Month: September 2021

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1 Corinthians 7

Chapter 7: 1 Corinthians 7: 1-40, marital relationship, sexual purity, divorce, remarrying, instructions for the spouse with an unbelieving partner, remaining status quo, celibacy

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray that spiritual our eyes, ears, hearts, minds, and intellect be opened, receptive, soft, and obedient to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-4, 1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Paul replied to a letter he received from the Corinthians church but this letter was lost and did not survive through history. Paul spelled out the principles of marriage and sexual purity. People should live in moral purity, but marriage is required to overcome sexual immorality for most. A husband should perform his marital duty to his wife and vice versa.

VV 5-9, 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Husbands and wives should not abstain from sex except when mutually agreed for a limited time for fasting and prayer. Celibacy is a gift and calling from God but not everyone had this gift and calling. Paul encouraged the unmarried and the widows to remain unmarried if they had the gift to remain single, otherwise, they should marry.

VV 10-11, 10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Paul encouraged a wife not to divorce her husband but if she did, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. Similarly, a husband should not divorce his wife.

VV 12-13, 12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

If a Christian brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her. Similarly, if a Christian sister has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce him.

VV 14-16, 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife and vice versa. The children of a married couple where one partner is a believer are sanctified by the believing partner. If the unbelieving husband or wife wants to leave the marriage relationship, they should be allowed to do so. Concerning this, Paul asked a rhetorical question. Sometimes, a believing wife may save her unbelieving husband and vice versa.

VV 17-19, 17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

Paul asked two rhetorical questions. Christians who were circumcised or uncircumcised before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. Circumcision or uncircumcision has no bearing on spirituality or righteousness. What matters is an obedient heart. Spiritual circumcision is a spiritual heart transplant performed by the Holy Spirit

Romans 2:28-29, For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.

VV 20-24, 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Paul asked one more rhetorical question. Christians who were slaves before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. They were now free in Christ. Christians who were freed people before they become Christians should remain in the status quo. They were now redeemed by Christ and became slaves to Christ.

VV 25-28, 25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

Paul encouraged sexual purity but had no commandment from the Lord concerning celibacy. Celibacy is a gift and calling of God and very few people had this calling. Paul asked two rhetorical questions. If a Christian is married, he/she should remain in the status quo. If a Christian is divorced, he/she should remain in the status quo but if he/she remarries, he/she had not sinned. If a virgin marries she had not sinned.

VV 29-31, 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

The time is short because Christ’s second coming is imminent. We should not hold too tightly to the things of the world. The world is transient and will soon pass away, 1 John 2:15-17. The world will be destroyed by fire on Christ’s second coming and there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:1.

1 John 2:15-17, NIV, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life come not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Rev 21:1, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea.”

VV 32-35, 32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

Remaining unmarried has many advantages. Unmarried people can dedicate their lives fully to Christ. They are not distracted by the entanglement and the cares of the married life. Without a spouse and children, the unmarried person is free to serve the Lord wholeheartedly and without distractions.

VV 36-38, 36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

If a man is betrothed to be married and his passion is too strong, he should marry the woman instead of sinning.

VV 39- 40, 39 A wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment, and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Legally, a woman cannot marry another man as long as her husband is alive but once the husband dies, she is freed by law to marry again. If she is happy to remain unmarried, she should remain unmarried and serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Application:

Celibacy is a gift and calling of God. Those who do not have this gift or calling should be married.

True circumcision is a spiritual circumcision of the heart and not a physical act. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring about a radical change in heart attitude resulting in the transformation of hearts, renewal of minds, and conforming a person into the image of God.

We should hold lightly to the things of the world because Christ’s second coming is imminent.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for lessons concerning marriage, divorce, remarry, correct conduct towards unbelieving spouses, gifts of celibacy, and so on. These are pertinent ethical issues that we faced in our lives today. We pray for insight and wisdom to apply these instructions, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 6

Chapter 6: 1 Corinthians 6: 1-20, lawsuits between Christians, glorifying God in body and spirit.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, open our hearts to hear from the Holy Spirit, open our understanding to apply scripture, and thank You for the ministry of the Word. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to correct, convict, rebuke, teach, train, and instruct us in righteousness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-6, 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

Concerning lawsuits between Christians, Paul asked five rhetorical questions. He admonished them for going to the court to settle disputes among them. In Pauline theology, all born-again Christians are saints. Greek for saints is “hagio”, which means holy, sanctified, or separated for God. Paul’s position was that any disputes among Christian brothers and sisters should be taken to the local church tribunal instead of going to the secular court.

