Romans 6 - Stop Sinning!

What should our relationship to sin should be in light of the free gift of righteousness that comes by faith?

This is often misunderstood, even during Paul's time.  At the end of the previous chapter (Romans 5:20) Paul says that where sin increased, then grace abounded all the more.  The next logical question, which Paul rhetorically asks at the beginning of this chapter is "Should we go on sinning so that grace can increase?" and he clearly answers "By no means".

He goes on and in verse 12 says "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires".  He also says in v 21 that sin leads to death and in v 23 that the wages of sin is death.  If we have been set free by Christ then we are no longer a slave to sin (v 7 - the one who has died has been set free from sin).

Continued Sin is a Sign of No Salvation
Here's the deal, if we go on sinning, we are either not yet saved or we will lose our salvation - depending on where you stand on once-saved-always-saved.  John says in 1 John 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning." (ESV) or "will continue to sin" (NIV).  In other words, if we are continuing to sin in a particular way, we are not born of God.  There is no such thing as a "carnal Christian".

You may ask "Are you saying that we must be without sin and perfect?"  No, I don't believe that the Scripture teaches that, but if we are sinning in a particular area and keep doing that, then there is an indication that we are not set free from the slavery of sin.  Now Romans 7 describes the back and forth tugs that we can have as we desire to do what is right but end up doing wrong.  As we follow Christ, there is a process of sanctification where we are being made more and more like Christ, and growing in goodness or virtue (2 Pet 1:5).  1 John 2:8 describes the darkness "passing away and the true light already shining."  So there is a growth and changing process.  But if that growth and change isn't occurring, then we need to get very serious about that sin and work to overcome it by Christ's help.

I'm not referring to some self-help type plan where we go through various rituals and accountability to change ourselves, because we cannot change ourselves.  But the great news is that God can and will change us and set us free from sin and its desires.  He can change us and remove even the evil desires.

Steps to Freedom From Ongoing Sin
So what should we do?  Here are some Biblical steps that I'd recommend if you are struggling with a sin and can't seem to stop:
1) Get help - James 5:14-16 says to go to the elders and confess your sins and the prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective to help and get healing - both physical and spiritual.  So I'd recommend that you find someone in Christ who you respect who you can go to and ask for help.  Church leaders/elders are best based on James 5, but the whole body can minister to each other.  Just find someone who is more mature than you in Christ and is able and willing to stand with you (Gal 6:1).

2) Cry out to God for help - Rom 10:13 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  - Salvation is being rescued from our problems, from our sin.  It is not just the one-time salvation where we give our lives to Christ, but it is the ongoing salvation and sanctification where God is saving and changing us.  He has the power to help us and will hear us and rescue us when we call on his name.

3) Deal with the sin drastically - Matt 5:29 - In the context of dealing with the sin of lust, which Jesus says is the same as committing adultery in the heart, and which is a type of ongoing sin that many men struggle with, Jesus says that if your eye causes you to sin, then tear it out and throw it away.  Clearly it is not our eye that is causing us to sin, but the evil in our hearts (Matt 15:19).  However Jesus is making a clear point by using this exaggeration and saying that we must deal with sin very drastically because if we don't, we risk the fire of hell. Sin generally doesn't just happen.  There are usually things that lead up to it, smaller steps/compromises/decisions that are made before the sin itself actually happens.  You should work with your counselor to determine what those steps are and how to build a wall of self-control up so that 1) You avoid situations that cause temptation 2) You recognize when the temptation is coming 3) You decide before the temptation and situations happen what you will not do 4) You flee from temptation.

4) Memorize scripture that relates to the sin - Matt 4:1-11 - when Jesus was being tempted by Satan to sin, he answered each temptation by quoting Scripture.  You should memorize and put up in places where you can see regularly or where you might be tempted, various scriptures that relate to the specific sin you are working to overcome.  1) Scriptures that say clearly that it is a sin 2) Scriptures that remind about the penalty for that sin 2) Scriptures that give a way to overcome the particular sin.

We struggle with the three enemies of the world, our flesh, and the devil.  So we need to be on guard against each of these and see how they are pushing us, influencing us and tempting us.  We also need to see how to flee from the influence of the world, have God change our fleshly desires, and have God deliver us from the chains and snares of the devil.

Jesus has defeated the power of sin and death and all of Satan's power!  He has given us freedom in Christ to come away from sin and in his name we can be set free and changed forever!  Thank you Lord Jesus!

Romans 5 - Amazing Consequences and Undeserved Gift

Now that Paul has established the proof of the existence of this radical righteousness by faith, he now demonstrates some of the even more great news of what comes as a result of this faith-based righteousness - the amazing consequences.  He does this with several cause and effect chains.

He begins with

Faith® Justification® Peace with God® Hope of God's Glory® Rejoice.

But not only do we rejoice in the great news, we rejoice in short-term bad news that produces great news:

Suffering® Rejoice® Endurance® Character® Hope.

My diagram is technically off a bit because he says that suffering produces endurance, but he also says that we rejoice in our sufferings.  Usually when we don't face the suffering with the right attitude, we don't gain the good results (As I believe Charles Stanley has said, we either become bitter or better).  This of course echo's James' statement in James 1:2 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds.

So the results of our faith in God is rejoicing and great hope because of the change that God works in us through a changed life due to being justified.  Thank you God for your indescribable gift!!

We Don't Deserve It
Then as Paul continues, this great gift is not only something that we didn't earn but it is also something that we don't deserve!  While we were still weak (v6)...while we were still sinners Christ died for us (v8)!!

Strong Vs Weak
People generally don't like to admit or have it be known that they are weak and/or sinners.  We try to hide those facts behind masks, pretensions and/or swagger.  We generally fall into one of two camps: overly strong/confident or overly weak/afraid.  When we are too confident, we don't like to admit to any weakness and we hide it and cover it up and don't want to ask for help.  When we are too afraid, we feel like we are useless, beyond hope or repair.  Both of these are of course wrong.

The fact is that we are ALL sinners and we are weak.  We need God's forgiveness and help and we don't deserve it.  The GREAT NEWS is that Jesus died for all of us weak sinners, while we were sinners!  We don't have to fix ourselves up to gain worthiness.  What we do need to do is humble ourselves, recognize our need and ask for help.

Lord Jesus, I pray for humility to recognize my weakness, my sinfulness and my utter, desperate need for you!  Thank you for your amazing love and kindness and loving me in the middle of and rescuing me out of my sinful state!

Romans 4 - Proof for a radical gift of righteousness

In Chapter 3, Paul introduced a new radical concept that there is a righteousness based on faith and not on what we do (our works).  This claim flies in the face of our experience and expectations.  Even for Christians who have begun in faith and have known no else, there is a tendency and draw to living our lives in an achievement-oriented way.  Everything in the world around us is based on the concept of working hard to receive a benefit and this is indeed a Biblical value (Proverbs 14:23).  There is even a saying that many attribute to the Bible "God helps those who help themselves" (but is absolutely not Biblical) that reflects and feeds into this feeling.  Paul had to rebuke the Galatian believers for starting in faith and then trying to continue on in the flesh (Galatians 3:3).

So when Paul introduces this "new righteousness" that is an unearned gift from God, he has some explaining to do.  And that is exactly what he does in chapter 4.  In 3:21 he had even claimed that the Law and the Prophets testify to this type of righteousness so now he is demonstrating this.  He is building a proof for his claim so he brings two witnesses (Deut 13:15) and gives two examples from the Old Testament: 1) Abraham's righteousness by faith 2) David's testifying of the blessedness of one whose sins are forgiven (here the person is not righteous on their own, but they are forgiven).

Paul spends the most time discussing Abraham, proving that this righteousness by faith applies not just to those who are circumcised (Jews) but to gentiles as well.  That is great news for me and you!  God is forgiving our sins when we trust in him who rose Jesus from the dead and make him our lord, he who was delivered up for our sins and raised from the dead for our justification!

So Can We Go On Sinning?
The tricky question then comes "If I am declared righteous as a gift and not by what I've done, can I then continue sinning and it doesn't matter?"  Paul clearly answers this as "NO!" in chapter 6.  He says that we should obey Christ's law and call for holiness, but that this obedience and our actions are not the basis of our righteousness nor our salvation.  If we try to trust in our goodness or our obedience to save us, then we will fail!  All we can do is keep putting our faith and trust in Jesus.  But true faith will produce obedience, works done in a response of love.  As James says "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17).  The difference is that our faith in Christ is what saves us and by which we are declared righteous so that we cannot boast or be proud of our righteousness (because it is not something we did or earned) (Romans 3:27).  The works then flow from our love and obedience to the God who saved us, and who changes us and gives us the ability and desire to obey (Phil 2:13).

