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Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble

  Good morning. Remember we are talking about doing things that other Christians might think is wrong. For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food (doing something that my fellow Christian thinks is wrong, but I believe is right) causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat (do that thing) again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble. In today’s world, probably the most obvious example would be whether or not to drink alcoholic beverages. One Christian might think that it is OK to drink alcoholic beverages, and there are many who do, but a Christian who does not believe that with whom he/she associates sees that Christian drinking. He/she might either condemn that Christian or think that is OK for themselves to drink. Remember that whatever is not from faith is sin. Our tendency is to say, ...
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For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

  Good morning. In the following, Paul is talking about meat being sacrificed to idols, which in itself does not apply to us, but some of the things he says about that have applications in general to us. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. That is so true and is very evident in today’s world. If someone thinks they know more than you, they think that makes them better than you, and that your opinion is worthless. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. The following is about meat sacrificed to idols, but it is applicable to things in our lives. I will paraphrase what Paul says. Take care that this liberty of yours (to do something that other Christians might think is wrong) does not somehow become a stumbling block to the ...
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I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is

  Good morning. Remember the last statement: he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. You were bought with a price (just as a slave is bought); do not become slaves of men. Of course Christ paid the ultimate price for us. Some people had no choice as to whether or not to become slaves of men. Others because of economic necessity became slaves of men. Each is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. (That does not mean that Paul thought it would be true for all time). Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you marry, you have not sinned. Similarly for virgins. He then makes the argument that those that are married, men or women, are concerned about pleasing their spouse. Those that are not are concerned about pleasing the Lord. This I say for your own benefit; not to put a rest...
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For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who is called while free, is Christ’s slave

  Good morning. Paul then goes through a discussion about believers being married to unbelievers; that they should not divorce them simply because they are unbelievers. However, if the unbeliever desires to leave, they should let them, since the believer has no guarantee that the unbeliever will eventually come to the Lord. Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Of course that is impossible, and is just hyperbole. But the next statement would be possible: has anyone been called in  uncircumcision? He’s not to be circumcised. There was a lot of pressure from Jewish Christians upon the Gentiles to adopt all of the religious ways of the Jews in order to become Christians. We talked about that in Acts. Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; li...
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Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

  Good morning. Remember last time: the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? In chapter 3 he talked about the collective body of Christ being a temple of the Holy Spirit; now he’s talking about the individual person’s body being a temple of the Holy Spirit. For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. If we were constantly conscious of God dwelling inside of us, would we even dare to sin like we do? It reminds us of Watchman Nee’s book “Practicing the Presence of Jesus”. He then talks about the marriage relationship. Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am (unmarried). However, each man has his own gift from God. But I say to the unmarried (FYI this is a masculine noun) and to widows that is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. Father help us to always ...
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Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power

  Good morning. Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. It’s one thing for God to raise His Son from the dead (which is understandable); but it’s so much more that He would raise us from the dead. We are not just an afterthought. Since our bodies are to be raised from the dead, we should keep ourselves in holiness. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Our complete selves (spirit, soul, and body) belong to God. The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Paul then urges us to - flee immorality. You cannot cozy up next to it and expect to remain victorious. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. The next verse, which we will look at next time, expands on what this means. Father thank You that we are one spirit with You. Help us to keep our eye...
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Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God

  Good morning. Last time Paul listed a bunch of despicable people and said they would not inherit the kingdom of God. He then says: such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified (note that all are in the past tense) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. So there is hope for all. You don’t have to be perfect to become a Christian. God will transform you and renew your mind. Of course it is much more than that – it is a transforming of your heart. But if your mind is not transformed, it will get in the way and put you in the mindset where you will want to do the old things. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. This should be our attitude at all times. In all situations, we should be in charge, not the activity or substance. Even if in itself it is OK, the fact that we can’t do without it is a warning sign. We are...
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