Posts filed under ‘Journey Thru the Bible’
I Corinthians 10:12-13: Temptations
Paul continues to use the children of Israel as an example of what not to do, as he discusses the topic of temptations.
v.12, the children of Israel had experienced many miracles right before their very eyes. Yet they gave into temptation many times. Paul warned the Corinthian believers to “be careful not to fall” into temptation as well. He warned them because they began to take pride in their faith and to take it for granted what Christ did for them. They thought they were “standing strong” and they began to be very sure of themselves to the point of being pridefully, that is the time they will “fall.” Paul also warned that they could fall into temptation just as the Israelites did when they fell into idolatry. Paul warned the Corinthian believers to not let down their guard because that was the time when they are most liable to fall.
v.13, “the temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.” Temptations come into every believers life, no one is exempt. Temptation is not sinful, the sin comes when a person gives into a temptation. But God does not leave us to be tempted, “God is faithful.” He will not always remove the temptation because facing it could be a way of God strengthen our faith. However he will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” There is no temptation that a believer can’t resist, but the believer must stand against it. Each temptation can be resisted because God made it possible to resist–he’s our strength against temptation. God promises that “when you are tempted he will show you a way out you can endure” so you won’t give into the temptation and fall into sin. It will take self-discipline to look for the “way out” in the middle of the temptation, then take it when it is found. Probably the most obvious way out is staying away from things, people or events that tempt you. Example: if you have a problem with lust, you need to stay away from books, movies, magazines and websites that lead to temptation to lust. Common sense, right?! Another way out is by having friends that you can trust who can hold you accountable when you’re tempted. That person can ask you the tough questions and support you and pray for you. God loves his people so much that he will always provide a way out when temptation comes.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? The most important point that strikes me here, is to get back into meeting regularly with my accountability partner. I have been out of the habit for a while now. And temptations have sprouting up regularly. So I need to connect back with my accountability partner and share honestly my struggles with him. And when temptations come remember God is going to supply a way out, so pray and ask for help. I know he will give because he loves me.
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January 23, 2013 at 5:00 AM
I Corinthians 10:1-11: Learn from others’ mistakes
Paul now switches gears from using himself as an example of a mature Christian to now in chapter 10 uses the children of Israel as an example of spiritual immaturity, hoping we can learn self-discipline from both.
v.1, a perfect example of believing the false notion that one can be saved and then live a faithless, God-less life can be seen in what happened to Jews’ “ancestors in the wilderness long ago.” The book of Exodus contains the records their miraculous escape from Egypt and how God guided them by “a cloud that moved ahead of them” during the day and a pillar of fire during the night. These two guides where referring to God’s presence. When they came to an obstacle in their way like the Red Sea, God brought them through as “all of them walked through the sea on dry ground” (Exodus 14).
v.2, this next verse seems very difficult to understand because Paul uses the word “baptized” but not the way we are used to understanding it, immersion in water. He uses it to suggest identification and allegiance with their spiritual leader of their community: “Moses.” “In the cloud” represented God’s presence and glory, indicating his protection. “In the sea” represented God’s salvation of his people through the Red Sea as they crossed safely to freedom to escape the pursuits of the Egyptians. “All” of the children of Israel experienced this “baptism” but the common experience did not keep most of them faithful to God in the days to come.
v.3-4, Further miracles along the children of Israel’s journey sustained them, like the “spiritual food” or manna from heaven. Paul said it was spiritual because God provided it for them. The “spiritual drink” referred to the water Moses obtained for them from a rock, another provision from God. Paul refers to “Christ” as the “spiritual rock that traveled with them,” meeting their needs for them wherever they went.
v.5, the children of Israel got to experience so many miracles performed by God, setting them free from slavery, guiding them through the Sea, and giving them food and water in a barren wilderness. After all this, “most of them” rebelled against God and “God was not pleased” so“their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” Only Joshua and Caleb lived long enough to enter the Promised Land.
