desirable. Apparently, the gift of “tongues” was highly esteemed, because it was high-profile and attention-getting. As noted earlier, this was a temporary “special” gift, for the purpose of evangelizing as many Jews as possible in as short a time as it could be done (see Gifts of the Spirit, Chapter 12, 6/19/2012).

So I open my mouth to express the gospel message among a group of people and what comes out is the gospel, of course, but in a language I have not learned. That is the gift of “tongues.” Someone in that gathering speaks that language, and the message I just spoke communicates the gospel to him in the best way he can understand it. The gift is working, but if I don’t have agape (unconditional love) for these lost souls, I’m just making noise, as the pagans do in their worship. There is no reward for such “performance.” This principle applies to all the other spiritual gifts.  I’m prophesying deep and mystical doctrines; demonstrating knowledge of scripture….my faith is such that anything I desire can be accomplished. Without God’s kind of love, I’ve accomplished nothing rewardable. I give away my possessions, sacrifice my own body in a show of martyrdom…without true Godly love, which expects nothing in return, I have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I Corinthians 13:4-7

Those with the more charismatic gifts might be quite smug about it, as if they had done something to deserve such a special honor. They may be teaching others with less spectacular gifts that they just need to pray harder or somehow be more spiritual. NO. The gifts are arbitrarily distributed by God, the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. They are not earned or deserved, and are not grounds for comparison or boasting. The believers who know how to love as God loves have learned patience with our fellow believers (who may not be as “savvy” as we are). We treat them with kindness, whether we think thy deserve it or not. We do not envy the gifts of others or boast about the special gift we have (in our opinion). Arrogance or rudeness is not acceptable in any child of God. Those who love know that and keep their attitude in check. Just because we think we’re special does not make us the one in charge; others have gifts, too, and they must be allowed to function without criticism. Irritation, resentment, “gotcha” mentality are intolerable in the Church. God’s kind of love bears the burdens as well as the shortcomings of other believers, and anticipates with confidence the results of our ministry. Love endures…hardship, inconvenience, misunderstandings, lapses of judgment…for the growth of the whole congregation.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. I Corinthians 13:8-12

Mature Christian love, like that defined in Galatians 5:22-23 is the ultimate goal. Without it, all our service is in vain. Agape is eternal. Extra-Biblical prophecies of that time before the New Testament have ended. With the completion and translations of the New Testament, tongues have ceased to be needed. Systematic Theology now does the job of the gift of knowledge. The early Church had partial knowledge, under development, because  “the perfect” (neuter gender. Refers to the Word. The completed canon of scripture. New Testament) had not yet come. After that was completed, the special, temporary gifts passed away. This can be seen in the progression of the Church through the book of Acts and the early and later epistles of the New Testament. The apostles relied heavily on some of those gifts in the beginning, but they “phased out” toward the end of their lives. The permanent system was kicking in.

God led the baby Christians along gently, giving them what they had capacity for and gifting them with certain abilities which would enable the Church to learn and grow, as well as evangelize, until she was fully established and the New Testament scriptures were in writing. The early Church saw just outlines of the plan and purpose of the Church; reflections of Christ in His people. The Church is still not fully mature, but we’ve come a long, long way from those first days. We won’t know all we need to until our Lord returns for us, but we do have in writing the Mind of Christ, which is our authority for all things.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13

Fruit is the production of a mature plant. The mature Christian will produce love. As evidence of this love he will exhibit joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Such a person will not be competing for the spectacular spiritual gifts, or for attention of any kind, but love for Christ’s body, the Church, will be his priority in life.

Faith in Jesus abode then and abides now. Hope (confident assurance of Jesus’ redemption of His people) abode then and abides now. Agape (God’s kind of unconditional love) abode then and abides now. Without love, nothing else matters.

Gifts of the Spirit

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. I Corinthians 12:1-11

In the pagan system these Gentiles came out of, they worshipped idols which could not speak, but somehow there were philosophies or religious beliefs being communicated. There is a huge difference, Corinthians, between those “voices” and the clear teaching of the Holy Spirit. His mission is always to glorify Christ. So if you hear someone cursing Jesus, it is not from the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is being honored as Lord, the Holy Spirit is leading.