Thank you Father for your love!  Thank you Jesus for your love and sacrifice!  I am truly blessed that you have forgiven my sins, though they are many and though I have done nothing to deserve your forgiveness!  I trust in you, believe in you and you are my lord and king!

Romans 3 - Jewels of God's Wisdom

If you've ever seen a raw gemstone you know that it can be not very interesting or beautiful to look at.  But when someone takes the time to cut and polish the stone, it can become very beautiful and amazing. This chapter (and others in the letter to the Romans) has some hard to understand terms but when one takes the time to dig in and understand them you can find some amazing and beautiful gems!

Propitiation - what is that?
One such term is "propitiation" in verse 25 ("whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" - ESV).  In the context of verses 23-24 ("For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,"-ESV) we see that Paul is saying that

1. We (Jews and gentiles (non-Jews)) have all sinned 
2. We don't live up to God's requirements - his glory.  Not only that but we also then miss being able to see, reflect and experience God's glory - we are separated from him because of sin.  
3. But because he loves us he gives us a gift - being justified (another big term meaning that we have been declared righteous or as some have said we have been declared "just if I'd" never sinned)
4. Justification comes through redemption (meaning we were purchased back from our prison of death and sin) by what Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection
5. God put forward Jesus as a propitiation (a sacrifice that turns away wrath) by the blood of Jesus.

Propitiation versus Atoning Sacrifice

Some argue that the term "propitiation" isn't quite an accurate translation because in common English, it implies a deity that is wrathful and vengeful and has a thirst for blood.  This certainly isn't accurate as we look at the context since God is the one who is going out of his way to sacrifice himself and give himself up for us.  The NIV translates this word as "atoning sacrifice" which is perhaps a better choice.  Atonement and "atone" come from putting together "at" and "one" and was "created" by William Tyndale when translating the first New Testament into English and there wasn't an English word that held the correct meaning.  Literally it means that we were brought into a condition of peace with God - being "at one" with him - because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God's Justice

The reason is this 1) we have sinned and our sin hurts not just us but others 2) God is completely just and cannot leave wickedness go unpunished.  It would be an injustice to let a murderer/rapist go free with no punishment.  So how can God be both "just" and proclaim us guiltless with no need for punishment ("justify")? (this is the question that Paul asks and answers in verse 26).  The reason is this: Jesus became a substitutionary (atoning) sacrifice for our sins.  He paid the penalty and took the punishment and turned away the wrath of the punishment.  Therefore God can be both completely just and the justifier of the one who puts their faith in Jesus.

And as Paul further says, we cannot boast because it is nothing that we did to achieve salvation or righteous but it was a free gift that God gives to us when we put our trust completely in Jesus!  That is an amazing gift and a beautiful set of jewels of God's wisdom!   Thank you Father for your indescribable gift!

Romans 2 - Pride and Hypocrisy in Religious People

Whenever I read the Bible I know that there is a dangerous tendency to consider myself like the "good guys" or hero's and not like the "bad guys" or those with bad or sinful attitudes or actions.  The truth is that we are often like the "bad guys".
 

In Romans chapter 2, Paul is talking about and warning those who are proud and judge others, those who consider themselves better than others.  However if we don't consider how we do this and think that it is just those other "bad people" who are like this, then we are in fact demonstrating the very behavior he is warning about.

This type of hypocritical behavior was demonstrated by the religious Pharisees of Jesus time, and it is demonstrated by us, the religious Christians of our time.  As Paul says, "The name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you." (v 24).  Paul was writing to believers in Jesus Christ in Rome and warning them about these attitudes and it is a warning to us who follow Jesus today.  Our hypocritical behavior causes God's great and precious name to be spoken against.

Lord Jesus have mercy on us and show us our pride and hypocrisy!  May we see our sin and folly and turn to you for forgiveness and grace!

Romans Intro

 We are moving on to Romans!  I got a bit behind in blog posts with the busyness of the summer youth/singles trip and then school getting started, and I know that many are further ahead in their reading of the book of Romans, but I'll start here at the beginning.

I already did one post for Romans 1, but I decided to give a bit of an intro before going on to Chapter 2.

We saw in the overview of Paul's travels and writings that Paul wrote the Letter to the Romans around AD 56-56 and very likely from Corinth since he mentions two Corinthian residents in his letter (Phoebe and Erastus).  This is on his third missionary trip where he spends three months in Greece (Acts 20:03) and Corinth is the main city he visited in Greece.

At this point Paul is heading to Jerusalem where he will be imprisoned and then taken to Rome as a prisoner. So when Paul writes in chapter 1 of Romans that he is longing and praying to go to Rome (Romans 1:10-11) his prayer does later get answered, just not in the manner that we would be too excited about. It certainly does explain some of why Paul views his imprisonment in a positive way: He had been wanting to go to Rome, and Jesus appeared to Paul and spoke to him and said that he would testify to Jesus in Rome (Acts 23:11).

This letter is Paul's longest letter and it has very extensive theological discussions about the nature of salvation, comparing those who try to attain salvation by good works and their own efforts (which is impossible) to those who receive the mercy and grace of Jesus and are then rescued from their sins.  Some of the sentences in this letter are extremely looong and complex and require careful reading (and at least for me, reading several times :) )

There are several big thematic breaks in the book.
In chapters 2-8 he is focusing on salvation as I had mentioned coming from God's mercy and gift to us in Jesus versus following the Law of Moses (The Chapter 7-8 transition is a major climax)
In chapters 9-11 he focuses on the nation of Israel and how they fit into God's plan still
In chapters 12-16 are more of the practical implications of how to live out the salvation that is a gift from God.

Romans 1 - Can our Nation Survive?

George Washington in his farewell address said that democracy requires morality: "Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government." (Smithsonian Art Museum Link). After reading Romans Chapter 1, it struck me that we in the United States are at risk of losing this critical underpinning of our government.  In absence of this can our government, even our nation, survive?

Don't get me wrong, I love the United States and I consider myself blessed to be a citizen and live here in this nation that clearly God has blessed.  But I believe that the blessings and freedom came because of a foundation built on a commitment of the founders to loving and serving God and loving and serving one another.  We are moving to a society of loving and serving ourselves and the creation over/above and instead of the creator.

Downward Spiral
Paul describes in Romans 1 verse 21 and following downward steps that occur in individuals as they move away from God. Our society is made up of individuals and as each of us goes, so goes the whole of society. At the first step people know God, but don't honor him or thank him.  This causes futile thinking and darkened hearts. In the next step down people think that they are wise apart from God but actually become fools.  Then the next step down is the worship and honor of the creatures (created things - everything in the universe) rather than the creator.  God is removed from the picture and so people, animals and the material universe are viewed as all that exists and all that should be recognized.  The result of this is that God gives people over to the impure desires in their hearts, to dishonoring their bodies among themselves.

There are more downward steps to go, but let's stop and consider the gravity of those statements!

Giving Over to Ourselves
First God giving people over to themselves and their evil desires is a very scary proposition! God doesn't force us to worship or follow him because he gave us a freewill.  He created us and he loves us so much that he gave up his life to rescue us from destruction (John 3:16). But for us to love him in return, we must have a free choice since true love cannot be forced. But here is described a stage in the relationship where rather than speaking to us, warning us of dire consequences ahead and running after us, he effectively says,"OK, if that is what you truly want, I'll give you over to your own decisions" and he lets us go.  Imagine parents of an unruly teen who is getting into trouble, hanging out with the wrong crowd, staying out past curfew etc. Finally after the teen refuses to listen and refuses all help and effectively says to the parents "You are dead to me", the parents reluctantly let the teen go out on his/her own.  Obviously what happens in such a situation is that the teen jumps headlong into a lifestyle and choices that are harmful and will potentially kill them. The bad behavior escalates and grows worse and all one can hope is that the teen will come to their senses before they get killed.  That is effectively the situation where God gives us over to our own sinful, impure desires.

The second part of note is the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.  Obviously there are strong sexual connotations in this statement as Paul describes sexual sin as a sin against our bodies (1 Cor 6:18), but there are other ways that we degrade and dishonor the temple of our bodies - drugs, tattoos, cutting and other mutilations.

So we must ask ourselves, "Are we going down these spiraling downward stairs?"  If so, can we identify how far down we've gone?

The Spiral Continues Down
But Paul goes on and says that because we've worshiped the creation rather than the creator, he gave us over to dishonorable passions - homosexuality (verses 26-27).  While homosexuality is a current hot-button in our society and Christians often react very negatively against it, in reality it is part of the spiral of sin just as adultery, heterosexual fornication and lust are, each one of them destroying our lives, dishonoring our bodies and leading us to destruction.  I intentionally say "us" and "our" because it is far too easy to point the finger at others.  We look at the unbelievers or we look at other Christians and see their sins but we don't look at our own lust, greed and deceit.  Look at the end list that Paul gives: "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless" (Romans 1:29-31).  We need to look at our own envy, deceit and gossip first!  Judgement begins with the house of God! (1 Peter 4:17).

