Category Archives: 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians, 2018, Guests

Who’s the User?

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1 Corinthians 3:(TLV) 9 For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. source

Admittedly, this is picky, semantics, if you will. However, in this charged culture, perhaps we should consider our word choices,  particularly in reference to GOD.

I often hear it said GOD wants to use you.  I don’t like that. I mean I understand the context and I know what the speaker means – I’ve said it myself but not so much these days. In our word culture use is often interchangeable with abuse.

Today with the understanding I have of GOD, I say He has no intention or any desire to use any of us.  He desires relationship with us. He desires that we co-labor WITH Him to make Him known to the world’s Peoples so they can be saved from sin, hell and the abuse of the Evil One. He desires for us to keep company with Him. To enjoy Him. To laugh with Him. Work in tandem with Him to introduce people to His peace and freedom. 

I like Chuck Holton‘s words in his book Making Men  (page 138) as he said: “When we look at our lives like a bicycle built for two. Christ takes the front seat- and the handlebars-while I sit in back and pedal for all I’m worth. Wherever we end up then, is by His design. As long as I let Him steer, I never have to worry about what’s around the next corner.”

Without a doubt, JESUS is the Leader and He is the all-wise One that we do well to obey; yet in all this we are His family.

There is one who uses and abuses us but it is not DADDY GOD! 

Selah ~  ~  ~
1 Corinthians, 2018

Shut-Mouthed

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I Corinthians 1: 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. source

You have this promise.  All those in a relationship with JESUS can rest on the promise that He will strengthen them for as long as they are on this planet. Now that is a huge and wonderful and great and exciting and reassuring promise, but that is not the only promise in this verse. 

Blameless

Isn’t that a superb word? In Greek it’s anemkletos.
I think you will be pleased to see this Greek word means: cannot be called into account; unreproveable; unaccused.  source 

So this means as used in context all people in a relationship with JESUS will on a day certain stand person to person in His Presence and on that day we will be blameless!
Yes! Blameless!
Not one sin will be held against us.
Now if you see this as a license to sin; if you see this as a get-out-of-jail-free card; or a means to live a licentious lifestyle, then I urge you to check your profession of faith. You will likely find you are not in a relationship with the CHRIST. 

But for those who have truly confessed their need of a Savior, have believed and received His Blood Atonement, we are in the Presence of the HOLY GOD of CREATION! cannot be called into account; (we are) unreproveable; (we are) unaccused. 

Again and again, the Evil One accuses us now but the day is coming he will be shut-mouthed forever! Glory Hallelujah! 

So are you ready to Selah today? 

1 Corinthians, 2018

Mandate

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Approximate Reading Time: 2 minutes.

I Corinthians 10: 28 But if anyone says to you, “This is from an idol sacrifice,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— source

If you are seated for a meal and the host tells you the food before you was sacrificed to an idol, don’t eat it.  Simple enough. If you are living in First Century New Testament times. 

Scholars have written that at the time of this verse, it was common practice, this serving of meat sacrificed to an idol – cheap meat at the market.  Greco-Roman society was saturated with idol worship, and it was common for meat sold in the marketplace to have been consecrated as a sacrifice to false gods prior to its sale. The Jews would have nothing to do with such meat, wary of “unclean” food-handling practices and believing that to partake of consecrated meat was to give tacit approval of idol worship—kind of a “second-hand” idolatry.

What does that have to do with 21st Century Gentiles like you and me? Dietary-ly, probably nil.  So is there a parallel lesson we might glean from this passage for us today? Perhaps.

See the word anyone? 
Meaning (to me) the relationship you have with the offer-er is irrelevant as to your decision when confronted with an offer to participate in any activity, doctrine, situation, etc. that you already know from The Word of GOD, is not His will. 

It was costly to be a follower of JESUS in First Century New Testament. It still is in 21st Century New Testament.  

Selah ~ ~ ~