Since the Day of Pentecost, when the Church was born, each believer in Jesus Christ is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We have all been baptized into Christ by that Spirit, making us all one body: the Body of Christ. This was a mystery of the new covenant that Old Testament believers did not know. They had temporary Spirit empowerment for specific ministries, but the Spirit was not permanently part of them. The Church of Jesus Christ is a new species in the earth. We are one IN HIM, forever.

At the moment of salvation, each one of us is given gift(s) as the Spirit determines them. We don’t choose our gift. He did that, in eternity past. It may take a while to determine for ourselves just what our gift is, even though it is probably working from early in our Christian life. As we mature, we do come to realize in what way the Spirit has gifted us, and can see it working in our daily fellowship with the Church. It is not nearly as important to recognize our own gifts as to be always prepared for whatever the Lord has for us: prayed up, studied up, in fellowship with Him, alert to all opportunities to share the gospel message or the doctrinal information we’ve been graced with. We just pray, study and grow. The gift is at work whenever its function is called for. 

It is important for us modern Christians to note that in the earliest days of the Church, there was no completed canon of scripture. That was why the apostles’ authority was so important. THEY were the repositories of Bible Doctrine, until the Church was established and the New Testament had been written and distributed. Jesus authorized that system before He went to the cross (John 16:15).  Some of those early gifts were specialized, also, for the speedy distribution of the gospel message. For instance, the apostles and others were given the ability to speak foreign languages they had not learned, because Jerusalem was bustling with Jewish pilgrims from all the civilized nations of the world, who had grown up in those nations and spoke those languages (Acts 2). As the Church began to take form, many of those early converts were in the assemblies. The gift of tongues continued to minister to those people as they grew in grace, and learned the important doctrines to carry back home to their own people.

The same Spirit distributes the various gifts. That way, when the Church is assembled, the gifts complement each other for the edification of the whole Body. They work together, just as the parts of a physical body are interdependent. I believe this means they don’t work in isolation. The gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, “tongues” and interpretation of tongues were all given to the Church members in order that they could assemble on a regular basis and study the doctrines they knew, praying, preaching, growing in grace and building each other up in the Lord. They were also developing greater capacity for grace and  knowledge in their advance to maturity (2 Peter 3:18).

Our attached physical limbs perform the work they are supposed to do for the proper function of the body. Cut off a hand and that limb is useless. Likewise any other body part. The body can survive without some of those parts by learning to compensate, but the severed part is dead. No blood flow, no nerve system, no good. I just thought I’d point that out for those who would prefer to live in obscurity on a mountain top somewhere until the Lord comes. That is a selfish desire, and does not contribute anything to the Body of Christ.

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. I Corinthians 12:18-19

You are the body part God gifted you to be. The parts are diverse and complimentary. We need each other, to do the work and grow up together IN CHRIST. We are not all pastors, not all teachers, not all have the gift of helps or discernment. Each is important to the work and growth of the Church, however. There are some gifts considered “greater” (apostles, prophets, teachers).

I Corinthians 12:31 And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Lord's Supper Abuses

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat,  for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! I Corinthians 11:17-22

Wow. It looks like these Gentile Christians couldn’t get anything right. They even managed to make a mess out of the Lord’s Supper. It is one of the two ordinances of the Church, and is really simple in its symbolism and presentation. These gluttonous drunkards, however, were making a party of the whole thing. Paul wasn't into pious platitudes or feel-good pep talks. This needed correction. He said they should do that at home, not at church.

They were a contentious lot, and there were factions in the congregation, arguing over policies and procedures. They had a customary love feast in connection with the Lord’s Supper, shared a “fellowship” meal, read and wrote communications to other local churches, and collected money for the widows and orphans. Well, the Baptists weren’t the first to turn every church occasion into a party. Christian folks love to eat, and will not pass up an excuse.

People have old sin natures, however, and some of these wealthier folks were eating their meal selfishly and not sharing with the poorer brethren who didn’t have as much. So, essentially, they were tacking the Lord’s Supper onto the end of their pot-luck food fest. Paul didn’t even want to discuss their reasons for this, he just said stop it. Eat your meals at home. The Lord’s Supper is the holiest expression of Christian worship. All four gospel writers recorded it in detail. Paul had received direct instruction, and had taught the Corinthians what it represented.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. I Corinthians 11:23-26

The symbolism of the elements of the Lord’s Supper teaches deep doctrine.