VV 7-11, 7 Now, therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Paul continued asking three more rhetorical questions. Taking up lawsuits in court to settle disputes among Christian brothers and sisters was already a failure and certainly a bad decision because they would be judged by non-believers. Christians brothers and sisters should try to settle disputes among themselves amicably in the local church. Christians should not deceive, cheat, or shortchanged one another. Unrighteous people who practice fornications, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, sodomy, thefts, covetousness, drunkenness, or extortions will not inherit the kingdom of God. Christians are justified by faith in Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

VV 12-14, 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

All things are lawful but not all things are helpful. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food but God is in control the food and the stomach. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should not be used for sexual immorality. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. God who resurrected Jesus from the dead will also resurrect Christians from the dead.

VV 15-18, 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Concerning sexual immorality, Paul asked three rhetorical questions. Christ is head of the body of Christ. Christians are members of the body of Christ. Christ is the chief cornerstone, and Christians are the living stones. Paul quoted Genesis 2:24. We should flee from sexual immorality because this is a sin against our bodies.

Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

VV 19-20, 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Paul asked one more rhetorical question. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies do not belong to ourselves but God. Therefore, we should glorify God with our bodies.

Application:

Christ is the head of the church. We are members of Christ. Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church and we are the living stones. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We should take good care of our bodies and not abuse them through reckless and immoral living.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, all things may be lawful but not all things are helpful. Legalism, food, and dietary prohibitions had no bearing on spirituality or righteousness. We offer our bodies as living sacrifices to serve You and sacrifices of praise to worship You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 5

Chapter 5: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. The cancer of sexual immorality

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we give You permission to speak to speak, teach, convict, correct, instruct, and train us in righteousness as only You can. We pray for the anointing and presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

VV 1-2, 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Someone from the Corinthian church had written a letter to Paul to informed him that a member of the Corinthian church had committed incest but the church turned a blind eye instead of taking action against the culprit.

VV 3-5, 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Paul was absent from Corinth in person but was with them in spirit. Paul condemned that person, delivering him to Satan in the hope that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord’s second coming.

VV 6-8, 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Concerning sin, Paul asked a rhetorical question. A little bit on leaven in the dough will influence the whole lump. Leaven represents sin. Sin in the church is like cancer and will continue to spread if not radically removed. They should confront that person and persuade him to confess and repent. If he was unwilling to do so, the church would have no choice but to excommunicate him. Passover feast and Passover lamb are foreshadows of Jesus Christ. Passover lamb’s blood painted on the door frames of the Israelite’s houses on the Passover night was a foreshadow of the blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Passover lamb was a foreshadow of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

VV 9-10, 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

We should not shy away from non-Christians who are involved in sexual immorality but use this opportunity to share the gospel with them.

VV 11-13, 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

Concerning sexual immorality, Paul asked one rhetorical question. We should not associate with Christians who are involved in sexual immorality unless they are willing to confess and repent. We should not judge non-Christians who are involved in sexual immoral but leave them to God. We should judge and counsel Christians who are involved in sexual immorality to bring them to repentance.

Application:

Sexual immorality is cancerous. If we detect cancer in our body, we must quickly go for radical surgery to remove cancer. If sexual immorality is detected in the body of Christ, and the person refused to repent, it is appropriate to excommunicate that person.

Christ is our Passover. If we apply the blood of Christ to cover our sins, God justifies and declared us just as if we have not seen. If we confess our sins, believe that Christ died for us, and surrender our lives to Him, we have passed over from death to life, John 5:24.

John 5: 24, ESV, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us on Good Friday. Spiritually speaking, help us keep not to keep the Passover with the old leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the new unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, in Jesus’ name, Amen.