v.6-10, Paul then gives a warning to the believers in Corinth, “these things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did.” Paul didn’t want the believers in Corinth to fall into the same trap as the children of Israel did. Paul goes on to give them a few more examples from the life of the Israelites: v.7, worship of the golden calf while Moses from receiving the Law on Mt. Sinai, v.8, men engaged in immoral sexual activity with Moabite women and 23,000 died in one day. v.9, When people complained against Moses and God about the hardships in the desert and God punished them sending poisonous snakes where many were killed that day, v.10, they complained against the leadership of both Moses and Aaron and God punished them with a plague that came from the angel of death.
v.11, All of “these things happened to them [Israelites] as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.” Paul wanted us all (first century believers and believers today) to remember when the Israelites disobeyed, they rec’d punishment, likewise, when we as Christians sin with no repentance, no desire to change, we too will be punished.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? The most vivid thing I want to take with me from today’s study is I am no different than the Israelites and the Corinth believers. So I need to heed the warning Paul gives and the examples of what happened to the Israelites because they complained and disobeyed. I want to remember all the amazing things God has done for me like life and health (being a cancer survivor), food, family, my ministry and of course friends. And be grateful for those things he has provided for me instead of complaining about the things I don’t have and want.
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January 15, 2013 at 4:37 PM
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Run to win
Paul called upon the Christians to deny themselves as they looked forward to future reward. Paul compared this to a race, picturing the ancient “games.”
v.24-25, the Greek Olympic games were already operating in Paul’s time but they were 2nd in popularity to the Isthmian games celebrated every two years at Corinth. Athletes would come from all over Greece to win the highest honour “the prize.” To not only win the prize but just to get prepared for the games required “discipline in their training.” Typically for 10 months before the games the athletes denied themselves many ordinary pleasures in order to prepare and be in top condition for the games. But even though “everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize.” This prize was a great honour to the athletes and they would give up everything to get it. Paul told the believers in Corinth to be just like these athletes, however he did not mean that the believers were running AGAINST each other with only ONE winner. Instead he wanted every believer to “run to win.” Every believer should be putting the same effort forward to win an “eternal prize” not like one that “will fade away” like the pine wreath crown the athletes win at the Isthmian games. The eternal prize is not salvation or getting to go to heaven, no those in the race have already been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, no the eternal prize was the crown of life at the end of life where God says “well done, though good and faithful servant.” So the goal was to honour God with our lives by winning the lost and building up the Saints.
v.26-27, Paul’s next words are telling the Corinth believers that not only was he asking them to be self-disciplined but he also practiced what he preached to them. He too had to “discipline [his] body like an athlete, training” to run the race not aimlessly like a boxer who is “just shadowboxing” or punching at the air. But to practice with “purpose in every step”, with a goal in mind–the ultimate goal: honouring God. In the Isthmian games if you broke any rules including the training rules you were automatically disqualified. When Paul says “I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” he is not talking about the loss of Salvation but loss of reward. The disqualification for an athlete didn’t mean they would loose their citizenship, only their opportunity to win the prize. And Paul didn’t want to loose his reward when he stood for the Judgement Seat of Christ.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Simply I am going to start to “train” for my Christian life. I have already started to eat healthier physically, but now I am also going to do the same spiritually–spend regular times with Jesus each day in both study and prayer, no excuses. To focus on the eternal reward as I stand before Jesus. Also to deny myself anything that will potentially harm me. Stay away from those things I am so easily tempted by.
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January 12, 2013 at 3:05 PM
I know it has been awhile since I have posted my ”Journey Thru the Bible” but I am back. C’mon along with me as I journey through the Bible, as I discover amazing truths that I missed the first time I studied or great reminders of things I had forgotten about. It’ going to be an amazing adventure!
I Corinthians 9:19-23: Chameleon for the Gospel
Paul wanted people of all cultures, backgrounds and races to hear the Gospel and be saved. So Paul embraced and adapted to culture he was in except when those cultures hindered or violated the Gospel.
v.19, Paul’s goal was to glorify God and bring everyone to Christ. Though Paul was “a free man with no master” which is to say free from all human control, he chose to be a “slave to all” without compromising the Gospel message. Paul could vary the style or method of his message becoming a accommodating to his audience so that he could “bring many people to Christ.”
v.20-23, Paul chose to be like his audience without compromising the doctrine of God’s Word and the Gospel message. Paul was willing to “live like” his audience in order to “bring” them to Christ. Paul mentions three groups: Jews, Gentiles and those with weak consciences.
