Supporting The Work Of God

The Problem Of Inadequate Support

1 Corinthians 9:1-10:15


The lesson today deals with supporting those who are called of God to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians we are obligated to not only support the Church and the ministries of the Church, we are to support those that preach the "Gospel"!

Some things to consider are these things:

1) Every preacher called of God should be supported in his ministry according to the limits of the ability of the church he serves!

2) No preacher should be supported unless he is willing to preach without that support!

3) Every preacher must be above suspicion, preaching is not a job, it is a calling!

*****1Co 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
1Co 9:2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
1Co 9:3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
1Co 9:4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?
1Co 9:5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
1Co 9:6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

There were many in that day and even some today who questioned the apostleship of Paul.

If Paul was not called of Christ then his words might have no real meaning at all!

Not everyone who saw Jesus became an apostle, but no one became an apostle who had not seen the Lord and who had not been commissioned by Him!

There can be no apostles today for these reasons!

Paul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus!

Jesus had spoken to Paul with His actual voice!

Paul had been commissioned, even with a special commission, to reach out to the Gentiles!

Paul was called of God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Paul had not chosen this thing himself, he was just obeying the Lord and the Lord gave Paul the same authority as He had done to the other eleven!

Paul had the same "Christian Liberty" as all brothers and sisters in Christ have!

The truth is, this church in Corinth was just one of the places that proved the results of Paul's labor and his God given ability to lead the lost to Christ for salvation.

Paul had taught that because of the conditions of that day, it may be better to remain celibate and devote a life full time to the Lord's service but Paul also recognized that it was also good to be married.

In fact Paul taught that one was no more holy than the other!

Paul insisted that even the Apostles had that same right if they so chose.

There is no biblical requirement for the clergy to be celibate!

We know that Peter had a wife, and we are sure some of the others did also.

Paul was just as much biblically free to take a wife if he so chose to do so!

The Bible clearly teaches the support of the ministry and Paul and Barnabas could have expected this church in Corinth to help in that support but Paul chose not to do this for his own reasons!

The truth is, that the greatest work that anyone can do is to lead a lost soul to the Lord for salvation!

No other work on this planet is greater than this work that Christ Jesus has given us all to do!

In fact Paul was saying to these Corinthians that if anyone deserved to be supported by this church then he should be at the top of the list.

And Paul begins to explain:

*****1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

**The armies of this world are supported at the expense of the public.

Preachers called of God are the good soldiers of Jesus Christ, they are engaged in a warfare state in fighting the good fight of faith against all the enemies of the church!

It is only reasonable that they be supported by God's children!

**The church is the vineyard of God, those called to preach are the planters, the vine-dressers, and the laborers in God's vineyard and they should be able to partake of the vineyard!

**The church is the flock of sheep that belong to God.

It is the job of God's preachers to be that shepherd of those sheep until the true Shepherd appears to take us home.

He that feeds the flock should eat of the milk that is produced!

Is this not what the Bible teaches says Paul?

*****1Co 9:8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
1Co 9:9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1Co 9:10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1Co 9:11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Paul knows that many in the church will question these things.

If God's man can produce what the people need, then he should profit from that production but on the other hand those who will not work, neither should they eat!

Those that would muzzle an ox while he is doing such work, would find that ox would get weak and production would suffer.

1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

God's laborers are certainly worthy of their reward!

Every preacher who plows and threshes in the house of God in hope of spiritual things, should also be a partaker of this hope!

The preacher should be supported by those he preaches to!

If one labors in the carnal world they live by the fruit of their labor, how much more should not one who sows "spiritual things" reap of the "carnal things" of those to whom he ministers!

*****1Co 9:12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

The Apostle Paul abilities were great. He knew the Old Testament from cover to cover. He had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel and finished in the top of his class. He had been trained to work with his own hands and he had been called of God and had all the powers of the Apostles but Paul did not allow any of these things to hinder his moral obligation to God's people!

After his salvation, Paul was more like Jesus than most all other men because he knew the mind of Christ toward all nations!

Paul willingly gave up his right to church support, that he might have the pleasure of saying he was a willing volunteer in the work of the Lord much like Isaiah.

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? "Then said I, Here am I; send me".

Paul had nothing to prove to these Corinthians, Paul just cherished the fact that he could serve the Lord!

Paul said do you not know the Word of God?

*****1Co 9:13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
1Co 9:14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

What is the truth?

The priests and the Levites lived off of the offerings and the sacrifices that were brought to the Temple and before that to the Tabernacle.

Num 18:7  Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Num 18:8  And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
Num 18:9  This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

This teaching is very clear: The Old Testament ministers of the Word of God under the Law and the House of God, were supported by the people to whom they ministered to!

Should not God's ministers who were now under "Grace" also be supported?

What had Jesus taught the Apostles?

Luk 10:8  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
Luk 10:9  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Mat 10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Supporting the ministers called of God is a fundamental principle that the Church should not neglect for it is a needed part of carrying the Gospel throughout this world!

As this is also needed teaching to the New Testament Church every preacher is to teach these things!

The Apostle Paul had his own reasons for not accepting support from these Corinthians which he went on to explain.

*****1Co 9:15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

The Apostle Paul clearly understood the evils that could result from "a paid ministry"!

We can see these things even more often in the modern day Church where those who support the minister then make demands of that minister, which he will comply with in order to keep his position.

This is not the intent of supporting the ministry!

Men who devote their lives to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ deserve the support of the Church!

Those that just tickle the ears of the flock of God need to be run out of the ministry but that is what we see behind many pulpits today!

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

It is not charity to support the true man called of God, it is deserved!

The true minister of God must be first a man, then a Christian, and then a messenger of Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul decided to relinquish any support from these Corinthians rather than give them another occasion to offer their reproach.

Many of them already questioned his apostleship!

It is easy to see as we follow these Scriptures that this church required a special touch from God's Apostle!

*****1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1Co 9:17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

The Apostle Paul, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, and every true man called of God already know that they could not keep the Word of God to themselves and they also understand the results of preaching the "Gospel".

Jeremiah said:

Jer 20:9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay".

Paul had only one goal and that was to gain other souls to the Lord!

Paul was willing to forgo comfort, profit, rest and any earthly prize in his goal of that "crown of rejoicing"!

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1Th 2:20  For ye are our glory and joy.

The Apostle Paul lived in dread of becoming a castaway.

Paul had no fear of being rejected of God but he did fear reaching a point when he was of no use to God and was cast aside in favor of someone more unselfish, more compliant, and more willing to give of themselves!

The life of the Apostle Paul will put us all to shame, who think we are serving the Lord, but God does not think on these terms, God only expects our reasonable service!

What reward was Paul seeking?