The bread represents His perfect human body—unleavened—without sin. That perfect body was broken for us in His act of atonement on the cross. The symbolic eating of that body signifies our total faith in His atoning work in that perfect human flesh.

The cup (wine) represents His blood, shed for us as complete payment for our sins. It means His spiritual death on the cross. His atoning death for us was spiritual, and was accomplished before he dismissed His spirit to die physically (It is finished!). He took all our sins in that perfect body, He was separated from the Father (My God!) and the Holy Spirit (My God!) and he screamed in agony over that separation. God cannot have anything to do with sin. The Son had become our sin. Drinking the cup signifies our receiving unto ourselves His atoning blood, which paid the full penalty for our sins.

Jesus’ own order was “do this in remembrance of Me.” We are thereby proclaiming the Lord’s death (the cross!) until He returns. We are not proclaiming that He was a good man, or a fine teacher. We proclaim His Cross! This is heavy stuff, brethren, and must not be entered into lightly or routinely, as an afterthought to a gluttonous meal. We need to examine our own souls for unconfessed sin and make sure we are in fellowship with God before we partake of these precious elements. If we are not taking this ordinance seriously, and practicing it with reverence, we bring discipline on ourselves. Perhaps even sickness or death.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.  But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. I Corinthians 11:27-34

And when I come I will give further directions.

I’m sure they could hardly wait.

Chain of Command

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I Corinthians 11:1

After lengthy instructions about the cultural transition from paganism to Christianity, Paul offers himself as the example to imitate, as he diligently tries to imitate Christ’s example. When in doubt, remember how Paul does it. These Corinthian Christians, now more than halfway through this epistle, finally receive praise from Paul, verse 2: I praise you  for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. That seems to indicate they were doing as well as they could with the oral traditions, as best they understood them. Moving right along:

But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.  For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;  neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?  Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,  but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.  If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. I Corinthians 11:3-16

This is all about God’s delegated authority. All this head-covering protocol signifies the order of authority in that ancient eastern society. “Decent” women who respected their husbands kept their hair covered in the worship service. To take off the veil indicated disrespect for her husband and an effort to place herself on equal rank with the men of the congregation. She was flashing her insubordination. The uncovered hair was also the trademark in that culture of prostitution. Apparently, a woman’s long hair was considered quite erotic and to go unveiled was characteristic of moral disregard in the woman. If she wasn’t going to cover her hair, she should cut it off. That was only done to shame a rebellious woman.  Likewise, for a man to cover his head in worship was humiliating, since he represents Jesus Christ in the marriage relationship. All this eastern symbolism is pretty insignificant to us modern western Christians, because we have no such customs. In fact, the reverse is true for us: the uncovered head indicates submission, the head coverings are worn by those in authority. Some denominations, cults and sects have made hair length a legalistic issue for their women, but we're dealing here with what the apostle actually taught, and to whom. 

It is to his present purpose to reprehend the manner wherein the women prayed and prophesied in the church, without determining in this place whether they did well or ill in praying or prophesying. Note, The manner of doing a thing enters into the morality of it. We must not only be concerned to do good, but that the good we do be well done.The thing he reprehends is the woman's praying or prophesying uncovered, or the man's doing either covered, v. 4, 5. To understand this, it must be observed that it was a signification either of shame or subjection for persons to be veiled, or covered, in the eastern countries, contrary to the custom of ours, where the being bare-headed betokens subjection, and being covered superiority and dominion. And this will help us the better to understand...from Matthew Henry's commentary on I Corinthians 11

"Because of the angels," verse 10.  This is the second time in this epistle Paul has mentioned the observation of the angels. One of the things the angels do is observe mankind's responses to God's authority, as well as God's grace. The whole issue between  God and Satan is authority. All sin is rejection of God's authority to set the standards and expect His people to comply. In chapter 4, verse 9 Paul pointed out that the apostles' hardships in ministry were a spectacle to the angels. Here, he implies that the angels are observing our order of worship service, to see how well we respect God's delegated authorities in the Church. In I Peter 1:10, we are told that we Christians have understanding of God's plan that angels would love to know. Ephesians 3:10 tells us that Paul's ministry was the means of making known to the angelic beings the great mystery of the Church. We are accustomed to keeping our witness accurate and gracious for the worldlings who watch, but we must also realize we are witnessing to angels. They are among us, taking notes.