Jews: When he was with Jews he “lived like a Jew to bring Jews to Christ.” Paul conformed his life to the practices of those“who follow the Jewish law” even though he was no longer “subject to the law” himself because of his freedom in Christ just so he could “bring” Jews who are “under the law” to Christ. He gained an audience with many Jews because he conformed to their regulations and restrictions (after he had been a Pharisee). However he never conceded that those regulations had to be kept in order to become a believer. Examples in Acts 16:3, 18:18, 21:20-26.
Gentiles: When he was with Gentiles “who do not follow the Jewish Law” he met them on their own turf. Paul lived according to God’s law because he didn’t “ignore the law of God” no “he obey[ed]” it. But when he was with Gentiles he did not require them to follow the Jewish law, unlike the false teachers of that day (Judiazers), in order to become believers. Instead he spoke a message that would “bring them to Christ.” An example is Acts 17:1-34.
Weak consciences: The “weak” that Paul refers to are believers who are baby Christians who needed to grow deeper in their knowledge of Christ and deeper understanding of their freedom in Christ. So Paul set aside his freedoms and starting living by their restraints for a time so that he might “bring the weak to Christ.” Paul chose to do “everything [he] could to spread the Good News” to all people and “find common ground with everyone, doing everything [he] can to save some.” But Paul never compromised the Gospel truth, God’s Law or his own conscience in the process.
Paul had one purpose, to take the Gospel to the unbelieving world. He did not preach with pride, counting the numbers or converts, instead he preached with love for the Gospel and those who heard it and in the end he could “share in its blessing.”
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? There was a number of things I took away from today’s study. First, to find common ground with the unbelievers in my life as I try to reach them for Christ. However to never have a know-it-all attitude as I speak to them. Listen a lot more than I speak. Then share in their needs and concerns, genuinely care for them. And always look for opportunities to tell others about Christ.
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January 11, 2013 at 10:46 AM
Older Posts
Day 77…1 Corinthians 9:24-27
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Run to win
Paul called upon the Christians to deny themselves as they looked forward to future reward. Paul compared this to a race, picturing the ancient “games.”
v.24-25, the Greek Olympic games were already operating in Paul’s time but they were 2nd in popularity to the Isthmian games celebrated every two years at Corinth. Athletes would come from all over Greece to win the highest honour “the prize.” To not only win the prize but just to get prepared for the games required “discipline in their training.” Typically for 10 months before the games the athletes denied themselves many ordinary pleasures in order to prepare and be in top condition for the games. But even though “everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize.” This prize was a great honour to the athletes and they would give up everything to get it. Paul told the believers in Corinth to be just like these athletes, however he did not mean that the believers were running AGAINST each other with only ONE winner. Instead he wanted every believer to “run to win.” Every believer should be putting the same effort forward to win an “eternal prize” not like one that “will fade away” like the pine wreath crown the athletes win at the Isthmian games. The eternal prize is not salvation or getting to go to heaven, no those in the race have already been saved through faith in Jesus Christ, no the eternal prize was the crown of life at the end of life where God says “well done, though good and faithful servant.” So the goal was to honour God with our lives by winning the lost and building up the Saints.
v.26-27, Paul’s next words are telling the Corinth believers that not only was he asking them to be self-disciplined but he also practiced what he preached to them. He too had to “discipline [his] body like an athlete, training” to run the race not aimlessly like a boxer who is “just shadowboxing” or punching at the air. But to practice with “purpose in every step”, with a goal in mind–the ultimate goal: honouring God. In the Isthmian games if you broke any rules including the training rules you were automatically disqualified. When Paul says “I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified” he is not talking about the loss of Salvation but loss of reward. The disqualification for an athlete didn’t mean they would loose their citizenship, only their opportunity to win the prize. And Paul didn’t want to loose his reward when he stood for the Judgement Seat of Christ.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Simply I am going to start to “train” for my Christian life. I have already started to eat healthier physically, but now I am also going to do the same spiritually–spend regular times with Jesus each day in both study and prayer, no excuses. To focus on the eternal reward as I stand before Jesus. Also to deny myself anything that will potentially harm me. Stay away from those things I am so easily tempted by.
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January 12, 2013 at 3:05 PM 8 comments