*****1Co 9:18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
1Co 9:19  For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

The Apostle Paul is saying that there is not enough money in this world that could replace the happiness he got from preaching the Gospel without cost to any!

It was of utmost importance to Paul for Christians to see that the rewards for serving the Lord are far more greater than any wage or reward that could be gotten from this world!

If this seemed to be boasting then in truth it is because it is the truth. The wages of the servant of God go far beyond salvation and eternal life, which should be enough if that was all we received.

The Bible says:

Isa 64:4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Paul had powers given to him by the Lord but he refused to abuse any of those powers so he could concentrate on the pure "love of God"!

Paul had made this covenant with himself, at the beginning of his ministry and he stuck to it throughout his ministry!

Paul did not demand support for himself even though he taught the full Word of God which called for the supporting of those men God called into the ministry.

Every house of God should strive to support the man God has given them along with the maintenance of a place of worship and the proper outreach which should concentrate on discipleship and evangelism!

*****1Co 9:20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
1Co 9:21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
1Co 9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1Co 9:23  And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
1Co 9:24  Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

It is a fact that in any race there can be but one winner!

If we refuse to even enter into that race, we will never have an opportunity to be a winner!

The prize to Paul was the "high calling of Jesus Christ"!

The Word of God gives each of us the rules for running in the race for sanctification and then glorification.

The course we are to run on is this world on which we live!

Unless we accept the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as the truth then we can never be a part of this race!

Jesus Christ ran His race and won and is now sitting at rest on His throne in Heaven until it is time to return to gather all His winners!

The encouragement to run is the "Grace of God", God's Riches At Christ Expense!

We can begin this race by running to Christ and our race will end when Christ runs back to get His children!

Running is moving forward and as Christians it must be our goal to continue to move forward all the days that God will give us. Standing still is still losing ground!

*****1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26  I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27  But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Racing, is normally a competition with a group. To strive, is that battle we face within our own selves and is an even more severe contest than the foot race!

The Apostle Paul exercised self-denial even abstaining from many things that would have made his own life more pleasant in order to gain the reward promised by the Lord!

Those that race for the glory of this world, can only win a crown that will fade away!

Those that race for the Glory of God, will obtain a reward that will never fade away and will be waiting on them when they get home to Heaven.

When we run the Christian race, and answer the call of God, we must take clear aim at the goals of Christ and cast away anything that hinders us, be indifferent to what bystanders may say, and consider that even a stumble can be a means of encouragement!

A boxer may shadow box to prepare for his opponent but we must never forget our opponent is Satan and he has been at this for more than 6000 years and he is a real adversary!

We must first win that battle with our own flesh before we can be a servant who will slave for the Lord or just be cast aside while God chooses someone else.

This was Paul's goal and our goals should be similar!

There are things we should remember in the Word of God!

Our God is powerful!

*****1Co 10:1  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Remember this Church at Corinth was full of people who thought they had reached their peak in Bible Knowledge and needed no further instructions.

Many today refuse to go to the house of God because they feel they are saved and have no further need of instruction and they are just as wrong as these Corinthians!

The people of Israel had witnessed with their own eyes the miracle at the Red Sea.

The people of Israel had seen the "Cloud by day" and the "Fire by night" that had remained with them day and night for 40 years.

The people of Israel had eaten of the manna that came down from Heaven and sustained them for 40 years.

The people of Israel had witnessed and drank of the water that had gushed from the Rock and that Rock was in "TYPE" Christ Himself, the true Living Water!

The people of Israel were eye-witnesses to how it could be only Jehovah God who could do all these things and yet they failed in their "Faith" and God was not pleased with many of them and they never entered into the Promised Land of God and they were over thrown in the wilderness!

These things are all examples for the Church to learn and understand!

*****1Co 10:6  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Typology is used as a method of interpreting the Old Testament as it relates to the main theme of the Bible, which is "salvation" and out Christian walk after salvation!

Paul is saying that all these things are examples or "types" for our comparison!

The experiences of the Jewish people in their Exodus from Egypt are a great lesson for every believer.

All the Jewish people were a part of this Exodus and all were free from the "bondage of Egypt" but God was not pleased with most of them and they died unable to enter into the Promised land!

The Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's Cross and paid the sin debt for all human beings, but God is not pleased with all those that reject the Lord and the work that He did for all our salvation and they will never enter into the Promised Heavenly home!

Christians are not to lust after the things of this world.

Christians are not to murmur and complain because of persecution.

Christians are to set the example as the true children of God!

Even the "Grace" of God has it's limits!

*****1Co 10:7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Some of these Israelite deliberately sat down, rejecting the Word of God, and worshipped an idol.

As Christians we must realize that anything that comes between us and our Lord is idol worship!

*****1Co 10:8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

If we remember Balaam from the Old Testament, we know that he was unable to put a curse on the children of Israel because God simply would not allow it.

Though Balaam could not curse them, he did make a suggestion to King Balak of a way to cause Israel to sin.

Jesus Christ reminds the "Church Age" of the doctrine of Balaam in that day.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Temptation was the downfall of many a Christians in the day of Paul and it is so much the more today!

These Corinthians were surrounded by temples of worship to false deities and prostitution was used in most all of them to entice the worshipper.

So long as we are in this world we will be exposed to temptations and we need always to be on our watch against them!

*****1Co 10:9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

To "tempt" is to "try to the uttermost" to see if God is as good as His Word says!

Every Word that God has given us is true!

We must praise Him for His "Grace".

We must trust by "faith" in His salvation!

We must also believe that those that reject the Lord will certainly see the wrath of God!

God is certainly everything His Word says He is!

*****1Co 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

If there be any doubt in your mind we can be sure that God hates a bunch of complaining people!

The fruit of the Spirit is joy!

It is our faith which will bring with it that joy!

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

*****1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co 10:15  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

If there be any doubt that we should study the Old Testament Scriptures, then these words should put that to rest.

The Old Testament is given to us for our admonition!

Admonition means, for our attention, for our instruction in duties, for our direction, and for our caution and warning!

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

There is never a time until we reach Heaven that we do not need to be studying the Word of God!

God is "faithful"!

God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our own strength without making a way of escape!

These words are just as true as the words of salvation!

To flee, is to run away as fast as you possibly can from all these things God has warned us about.

Remember God does not warn us for the punishment, God warns us because He loves us so much!

The Apostle Paul was a Christian who set very high standards for himself after he was saved and even Paul failed from time to time.

Who are we to think that this sinful, evil world cannot touch us!

We are all just sinners, who are saved only by the "GRACE" of God and held together only by OUR OWN FAITH"!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Christian Liberty

The Problem Of Abused Liberty

1 Corinthians 8


By definition "Liberty" is the opposite of "servitude" or "bondage". Liberty is then slaves or captives who are set free from oppression.

Throughout the Bible we can see that the main theme is that God will set His people free from spiritual bondage.