Do we have hope?
When I look at this list, I see that it really describes us and our nation to a greater and greater extent each day.  And if that is true, can this nation stand without a moral base? I think that the cracks that we are currently seeing in our economy, government and place in the world are a testament to the fact that we cannot. Our only hope is to be like an unruly teen who comes to their senses - similar to the prodigal son that Jesus spoke about (Luke 15:11-32).  But we cannot be waiting and looking for others to change first - we must make a change.  Though I don't take Michael Jackson as a source for life direction, I believe his song "Man In the Mirror" said it right - "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change."  It starts with you and with me.

"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14). Amen!  Let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways!  Let us get back to the top of the steps and honor and thank God!  We need God to forgive our sin and heal our land!

2 Corinthians 3 - Humble Confidence, Veils and Freedom

Humility versus Pride and Fear versus Confidence
In Christ Jesus, Paul says that he is confident but that he doesn't claim that he is either sufficient in himself nor that anything comes from himself: our sufficiency is from God (vs 4-6).   It isn't a fearful or false humility that says that we have nothing and can do nothing, nor is it a proud confidence that thinks we can do anything and that we are sufficient in ourselves.  This description is a humble confidence, one that recognizes that all we have that is of value comes from God, not ourselves, but that he has made us sufficient and capable ministers of Christ.

Veil of Moses
Paul's comments about the veil of Moses that still covers the hearts whenever Moses is read (that is the Scripture) (verses 14 and 15).  I've known a number of people who have said that before they came to Christ, they couldn't understand the Bible when they read it.  In fact, some have said that the pages of the Bible looked blank and they couldn't even see words on them at times.  But then after they put their trust in Jesus Christ and gave their lives to him, then they could not only see all of the words but they could understand and were given a desire to know and read more and more.  Shortly after I gave my life to Christ I felt a physical hunger in my body that wouldn't be affected by eating food, but would feel satisfied after I would read the Bible.  Paul is describing a spiritual condition of having the veil that covers the heart, but there are sometimes physical effects of the spiritual reality.

Freedom in Christ
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
This verse has many applications.  Not only does it tell us about the freedom that we have in Christ in understanding his word, but it helps us at times to discern when God is speaking and working versus Satan. Jesus said that those who sin are a slave to sin (Jn 8:34) and Paul said that the elementary principles - demonic forces - used to hold us in slavery and want to make us slaves again (Gal 4:9,5:1).  Paul also says in 1 Cor 14:32 that the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. So when a person is feeling a compulsion to say or do something, especially when there are feelings of condemnation if they don't speak or act, then this is usually a sign that it isn't God speaking or working in a person's life.  Jesus brings freedom, not compulsion or slavery.  He also brings conviction not condemnation (2 Cor 7:3,10).

Thank you Lord Jesus, that you set us free, give us new lives and open our eyes to see, know and understand the truth of who you are and the new life we have in you!

Glory to Glory
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 3:18
As God sets us free to see him, we are transformed to look like him ("the same image") and this transformation process goes gradually from one degree of glory to the next.  John describes this sanctification process as "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." (1 Jn 2:8) and  Proverbs 4:8 says "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day."

Lord Jesus, shine your light on us and transform us that we can reflect your goodness and glory.  Let our lives be changed into your image so that we show your goodness and love in our actions that you may be glorified and that the world may know that you are God.

2 Corinthians 2 - Forgiveness, Restoration and Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller

Forgiveness and restoration are topics that are critical to both understand and practice as we follow Christ Jesus.  When we read 1 Corinthians 5 the need to remove from the fellowship of the church those who are living in open and unrepentant sin.  This practice is rarely followed by churches but then the second half of this is even more important.  Here we read in verses 5-11 of the need to forgive and restore fellowship after someone who has been removed from fellowship repents.  I think that the critical part of this is that it is done officially and in public.  Note that Paul's letter was read to the whole church, not just to the leaders or a select few.  So his instructions to bring back and forgive the repentant sinner is being done in a public way.  These issues need to be approached head on and publicly or the rumor mill will be in full force and people won't know for sure what is true and what to think.

As painful as a disfellowshipping situation is, as Paul says, the forgiveness and restoration must be public.  This reminds me of the story in 2 Samuel 14 regarding Absalom, king David's son.  Absalom had murdered his half brother because he had raped his sister and he fled to a distant city banished from David's presence and from the capital city of Jerusalem.  After some time David wanted to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, saying that he forgave him, but didn't want to see him.  David may have forgiven Absalom, but he didn't know how or if he should restore the relationship.  After three years, Absalom still hadn't seen his father and felt the separation and asked David'd general why he had been brought back if he couldn't see his father.  He said, if I'm guilty, then let me be put to death.  So David was told and Absalom was brought back to the king and their relationship was restored.  In a parallel to this, if someone is brought back into fellowship but not publicly announced as restored, they would be like Absalom, feeling guilty and left out.  Absalom's pain was so much that he was willing to be put to death.  When restoration is not complete, it leaves an ambiguity which becomes isolation and condemnation and leads to depression to the point of death because Satan will be bringing accusations and whispering them in the ears and putting them on the heart and mind.  That is what Paul was warning about in verse 11.

Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller
Paul's discussion about being the aroma of Christ in verses 15-17 is always interesting to me.  We see an unusual situation where the same item smells great to one person and terrible to another.  I guess this is not that uncommon.  For instance, I like the smell of gasoline and others find it horrible.  Some people love the smell and taste of foods such as brussels sprouts and others hate them.  A common saying is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and in this case, "Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller" :) Here Paul says that as we are the aroma of Christ, for those who are being saved, we are a beautiful fragrance of life, but to those who are perishing apart from Christ, we are the stench of death.  It takes the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life to change their smelling ability so that they aren't put off by the stench of death, but can begin to smell the aroma of life.

This reminds me of two things: 1) we shouldn't expect to please everyone all the time 2) there will be opposition to us as we follow Jesus completely.  Paul himself is a good example of one who was very opposed to Christ Jesus for a period of time.  He smelled the aroma of death.  But then Jesus interrupted his life and the Holy Spirit changed his heart and "smell capability" he was changed, found life and began to preach the good news about Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord Jesus, that you change our minds, our hearts and the way that we see and experience the world around us.  Continue to change me and make me more like you!

2 Corinthians 1 - Suffering and Comfort, Amen and Establishing

We all face sufferings, trials and burdens of various kinds.  Paul and the Corinthian believers faced sufferings that were even to the point of being beaten and killed by others. The great news is that God the Father is the God of all comfort and the Father of mercy/compassion.  He not only expresses these attributes, but he is the origin of them!  He loves us, cares about us and feels with us our struggles. In the ESV, the word comfort (or comforts or comforted) is used 9 times between verses 3-7.  Part of the comfort comes from the body of Christ, for God comforts us that we can comfort others (v 4).  The implied parallel is that we also go through some sufferings to be able to comfort those experiencing similar problems.  As the writer of Hebrews says, Jesus was made perfect/complete in what he suffered so that he is a high priest who understands our weakness and suffering (Heb 2:10,17-18).

Thank you Father God for your love and compassion!  Thank you that you care about us and our struggles and our pain.  Help us to look to you and trust you and find strength and help in you.  And help us to see the needs and struggles of those around us that we can comfort them with the comfort we've received!

Amen
Amen is one of those words that Christians use often without fully understanding.  Most will end their prayers with an "Amen" without understanding why or what it means.  Jesus would often begin his teachings with  "Amen, I say to you", which is often translated "Truly I say to you".  So a basic translation of "Amen" might be "It is true", "Truly" or "I agree with the truth of this".  Paul, Peter, Jude and John all have prayers in the letters that they wrote that end with "Amen" (Rom 1:25,9:5, Gal 1:5, 1 Peter 4:11, Jude 1:25, Rev 7:12). Here Paul clarifies that all God's promises are "Yes" in Christ Jesus (v 20).  He both is the fulfillment and he brings them to fulfillment.  He is trustworthy and true.  And as Jesus said when we ask in his name, we shall have what we ask for (John 14:13-14).  From this we get the common prayer ending of "In Jesus name, Amen." Clearly though simply add the "in Jesus name" is not what it means when Jesus told us to pray in his name.  When we do something in someone's name, we are doing it for them, and doing something that they would both agree with and do or say themselves.  So we want to pray things that Jesus would want and then we know that he will fulfill the prayers.  Then we say "Amen" and agree with Jesus and bring glory to God (v 20).

