Good morning. We are back in Corinthians. Paul exhorts them to all agree and that there be no divisions among them. Some were saying I am of Paul, others said I am of this one or that one. We have that even today. A few years back, it was I am of Kenneth Copeland, or some other faith preacher. I don't even know the names of those today, but I know they are out there. In Paul's day some were so spiritual that they were even saying I am of Christ, not of these mere mortals. That does sound spiritual, doesn't it - "Just me and Jesus". Paul says that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. He says that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void. This is a big part of the first chapter or two of first Corinthians. It's not man's knowledge or wisdom, but Christ Himself. God knew what He was doing, even though it did not fit man's way of thinking. If you could figure it out on your own, you would not need Christ. It has nothing to do with us – it has everything to do with Christ dying on the cross. For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. That is so true today. To nonbelievers it is foolishness. We should be the ones having to do this or that in order to be saved. I have to be the one achieving salvation. But if that were true, then you could brag about it. But no one can brag about it. It is all up to God. Jesus dying on the cross is the power of God. Whether or not one believes it; understands it; or accepts it – it is true. Father thank You that Jesus died on the cross for us. He is the way, the truth, and the life. By Him we can come into Your presence. Continue to minister to the reader, and meet his/her every need.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners

  Good morning. So, was the law a bad thing? We know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully (not to control people, as some were), realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane…, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the Blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer etc. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. Formerly Paul was good in the eyes of the law, but unrighteous in the eyes of God. Despite that, God was more than able to use him in a magnificent way to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Father thank You that Your Grace is gre...
Read more

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me

  Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
Read more

Philip, who was one of the seven deacons, went down to the city of Samaria and began preaching Christ to them.

  Good morning. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Philip, who was one of the seven deacons, went down to the city of Samaria and began preaching Christ to them. This is the area where Jesus had the discussion with the woman at the well. Remember from Acts 1:8 that after Jerusalem, Samaria was mentioned. Samaritans were looked down upon by the Jews and considered more or less half Jews. A lot of the Jews of the northern kingdom were taken away and replaced by others who were not Jews. They intermingled with the Jews that were living in the northern kingdom. Even though Samaria was not far away, the disciples had not come there to preach the word before this. The disciples may have even thought that it was impossible for them to get saved, just like the Gentiles. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. Even though he was “just a deacon”, God worked throug...
Read more