God has never ordained slavery!

It is God who has liberated all who believe by "Faith" from the bondage of sin, by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What did Jesus preach?

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, "to preach deliverance to the captives", and recovering of sight to the blind, "to set at liberty them that are bruised",
Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

What else did Jesus preach?

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Today our lesson is not so much about "liberty" as it is the abuse of our liberty that has been given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Bible says:

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; "only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh", but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 5:15  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

These things are important because as Christians we live in a world of idolatrous practices and where humans make them own selves gods!

So let's begin:

*****1Co 8:1  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Again we can see that the Apostle Paul is addressing a question that was sent to him in a letter from the house of Chloe.

What we will see is that in all cases of our freedom in Christian Liberty, the main theme of the Apostle Paul rest on the commands of Jesus Christ!

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets".

For those who think other wise the entire Word of God is based upon the Love of God for His created people!

The message of the Apostle is that every Christian ought to walk so as not to wound another brother or sister in Christ!

This is the way that Jesus walked!

If we remember from the Book of Acts, a question the Jews had was if Gentiles could really be saved if they did not first become a Jew and obey all the laws of Moses.

It was James, the half-brother of Jesus who stated the results of that decision.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Act 15:30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Act 15:31  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

It is a fact that there is only one God and His name is Jehovah!

We already know that the church at Corinth was full of "Babes in Christ" who had very liberal views.

We already know that times were hard with famine and increasing Christian persecution.

There were many false temples to idols and false gods in Corinth where animals were offered in sacrifice which usually meant that the remnants of those animals that were slain as sacrifices ended up in the local markets at a discount price or at great banquets in those temples.

Those of Jewish faith who had converted to Christianity would never consider buying such meat nor partake of what they considered unclean meat.

Those Gentiles who were now Christian saw no problems with consuming these things and they were right except for one thing.

This kind of knowledge can cause us to sin!

If knowledge of certain things causes us to place a stumbling block before any brother or sister in Christ then we have forgotten the law of Jesus Christ when He said "we are to love our neighbors as ourselves"!

When we put on an air of superiority over any other child of God we are committing sin not only to that brother or sister in Christ but to Christ Himself!

To edify, is to build upon the "Body of Christ" it is not to tear down!

*****1Co 8:2  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

We must realize as Christians that every teaching of God is to be tempered with not only the "Love of God", but also the "Love For Each Other"!

When we use our "faith" as being superior to anyone, we are not on the right track in search of the knowledge of God.

We all stand on level ground at the Cross of Jesus Christ!

It is easy to see why this church at Corinth was having so many problems:

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, "even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness";
1Ti 6:4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

But to be obedient to the "laws of love" the two greatest of all commandments, is to be known of God!

*****1Co 8:3  But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

There are those who have a "think so" religion.

Christianity is not a "think so" but "know so" by "faith in Christ Jesus"!

The Bible says:

1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; "that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God".

The truth is that God knows all those who are His!

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, "The Lord knoweth them that are his". And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Those that know God are known of God!

Gal 4:9  But now, "after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God", how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

And the truth is that we can only know love because God first loved us!

No one can be acquainted with God who does not love Him and show it in their actions toward all others!

This shoots down any theory of the Ecumenical movement that say all religions worship the same God!

To love God is to keep His commandments!

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

God gave us His commandments in what is now called the Bible, or the Word of God and these are the commandments that are to be kept.

Those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God will hear these words in the end:

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, "I never knew you": depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Those that cannot love the Lord Jesus Christ cannot know God and therefore cannot be loved of God!

All those that do not know or love the Lord Jesus knows nothing as he ought to know, because all else is nothing in this world because there is no other God but Jesus!

*****1Co 8:4  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and "that there is none other God but one".

Therefore since an idol is only a figment of man's imagination, as is all false gods, then things that are sacrificed to those things cannot in any way harm the Christian!

Some look upon idols and false gods as demons.

Some look upon idols and false gods as evil spirits.

The truth is they all are only figment of man's imagination except for the One God Jehovah!

Isa 44:8  Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

An idol or false god is a name without a thing, a mere figment of the human heart!

Isa 44:9  They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed

This is one of the trivial things that Christians have a tendency to disagree on, but the pure truth is, it is only how these things affect the conduct of others that is of real importance!

As Christians we are not to consider the lawfulness nor the unlawfulness of these things for we are to always consider all questions of this kind on the grounds of the welfare of the "Body of Christ"!

We are to rate all things as they concern the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ!

*****1Co 8:5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

We should also consider that these Corinthians to whom Paul was writing, had, before their conversion to Christianity, worshiped many false gods in the heavens and also many lords on this earth!

All these things are only manifestations in the mind that are energized by Satan and his demonic spirits!

It is sometimes hard for the "Babe in Christ" to free their minds from the power of false religion!

It is even harder today for the new Christian to free their minds from the teaching of evolution, they been forced to grow up with!

It is a fact that our youth are being brain-washed by evolution and it's false theories that cannot even be proven.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of "science falsely so called":
1Ti 6:21  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith.

BUT, It is not other humans themselves that are our enemies but it is the rulers of darkness that are our true enemy!

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is only "the truth" that make us free from all these things!

*****1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

The testimony of the Scriptures reveal that their is only one true God!

All true science points to only one Creator who is One God!

We are all God's creation, created by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

In contrast, evolution is the teaching of pantheism and ancient pagans, evolutionary atheism put together by modern, so-called, intellectuals.

All idols are nothing!

All false gods are nothing!

All teachings other than the Word of God will lead to nothing but sin and eternal damnation!

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is only Christ Jesus who can make a New Creation!

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be "born again", he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, "I make all things new". And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

All those that seek something new must come to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Baby Christians still struggle with some of these things and we must not ever place a stone of stumbling in their path to the truth!

*****1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

Some of these Corinthians just could not fathom eating meat that had been sacrificed to some idol or false god with a clear conscience.

Many of those were probably converted Jews but not all.

That had found freedom from all these things and they certainly did not want to fall back into their old false beliefs.

Those things simply did not have the taste of freedom and seemed in their conscience to be unclean.

To be quite honest once you have been removed from the filth of this world through Jesus Christ, you will simply not want to ever know that feeling of uncleanness again!

To be washed in the blood of Jesus is to feel a clean that only the Christian can know!

The truth is that no matter what God makes clean can never be soiled again but only in our own conscience!

But God says, all those with a weak conscience, weakness as a result of a past habit, are entitled to the respect and the exercise of patience from the strong Christian!

God says in fact, it is the strong Christian who is unrighteous to ignore the truth of these things!

Why?

These are all trivial matters that have no real importance to our Christian walk but we can allow them to ruin our testimony and harm the work of the Church!

*****1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

The truth is that the food we eat to sustain our flesh does not affect our standing before God!