There is much more that can be said about prayer such as "How do we know if we are praying something that Jesus would agree with?" and "Will God always answer our prayers?" etc. but we'll have to wait for another time to talk about these.

Establishing, anointing, sealing and giving!
I am struck by the statement in verses 21-22.  "It is God who establishes you in Christ" - it is God who makes us stand and who strengthens us and makes us grow and prosper in Christ.   He has anointed us, sealed us and given us his Holy Spirit.  Anointing was done for prophets, priests and kings in the Old Testament to set them apart, prepare them and commission them for their task.  The sealing is done both to make secure and put an identity upon us.  Both the anointing and sealing is done by the Holy Spirit - God himself who lives within us - and who is a guarantee of eternal life, adoption into the family of God and a relationship that we have with God.

Thank you Father God for listening to and answering our prayers!  Thank you for establishing, anointing, sealing us and giving us your Holy Spirit to live in our hearts!  This is all too wonderful to ask or imagine and all I can do is say thank you, thank you and thank you!!  You are so good to us!!  I love you!

2 Corinthians - Brief Intro

Paul wrote this second letter to the Corinthians around AD 57 or 58 and probably shortly after he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians while on his third missionary trip.  He may have written this while still in Ephesus where he spent two years (see this prior post for timelines and maps) or after he left Ephesus and went on to Macedonia (either Thessalonica or Philippi).  He had originally visited Corinth, a major city in Greece, on his second missionary journey and had spent over 18 months there which was his first long stay in a city on one of his trips.  

There have been several letters back and forth between the believers in Corinth and Paul who is in Ephesus and it seems based on his comment in 2 Corinthians 12:14 and 13:1 that he must have visited them after his first letter and before this letter (He says that his next visit will be the third visit).  We see in Acts 20:3 that Paul goes back to Greece for 3 months after being in Ephesus and Corinth is the main city in Greece that Paul spent time in.  In this letter Paul talks about wanting to go back to Corinth by way of Macedonia as in chapter 1 verses 16-19, so he does in fact do that.

In the first letter, he was answering questions that they had and addressing some problems in the church in Corinth that he had heard about.  In this letter, he continues this discussion and is happy to see that the Corinthian believers took to heart what he had said in the first letter, repented, changed and he now encourages them to continue on in Christ.

1 Corinthians 16 - Giving, Humility and Leadership

Several things of interest in this chapter:
1) Practical instructions on providing for those in need
2) Relationships in the Body of Christ - Humility and Leadership

Planning to Give
Paul makes a short comment about how the people should be regularly planning and preparing to give to others.  We've read in Acts how the church in Judea had suffered a famine and the believers in other regions were sending money to help (Acts 11:28-29). As Paul describes in greater detail in his second letter to the Corinthians, this gift is not required, but should be freely given as each desires and is able (2 Cor 8:12 - if the willingness is there the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one doesn't have).

Money is a problem area for churches in several ways.  First we've seen and still see around us those who abuse money and the pastors and leaders get rich while the people are impoverished.  There are the false teachings of the "prosperity gospel" that says that all believers in Christ should be rich.  On the other hand, there is much good that has been done and is done in Christ's name as believers give of their time and money to help those who are in need.

In this situation, the believers in Judea are undergoing hardship due to famine and those in Corinth, Macedonia and other areas are collecting and sending money to help them - clearly a good and important use of money.  Paul's practical instruction is that if they are planning and want to give, that they should be storing up and collecting the money each week so that when Paul comes, the money will be ready to send along with those the Corinthians choose to send it.

I really like and support organizations such as Samaritan's Purse (@SamaritansPurse) and Compassion International (@compassion).  It is also important for churches and individuals to be giving and investing into the local needs of the community.

Lord Jesus, give us your eyes to see the needs of the people around us, your hands to reach out and give and your wisdom to know where and when to best use the resources you've given us to manage.

Relationships in the Body of Christ - Humility and Leadership
I think that there are some interesting dynamics that are somewhat between the lines in this passage.  It seems that the Corinthians want Apollo to visit (he is a dynamic preacher seen in Acts 18:24-19:1 who had visited Corinth and Ephesus) and asked Paul to ask him to come (not sure why they didn't or if they did ask Apollos directly) and Paul relates that Apollos declined to come for now.  Earlier in the letter we see that some in Corinth followed Apollos and others Paul and this was causing some division (1 Cor 1:11-12) and Paul corrects them and says that neither he nor Apollos is anything, but God is the one they should worship, honor and follow (1 Cor 3:4-8).  The fact that Paul asked Apollos to visit the Corinthian church demonstrates his true humility.  He could have responded to them in a proud/insecure way that would be a normal response  ("If you want to follow Apollos, then fine, follow him and stop asking me for help!" or "I am the one that you need to listen to, not Apollos.  Apollos after all had an incomplete view of the Holy Spirit and baptism!")  This is a good example of how different leaders can work together in a godly way, in humility, not viewing people as "mine" or "yours" but belonging to God.

Some other comments are interesting as Paul tells the Corinthians to respect and treat well various workers in Christ.  Timothy, they are to "put at ease", "not despise" and "help him on his way in peace".  We see in Paul's letter to Timothy, that Timothy is young so this is why some might despise him (1 Tim 4:12). The are to "be subject" to the household of Stephanus who where the first converts in the region and have "devoted themselves to the service of the saints" (saints here of course being the other believers in Christ).  Generally speaking, two types of leaders that people have the most trouble following are 1) those who are younger than themselves and 2) those who used to be their peers.  As those problems exist in the secular world, so they exist in the church, and Paul is telling the believers and us to give proper respect to those who have given their lives to serve Christ by serving the body of Christ.   As the writer of Hebrews says "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Heb 13:17).

Father God, give us the grace to follow, submit and give proper honor to those leaders who serve you and us in Christ.  Also when we lead, give us the humility to lead as shepherds of your flock, not of ours, that the glory and honor may go to you.  Thank you for still loving us and having mercy on us even when we have bad attitudes and help us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling!

1 Corinthians 15 - Grain, Resurrection and Eternity

When I was younger in Christ, I didn't know that believers would have a physical body in heaven.  I though that we'd be just spiritual beings.  I remember when I first discovered in Scripture that we'd have new resurrection bodies and it was quite a surprise.  I'm not sure how or why I missed that detail at first but here we see the early Corinthian believers who were being taught incorrectly that there is no resurrection.  Paul clarifies to them the absolute importance of the resurrection - that if there is none, then Christ wasn't raised from the dead, and if Christ wasn't raised then he has lied and we are still stuck with the guilt and punishment of our sins hanging over our head.  Thank God that the resurrection is real and the tomb is empty!!  This is something that we can trust not only the reliable eye-witnesses about, but we still have a physical, tangible proof of the empty tomb!

Paul's discussion about the new bodies that we will have after we are resurrected is quite interesting!  He says that they will be different, imperishable, glorious, powerful - a spiritual body.  His analogies to a grain or seed being one body and after dying it produces a new body - the plant - is quite a powerful analogy.  Our bodies will have a resemblance or relationship to the old body, but they will be quite different.  It sheds an interesting light on the questions such as "If a person is handicapped in life, will they be handicapped in heaven?" or "What if a person is old and their body is worn out or a baby and their body is not developed yet?" into a different light since the new body is fundamentally different than the current body.  This is especially true in terms of its mortality, but also in other ways relating to the glory and power.  Jesus' new body was able to go through walls (John 20:26) but he also ate (Luke 24:43) and had a physical body you could touch (John 20:27).  His new body had properties of both spirit and body, similar to how light has both properties of both a particle and a wave.  We don't quite know what our resurrection bodies will be like but it all sounds like great news!

Thank you Lord Jesus for paying the price for our sins in your crucifixion and rising from the dead by your power! Thank you for the love and mercy that you have for us even while we were sinners and even when I have still gone my own way!  And thank you for allowing us to share eternity with you!

1 Corinthians 14 - Alive Vs Orderly

There are many issues of primary importance that the Scripture clearly presents a clear single truth (e.g.  Jesus is God, Jesus became a fully human man and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we are rescued from our sins (saved) through faith in Jesus Christ alone, etc).   There are other truths that the Bible presents to us as guideposts, like railings on the two sides of a street or path, that keep us from falling off the path. Both sides of the truth boundaries are desirable but there is some tension between them.

Unfortunately in some issues that have two sides that are boundaries, we often treat them as a single truth issue and we often go to one extreme or the other and inflexibly resist any hint of the other side.  Debates such as, "Calvinism vs Arminianism?" or "Do believers in Christ get taken up to Christ before, during or after the end-times great tribulation?" can go on endlessly with each side presenting Scriptural evidence for their points.

