"I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church."
When we are confronted with our sin from the Bible, the purpose is not to make us feel bad about ourselves. The purpose is to bring about change in our lives. The Bible points out our pride, arrogance, and high-mindedness not to make us look bad (though we are bad) but to make us humble. The purpose of addressing the problem is the fixing of the problem.
Paul knew that the actions of the Corinthians were inappropriate. And he took steps to correct them. Apparently Paul had a very direct, intimate involvement with their coming to Christ for salvation, so much so that he calls himself a spiritual father to them. He knew what had happened in the people's lives because of Christ, and now he calls them to remember what they had learned from watching him. Paul even sends Timothy so that Timothy could remind them of how they were to follow Paul's example of walking in Christ.
At first, it seemed strange to me that a person would encourage others to do what he does. But Paul knew that He was walking with the Lord and that they would profit from following his leadership. I do not know that I would ever verbally encourage a person from following my example. But people follow other people all the time. I need to make sure that my life is worth following. And that following my example, someone would know what is right. It's a lofty task. But though I fail, I must endeavor to succeed.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
1 Corinthians 4:8-13
"Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."
When we think about someone who was given all that he has bragging because of it, we recognize his foolishness. I remember being teased by my classmates for not ever having the newest and best sneakers when I was growing up. Though they were given their sneakers by their parents, they thought themselves better than I because of it. We would all acknowledge that my classmates’ actions were wrong and shallow. But deep within ourselves we might cling to an unspoken belief that we are better than those who have less than we. Perhaps we think as the Hindoo, that somehow, we earned it. The Bible indicates that this is not so. All that we have was given to us by God, and it was not given because we deserve it.
In fact there are some people who are better than we, who have far less. This truth is established in these verses. There were some prideful Corinthian believers who thought themselves better than other Corinthian believers Because of what they had. Paul draws attention to the fact that he and the other apostles had less than these prideful Corinthians. The apostles, who were in such authority and given so much favor with God, were the scum of the world by human standards. Perhaps there is an element of sarcasm in these words, but the point was that being poor (or not having certain spiritual gifts [as would be addressed later]) does not make someone lower than another. And we need to completely rid ourselves of this notion or the notion that somehow it is really our due. It is not. It is all God’s. All that is ours is from Him, and we are only stewards of it. Let us be found trustworthy, humble stewards.
When we think about someone who was given all that he has bragging because of it, we recognize his foolishness. I remember being teased by my classmates for not ever having the newest and best sneakers when I was growing up. Though they were given their sneakers by their parents, they thought themselves better than I because of it. We would all acknowledge that my classmates’ actions were wrong and shallow. But deep within ourselves we might cling to an unspoken belief that we are better than those who have less than we. Perhaps we think as the Hindoo, that somehow, we earned it. The Bible indicates that this is not so. All that we have was given to us by God, and it was not given because we deserve it.
In fact there are some people who are better than we, who have far less. This truth is established in these verses. There were some prideful Corinthian believers who thought themselves better than other Corinthian believers Because of what they had. Paul draws attention to the fact that he and the other apostles had less than these prideful Corinthians. The apostles, who were in such authority and given so much favor with God, were the scum of the world by human standards. Perhaps there is an element of sarcasm in these words, but the point was that being poor (or not having certain spiritual gifts [as would be addressed later]) does not make someone lower than another. And we need to completely rid ourselves of this notion or the notion that somehow it is really our due. It is not. It is all God’s. All that is ours is from Him, and we are only stewards of it. Let us be found trustworthy, humble stewards.
Friday, August 10, 2007
1 Corinthians 4:6-7
"I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
All of the discussion concerning division among Christians and elevation of personalities has been applied specifically to Paul and Apollos, but there is a broader application here that must not be missed. Obedience to God and the gospel produces humility and right living. But going beyond the word, it is possible to misapply truths and behave in a way completely opposite of that which is in keeping with the gospel.
The gospel reveals that we are all incapable of saving ourselves. All people everywhere have the same need for salvation. And those who come to Christ, come because of His grace and not because they are any better than those who do not come. Neither is one Christian better than another in the sight of God because none of us stand in our own works. Our standing is in the work of Christ, and all believers are equally accepted in Him.
This forever does away with any inclination to elevate yourself or someone else over another person. Christians are all the same before Christ. And even our standing before Christ should not elevate us in our minds over unbelievers. Salvation is a gift. If you believe, it was given to you. Why would being given something make you any better than someone else?
All of the discussion concerning division among Christians and elevation of personalities has been applied specifically to Paul and Apollos, but there is a broader application here that must not be missed. Obedience to God and the gospel produces humility and right living. But going beyond the word, it is possible to misapply truths and behave in a way completely opposite of that which is in keeping with the gospel.
The gospel reveals that we are all incapable of saving ourselves. All people everywhere have the same need for salvation. And those who come to Christ, come because of His grace and not because they are any better than those who do not come. Neither is one Christian better than another in the sight of God because none of us stand in our own works. Our standing is in the work of Christ, and all believers are equally accepted in Him.