Food like anything else can only harm us if we allow it to control our actions toward others.

Our liberty is forfeited when we allow anything of this world to be our master!

We have only one Master and He is the Lord!

Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

*****1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

When we allow the trivial things of this world, that have no affect on our standing before the Lord but that thing may tempt another brother or sister to act against their own conscience, then that thing has become a sin to us!

What did Jesus say to the Church at Pergamos?

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The Christian is to have patience, and not privilege!

The Christian is to show love, not knowledge!

When sin came into God's world, God did not first respond with wrath "but with love"!

For our redemption, God's wisdom made a plan!

God's power put His plan into action!

But it was God's love that made all these things possible!

All that Jesus Christ did and  suffered was because He loved us!

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

*****1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

Corinth had many temples to false gods and each one had great banquet halls where the meat that was sacrificed to idols could then be consumed.

For a "Babe In Christ" to witness a fellow brother or sister at the banquet table, how could they not think that this person was not bowing to that false god!

We would have that same problem today if a member in good standing, decided to witness in a place of ill report and some "Babe in Christ" or some other member, drove by and saw his car in that parking lot, they would only think the worse!

If the Church is the hospital for lost souls, and it is, then we are to build up our brothers and sisters and not tear them down!

The Church's job is to make disciples who will then make more disciples and on and on, until the Lord returns!

When we mingle with this lost world, we must be aware that all eyes are upon us, not only the lost but those of the church who may not yet possess the same knowledge we have and even though we are anxious to do right, we may in fact do more wrong by our actions, than good!

It is only God who can bring the lost to the point of salvation but if our actions cause a weaker brother or sister to loose their faith and not recover it, for whose sake Christ died, then we have sinned before the eyes of Christ!

If Jesus Christ died for our sins then we should also be willing to die for the sins of our own brothers and sisters and never allow our actions to harm the family of God!

Jesus Christ died even for all those that remain lost by their own choice but in the end even they will recognize the love of God when they all will bow before Him!

Any time we jeopardize the salvation of any soul we have pronounced the death sentence upon them if they never repent!

*****1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

As Christians how much we are willing to give of ourselves for another, shows the value of that other person!

Paul told husbands these things:

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Jesus Christ gave Himself for the Church. He gave it all, including His life!

When we are so caught up in our own faith in Christ that we ignore that one who is weaker in faith, then we are not willing to give all for the "Body of Christ"!

The only thing we must not do is to allow the preferences of that weaker brother or sister to cause us to go against the will of God for us!

The important thing for each Christian is to set the proper example for others in this life just as Jesus Christ did!

*****1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Christian liberty is a wonderful thing but we must not insist on our own rights at the expense of injury to others!

We must not allow trivial things that have no basis on salvation to ever make another Christian stumble!

We must:

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

We must in no way allow ourselves to give anyone the appearance that we will do evil!

Our testimony is the greatest resource we have in this world that is dying before our eyes!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Problem Of Broken Marriages

The Problem Of Broken Marriages

1 Corinthians 7


Before we begin this lesson we must realize that the Apostle Paul is addressing the Church and he is addressing certain questions this church at Corinth had about marriage.

Whatever the results we take from this passage we must realize that marriage is indeed honorable in the eyes of God!

Heb 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

In America today there are more than 2 million marriages each year but only 1 out of 15 of those marriages survive more than 10 years and only 1 out of every 13 even after children have come into that marriage.

It has become the trend for couples to just be cohabited together but of those, only 1 out of 23 will ever marry and their odds of divorce is even great than those that marry without first cohabiting.

There are also 30% of those married who are in their second marriage and 42% of those second marriages will also end in divorce!

In fact there is a divorce in America about every 36 seconds!

This is not what God intended!

For those that call themselves Christian, the averages are about the same as those say they are not Christian!

The truth is, that those who regularly attend church are 35% less likely to divorce than those who rarely attend church.

Over 53% of Christians say that God must be the center of that marriage for it to survive!

Those that say they are Christian, but the way they live their lives says differently, are the ones that are the most likely to get a divorce of them all!

This is another reason that the Church has the name "a house of hypocrites"!

Paul was addressing a church that was full of "Babes in Christ" and they had many questions about marriage and divorce and Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, was addressing these issues!

*****1Co 7:1  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

The first thing we see here is that Paul was addressing a specific question that he had received in a letter that had been sent to him.

In fact many believe that Paul was quoting the actual words of this letter.

The truth is, that forbidding marriage in the Church is considered "apostasy" in the eyes of God!

1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

We must forget that it was God Himself who first sanctioned marriage and gave us the guidelines for marriage!

Mar 10:6  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
Mar 10:7  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
Mar 10:8  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
Mar 10:9  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The family was sanctioned before the Church, in order for the Church to understand what it is to be in the family of God!

Mal 2:14  Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.
Mal 2:15  And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

It is true, that those who can remain single, without sin, can attend to the things of the Lord without distraction but not many can do this thing!

Jesus Christ addressed this with the Apostles and Paul is now addressing this with these Corinthians.

Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

What is the truth?

*****1Co 7:2  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

The only way to avoid the sin of fornication, is for every man to have "his own wife" and every woman to have "her own husband" or to remain celibate but still have "no" lusts in their hearts!

When we look upon any woman, other than our own wives or in the case of the woman on another man other than her husband with lust in our hearts, we are already in the sin of adultery!

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And this would also include the homosexual movement and all those that are unmarried!

Rom 1:26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

The truth is, being celibate without sin is no more holy than being married and without sin!

We must remember that God Himself said it was not good for most men to be alone!

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

To solve this problem God made woman!

Only a woman can be a "help meet" to a man "to fulfill his incompleteness" and be his companion.

Adam was only complete, when Eve stood by his side!

Gen 5:2  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and "called their name Adam", in the day when they were created.

Those that enter into a marriage from lustful impulses, do not really understand the ordinance of marriage!

True marriage is, a mutual spiritual affection of one man to one woman!

True marriage is, each one wishing for the well-being of the other "and causing this to happen"!

*****1Co 7:3  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Benevolence, is the desire to do good, to be kind, to be charitable, and a love with a desire to promote happiness in that one you marry!

Benevolence is the trait of God that this world ignores the most!

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

A marriage that last, knows the love of God and shows that love toward each other!

The wife is due this sort of love as well as the husband!

*****1Co 7:4  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Most important is the fact that marriage is not just some fanciful union that is subject to change, marriage is a holy bond between one man and one woman!

In the marriage bond, separate ownership of each person ceases because they then own each other!

Even though in the family the man is to be the head, the equal rights of the husband and the wife are to be maintained.

A marriage is to be united in the most intimate union and the most tender ties!

*****1Co 7:5  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Marriage should bring much joy but it also brings many responsibilities!