We need to distinguish between such types of topics. For example, it is a clear, single truth the the Holy Spirit is God and that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to followers of Jesus.  But the use of those gifts, especially in the church today is a topic that there are two side boundaries I'll refer to as Alive Vs Orderly.  Clearly we would want things to be both alive AND orderly.  (These are positive descriptions that each side would attribute to their own view where a negative view from the other side might be Chaos Vs Quench - which clearly we would want neither).

The "Alive" side, in terms of spiritual gifts, would be characterized by the free reign of spiritual gifts such as prophecy and speaking in tongues (other languages as inspired by the Holy Spirit) in public gatherings of the church.  Paul in this chapter is giving guidelines for orderly, non-chaotic use of tongues (two or three but only with interpretation) and prophecy (two or three but only one speaking at a time).  These seem like common sense to some degree, but one could picture the scene without these guidelines as enthusiastic young believers in Christ Jesus are just experiencing a new gift from the Holy Spirit, so each one wants to speak and not hold back.  So several people are all speaking at the same time, some in foreign, unknown languages and others in the common language with messages from God.  Of course in such a chaotic situation, who can tell what is being said?  No one is hearing God's messages and the body of Christ isn't being strengthened.  So Paul brings order.

But spiritual gifts can still be seen as "scary" or "unknown" even when only one person is speaking at a time.  Part of the problem comes because of the need for discernment of spirits (another spiritual gift).  We are commanded to test the spirits in 1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."  If you have been in many charismatic services, you have probably heard a "prophecy" that is clearly not from God (the obviously false messages contradict scripture).  The two extreme responses to this are either 1) let everything be said without any correction or commentary 2) lock down prophecy altogether and don't allow it.  These two conditions one could describe as Alive or Orderly.

Some take Orderly to the full extent and believe that the gifts are no longer to be used in the church today - a cessational approach to the gifts of the Holy Spirit (saying that they have ceased).  Many main-line denominations have taken this approach. But there isn't any scriptural reason to hold that the Holy Spirit is no longer giving spiritual gifts to believers in Jesus.  And this view, while not preventing people from having a relationship with Jesus and not preventing sins from being forgiven and not preventing eternal life, certainly takes away a major gift (a whole set of gifts) that God has freely given to the body of Christ for its strengthening, growth, edification and comfort.

I think that the last two verses of this chapter capture the tension between Alive and Orderly: "So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order." (1 Cor 14:39-40).  Some ride hard on "earnestly desire/do not forbid" while others on "decently and in order".  To the degree that we lean to one side or the other, we miss out on the benefit that the other has to offer.  The trick is to maintain the right balance between the two.

While I don't at all claim that I have that balance perfect, I would make some general observations:
1) the gifts, especially prophecy, are very useful in the body of Christ
2) when prophecy is spoken in a public gathering it is the job of the pastors or leaders to be listening and judging what is said (v 29; 1 Jn 4:1).
3) if the prophecy isn't from God, then it needs to be publicly stated that this isn't from God.

Clearly the last point could be quite embarrassing to the person who spoke the words.  On the other hand, if nothing is said about the word not being correct, there is an implicit acceptance of the words which could be quite misleading, especially to young believers. So one practice that I learned from Pastor Gordon Powlison who trained me was to approach like this 1) Those who are not tested/approved ministers should write down or speak the word to a pastor in private first to have the word tested.  If it is from God, then it will be shared with the larger body.  If not, it is a private learning experience.  2) Those persons who are a tested and approved ministry are able to speak the words publicly without checking first, but they also will be corrected if necessary.  While this is not the only way to approach the issue, it provides the benefit of hearing prophetic words from God and the building up of the body of Christ and it allows for the words to be tested without any public embarrassment.

On a related note, since according to 1 John 4:1 there are various spirits that are speaking, the gift of discernment is key along with a good deliverance ministry to prepare and allow people to be free to more clearly hear God's voice and distinguish from the other voices in the air.

Father God, help us to hear, value and treasure the words that you speak to us and the spiritual gifts that you give us.  Help us also to be guided by love, seeking the best for others and not glory for ourselves.  Grow us and train us to be your servants and ministers of the good news of Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 13 - The Impossibility of Love

To truly love goes beyond what you or I are capable of.

The Importance of Love
Love is the most fundamental and important attribute of God and the most important thing for us to both understand and to practice.  1 John 4:8 and 16 say that "God is love." Jesus came and died for us because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16). We know what love is because of God's love for us when Jesus died for us (1 John 3:16).  The two greatest commandments are about love - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind; Love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37-39).

This passage on love is one of the most revealing and detailed descriptions about love but surprisingly it is written by Paul in response to wrong attitudes of the Corinthian believers about the use of spiritual gifts.  His first two statements directly warn against using the gift of tongues and the gifts of prophecy and faith in wrong ways - specifically without love.  In other words, if the gifts are used for one's one glory or benefit rather than for helping others and with others primarily in mind, then the gifts are nothing and we have gained nothing.

Love is WAY more than emotions
As it has been pointed out, love is not primarily about the emotional feelings we might have for someone as movies, tv and Valentines day celebrations would have us think.  No, love is primarily about putting another first and before ourselves.  It is considering the other person's needs more important than our own and willing to give up our place, our rights, our desires for another - even to the point of giving our lives for them.  Jesus said that the greatest love is laying down our life for someone else (John 15:13).

In every relationship we have, whether with family, a spouse, coworkers, neighbors or strangers we meet in passing, love is the attitude we are to have and it should determine the actions we take.  Certainly this is not easy because we are selfish to the core - looking out for our own interests.  But within us, a hint of God's image remains so that we can be moved to heroic acts of love at time.  The key is to be transformed by God so that we can love consistently in the day-to-day.

Love Attributes
The list of attributes that Paul gives about love is very challenging and beyond what we can do without God's help.  If I am honest with myself, when I read these descriptions, I am reminded of the many ways and times that I fall short of true love.
Love is patient - it waits for others, even when they are slow, even when they don't understand and they should, even when they cut in front of you or go out of turn - and it doesn't get upset, frustrated or angry when these things are happening!
Love is kind - it acts gently with others, looking for good actions to take, good gifts to give even when the other person doesn't deserve it and is acting unkindly to us.
Love does not envy - because love wants the best for others.  Love is able to be happy and rejoice when someone else gets the raise, and not you, when you are looked over or when someone else gets a bigger or better gift or even when you get or have nothing.
Love does not boast - because it wants to build others up and not itself, constantly wanting to encourage and help others, even to the neglect of ourselves.
Love is not arrogant - it never looks down on others, nor despises the weak, nor considers itself great or better than others.  Even when those around are weaker, love feels the hurt and the weakness for the others and loves, supports and carries them.
Love is not rude - it always considers the needs of those around and seeks to strengthen, bless, encourage and lead them by example and by self-sacrifice into life, freedom and joy in Christ Jesus.  We become rude when we are focused on ourselves, our fears our needs as opposed to others.  So love listens to others, even when they are speaking for a long time.  It doesn't cut them off or silence them.
Love does not insist on its own way - it will give up its right and even its better idea and plan.  It doesn't get frustrated when someone else changes the plan or wants to do something different, but in love, defers to the needs and desires of others.
Love is not irritable or easily angered - it doesn't get irritated by the actions of others. When we feel ourselves being irritated, it is because others are infringing on what we view as our right or changing our expectation.  The focus is on ourselves and not the needs of those around us, even when the others are wrong or even trying to be irritating.
Love is not resentful, does not keep a record of wrong - it forgives and forgets the wrongs against it.  Jesus was able to forgive even in the middle of being crucified.  We usually remember the things done against us, especially when they keep happening again.  We then resent the actions of others.  Love lets go of the list.
Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing - even when the wrong is being done to those we feel "deserve" it.
Love rejoices with the truth - when truth is declared it is happy, even when the truth exposes our sins and shortcomings.
Love bears all things and always protects - Love is able to withstand the attacks, challenges to authority, without giving in or giving up.  Those who belong to it are under love's protection.  Similar to a mother bear defending cubs, love will protect to the death those that it loves.
Love believes all things, always trusts - which is difficult when we become jaded. Entrusting our lives completely to God who is faithful is difficult, and trusting people who fail us, is even harder.
Love hopes all things, always hopes - wanting to see the best for people and looking for God's work and hand in other's lives as opposed to giving up on a "lost cause".
Love endures all things, always perseveres - and keeps loving, even when the road is long, the change in others and ourselves is slow, the persecution and wrongs mount up.
Love never ends or fails - we fail, we give in, we get short tempered, we get frustrated and we give up.  Love on the other hand keeps loving.

This list of love attributes is both humbling and challenging!  I dare say that if we could live like this, there wouldn't be war or emotional pain, our relationships would be transformed and we and those around us would be amazingly happy and blessed.  Alas, we cannot do these things without God's help.