This forever does away with any inclination to elevate yourself or someone else over another person. Christians are all the same before Christ. And even our standing before Christ should not elevate us in our minds over unbelievers. Salvation is a gift. If you believe, it was given to you. Why would being given something make you any better than someone else?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
1 Corinthians 4:5
"Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God."
We have a stunning inability to accurately assess the spiritual condition of another's heart. This should prohibit us from pronouncing judgment. Why would you give such a strong opinion about something that you could not possibly know? We are bound by external indications, which are altogether insufficient to give an authoritative assessment.
There will come a time, however, when those hidden, internal matters will be open and clearly displayed. God knows them already. And when you come before Him, you will not be able to hide your heart. If there is unconfessed sin, how much better it would be for you to lay it bare before the Lord now, rather than in His very presence, where you will not be able to hide it. But if your heart is right with the Lord, when all is clearly seen before Him, you will commended by the supreme Sovereign.
We have a stunning inability to accurately assess the spiritual condition of another's heart. This should prohibit us from pronouncing judgment. Why would you give such a strong opinion about something that you could not possibly know? We are bound by external indications, which are altogether insufficient to give an authoritative assessment.
There will come a time, however, when those hidden, internal matters will be open and clearly displayed. God knows them already. And when you come before Him, you will not be able to hide your heart. If there is unconfessed sin, how much better it would be for you to lay it bare before the Lord now, rather than in His very presence, where you will not be able to hide it. But if your heart is right with the Lord, when all is clearly seen before Him, you will commended by the supreme Sovereign.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
1 Corinthians 4:3-4
"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. "
Does what other people think about you matter? Well, in the sense that we need to have a testimony before people, yes. But that is not the focus here. Here we see that what other people think about your spiritual condition before God does not matter. Perhaps the whole Paul, Apollos, or Cephas division from the previous chapters was still in view a little bit here. Perhaps the dissension had gone so far as people questioning Paul’s spirituality or even his salvation.
Paul’s response indicates that that kind of talk is not appropriate. But his response also indicates that while they meant to be threatening to him, he was not threatened by it. He was not threatened because no human viewpoint had the power to alter his position before God. No person gets to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t. People who say unkind and inappropriate things may be divisive, but they cannot shake your standing before God.
It is not even your own conscience that is the ultimate judge of your standing before God. God is the one and only judge. We should not pronounce judgement on people, declaring their spiritual status, as if we know. We cannot know. We can know what the Bible says, and we can tell people what the Bible says. The Bible reveals how God judges. But it doesn’t give us the authority to decide any person’s spiritual state.
Does what other people think about you matter? Well, in the sense that we need to have a testimony before people, yes. But that is not the focus here. Here we see that what other people think about your spiritual condition before God does not matter. Perhaps the whole Paul, Apollos, or Cephas division from the previous chapters was still in view a little bit here. Perhaps the dissension had gone so far as people questioning Paul’s spirituality or even his salvation.
Paul’s response indicates that that kind of talk is not appropriate. But his response also indicates that while they meant to be threatening to him, he was not threatened by it. He was not threatened because no human viewpoint had the power to alter his position before God. No person gets to decide who goes to heaven and who doesn’t. People who say unkind and inappropriate things may be divisive, but they cannot shake your standing before God.
It is not even your own conscience that is the ultimate judge of your standing before God. God is the one and only judge. We should not pronounce judgement on people, declaring their spiritual status, as if we know. We cannot know. We can know what the Bible says, and we can tell people what the Bible says. The Bible reveals how God judges. But it doesn’t give us the authority to decide any person’s spiritual state.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy."
Beginning a section on the ministry of the apostles, Paul clarifies the proper perspective on those in that office; they are servants of Christ. To be a servant of One who is so great is a position of great privilege. But even the apostles were not the people’s masters. Christ is the master, and they were His servants. We are His servants too.
One way to serve Christ is to be a steward of the mysteries of God. We take the things that God has revealed to be true and we share them. God did not give us His word for us to bury it in a field. We must use it, and we must treat it carefully or in a trustworthy manner.
Stewards must be trustworthy. Stewards are not allowed to do whatever they want with what belongs to their master. If the steward abuses the master’s trust, he will be punished. God has given us His word, and we must treat it carefully. We must take care to not superimpose our own thoughts onto His truth, thereby abusing what He has entrusted unto us.
Beginning a section on the ministry of the apostles, Paul clarifies the proper perspective on those in that office; they are servants of Christ. To be a servant of One who is so great is a position of great privilege. But even the apostles were not the people’s masters. Christ is the master, and they were His servants. We are His servants too.
One way to serve Christ is to be a steward of the mysteries of God. We take the things that God has revealed to be true and we share them. God did not give us His word for us to bury it in a field. We must use it, and we must treat it carefully or in a trustworthy manner.
Stewards must be trustworthy. Stewards are not allowed to do whatever they want with what belongs to their master. If the steward abuses the master’s trust, he will be punished. God has given us His word, and we must treat it carefully. We must take care to not superimpose our own thoughts onto His truth, thereby abusing what He has entrusted unto us.