Principle: this is not about dress codes, brethren. It is about authority. To many modern folks, authority has become a dirty word. That explains a lot about the degeneration of our society, including our churches. Society will not function without authority. Churches cannot evangelize and disciple without authority. Someone has to be in charge. There must be chain of command. The alternative is chaos. This does not mean the male is better than the female. We females and males know that is not so. He is certainly not smarter than she. He is not more spiritual than she. In Christ there is no distinction (Galatians 3:28). So, what is the point? Each has a designated position, or rank, in the orderly function of the Church. Jesus Christ is the head, and He knows exactly what is going on and who is doing his or her assigned ministry, according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I’ve always had a rule for the household or any organization with which I was associated: when everyone is where they are supposed to be, doing what they are supposed to do, we get the desired results. Life is good.

There is no reason for competition between male and female Christians in the local Church. Everybody’s job is important. If you are submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ, studying His perfect Word of Truth, prayerfully learning and applying Bible Doctrine through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, you will soon know what your spiritual gifts are, and will be given opportunity to exercise those gifts; in the local assembly or elsewhere in your community. The fields are white unto harvest. We women don’t need to jostle for recognition or compete for high position in the Church. The positions we fill in supporting our pastors, in managing our families, in teaching and training the young, in organizational responsibilities, in unceasing prayer and in benevolent works are full-time ministry. Every believer is in full-time Christian service, no matter where our field of mission is. Having the discernment to recognize our position and the humility to keep the order is a matter of spiritual maturity. Our work will not go unrewarded, unless we are performing human good in the energy of the flesh and against the authority of Christ.

Social Situations

“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.(I Corinthians6:12 Romans 14:19) Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (Psalm 24:1) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.  But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? I Corinthians 10:23-30 

Paul had established that believers in Jesus Christ are not under the law. There are no dietary restrictions for Christians to worry about. We cannot lose our salvation, and will not hinder our fellowship with Christ simply by eating certain foods. The righteousness of Christ has been permanently imputed to every believer. We are indwelt by God, the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

The Church had been thoroughly cautioned against joining in the pagan feasts, because that involves worship of demons, and endangers the spirituality of the Christian. There should be no problem, however, with simply enjoying a meal in the home of a host who serves the sacrificial meat. That is not a religious ritual, but a private social setting. God provided all this food, to be eaten and appreciated for nourishment of the body. So, what’s the policy? Don’t ask! You’re at dinner with an unbeliever, and he serves a wonderful steak. In that environment it certainly came from the temple market. Sit down, enjoy the meal and don’t inquire about the source. BUT, if the host raises the issue (and we must be prepared for this. Unbelievers love to raise issues about what they think Christians are supposed to do) don’t eat it. Of course, you’re free to eat, but the unbeliever does not understand that. He has no Holy Spirit, and cannot comprehend the grace of God. We see it every day, from agnostics/atheists who know just enough about the scriptures to challenge our faith with regard to details of life. Defensiveness is not good witness. Just graciously decline. 

The unbeliever is entirely capable of “setting up” the Christian with just such a situation, and this could be the motive for having invited you. He serves the meat, or whatever, and as you’re digging in, he points out “oh, by the way, that steak came from the temple of Aphrodite. Best meats in town.” You are now on the spot. You know he believes you should not eat it. He is judging your liberty. Don’t give him the satisfaction. The meat is a false issue! Keep the issue clear: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. After the idolater understands that and believes, he can learn about the freedom of Christianity. Right now, he’s looking for any evidence of hypocrisy, even if he himself invented it. To openly indulge in practices for which the heathen will judge us gives Satan opportunity for slander. The gospel is not honored in that way. We know it isn’t sin, and Satan knows it, but the self-righteous heathen do not. They’re watching for that “ah-ha!” moment.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. I Corinthians 10:30-33

Our standard: in what way is Jesus Christ honored by this that I'm about to do? How does this activity proclaim the good news of His salvation? Will this clarify or obscure His perfect atonement? 