Lord Jesus, change me by your Holy Spirit to love as you love, to give of myself completely as you did, and to serve others not looking for glory or gain for myself.  Let my life be a living sacrifice to you and bring glory to your name!

1 Corinthians 12 - Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are often misunderstood, cause arguments, selfish acts and even divisions.  They also are critical to the proper functioning of the body of Christ.  So as Paul wanted the Corinthians to not be uninformed, so we too should not simply avoid them because they can cause difficulties.  The benefits far outweigh any problems.

First a few notes:
1) These are gifts from the Holy Spirit to be used for the good of the whole church (v. 4,7)
2) They are different from natural gifts that a person may have though they may be similar in some cases
3) Each believer in Christ has been given at least one spiritual gift (v. 7)
4) This is not a comprehensive list of spiritual gifts (other lists: Rom 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:11 etc.)
5) They are not to make you famous, but are for God's glory
6) The gifts of the Spirit are for helping others, while the fruit of the Spirit are the Holy Spirit's working to change and grow us as individuals

I won't do an exhaustive study right now, but here is an overview of the gifts listed here:

1) Speaking gifts - where the Holy Spirit enables a person to speak what they didn't otherwise know -  

• prophecy - speaking words from God to edify, encourage and comfort (1 Cor 14:3)
• tongues - speaking a foreign or angelic language (Acts 2:4-7, 1 Cor 13:1)
• interpretation of tongues - knowing and saying what someone speaking in an unknown language (1 Cor 14:10-13)

2) Knowledge gifts - where the Holy Spirit gives information or understanding that a person otherwise didn't have, often to speak or to guide choices -

• word of wisdom - tell of future, hidden events - (1 Cor 2:7) or knowing how to act from God's perspective
• word of knowledge - information given that is otherwise not known to the person
• distinguishing between spirits - knowing if a spirit is from God or from the devil

2) Miraculous gifts - where the Holy Spirit does supernatural actions through a person -

• gifts of healing - plural gifts indicating supernatural healing from physical and other problems that are emotional or spiritual;  deliverance could come under this gift
• miracles - supernatural signs and wonders such as turning water to wine, walking on water, multiplying loaves etc. 
• faith - supernatural faith that can move mountains and enables other miraculous workings of the Spirit of God

It seems that the gifts were causing divisions in the Corinthian church and some felt like they were being left out and others felt like they didn't need the others.  Paul was emphasizing the need for interdependence and working together in the body.  Each part is needed for their individual gifts and the individual needs the rest of the whole body to survive - just as the body needs the parts and the parts need the body.

Father God, help each one of us learn and understand the gifts that you have given us.  Help us to learn how to use those gifts to help, edify and encourage others in the body of Christ so that we can all grow and be strengthened in Christ Jesus!

1 Corinthians 11 - Head Coverings, Spiritual Warfare and the Power of the Lords Supper

Whoa!  This letter to the Corinthians is loaded with lots of important topics!
Some key items in Chapter 10 include:
1) Head Coverings, Authority and Spiritual Warfare
2) The power of the Lords Supper

Culturally Bound?
Related to head coverings, many believe these instructions to be simply a cultural instruction that can be brushed aside.  First I think that it is a dangerous slope to view things in Scripture as able to be brushed aside because once we elevate ourselves above Scripture to judge it, we are choosing not to submit to its authority and thus be changed by God's word.  Second, Paul says that a woman should wear the head coverings when she prays or prophesies (v 5) because of the angels (v 10).  The clearest interpretation of this in my opinion is referencing demonic angels, as Paul has already done several times in this book.

Authority: Protect and Serve
Authority is what is in question.  In our post-modern, post-60's era authority in general is questioned.  This leaves us missing an important concept in Scripture and truly in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus commended the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 for his great faith because he understood how authority worked and that Jesus could just speak the word and his servant would be healed.  Jesus granted the disciples authority to heal, to drive out demons (Matt 10:1) and to forgive sins (Matt 9:6).  Authority in these situations is a delegation of the power or authority to do things that, by themselves, a person could not do.  A police officer is just a person, but when wearing their uniform and badge, they represent the authority of the government and can stop traffic with just a hand motion and can arrest persons who are doing wrong.  Their job is to "protect and serve" as is commonly seen in their motto's.  All true authority comes from God (Rom 13:1) and Paul lays out the authority structure from God to Christ to husband to wife in verse 3.  While the delegated human authority is at times abused, it's purpose is to protect and serve.  In this situation when someone is praying or prophesying, they are entering into spiritual battle.  The devil and his angels are waging a war around us, though unfortunately, most are unaware of the battle that rages around them.  As Christians, we are protected by the blood of Christ and by Christ's authority WHEN we are obeying him.  When I tell my children to not go a certain place or to be back at night by a particular time, it is for their protection.  If they disobey my instruction, they come out from my authority and protection and open themselves up to harm.  In a similar way, when the scripture gives instructions for women to have their heads covered when praying or prophesying and they ignore that instruction, they are coming out from under the protective authority of God's word and are opening themselves up to an attack by the angels - the devil's demonic ones.  Angels are bigger and stronger than humans.  We are warned that not every spirit that speaks is God and that we must test the spirits (1 Jn 4:1).  Here we are instructed to stay under authority for spiritual protection.

The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper (sometimes called communion) is one of the practices that Jesus gave to his disciples and told them to continue to do to remember his death (Luke 22:19) and most/all Christian churches have some practice that they follow.  In this passage, Paul gives some interesting instructions that tell us about not only the importance but it's power in our lives for good and bad.  Some Christian traditions wrongly hold that participating in communion is a purifying/saving act in and of itself.  Paul warns in this passage that actually when those participating in communion are not taking in a right way, it brings judgement on a person, not salvation and can cause their death! ("...eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." (v 11:29-30).  He then gives the admonition that we "judge" or "discern" ourselves so that we not be judged (v. 31).   There are two extremes that should be avoided: 1) ignoring the warning thus bringing harm on ourselves 2) taking warning too harshly and thus not taking communion.

First off it would be important to mention the ways that communion can be taken wrongly.  In this context we see two issues 1) selfishness and overfeeding ourselves instead of discerning the needs and situations of others in the Body of Christ 2) a broad 'testing of ourselves".  The broader testing would include things such as Jesus' admonition to reconcile to others before bringing our gifts to the altar (Matt 5:23-24) and Paul's exhortation in 2 Corinthians 13:5 about examining ourselves to see that we are still in the faith - a time of reflection and introspection.  If we examine ourselves and find that there are things we need to take care of with a brother or sins we should confess, then we should go to the brother or sister and reconcile, as Jesus instructed, and we should confess our sins and be cleansed and forgiven (1 John 1:9).  The great news in Christ Jesus is that we have a God who loves us and promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess!

The last point about communion to ponder is this: if taking in a wrong way can bring judgement and death, that demonstrates that it is more than a mere remembrance.  There is power in that ceremony that when taken in the right way can bring blessing and life!

Thank you Father for your blessing, your mercy and your love.  Often we don't fully understand your ways, but help us to submit to your ways and to your word, to be changed and find life in Christ Jesus!

1 Corinthians 10 - Temptation, Sin, and Bad Examples

There are many things of interest in this chapter but I'll hit just a few of them
1) Sins of Israel
2) Temptation and Sin

Sins of Israel
After Paul had told us in the previous chapter to run the race in Christ in such a way as to win, he then describes how most of the Israelites fell short of the goal.  They had all experienced God's great miracles and his presence and speaking to them yet despite all of that most didn't make it.  Paul warns us to avoid the evil that they were drawn into: idolatry, sexual immorality, putting God to the test and grumbling.  The first two we readily identify as sins but the last two are items are a bit surprising.
Putting God to the test is essentially telling God, "if you don't do this, I won't follow you." The Israelites tested God several times demanding food, water, meat.  What is somewhat interesting to me is that the items they wanted were things that God wanted and was willing to give them.  Jesus promised that if we seek first the kingdom of God that he will provide for us food and clothing as they desired.  It is always fine and we should ask God for our needs, but we shouldn't turn it into a demand and say "provide this for me or else I won't follow you."
Grumbling often is the precursor to putting God to the test and other sins, but it is also a sin in itself.  When we are complaining to God or especially to others against God, that is a problem.  When we complain to others against God, we are discouraging them rather than encouraging (Eph 4:29), we are not speaking true or commendable words, but rather false and dishonorable ones (Phil 4:8).  Both grumbling and putting God to the test demonstrate a lack of faith and trust in our Father who loves us and wants what is best for us.  Unfortunately, all too often we complain about lack of what we need, about the long time in waiting for God to act or provide or about specific items such as jobs, spouses (or lack of) or children (or lack of).  I'm not saying that we should pretend that all our problems don't exist.  What needs work is how we approach these things.  Rather than complaining, we should cry out to God who desires to meet our needs.  We should be driven to our knees in prayer rather than driven to the phone to complain.  David often cried out to God in the despair of his soul as is recorded in Psalms.  Even Jesus in his state of anguish and despair cried out to God.  He didn't pretend that everything was OK, but his response was to pour out his heart to God, crying out for help and expressing his dependence upon him.

