THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE OF PAUL'S LETTERS, NOT ONLY FOR THE LIGHT IT THROWS UPON THE CHARCTER THE AND MIND OF THE APOSTLE. (2.16; ch4.)
THE PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL (1: 18-31, " CHRIST CRUCUFIED"; 15:1-11, THE "GOOD NEWS." OF CHRIST DEATH AND RESURRECTION). IT ALSO BRINGS THROUGH VIVID PICTURES OF THE ACTUAL LIFE AND PROBLEMS OF A LOCAL CHURCH. AT THE MIDDLE OF THE FIRST CENTURY. GOD'S SPIRIT IMPARTS A DEEPER WISDOM THEN ANY HUMAN SPECULATION CAN ACHIEVE, A WISDOM WHICH ONLY THE MATURE( (THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY THE SPIRIT) CAN UNDERSTAND. 7 WISDOM, SECRET AND HIDDEN, GOD'S PLAN FOR SALVATION, REDEMPTION IN CHRIST, NOW PRESENT THROUGH THE SPIIRIT AND SOON TO BE FULLY MANIFESTED. POLITICAL OR DEMONIC POWERS (EPH 1 20-21) OR BOTH. NOT RECOGNIZING CHRIST FOR WHAT HE WAS, THEY CRUCIFIED HIM; BUT HIS CROSS WAS THE MEANS OF HIS VICTORY OVER THEM.
" O THAT YOU WOULD TEAR OPEN THE HEAVENS AND COME DOWN, SO THAT THE MOUNTAINS WOULD QUAKE AT YOUR PRESENSE- AS WHEN FIRE KINDLES BRUSHWOOD AND THE FIRE CAUSES WATER TO BOIL.- TO MAKE YOUR ADVERSARIES, SO THAT THE NATIONS MIGHT TREMBLE AT YOUR PRESENCE!
FROM AGES PAST NO ONE HAS HEARD, NO EAR HAS PERCEIVED. NO EYE HAS SEEN ANY GOD BESIDES YOU, WHO WORKS FOR THOSE WHO WAIT FOR HIM.( ISAIAH 64: 2b-4)
THERE WERE, IT SEEMED FALSE APOSTLES OR VERY IGNORANT MEMBERS AT CORINTH, MEN WHO CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORITHIANS ST. PAUL INCLUDES DETAILED DEFENSE AND EXPOSITION OF THE DOCTRINE OF HIS LETTER. THE SECTION IS THE CROWNING
GLORY OF THE EPISTLE, A DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRUTH OF A FUTURE RESURRECTION. BECAUSE OF THEIR CULTURE, THE CORINTHIANS DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION. INSTEAD, THEY THOUGHT ONLY THE SOUL WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD, LEAVING BEHIND THE BODY. PAUL IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE COINTHIANS, THAT BECAUSE JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, WE HAVE HOPE, SALVATION, VICTORY AND PURPOSE. WE CAN BE CONFIDENT IN FAITH AND DILIGENT IN WORK FOR HIM. IN A BURST OF LOFTY AND SUSTAINED ELOQUENCE THE PATIENT TEACHER AGAIN GIVES THE CORINTHIANS INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE FIRST THINGS, THE DOCTRINE WITHOUT WHICH CHRISTIANITY WOULD BE A RIDDLE. BUT I MAKE KNOWN TO YOU, I DECLARE TO, BRETHREN, THE GOSPEL WHICH I PROCLAIMED TO YOU. THE WORDS CONVEY A CENSURE, OF BLAME, THAT PAUL SHOULD SO SOON HAVE TO REPEAT.. THE SAME INFORMATION AGAIN WHICH BELONGED TO THE FUNDEMENTAL TENETS OF THEIR FAITH. PAUL POINTS TO A FIXED FUN OF CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, POINTING TO THE GOSPEL. THE GOOD NEWS OF THE REDEMPTION OF MANKIND AS IT WAS BEING CARRIED OUT. INTO THE WORLD BY ALL THE APOSTLES OF THIS GOSPEL.HE SAYS: WHICH YOU ALSO RECEIVED, IN WHICH ALSO YOU STAND FAST, THROUGH WHICH ALSO YOU ARE BEING SAVED.