Our public behavior as Christians is under constant scrutiny. The worldlings are evil. Even the nice ones are evil, because they are entirely of the world, and their thinking is entirely human viewpoint. Our job in the world is to accurately represent the Lord Jesus Christ. He gave his whole life to provide salvation for every human who would believe. As His ambassadors, we are not here to initiate hostility or foster confusion. Our confidence is in the Lord. Our identification is His cross. If that offends, well, it offends; but let’s not let our personal behavior get in the way of our message. Our message is much too important. It is the doorway of eternal life for those to whom we speak.

Abuse of Liberty

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,  and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,  and all ate the same spiritual food,  and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. I Corinthians 10:1-5

Continuing in the doctrines of liberty and love, Paul now warns against license. We have examples from the Exodus generation, who came out of Egypt voluntarily (eagerly!) with Moses. “baptized into” means identified with. Those Israelites were identified with Moses’ faith and mission through the cloud and the sea, as Christians are identified with Jesus in the rite of immersion. In water baptism, the water represents the plan of God. By going into and under the water, the believer is demonstrating his identification with (becoming one with) God’s plan. The Jews were following Moses into God’s plan for a new nation which would bear God’s name and represent Him in the world, and from whom would come the Messiah. God’s plan for Jesus was His identification with our sins, represented by the water. For us who have believed in Jesus’ finished work, the water represents Jesus Himself. We are identified with His death, burial and resurrection and have received in ourselves His perfect righteousness.

Having done that, they were led into new territory where God made perfect provision for all their needs. They were given supernatural food and drink (manna and fresh water) from Christ Himself (Exodus 13-14). Ah, but they were humans. Weaklings. Whiners. Impatient for the glory they anticipated as they fled Egypt. They rebelled against Moses and against God, and were disciplined, some died the sin unto death. Why? See Exodus 32, Numbers 11-25.

Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,  nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. I Corinthians 10:6-10

The disappointed Jews, seeking instant gratification, immediately reverted to the idolatry they had learned in Egypt. What to do if you’re craving Egypt’s menu and all you are offered is manna? Why, build yourself an idol and fornicate before it. That’ll fix everything! They had already forgotten the slavery and oppression. All they wanted was food and fun. Well, yeah, Moses, Pharaoh was bad, but this is a major inconvenience! Unfamiliar territory scares us. All Pharaoh did was work us for nothing and slaughter our babies. You expect us to be responsible and patient. We can’t handle it. Gratitude is not our strong suit.

Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. I Corinthians 10:11-13

This history is given to us so that we can learn from it. We who are saved out of the devil’s world system are in unfamiliar territory at first. We may have a little trouble navigating a new way of life. These Corinthian Gentiles certainly seemed to need a lot of help adjusting. Here’s the thing, though: we are a new creation. God has brought us out of the world and He is providing for us. Be patient. Be responsible. Wait for His blessing. He is actually waiting for us to develop capacity for blessing. Stop whining and bring your bucket.

Let’s not be smug, brethren, thinking we are immune to the world. Verse 12 warns against over-confidence. That’s one I know well. The most humbled I’ve ever been was from finding myself in a vulnerable position I thought could never happen to me. Be careful what you say you’d never do. The devil is listening and he loves that game. And don’t think your testings are irresistible. There’s no such thing. Everyone has really difficult testings at times, but God’s never going to leave us hanging out to dry. He may not make the temptation disappear, but He will give you a means to handle it with grace. That’s part of our testimony: handling it with grace. The Corinthians had been saved out of the most evil idolatry. The Lord didn’t remove them from the environment. They had to learn to live as Christians among those same demonic practices. That was their calling. They must not, however, continue the evil practices. That would neutralize their testimony, hinder their growth, and shame the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? I Corinthians 14-22

To partake in any religious feast means to fellowship with the one being worshipped at that feast; be it the Lord's Supper, the Old Testament temple ritual or a pagan feast. The notion that we as Christians can participate in demonic cultural practices and not be hurt by it is foolhardy. We don't challenge idolatry. We flee idolatry. Righteousness does not blend with evil. God doesn’t tolerate evil in His people. The idol is nothing, the meat is nothing, but the sacrifices are offered to demons. It is demons that those idols represent. Anything done in those ceremonies is inspired by and dedicated to the demon. Our Lord will not tolerate that. We must separate from the evil in order to have fellowship with our Lord.