Temptation and Sin
Some interesting notes about temptation and sin:
1) Pride is a big problem that will cause us to sin: "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall" (v 12).  If we think that we have conquered an area of temptation and are not susceptible, BE WARE! That is for instance why I think that Billy Graham's personal disciplines in regard to sexual temptation that I mentioned in the last post are important.  We need to maintain a humble approach to sin recognizing that except for God's grace and mercy 1) we would still be in sin and not forgiven 2) we'd fall back into the sin.  We read about the Israelites and see their bad examples, but we need to recognize that we are no different.  As Pastor Norm Althausen wrote in a song, we need to not say that if we were there we would have obeyed but rather "believe and obey today.  Do the things we've been told to do and stop saying 'I don't know how.'"
2) The temptations that we face are common to others (v 13).
3) When we are tempted God will provide us a way out.  This is not saying that God is tempting us to sin (James 1:13) but in his faithful mercy, he is making sure that the temptation is not beyond what we can bear.  Clearly God allows the temptation to occur.  The temptation allows us to see what is in our hearts as we see how we respond.  Jesus himself was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Heb 4:15).  So when we see or feel temptation, we should run to God and cry out to him and ask to be set free - lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil (Matt 6:13).

Lord Jesus, give us the grace and humility to recognize our weakness especially where we feel strong.  Help us also then to turn to you for help that we may find your rescue and way out.  Thank you for you faithfulness and love!  

1 Corinthians 9 - All Things To All People, Running to Win

Three things stand out to me in this chapter:
1) All things to all people - primacy of mission
2) Workers in Christ
3) Running to win

All Things To All People
When it comes to focus, Paul knew that his primary task was bringing people to Christ.  His clarity of purpose drove him to change anything and everything else to accomplish that goal.  So Paul first of all made himself a servant to all. He was following the example of Jesus and giving himself up for others out of love for them.  He also recognized that to be effective, different people need to be related to in different ways. So secondly he took the time to understand who he was speaking to and became an effective ambassador (2 Cor 5:20) and spoke and lived in ways that would be relevant to the hearer.  As he says " I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." (1 Cor 9:22).

You might ask, "Isn't Paul just pretending and putting on a mask?  Isn't that ingenuous and wrong?"  It would be ingenuous if Paul first of all wasn't motivated out of love, not honestly wanting to help those he is reaching out to and secondly if he was doing things that were inconsistent with who he is and what he believes.  Just as you wouldn't go to a beach party in a suit or dress nor to a fancy restaurant in shorts or a swimsuit, we all recognize that different activities, dress and behavior is appropriate for different situations.  Paul recognizes that different people hear things differently, have experienced different things and have different problems and different mental roadblocks.  So among Jews, he went to the temple and synagogues, carried out vows (Acts  18:18) and rites of purification and among the gentiles, he freely ate with them and didn't force circumcision etc.  In Athens he appealed to poets that they were aware of and even an altar to an unknown god (Acts 17:23-31).

As @edstetzer and others have pointed out, Paul gives us the example of how we are to live missionally, always looking to understand those around us and how to communicate to them in ways that are relevant and that they will understand.

Father, give us the wisdom to see and understand those you've brought us to.  Help me to not be caught up in the traditions and external trappings that distract from you, but to be focused on loving and reaching out to those around me.

Workers in Christ
We see here that "the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel" (v 14).  Money is an area where there has been much abuse - leaders stealing from the sheep or living in luxury while the people are struggling or false prosperity teachings - however it is notable that workers in Christ should be paid.  Paul though refuses this right, at least from the Corinthian believers, since he wants to offer the gospel free of charge.  As a passing note we see some interesting facts about the apostles - most of them such as Peter and James and Jude (the Lord's brothers) had wives and seemed to bring them along when they traveled (v 5).

Running to Win
Paul describes a very deliberate physical actions that he took in his pursuit of Christ Jesus.  As we follow Christ, it is not a mere mental or spiritual activity, but it effects (or should effect) every area of our lives, including our physical body.  Paul says that he disciplines his body to keep it under control so he will not be disqualified after preaching.  Types of self discipline that we see in scripture include fasting, waking up early for prayer and study of scripture, memorization of scripture (while mostly mental it takes physical work of memorizing by reading and taking the time to work on it) and solitude for prayer.   Also since he is concerned about not becoming disqualified about what he preaches (i.e. he doesn't want to be hypocritical and preach something that he doesn't live out), he would likely be also including personal physical disciplines that would keep himself free from sexual temptation and other sins he has described.

I personally have been inspired by the example of Billy Graham and Gordon Powlison in the area of sexual holiness.  As a man of God, Billy Graham would not be alone with a woman who wasn't his wife.  When he traveled and there was a woman on the trip, he wouldn't even share a cab with a woman if it was just the two of them.  As a pastor and as a man who is following God, I believe there is a lot of wisdom here.  For myself I don't counsel or meet with women alone.  I don't evangelize women or have lunch with them one-on-one.  For young people Pastor Gordon has given many practical guidelines that I've implemented and found important and effective such as making sure that boys NEVER go into a girls room and vice versa unless they are parents or siblings, boys and girls should not be alone in almost any situation (out in pubic at a restaurant is fine, but not alone in some room or remote area etc).

As we've discussed in previous posts, sexual sin is a big problem for many.  There are many physical disciplines (I've only given a few examples) that can and should be brought to bear so that we can run the race in such a way as to win the prize set before us.

Lord Jesus, help me to run the race and have a singular focus such as Paul had.  Help me to not be distracted by the many siren calls in this world that seek to distract and destroy, but help me to keep my eyes on you and run and discipline my body with you as the final goal.

1 Corinthians 8b - Idols? Demons? Today?

When we read Paul discussing idols and demons in this letter and other places, some people have a hard time relating to or understanding the statements.  Often these are thought of as either problems relegated to times past, far away countries or things that our scientific viewpoint proclaims to be a myth. But just as these were real problems then, they are real problems today.

Food offered to Idols
Paul's statements about eating meat and idols can be confusing if we don't understand some of the historical context of what is happening.  I've know people who determined after reading verse 13 without context that they should not eat meat ("Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.").  To get more context of Paul's comments it is helpful to also look at Chapter 10 were we see more of the historical situation: In those days and in Greece and many parts of the Roman empire, idolatry was quite rampant and people very often sacrificed meat to idols and then would either sell the meat in the market or would eat it themselves and invite guests to join them in a meal. The question then is should a Christian eat meat sacrificed to an idol?  In 1 Corinthians 10:20 Paul clarifies that while idols are not in fact gods and not in any way equal to God, there are demons - evil spirits - that are behind/inside/a part of the idols that we cannot join with (10:20).  He says it is fine to eat any meat that is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience (10:25).  He also says if you are invited to an unbeliever's house and they offer you food, eat what is given to you without raising questions of conscience (10:27) but if they tell you that the food is offered to an idol, then don't eat it for their conscience' sake (10:28-29).

So there are two reasons to for believers not to eat meat in such a situation where the meat may have been offered to demons: 1) because it may violate the conscience of a younger believer 2) it is participating with a demon.

What? Today?
But you may say "Wait! Aren't the idols not real and thus they cannot affect us?"  Unfortunately that is the incorrect conclusion that Christians sometimes arrive at.  Especially in our scientific/modern era we often have a view that not only are idols not real, but also demons are not real.  I know of missionaries who have gone to other countries and have taken "artifacts" (actually idols) into their homes, thinking that they are just interesting cultural objects, without understanding that evil spirits are attached to them.  Then their family gets affected with sicknesses, tormenting dreams and other mental and physical problems until they get rid of the idol and pray for God's help.  I've even been in such a situation when I should have know better.  On a mission trip to Africa, our team broke into smaller groups and on a given Sunday went to speak at various churches around the area we were visiting.  Afterwards, my host church gave me a gift of some traditional clothing and a cane with an eagles head at the top.  There was nothing wrong with the clothing, but before I returned, God gave Pastor Gordon and Debbie a picture of an eagle - matching the cane I received.  When I arrived and they saw the cane, they told me what God had shown them so I went and got rid of the cane. Then as Pastor Gordon prayed for me, I threw up as God gave me freedom from the demonic influence.  This may sound unusual or even "superstitious" but the fact is that demons are real and we are not to participate with them (as Paul points out in 10:20 and as Jesus drove out many and as John warns about idols in 1 John 5:21).