Each one, husband and wife, have the responsibility to fulfill each other in all things!

Remember benevolence is also a great desire to promote happiness in each other in every way!

Anything less than this, is to defraud one another!

To defraud is to deny!

To defraud is to take something away without the knowledge of the owner and in marriage the two parties own each other!

To defraud is to withhold from another what is due him or her!

There should be times when each party should dedicate some time to the Lord and fasting could include the ability to withhold from each other for a known period of time!

Remember it is Satan's goal to break up every family!

It is Satan's goal, to put an end to all things sanctioned by God!

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The Marriage is the first thing that God sanctioned in humans after life itself!

*****1Co 7:6  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

The "permission" to say these things was obviously from the Lord, since no one else was above Paul in "apostolic authority".

The Apostles were all equal in the eyes of God and Jesus told them whatever they bound on earth would be bound in Heaven.

Paul was not denying divine inspiration but was certainly claiming it!

Paul was just saying, that though he did not have an explicit commandment to cite for this teaching, from the Laws of Moses nor from the teachings of Christ, he was certainly led by the Holy Spirit!

And what did Jesus say?

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the ways of Christ Jesus!

*****1Co 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
1Co 7:8  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Co 7:9  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

What is the truth of that day of the Apostle Paul?

Act 11:28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and "signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world": which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

During the reign of Claudius, several different famine are known to have occurred.

The first famine during this period was centered around the city of Rome in the years 41 and 42 A.D.

The second famine known to have occurred during the reign of Claudius was in the fourth year of his office (45 A.D.), and was particularly centered in Judea.

It is this famine to which Luke makes reference in Acts 11:28.

The third famine during the time of Claudius was centered in Greece in about A.D. 50.

The fourth famine took place in 52 A.D. and once again, plagued the city of Rome.

The Apostle Paul established the Church at Corinth in 51 AD.

Not only did these things occur but during this same period, the persecution of Christians was on the rise!

Paul mentions these things in verse 26.

**1Co 7:26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

With these things in mind we can better understand what Paul is saying in these Scriptures.

The truth is, Paul was not married at this time and because of these conditions that were going on throughout the world, Paul said it may be best for all to remain single that were not at that time married!

Paul was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin and marriage was a requirement and it is probable that Paul was at one time married and was in fact a widower himself as verse 8 leads us to believe!

And even Jesus said it would not be easy to be celibate while we are in these sinful bodies!

Mat 19:10  His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
Mat 19:11  But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
Mat 19:12  For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Paul has only justified celibacy, but in no way is celibacy better than marriage as they are both holy in the eyes of God, one no better than the other!

It is being obedient to the Word of God that remains the example for all of us!

To burn with lust and passion, is a great sin as we have already pointed out!

To lust is to commit fornication in your heart and it is best to find that marriage partner and commit to a biblical marriage rather than live in sin!

Paul having been married and a widower and then saved, had now devoted all his life to serving the Lord!

These are all things that the Holy Spirit led Paul to write but once a marriage takes place it falls under the commandments of the Lord!

*****1Co 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
1Co 7:11  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

Remember Paul sent this letter to the Church, those who had welcomed Jesus into their heart and were saved. This Scripture refers to Christians that marry!

It is the Lord who said "let not the wife depart from the husband".

Mat 19:4  And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

And Jesus had confirmed that marriage had been ordained of God from the beginning of Creation!

Gen 2:21  And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22  And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The idea of these things is that God himself had said that the marriage bond of one man and one woman would be until their death!

Adam lived over 800 years and was married to only one wife, who was Eve!

Jesus later said that only for the act of fornication, which includes adultery, should any divorce be granted!

Mat 19:9  And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

There should never be any irreconcilable differences between two Christians!

The Bible plainly states two Christians that know the Lord should be able to work out any differences that come up in their marriage, if they truly love the Lord and love each other!

We should also remember we are all sinners and the Lord took our place on the cross to redeem us from all sin!

We must do the very best to follow the Word of God, and repent of all our sin!

*****1Co 7:12  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1Co 7:13  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
1Co 7:14  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Again Paul is claiming the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on things that were not directly addressed by the Lord.

These things are going to happen where just one in a family may become Christian and not the other.

In the time of Ezra when the Jews were returning from Babylon, God commanded the Jews to put away all wives who were not Jews. These things were under the laws of Moses.

Now in the time of "Grace" there are to be no marriages between a Christian and a non-Christian but those that come to know the Lord after marriage are to remain married it at all possible.

Verse 14 explains the reasons why!

In other words, that bond of marriage is still holy in the eyes of God but is does not mean that salvation can come based on the that Christian!

*****1Co 7:15  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
1Co 7:16  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

If that non-Christian wishes to be separated from that Christian then it is not to be treated as sin and either one, man or woman are free to remarry, but that Christian only to another Christian.

If the unbelieving wife or husband chooses to leave the relationship, there is nothing else that the believer can do!

The Christian spouse may remain unmarried as long as there be any possibility of reconciliation but they are not under bondage, no longer bound by God's law to remain with that one who left!

This is similar to the law that when one partner dies the other is no longer bound by the marriage vows!

Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Rom 7:3  So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

*****1Co 7:17  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

The Christian life is a divine calling of God! We are to live according to the Word of God. Only then can we be true witnesses for the Lord!

God has a purpose for each of us and He calls on us to fulfill that purpose!

Unless God calls us specifically to do other wise, we should remain in the same calling as our previous life was spent.

There is a reason we live where we live and work where we work and that is our missionary field unless God tells us to change or opens a door to another ministry.

The only difference is, that we are to stay in our calling with God the Holy Spirit living within us and following His lead!

Our life is to be for Christ Jesus, in Him, with Him, and for Him!

If we are single we are to work for God!

If we are married we are to work for God!

If we are divorced we are to work for God!

If we remarry we are to work for God!

We are where we are, because God has chosen to place us in that position!

Christianity was never intended to introduce a violent revolutionary element into society but certainly to bring peace to a violent world!

Some examples are:

*****1Co 7:18  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
1Co 7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
1Co 7:20  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Many Jews who became Christians became ashamed of Judaism and desired to remove the outward signs of it.

The Apostle Paul taught that once a Jew converted to Christianity he should not abandon the customs of his nation.

There is no shame in being a Jew! In Fact There is no shame for a Christian in any nationality!

Red, yellow, black and white, we are all precious in His sight!

We are all to keep the written Word of God as our guide of life!

Gal 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

If you are a Christian then you are the true children of Abraham!

Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

When we are Christian, then we need to act like Christians rather than act like the world acts!

*****1Co 7:21  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
1Co 7:22  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

A Christian is someone who after salvation succeeds in applying the principles of the Word of God to his daily life, and uses his place in society, no matter what it is, in a Christ-like spirit.