Monday, August 6, 2007
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
This paragraph seems to serve as a wrap up for the first three chapters of the book. We remember that there are those who think that they are wise and choose to reject that which they esteeme to be the foolishness of God and of His gospel. The people who reject the all-wise God, calling him foolish, have been deceived and are deceiving themselves.
The way for the wise of this world to know true wisdom is for them to become foolish. That is not to say that they become stupid and ignorant. Those qualities are never esteemed as virtues in the scripture. Instead, they need to realize that what they have falsely labeled as foolishness (i.e. the gospel) is really wisdom and what they had falsely labeled as wisdom (i.e. their own wisdom) is really foolishness. They should accept the wisdom that they had previously rejected. If the wise of this world fail to accept God's wisdom, they are foolish and worthless. The only way to true wisdom is to admit that your own wisdom is foolishness. You must reject your own way and accept the gospel.
But those who are already Christians must not forget the major application to them in these verses. You Christians (who have rejected your own wisdom) continue to understand your own wisdom's futility and do not revert to your worthless human wisdom in your human relationships. Do not behave in a merely human way in your human relationships.
Do not elevate one Christian over another. There are no super-Christians who are worthy of your devotion. We all have rejected our own wisdom and have come to Christ. And we all belong to Christ. Every believer is "Christ's, and Christ is God's." This is both humiliating and exalting. It is humiliating because you cannot extol yourself over others, but it is exalting because you belong to God, the one who is over all.
This paragraph seems to serve as a wrap up for the first three chapters of the book. We remember that there are those who think that they are wise and choose to reject that which they esteeme to be the foolishness of God and of His gospel. The people who reject the all-wise God, calling him foolish, have been deceived and are deceiving themselves.
The way for the wise of this world to know true wisdom is for them to become foolish. That is not to say that they become stupid and ignorant. Those qualities are never esteemed as virtues in the scripture. Instead, they need to realize that what they have falsely labeled as foolishness (i.e. the gospel) is really wisdom and what they had falsely labeled as wisdom (i.e. their own wisdom) is really foolishness. They should accept the wisdom that they had previously rejected. If the wise of this world fail to accept God's wisdom, they are foolish and worthless. The only way to true wisdom is to admit that your own wisdom is foolishness. You must reject your own way and accept the gospel.
But those who are already Christians must not forget the major application to them in these verses. You Christians (who have rejected your own wisdom) continue to understand your own wisdom's futility and do not revert to your worthless human wisdom in your human relationships. Do not behave in a merely human way in your human relationships.
Do not elevate one Christian over another. There are no super-Christians who are worthy of your devotion. We all have rejected our own wisdom and have come to Christ. And we all belong to Christ. Every believer is "Christ's, and Christ is God's." This is both humiliating and exalting. It is humiliating because you cannot extol yourself over others, but it is exalting because you belong to God, the one who is over all.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
The spiritual work that is being done, is being done in the lives of people. Those who believe in Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Believers are each God's temple, and thus, they are holy. I have heard these verses often used as justification for exercise or for a reason why people should not drink or smoke. Those applications seem fair enough, but it seems that they are secondary applications of the verses.
The primary application is seen in the broader context of the chapter--divisions. When we become divisive and elevate people, we usually do it through tearing other people down. Attention should be drawn to theological deviation, but personal attacks on other believers are dangerous and should be avoided.
The spiritual work that is being done, is being done in the lives of people. Those who believe in Christ have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. Believers are each God's temple, and thus, they are holy. I have heard these verses often used as justification for exercise or for a reason why people should not drink or smoke. Those applications seem fair enough, but it seems that they are secondary applications of the verses.
The primary application is seen in the broader context of the chapter--divisions. When we become divisive and elevate people, we usually do it through tearing other people down. Attention should be drawn to theological deviation, but personal attacks on other believers are dangerous and should be avoided.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
Not only must you take care to be founded on Christ, you also need to build on the foundation in the right way. Sometimes people do the work of the Lord in a careless, thoughtless, or worldly manner. If you do this, you will not be rewarded for your work. It will be burned up and you will suffer loss. This is not necessarily a punishment but rather a fact of life. It's rather like the three little pigs. If you build with poor building materials, your house might be blown away. Likewise, if you work for the Lord in a poor way, you cannot expect your work to stand the test of eternity.
Working for the Lord is not enough. You must work for the Lord in the right way. Build on the foundation of Christ that which is meaningful and valuable. If your work is lasting, your reward will be too. And no evil wolf shall take it away.
Not only must you take care to be founded on Christ, you also need to build on the foundation in the right way. Sometimes people do the work of the Lord in a careless, thoughtless, or worldly manner. If you do this, you will not be rewarded for your work. It will be burned up and you will suffer loss. This is not necessarily a punishment but rather a fact of life. It's rather like the three little pigs. If you build with poor building materials, your house might be blown away. Likewise, if you work for the Lord in a poor way, you cannot expect your work to stand the test of eternity.
Working for the Lord is not enough. You must work for the Lord in the right way. Build on the foundation of Christ that which is meaningful and valuable. If your work is lasting, your reward will be too. And no evil wolf shall take it away.
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