THESE ARE THE STEPS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: FAITH IS KINDLED IN THE HEART, THE GOSPEL NEWS IS ACCEPTED; FAITH, CONTINUES IN THE HEART, THE BELIEVER PLACES ALL HIS HOPE FOR SALVATION IN THE GOSPEL DAY BY DAY. THE GOSPEL PAUL TELLS THEM IS THE MEANS OF OUR SALVATION; IT IS THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE, AND THE END OF OUR SALVATION. IT IS THE BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END OF OUR REDEMPTION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE, SINCE IT APPROPRIATES TO US THE RICHES OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. THE CORINTHIANS AND WE NEEDED A WARNING, " STAY FAST TO THE GOSPEL." PAUL FIRST PREACHED TO THEM, THAT THE JEWS WERE TRYING TO FILL THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, WITH THE LIES OF THE LAW, TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK, THROUGH LIES OF THE LAW AND MORE LIES, IS WHAT PAUL WAS UP AGAINST.
WHO WAS TRUELY BEHIND THESE LIES?
THIS LEGEND SHOULD HELP EXPLAIN: AN INDIAN WAS WALKING UP A MOUNTAIN DONE FOR MANWHEN HE HEARD A VOICE: "CARRY ME WITH YOU." ," IT REQUESTED. THE INDIAN TURNED AND SAW A SNAKE. HE REFUSED. " IF I CARRY YOU UP THE MOUNTAIN YOU WILL BITE ME." " I WOUND'T DO THAT," THE SNAKE ASSURED. "ALL I NEED IS SOME HELP. I AM SLOW AND YOU ARE FAST. PLEASE BE KIND AND CARRY ME TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
IT WAS AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT, BUT THE INDIAN AGREED. HE PICKED UP THE SNAKE, PUT HIM IN HIS SHIRT, AND RESUMED THE JOURNEY. WHEN THEY REACHED THE TOP, HE REACHED INTO HIS SHIRT TO REMOVE THE SNAKE AND GOT BIT. HE FELL TO THE GROUND. "YOU LIED!" THE INDIAN CRIED, " YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T BITME." THE SNAKE STOPPED AND LOOK BACK, " I DIDN'T LIE. YOU KNEW WHO I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME." WE HEAR THE LEGEND AND SHAKE OUR HEADS. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER, WE MOAN. AND WE ARE RIGHT. HE SHOULD HAVE. AND SO SHOULD WE. DON'T WE DO THE SAME? DON'T WE BELIEVE THE LIES OF THE SNAKE? DON'T WE PICK UP WHAT WE SHOULD LEAVE ALONE.
THE CORINTHIANS CHRISTIANS DID. ONE SNAKE AFTER ANOTHER HAD HISSED HIS LIES IN THEIR EARS, AND THEY BELIEVED. HOW MANY LIES DID THEY BELIEVE?
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE? THE LIST IS LONG AND UGLY: SECTARIANISM, DISUNITY, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, AND THAT IS ONLY THE FIRST SIX CHAPTERS.
BUT FIRST CORINTHIANS IS MORE THAN A LIST OF SINS, IT IS AN EPISTLE OF PATIENCE. PAUL IINITIATES THE LETTER BY CALLING THESE CHRISTIANS " BROTHERS." HE COULD HAVE CALLED THEM HERETICS OR HYPOCRITES OR SKIRT-CHASERS( AND IN SO MANY WORDS HE DOES). BUT NOT BEFORE HE CALLS THEM BROTHERS. HE PATIENTLY TEACHES THEM ABOUT WORSHIP, UNITY, THE ROLE OF WOMEN, AND THE LORD'S SUPPER. HE WRITES AS IF HE CAN SEE THEM FACE TO FACE. HE IS DISTURBED BUT NOT DISPONDENT. ANGRY BUT NOT DESPERATE HIS DRIVING PASSION IS LOVE. AND HIS HOMELY ON LOVE IN CHAPTER 13, HAS GOT TO REMAIN THE GREATEST ESSAY EVER PENNED. THE LETTER, HOWEVER PERSONAL, IS JUST NOT FOR CORINTH. IT IS FOR ALL WHO HAVE THE WHISPER AND FELT.THE FANGS. WE LIKE THE INDIAN, SHOULD OF HAVE KNOWN BETTER. WE, LIKE THE CORINTHIANS, SOMETIMES NEED A SECOND CHANCE. LET US LOOK AT THE GARDEN. THERE IS A SUDDEN BREEZE, SURPRISINGLY WARM, THAT WHISTLES THROUGH THE LEAVES SCATTERING DUST FROM THE LIFELESS FORM. AND WITH THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR COMES THE DIFFERENCE. WINGING ON THE WARM WIND IS HIS IMAGE. GOD PLACES LAUGHTER IN HIS SCULPTED CHEEKS. A RESERVOIR OF TEARS IS STORED IN THE SOUL. A SPRINKLING OF TWINKLE FOR THE EYES. POETRY FOR THE SPIRIT, LOGIC, LOYALTY. LIKE LEAVES ON AN AUTUMN BREEZE, THEY FLOAT AND LAND AND ARE ABSORBED.