We should not consider slavery as we know it but look at slavery at the time of Paul!

Slaves abounded in Greece and in every part of the pagan world!

Grecians did not care for manual labor and had slaves to do that work!

Many slaves who had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ then also felt they should no longer submit to their masters.

It is true that slavery in most cases is very cruel, oppressive, and unjust but in that day many slaves had sold themselves into slavery in order to better themselves!

Christians should do their best to preserve the peace and not become disorderly.

God simply says be content where God has placed you, use your position to reach out to those that do not know the Lord.

We must never allow our circumstances to diminish our Christian spirit!

If freedom is to happen, God will make a way but we are already God's freemen because we have been redeemed from the bondage of Satan!

We are all to suffer persecution and it still does not make the oppression of a master right or just, but we are all justified in the eyes of God that know the Lord!

This does not mean that a slave should not desire freedom if it can be obtained in a legal fashion, keeping in mind we are never to dishonor Jesus Christ under any conditions!

Slavery is certainly evil but each man or woman of God must be patient and allow God to do what He does best, as He will provide all our needs in every circumstance!

For those who do not know, slavery is even more rampant today than it has ever been throughout known history but you do not ever see this fact in the news or mentioned by governments.

Even the United Nations does not mention this fact!

In the eyes of God, all that are called and accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior are already God's freemen!

We are all made free from "condemnation"!

Remember the "wages of sin" are death!

We were all once slaves to sin but are now liberated!

Freedom from the bondage of sin, is the greatest blessing we can receive at the hand of God!

We are Christ Jesus servants only to the extent that we are to obey the Word of God!

He is now our Master and He has given us all the same commands to follow!

We all stand on level ground at the cross of Jesus no matter the conditions of our past life!

*****1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

The price for all our freedom was the precious "blood of Jesus Christ"!

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

There is no other price that can purchase our freedom from Satan's bondage other than the blood of Jesus!

No matter our position in life we are to be servants of God!

Even in what the world calls slavery, the Christian slave has absolute liberty in the eyes of God!

The key is, to abide in God and doing service as to the Lord!

Eph 6:5  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7  With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8  Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

*****1Co 7:25  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
1Co 7:26  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

Again we should not forget Paul is answering questions that were sent to him in a letter from these church members.

It is true that the Lord Jesus did not directly address virgins but the Bible is specific when it says we are to avoid "fornication"!

Virgins used in this verse mean both the male and the female.

Here we are reminded that in the days of the Apostle Paul, there where great famines everywhere and it was simply not a good time to start a marriage.

Most of us parents and grandparents today know how evil this world is getting, and we know it is simply hard for a newly wed couple to survive in a relationship at this time while the future of this world looks so bleak!

This is the same thing that Paul was saying!

In fact Jesus said these things as we approach the end times:

Luk 23:28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29  For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

And Paul continues:

*****1Co 7:27  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Paul was simply saying that in that day with all those famines, and the Christian persecution was on the rise, there was enough turmoil in the lives of these people there was no sense in adding to it.

Jesus said:

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

BUT, Biblical marriage is never a sin!

*****1Co 7:28  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

Again Paul is just saying under the political conditions of that day, it would be even harder to have a Christian marriage.

Paul said "I only desire to spare you from adding great distress into your life that could cause a marriage to fail through no fault of your own!

*****1Co 7:29  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
1Co 7:30  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Co 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

First, our time is so short that we have to serve the Lord, we need to put off all things that are simply a waste of that precious time!

Second, Christian persecution was on the rise in the days of the Apostle Paul as it is now!

Third, The time is short before the Second Coming of Christ!

Peter preached the same message:

1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

It is a fact at the Rapture of the Church there will be no such thing as husbands and wives, for we will all be as the Angels!

We must understand the Scriptures!

Mar 12:24  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
Mar 12:25  For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
Mar 12:26  And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mar 12:27  He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

We should be rejoicing that the time is so short and not be agonizing about it!

2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

And we should all remember the words of our Lord!

Luk 17:26  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Luk 17:27  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:28  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
Luk 17:29  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Luk 17:30  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

We would be blind not see how the world is getting more like the days of Noah every moment that passes!

We must spiritually detach our selves from this world, because the fashion of this world is passing away every tick of the clock!

Paul points out that every decision we make in this time that is so short, should relate to our service in the work of the Lord!

And then Paul returns to answering those questions on marriage because marriage is a big step to take for everyone to consider!

*****1Co 7:32  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
1Co 7:33  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Paul is simply saying that when we allow the cares of this world overwhelm us, we will take our eyes off of the Lord!

Jesus put it like this:

Luk 21:32  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luk 21:33  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Jesus says to the generation who sees all these things happening, that generation will not pass away until all that He has said will be fulfilled!

We should understand that the Apostle Paul is not discouraging marriage!

Paul is just saying that there times when things are so bad, and the coming of the Lord is so imminent, and our time spent in the service of the Lord is so valuable, that maybe we should concentrate on those things!

Some can without sin and some cannot and they marry, but all without sin!

Paul has already stated that one is no holier than the other!

What is the greatest difference between the single person and the married person?

*****1Co 7:34  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

If we remember the story of Mary and Martha, then Paul is suggesting that the married wife would be more like Martha than like Mary.

Luk 10:38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luk 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luk 10:40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luk 10:41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luk 10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The most important thing in all our lives should be to be sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****1Co 7:35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
1Co 7:36  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

One of the biggest problems in lasting marriages, is that neither the husband nor the wife really took the time to get to know each other!

It is also a fact that we should never make major decisions until we are firm in our relation with the Lord!

Paul has been speaking to "babes in Christ" throughout this epistle and Paul is saying slow down, get right with God first, then these other decisions will be easier to make!

Paul said he was not trying to put a stumbling block in front of any of them!

We can profit more in the Lord, than from any situation that this world has to offer!

In the days of the Apostle Paul, most marriages were arranged by the father of the bride and most of those daughters were wedded by a certain age usually before the age 0f 20, in order to insure her virginity.

If a father held his daughter out of marriage it could create scandal and sin for that daughter.

It is always hard for most fathers to approve of the one who is to wed that daughter but as we know, young lovers do things that parents do not approve of, and it may be best to allow the marriage, to avoid sin in their lives and turn them away from the Lord!

*****1Co 7:37  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
1Co 7:38  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

If that daughter simply did not want to marry and remain a virgin, then that parent was to have no cause to force the issue.

The authority of the parent in that day was great but parents certainly have no right to force a marriage that benefits the family more than it was a benefit to that child!

The freedom to wed, must remain with the child and follow the Word of God as best they can!

To give her in marriage would be good, but Paul says in the distresses of that time it may better if she remained free from marriage.

What is the truth of Scriptures?