The distinction that Paul is drawing here is to food sacrificed to idols, which are not the objects of worship themselves and the idol itself.  We cannot participate with idols because even though they are lifeless and are not gods, there is a demon associated with that object of worship and it can negatively affect us.

There is much more that can be said about this, but I'll leave it there for now.

Father, protect us from the evil one and help us to flee from and and stay free from idols.

1 Corinthians Chapter 8 - When Being Right is Wrong

When Being Right is Wrong
Have you ever been so fixated on being "right" that even though you may be right, in the end your actions or attitudes caused more harm than good?  Unfortunately, I've been in this situation more times than I'd wish.  Just recently in a Bible study, of all places, I was so fixated on the "correct" meaning and interpretation that I treated another person in the Bible study poorly and cut them off when in reality their statements were very much in line with the broader context and meaning that Jesus was trying to tell us.  There have been times where I've done similar things with my wife, my children or co-workers.  I may have been "right" but because of the way that I pushed or acted, I caused injury to the relationship that I had to go back and apologize for.

Paul is discussing a similar situation in this chapter as the Corinthians have asked him about food sacrificed to idols.  There is much to say about idolatry and food sacrificed to idols, but the bigger issue addressed here is knowledge that puffs up versus love that builds up.  Knowledge is often focused on "me" - how much I know, how right I am - and love is focused on the other person - how can I help, encourage or build you up. As we saw in the chapter 6 related to lawsuits, sometimes it is better to be wronged or cheated than to push for our "rights" and/or prove that we are "right".  James talks about a wisdom from above versus a wisdom that is earthly and demonic.  "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17).  Whew!  A whole sermon or book could be written about that verse!  Several of the characteristics of this wisdom relate specifically to a love-focused relationship to others (peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, impartial).  This is in contrast to the "wisdom from below" which is jealous, has selfish ambition, is boastful (James 3:14).

The net of this is that for all the value that our current society places on knowledge, knowledge by itself often creates wrong attitudes in us if it is not balanced with an attitude where we are looking out for the best interests of others instead of focusing on ourselves.

Some Corinthians were so focused on what they thought they knew about idols not being real gods (which is true), they were causing other brothers in Christ who are newer believers to be led into sin or to violate their consciences because of the thoughtless examples of those who had "knowledge".

Father God, help me to see others through your eyes and to show love rather than be puffed up with prideful knowledge.  I thank you for your mercy to me and that you are changing me into your image!

There is much more to say about this chapter, but since there is so much, I'll break it into separate posts :)

1 Corinthians Chapter 7 - Surprising Marriage Equalities

Women and the Gospel
Jesus Christ and the good news that he and his followers proclaimed did many things to turn society on its head and proclaim that the "norms of society" were wrong.  One area of change that still echos today is that of the value and role of women in society.  The message of the gospel wasn't that there is no difference between the sexes in any area (as some today would try to put forward), but taught that before God women and men have equal value (Gal 3:28), that they are co-heirs in Christ (1 Peter 3:7).  Their role in the family (Eph 5:22) and the church (1 Timothy 2:12) was however different.

Your Spouse Has Authority Over Your Body
In this chapter, Paul presents some nitty-gritty details of the equality that women (and men) have in marriage.  On the one hand in Ephesians 5:22-23 Paul teaches that men are the head, or leader, of the wives and that wives should submit to their husbands, yet in 1 Corinthians 7:4 we see that the wife has authority over the husband's body (as husband's do over their wives body).  Men often mistakenly view that because they are the head of the wife, that they can simply do as they please.  But clearly if the wife has authority over the husband's body, that has implications.  The first implication that Paul points out is in the area of sexual relations between a husband and a wife.  The Corinthians had asked Paul if they should abstain from sexual relations altogether.  Paul clearly responds that the sexual aspect of marriage is critical and should not be withheld on either side.  Clearly this also means that as the spouse's body is not to be shared with someone outside of the marriage.  This authority would also apply to the coverings of the body - so a wife should dress to please her husband, and a husband should dress to please his wife.

Living to Please Your Spouse
The next part of the discussion is interesting and takes this mutual bodily authority to a new level.  At that time in Corinth and other places there was great persecution that was being faced by believers (as Paul himself was beaten and thrown in prison several times) so Paul says that because of the "present distress" (v 26) it is best to remain as you are (married or unmarried).  He goes on to describe that those who are married have their interests divided - a husband pleasing God and his wife and a wife pleasing God and husband.  The implications of this are critical to understand: if you are married, you must live to please your spouse.  Often when people get married they often live as though they are not.  Men tend to be the biggest violator by continuing to "go out with the boys" and do other activities as if they weren't married.  Once married, the primary human relationship should be to one's spouse - husband or wife.  A husband cannot simply please himself, and for that matter cannot live simply to "please God".  The distortion and error here can be both on the irreligious side (a husband spending all of his time "out with the boys") or on the religious side (a husband spending all of his time out "serving God"). Both of those are wrong.  That is not to say that a husband or wife cannot spend time with friends and cannot spend time serving God.  Clearly both of those are good and important.  The problem comes when the husband (or wife) doesn't give to their spouse the high priority of time and attention that they deserve.  It is all too common in history to see pastors or ministers of Christ who have forgotten this and have neglected their wives and children (their first disciples) and have gone out to "serve God".   Obviously the other side of this is a problem as well if the husband or wife is prevented from serving God because of demands of the spouse.  God is the primary relationship and first love of our lives, but if we are married, we must also live to please our husband or wife.

Father, I thank you for the gift of a wife that you have given me!  She is a blessing and a jewel and brings great joy and help to my life. Help me to love her and cherish her and live to please her as I please you.

1 Corinthians Chapter 6 - Sexual Sin Part Deux, Lawsuits and more

This letter to the Corinthians is loaded with practical advice and such that is very applicable today.  The Corinthian church is noted as one that has many problems and perhaps that is why it is quite helpful for today - because we have many problems. :)

Lawsuits Among Believers
The chapter begins on the topic of lawsuits among believers which is an important topic for today - especially in the US - because of the hugely litigious society we live in.  You can barely sneeze without someone threatening a lawsuit. Summarizing what Paul says regarding lawsuits among believers: 1) Don't sue - it is better to be wronged 2) Especially don't go to secular court against a brother or sister in Christ.  Use arbitration within the church and agree to have someone in the body of Christ arbitrate the difference.

God's Power To Change Us
A passing comment that Paul makes in verse 11 is of great importance, "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  In the sentence before, Paul makes clear that 1) sins such as sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, idolatry, thievery, greed, swindling, drunkenness and slander will keep us out of the kingdom of God 2) the Corinthians USED TO be these things and 3) God has the power and grace to change us and cleanse us from the past and make us righteous in Christ Jesus.

Wow!  Thank you Jesus for your forgiveness and power!

It should also be noted that those verses (v 9-11) have important things to say about the current homosexual debates: 1) homosexuality is a sin - as are other sexual sins 2) persons who were once caught in that sin can, by the power of Jesus Christ, come out of the sin to forgiveness, healing and righteousness in Jesus Christ.

Sexual Immorality - Part Deux - FLEE
Obviously this topic of sexual immorality is important because Paul is spending a lot of time on it.  Clearly it is important for us today as well because of the wide degree to which it has infected our culture and the church. Three important items from this passage are

1. Sexual sin is different and worse from other sins because of its more harmful affect to us and because it is a sin against our own bodies.  
2. When a person sins sexually with another, they become united in body and spirit.  This increases the negative consequence and increases the difficulty in being free. 
3. We should FLEE from sexual sin.

I heard an interesting and true commentary in a sermon relating to that last point.  Often we as humans - and especially men - treat our weakness toward sin as a weakness that must be strengthened against.  So we try to "become strong" like we would with our body in a gym - perhaps by studying and memorizing scripture and practicing self discipline such as fasting and saying no to temptations. While there is obviously great benefit to that, the error comes when we think that now we are strong so we can be near sexual sin and temptation and not fall.  Paul gives the command to FLEE from sexual immorality, not to strengthen ourselves and stand.  The latter is a trick of the devil.  We should always flee and stay far away from sexual immorality and temptation in that area.  As Proverbs says we cannot carry fire close to our chest or in our lap and not have our clothes burned (Proverbs 6:27).  We should stay away and flee from sexual immorality!  Get up and leave the movie theater!  Turn off the TV!  Turn off the computer!  Don't be deceived and think that "because I am an adult" or "because I am married" it is OK and I can handle this.  No, it is sin and it will burn us and we need to flee!!!  Don't watch it, don't entertain thoughts about it.  Cry out to Jesus for help and FLEE!

Lord Jesus, help us to be free and stay free from sexual immorality!