ONCE AGAIN THE TREE. ONCE AGAIN THE STRUGGLE. THE SNAKE. ONCE AGAIN HE SMILES.'IT IS GOOD.' " FOR JUST AS DEATH CAME BY MEANS OF A MAN, IN THE SAME WAY THE RISING FROM DEATH COMES BY MEANS OF A MAN. FOR JUST AS ALL PEOPLE DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNION WITH ADAM, IN THE SAME WAY ALL WILL BE RAISED TO LIFE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNION WITH CHRIST.
REMEMBER!
THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ARTICLES OF FAITH ARE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES. THE VICARIOUS DEATH OF CHRIST, HIS BURIAL, AND HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION WERE THE FULFILLMENT OF OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY, AND TYPE, JUST AS CHRIST WAS WON'T TO POINT BACK TO THE WRITTEN SCRIPTURES AS TELLING OF HIS SUFFERING,DEATH, AND RESURRECTION., (LUKE 24:46-47).
BY HIS DEATH CHRIST PAID THE DEBT OF SIN AND TRANSGRESSION IN FULL.
HIS BURIAL PLACED THE CERTAINITY OF HIS DEATH BEYOND DOUBT, AND HIS RESURRECTION ON THE THIRD DAY PROVED THE COMPLETENESS OF HIS REDEMPTIVE LABORS.
WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD?
AND HOW DOES MAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS, OR JUST, BEFORE GOD? ( MARTIN LUTHER SPEAKING): HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS " OH, I KNOW.GOD SHOWS RIGHTEOUS NESS BY PUNISHING SINNERS EVERY TIME THEY DO WRONG. AND THE ONLY WAY A MAN CAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS IS TO DO ALL THAT GOD WANTS HIM TO DO.
"BUT NO, THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT. PAUL SAYS MAN IS MADE RIGHTEOUS OR JUST BY FAITH, BY BELIEVING IN SOMETHING GOD HAS DONE FOR HIM. WELL, WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR MAN TO MAKE HIM RIGHTE0US OR HOLY? LET ME SEE NOW. PAUL SAYS THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER THAT SAVES. NOW WHAT DOES THE GOSPEL TALK ABOUT? OH, YES, IT TELLS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST. JESUS KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY, YET HE WAS PUNISHED ON THE CROSS. BUT WHY? BECAUSE HE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG, NO BECAUSE I HAD.
" I SEE THE ANSWER! GOD PUNISHED JESUS IN MY PLACE, THE SAME JESUS WHO KEPT GOD'S HOLY LAW. BY PUNISHING HIS SON, GOD CARRIED OUT HIS THREAT
THAT SIN WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT THIS FACT AND I NEED NOT FEAR THAT GOD WILL PUNISH ME WITH ETERNAL DEATH. I AM HOLY IN GOD'S SIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS HOLY FOR ME AND HAS TAKEN MY PUNISHMENT" LUTHER HAD JUST HAD HIS GREAT "TOWER EXPERIENCE." HE HAD FINALLY FOUND THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION THAT HAD TORTURED HIM FOR SO LONG:" HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN MY SIN AND THAT HE LOVES ME?" NOW AT LAST HE COULD ESCAPE THE FEARS THAT HAD DRIVEN HIM INTO THE MONASTERY ALMOST 10 YEARS BEFORE.
BE CONFIDENT TODAY IN YOUR FAITH BECAUSE WHAT JESUS HAS DONE. HE BROKE THE POWER OF DEATH. SO WE MAY HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM.
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