*****1Co 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
1Co 7:40  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

The Bible is specific, the second marriage of a Christian widow if it happens at all, should be to another Christian.

Rom 7:2  For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Those that remain single after the death of their husband can still be happy in the Lord.

Paul said we all have our opinions, but these he has spoken about were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.

We must know that all Scripture was inspired by God through the Holy Spirit!

Those that despise what Paul has written about marriage, then despise the God that gave Paul these words!

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Problems Caused By Unresolved Disputes In The Church

The Problem Of Unresolved Disputes

1 Corinthians 6


In the days of the Apostle Paul, we know that in Greek culture we find that they were a quarrelsome people and actually enjoyed taking their problems to the law for settlement.

In our last few lessons we have seen that it is not the job of the Church to judge this lost world, that is the job of God!

If we are not to judge the lost world then why would we even think that the lost should judge any matter of concern to the Church?

How can any preacher teach the superiority of a life in Jesus Christ, if Christians then feel that they must call on the world to settle their disputes for them?

We must be clear, this church was already a divided Church.

They were divided over God's messengers.

They were divided over immorality.

They were divided because of envy.

And they were divided over trivial matters that had no real meaning to either party!

This church was so full of "Babes in Christ" that their confusion was the main cause of their division!

We must also be very clear, these Scriptures do not mean that Christians are never to defend themselves under the laws of government!

It is always necessary to call in the law and the police to vindicate and to protect us from crime and criminals!

The Apostle Paul is teaching us about things that are private, personal, and of individual interest, to those of the "Body of Christ" and not about crime or criminals.

Personal matters between two Christians should be settled according to the Word of God!

When we face the Lord Jesus at the "Judgment seat of Christ" we will not be judged over trivial matters in our past history unless these things affect the work of the Church!

Allowing a carnal world to judge matters that are private between two Christians will certainly affect the work of the Church!

It is hard to imagine a church with so many problems, who was so careless about serious sins, and who were also so quick to go outside the church in civil court to settle trivial disputes.

We can see they were certainly "Babes in Christ" who lacked in "faith" but also knowledge of the Word of God, even after God had sent two of His best messengers to this Church.

Let's Begin:

*****1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

The Apostle Paul uses that word "dare" to imply that to do such a thing was in defiance of the Word of God and even challenging the truth of the Scriptures!

What had God said?

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Those that are "unjust" are all those that do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior!

It is rare that a Christian receives justice from those that are "unjust" because they would first be judging the facts of a salvation, that they know nothing about!

The truth is, that we can be justified only by our Supreme Judge, who is the only Fountain of Justice and we should know that we should not expect justice from an unjustified judge!

Paul was very clear in his opinion that it was better to bear injustice and even be wronged, rather than go before a heathen tribunal!

If two people could not come to some reasonable conclusion themselves, then they should take the matter before the saints of God and allow them to decide and end this thing before it went any further.

But even before these things, the first place to go is before the Lord in prayer!

And Paul proceeded to give his reasons according to the Word of God.

*****1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

These same "Babes in Christ" who refused to judge incest within the House of God would turn around and sue each other over things that were so trivial they could have easily have been settled just by taking the matter to the Lord and then the Lord's people!

Will the saints of God judge the world? There are many Scriptures that make this statement true and it should be accepted as the truth!

Dan 7:21  I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22  Until the Ancient of days came, "and judgment was given to the saints of the most High"; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

What are the facts?

1) Christians should be able to settle any dispute that comes between them!

2) Christians should never insist on having things their way even if they are right!

What did Jesus teach?

Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.

Mat 18:15  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

How often are we to forgive our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

These things are not always easy to do but this is the truth of the Word of God!

But when one brother goes to the law with another brother it cannot preserve the peace and understanding of the Word of God!

It shows the bonds of love are broken between the saints of God and these things ruin the testimony of the Church!

Solomon who had experienced in such things wrote that such things would cause harm in the relationship of these saints!

Pro 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

It is true that the saints of God will sit with the Lord on His throne, which designates the world under the absolute control of the Lord and will judge the world and Christians should not "dare" to do anything that goes against the Word of God and certainly not over trivial matters that have no real consequence other than showing the world just how carnal a Church can be that is not led by the Word of God!

America is now known as the land of the lawsuit and the Church members must not get caught up in such things!

*****1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

There is a reason that there will not only be a New Earth but also a New Heaven.

Job 4:18  Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

It is a fact that even the angels are not perfect and not one, even the highest angelic excellence, falls infinitely short of our Perfect God!

We may not understand this verse exactly except to accept it as the truth.

The saints of God will be made into perfection and have the mind of Christ on that day when we meet Him in the air and we will then understand all things!

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, "when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is".
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

In truth, the things in this life, beyond salvation and the work that the Lord has given us to do, are much to trivial to waste much our time on for they yield nothing but trouble!

1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1Th 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

The rewards of this world come to those who obey the Word of God and certainly the rewards of the world to come!

*****1Co 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Notice that no one was to judge things relating to the life or death of a fellow brother or sister in Christ, these things would be judged in the Legal System.

It was trivial disputes, things that pertain to this life, that continued to divide this Church!

In the Church no one has more authority than any other but it is a fact that Christians come from all walks of life.

Paul is saying to set them to judge who were farmers or ordinary workers rather than those who were educated in higher learning or who had businesses in that day.

Paul was saying let those who had "common sense" rather than "business sense" be the judge of these trivial things that was affecting the church in an evil way!

It would be a rare thing that those who were the poor of those days were ever caught up in law suits!

As an example, when the Apostles chose the first Deacons, the main requirement was that they be full of the Holy Ghost.

Act 6:3  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Things that affect the Church are best decided by those who cherish the Church and Love the Lord and are full of the Holy Ghost!

*****1Co 6:5  I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

The Greek word for shame is "entrope".

In science "entropy" is a measure of disorder and confusion!

These that had set themselves above their own brothers and sisters in Christ had forgotten true wisdom.

True wisdom comes from a fear of the Lord!

Job 28:28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

These Corinthians were so confused in their "Doctrine" they went against their own beliefs!

True wisdom is in the "Body of Christ" and not out in this "Lost World"!

It was also a shame to them that they had gloried in their own wisdom and boasted of their own abilities, but still felt that the heathen world could best settle their most insignificant matters.

What does God say of these things?

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Until all earthly wisdom is removed from the the Body of Christ, there will continue to be envy and strife in the Church!

What is the result of earthly wisdom?

*****1Co 6:6  But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

What is the truth of such people?

1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

This is why Paul spoke to the shame of these brothers in Christ!

They simply had to grow out of all these things before the Church of Corinth was destroyed.

The work  and the outreach of this Church was already tarnished!

What was the truth?

*****1Co 6:7  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

These things are even more important today that in Paul's day!

It is said that the Christian is his own worst enemy!

Our military has a saying that no man be left behind.

But the modern day church leaves it's own wounded warriors on the battlefield to die!

Christians certainly do have arguments and disagreements with each other but by following the Word of God, all disputes can be settled but the truth of the Scripture says, that those that suffer in the name of the Lord are following in the footsteps of Jesus.

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Pe 2:22  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Pe 2:23  Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Even when we are right, it is sometimes best to lose an argument or a settlement than to lose a brother in Christ!

To defraud is "deception" and it is Satan who is the Deceiver!

To defraud is unrighteousness!

*****1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The unrighteous are simply those that do wrong!

There are many today that think that Church membership is their ticket into Heaven but that is simply not true!

What is the truth? Faith without works is dead!

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Christianity is not in outward service!

Christianity is living a spiritual life led by the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit is in these things:

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Note: Before we move on from this passage we should take note of that word "effeminate".

As the gay movement and the sins of homosexuality, have made their way into the Church, we can see that those "effeminate", those men who submit themselves to be used sexually as women are also mentioned along with fornicators those who operate outside the bonds of marriage between "one man and one woman" along with all these other things.

Upon salvation all these things are to cease and the fruit of the Spirit should rule in all our lives!

*****1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

There is not one of us that did not fit into at least one of these categories before salvation!

We cannot be perfect after accepting the Lord Jesus as our Savior while we still live in these wicked bodies but we are to do our best to try!

Any man or woman, no matter how wicked can be saved and "transformed" through "faith" in Jesus Christ!

The object of the death of Jesus Christ was so that we are washed in His blood.

Christ has cleansed His Church!

We are not washed by the water of Baptism, we are washed by the Word of God on which we base our "faith"!

When we find the Lord, we will find the real purpose and the true meaning of life!

***To be "sanctified" is to be set apart for God's use. God will not use us to continue in our sin!

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

To be sanctified is to become a saint of God!

1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

***To be "justified" is to be declared righteous!

The only way to be justified in the eyes of God is by "faith" in Jesus Christ!

All believers are made right with God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is credited to our account by "faith"!

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

These things can only happen by the mercy of God!

Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When we are no longer deceived by the foolishness of this world, we will not do the things that this world does!

Just because the world approves of some sinful thing, we are still to follow the Word of God in all things!

*****1Co 6:12  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

I believe the thought of this passage to be this.

Unless some practice is specifically revealed in the Scriptures to be right or wrong, each believer should use the context of all scripture as his guide and formulate his own convictions about it.

We should be guided by these two things:

1) This thing must never be allowed to be our master!

Among these things would be drugs, alcoholic drinks, smoking, gambling and any other behavior that could become addictive!

Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.
Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Eph 4:29  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

2) We must abstain from anything which threatens out testimony as servants of the Lord, but also anything that could become a stumbling block in any other Christian's life!

1Th 5:19  Quench not the Spirit.
1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings.
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord redeemed us and we now belong to our Redeemer!

*****1Co 6:13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Food was made to be nourishment for the body and it is therefore indifferent.

The body was not created for fornication. Fornication is a sin against the body.

What ever evil things in one body passes to the other body such as Aids, and many other Venereal diseases.
Fornication is therefore not indifferent as is food!

The body was made for the Lord and the Lord for the body!

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

If it is reasonable to give our bodies over to the Lord's use, then it is unreasonable to not do so!!!!!!

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

If the Lord has the power to save us and He does, then He certainly has the power to keep us saved and use us under His own power!

*****1Co 6:14  And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
1Co 6:15  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

The power that raised the body of Jesus Christ from the grave is surely strong enough to raise our bodies from the bondage of corruption and place us in a position of the first resurrection or even the Rapture of the Church!

Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

We are the members of Christ because the Church is the "Body of Christ"!

We are the branches, He is the Vine!

We are the lively stones, he is the Foundation and the Corner Stone!

We are the ship, He is the Captain of the ship!

If we are Christians, Christ Jesus regards our bodies as having a vital connection with Him!

The Lord had a human body when He walked upon this earth and that human body that was raised to Heaven is the model into which our bodies will be changed!

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

God forbids us to allow our bodies to be used as a harlot!

A harlot is one who will prostitute her body for hire!

A Christian prostitute is one who forsakes the true God, and Our Lord and prostitutes their body for Satan!

Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

*****1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Most of the world we live in does not want to see this verse but the pure truth is a marriage is to be between one man and one woman!

Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be "one flesh".

This is to be an unbroken unity between one man and one woman throughout their remaining days!

The Lord Jesus reinforced this Scripture:

Mat 19:5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Mat 19:6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

No intercourse between the sexes is free from sin, except under the sanction of marriage and that according to the standard of one man and one woman as the Scriptures state!

Fornication, Adultery, and all manner of Homosexual activity is sin pure and simple!

Just as this is true, so is the relationship of Christ to the Christian believer!

*****1Co 6:17  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

There must be a bond, similar to the marriage bond, between Jesus Christ and His Church but not only that but between Christ Jesus and the soul of the believer!

Spiritual life depends on that bond with Christ!

Jesus Christ must live in the heart of the believer!

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

When God looks over the portals of Heaven and He does not see His Son in each and every believer then we are not saved from His wrath!

We must realize that we are in training for that future life to come or other words, why do we pray that "God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"!

God's will is, that we live as we are ready for Heaven and watching and patiently waiting to get there!

We must not just avoid sin but we must flee from sin!

To flee is to run away from sin as rapidly as we possibly can!

*****1Co 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

In a battle with sin there can be no victory, so there must be absolute flight!

Sexual sin will leave their remains in your body and to flee from those sins is of even a greater need for they will destroy the body!

It may seem that drugs, alcohol, gluttony and even suicide would fall in this same category but they are still sin that is outside the body. Though they injure the body whereas the source of sexual sin comes from the uncleanness of the heart.

It is the uncleanness of the heart that defiles the body!

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Mat 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Once saved we are endowed with the Holy Spirit and therefore a Temple of God!

*****1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

As Christians, our bodies belong to God and not to ourselves!

Our bodies are the members of Christ and for His use!

We absolutely have no right to unite our bodies with some other body in any sexual relation outside the bondage of a Biblical Marriage!

This is sin against our own bodies which could easily result in one of many sexually transmitted diseases not to mention many psychological disorders!

The payment for our bodies was the precious shed blood of Jesus Christ!

When we clearly understand these facts, it provides us with the knowledge to discern between right and wrong and what's good and and what's evil and will control our behavior.

Only then can we glorify God in our bodies and our "Born Again" spirit!

The Heavens declare the Glory of God!

The Angelic host glorifies God!

As the redeemed of the Lord, we are also to glorify God!

Our glorifying must begin with our praise!

Psa 50:23  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Questions?

Let's Pray!