1 Corinthians 4

A Word to the Wise {1 Corinthians 4}

10:00 AM

Today's Passage: 1 Corinthians 4


"Don't make me come in there!"

 Do you ever remember a time as a child hearing this strong warning from your father while you were quarreling with your siblings in another room?  

 If so, did it cause you to stop what you were doing and straighten up?

 Somehow just knowing that my father meant business, and that if he was to have to come to us, there would be some form of punishments doled out and we'd be sorry, always seemed to be enough to cause me to stop whatever it was I was doing. Paul must have experienced this same moment with his father, for he uses it on the church in Corinth as well;

"Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.  But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.  What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit? (1 Corinthians 4:18-21)
I wonder if this caused the same reaction in the Corinthians. Did it make them stop what they were doing and refocus? For just before Paul issues this warning he strongly encourages them to, "imitate me." and goes on to add,  "For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:15)

 So what did Paul expect them to be doing? I believe the answer is found up in the beginning of the chapter, 
"This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:1-2 emphasis mine)

In other words Paul is telling them (and us) that they must be faithful at sharing the mysteries so people understand them. Beloved, we may fail as a teacher, a leader of a class, but we better be sure that we are telling others the mysteries of God, for this is what stewards will be judged on. 

 What are some of the "mysteries"? Ray Stedman has named a few for us:
"__There is the mystery of the kingdom of God, (Mark 4:11). Which means an understanding of God at work in history, how he is working through the events of our day and of the days of the past, and how he uses these events that fill the pages of our newspapers to carry out his purposes. 

__There is the mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7), of lawlessness. This is the explanation we desperately need to be reminded of continually, of why we are never able to make any progress when it comes to solving human dilemmas — why every generation without exception repeats the struggle, problems and difficulties of the previous generation.

__There is the mystery of godliness, (1 Timothy 3:16). This is the remarkable secret that God has provided by which a Christian is enabled to live right in the midst of the pressures of the world with all of its illusion and all of its danger, not to run away from it but to refuse to conform to it and do so in a loving, gracious way. What is the secret? It is the secret of an imparted life — Christ in you, the hope of glory, (Colossians 1:27b RSV). Christ in you, available to you — his life, his wisdom, his strength, his power to act available to you — to enable you to do what you do not think you can do at the moment, but, when you choose to do, you find you have the strength to perform. That is the mystery of godliness, the most life-transforming doctrine that has ever been set before man, radical in its effect.

 __Then there is the mystery of the church (Ephesians 3:1-6), that strange new society that God is building which is to be a demonstration of a totally different life style before a watching world, and which is to repel the impact of the world upon it, and, instead, be an impact upon the world around to change it." -Ray Stedman 

O Father, may we be faithful to share your mysteries to others until You send Your Son back to catch us up with You! Amen

 Blessings, 
sue

Christ

The Mystery of our Faith {Colossians 1 - 2}

12:30 AM

Image result for colossians 1:27

Tuesday, November 27, 2018


When Paul uses the term “mystery” he is referring to the truth that was partially revealed under the old covenant but is now on display in all its fullness to the new covenant people of God.  “This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people.” (v. 26).

When you were young, did you ever play or participate in a “club” with the children in your neighborhood?  Or perhaps you joined a sorority in college.  Either way, you had to perform certain rites and rituals in order to be accepted into the club.   I think we all take it for granted today that the gospel is for all people and that those who believe in it, become full citizens of the kingdom of God; heirs to all the promises that the Lord has made to His people throughout history. 

In the first century however, this was a radical idea.  Strict interpretations of the purity laws in the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), made it difficult for the earliest Jewish Christians to believe Gentiles could remain Gentiles and become faithful servants of Yahweh.  We still see that today in some religions.  Some require you to make public appearances to convince the rest of the congregation that you “belong”.  Some have to take classes and convince a group of people they are worthy. 

There is only one sin that is unpardonable – the sin of unbelief.  God has provided a means for eternal salvation – Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross, for “whoever believes in Him” (John 3:16).  And the only condition under which forgiveness would not be granted is those who reject the only means of salvation.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  This makes it clear that He and He alone is the path to God and to salvation.  To reject the only means of salvation is unpardonable, and in that sense, is the greatest sin of all.

As Paul continues to explain to the Colossians that the Gentiles are full-fledged brothers and sisters, he makes it clear that Jesus, by His Spirit, dwelling in all believers, no matter their background, makes Jews and Gentiles full citizens in the kingdom of God (1:27).  We are all so identified with Christ that it is impossible for any Christian to be a second-class citizen.  And we can add to this grace the fact that our hope of glory in Jesus has present and future aspects.  In the present, we are assured that we belong to Him and will persevere so that in the future we will enjoy the full benefits of redemption – life in a resurrected body before the presence of God in the new heaven and earth (Rev. 21).

So the next time you find yourself thinking of other people as lesser Christians than yourself because of how they dress, or what they eat and drink, or how knowledgeable they are about the finer points of theological arguments, or a number of other factors, bow your head and remember that Christ dwells in ALL who truly love Him, and He has given us all the same rights in His kingdom.