Resource Manager Posted March 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 26 February 2018 Exodus 39; 40Psalms 1021 Corinthians 10 "A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST" In Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians we have come to where he refers to the memorial emblems, he stresses that their participation in these should be in a way that illustrates their unity. Paul has made several points very strongly in earlier chapters addressing issues that were seriously undermining their unity in Christ: their lack of harmony worried him very much. Their coming together to remember that Christ died for them needed to take place in an atmosphere of genuine unity – but it wasn't. To start with some were influenced by the surrounding spirit of idol-worshipping, but "... beloved flee from idolatry" [1 Corinthians 10:14] wrote Paul. He appeals to them, "I speak to sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say" [1 Corinthians 10:15]. Do we ourselves make sensible judgements? The situation for us is not completely different. Paul says, "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not the participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body …" [1 Corinthians 10:15-17] The verses which follow indicate some had a problem leaving behind the pagan practices they had previously enjoyed, Paul says to them, "You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy?" [1 Corinthians 10:21-22]. In 1 Corinthians 5 he made the point, "Christ is our Passover … let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven … of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" [1 Corinthians 5:7-8]. In 1 Corinthians 11 we will read that "anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself" [1 Corinthians 11:29]. He does not mean - discerning his own body - but the body of Christ and their responsibility to his or her fellow believers. Paul told the Philippians he wanted to "hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit and one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel" [Philippians 1:27] This precious oneness is demonstrated each time we meet for fellowship. There have been the rare occasions when a member of another church has been present who has taken offence at not being offered the emblems! But this is an opportunity to lovingly point out that when the church was first established on the Day of Pentecost, those baptised "devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and fellowship and the breaking of bread …" [Acts 2:42]. What is the Apostles teaching? Do they (do we) properly "discern the Lord's body" when we participate? If we are of one mind as to that teaching and are baptised – our participation in the body of Christ will a great spiritual joy. Let us make sure we ourselves are fully devoted to this teaching and the way of life it leads to.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted March 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 27 February 2018 Leviticus 1; 2Psalms 1031 Corinthians 11 "... ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM" Psalm 103 is a very "popular" Psalm because of its emphasis on the love and mercy of the LORD. It is very encouraging for those who struggle to feel "right" before God – and isn't that all of us at some stage(s) of our lives! We feel in our hearts the urgent need, despite our failures, to feel God that is "on our side" – even "by our side." There is one factor that is repeated in the Psalm that must not be overlooked, otherwise the Divine message of encouragement this Psalm conveys will be distorted. "Bless the LORD, O my soul" is how the Psalm (which is ascribed to David) begins; "…. Forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy" [Psalm 103:2-4]. The Psalm then takes our thoughts to Moses – "He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel" [Psalm 103:7] that "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" [Psalm 103:8]. The book of Exodus, which we have just completed reading gave us many examples of this. David certainly experienced this and he states, "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him" [Psalm 103:10-11]. Those final words must not be overlooked! The next verse says, as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us - and so, you can go east as far as you like – but you never come to the west! The next verse repeats the qualifications given in Psalm 103:11 "... So the LORD shows compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:17 repeats this for the third time, "the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him." Solomon comments on the strength of a "three-fold cord" [Ecclesiastes 4:12], how much more a divinely inspired statement! The word "fear" in the sense of being in awe of the LORD occurs no less than 26 times in the Psalms – it does not mean to be scared of God but to be in awe in sensing his greatness and that he is present everywhere through his spirit [Acts 17:27-28]. Let us sense how immeasurable great God must be! Look back at Psalm 36, note David's words, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright in heart" [Psalm 36:9-10]. We have more reason than ever, with the human discoveries of recent years, to contemplate the immeasurable greatness of the power that brought them all into being – that power is our Heavenly Father – and we address God in that way because we have taken on the name of his son, Jesus Christ. What a wonder this is! -------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted March 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2018 28 February 2018 Leviticus 3; 4Psalms 1041 Corinthians 12; 13 "SO NOW FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE ABIDE" One of the problems in Corinth Paul had heard about, was "concerning spiritual gifts" [1 Corinthians 12:1]. This chapter and the next two show that the improper use of the gifts by some was a large problem. Of course, with the Gospels not yet in circulation, the existence of spiritual gifts had real purpose. Paul says that the "manifestation of the Spirit (was) for the common good. To one is given the spirit of the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge, according to the same spirit, to another, faith …" [1 Corinthians 12:7-9]. We pondered the inclusion of "faith" as a gift – and recalled the times when Jesus chided his disciples "O you of little faith" [Matthew 8:26 etcetera] so we conclude that among that first generation of believers it was vital, on occasions, to have a man of firm faith, to steady the ecclesial boat when it was rocking and faith was weakening. 1 Corinthians 12 ends by telling us, "But earnestly desire the higher gifts" - those named first would be in this category, they were of the most value for their spiritual health. The last named gifts are tongues and the ability to interpret them [1 Corinthians 12:30] and Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 14, that if these are used in church "and outsiders and unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds" [1 Corinthians 14:24] – clearly they were to enable those who possessed them to give the message, when they had opportunity, to those of other languages. Acts 2:11 describes the impact of this on the day of Pentecost - "we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." The final words in 1 Corinthians 12 are "And now I show you a still more excellent way" this brings us to 1 Corinthians 13 and its oft quoted words praising the vital role of love. "If I give away all I have …. But have not love, I gain nothing" [1 Corinthians 13:3] is one of the points Paul makes. He says, "Love never ends … prophecies … will pass away … tongues, they will cease …" [1 Corinthians 13:8]. The final verse tells us, "So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." These words provoked a final thought – when Christ's kingdom is established, faith will be turned to sight and hope fulfilled – but love will last forever. Those who commit themselves to embrace the things that abide today and live with this wonderful future before them will, by God's grace, live forever with love as the dominating factor in their lives.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts