Blog Archives - Created through Him

Created Through Him

Gifts

3/31/2013

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

We are not all created with the same gifts. However, each of us has specific gifts. God grants each gift through the power of the Holy Spirit for a specific reason and purpose. It may be tempting to wish we had a certain spiritual gift that we see in someone else and to some how think that our gifts are insignificant in comparison. But we were created for a reason and our gifts and talents are exactly what they ought to be. It is simply whether we use them in obedience to God. For it is in our obedience that we align ourselves to God’s work.

Relationships

3/30/2013

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:1-3).

There are some passages in scripture that just flat-out go against our natural understanding and sensibilities. These three verses begin a section of scripture that certainly goes against our 21st century thinking (it went against the 1st century thinking too). Truthfully, the verses that follow verse 3 are very difficult to ‘square’ with our natural understanding and our idea of order and fairness. But scripture is scripture and the Word of God is the Word of God. We cannot impose our natural understanding on the Word, but rather we are to conform our minds through the work of the Holy Spirit. But we should also not read into scripture or apply it in a way that is not appropriate: context and purpose are paramount.

The overall purpose of God’s design in creation including the relationship between His people is to glorify Him and benefit His people. So what 1 Corinthians 11 is really addressing is that we are most complete when we follow God’s way in terms of relationship to Him. These verses are not meant to set up a hierarchy of importance or worth before God. All His people are of infinite importance and worth. There are just simply different functions as they apply to the earthly roles of people in relationship to God. I should say too that if someone is not fulfilling their role in leadership, then clearly the other couldn’t follow. So this is very much about responsibility. These verses also appear only to apply to the earthly worship of God, not to jobs or other human activities or our eternal relationship. We, as a people, have had a long history of confusing this issue. God gives each person gifts, regardless of demographic, that are meant to be used in the world. Each person should have the freedom to use these gifts to the utmost. All we do should be for God’s glory and the benefit of His creation. When we come to God, we are to follow God’s way and God’s order and rely not on human understanding and in doing so the various gifts of people will be utilized for God’s glory.

Do all to the glory of God

3/29/2013

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:31-33).

We are to do everything for the glory of God. This is not because God is an egomaniac but rather for both our benefit and the benefit of those around us. No task is too mundane or unimportant to show our obedience. When we obey God we glorify Him and we act as an example for others to follow. We are then ambassadors for Christ, seeking to please God for His glory, and our and others benefit.

For the sake of the Gospel

3/28/2013

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. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 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; 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. 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. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you (1 Corinthians 9:18-22).

Paul is showing that he does all things for the sake of the Gospel. Specifically, he is first a servant God and as a result a servant of Man. To spread the Gospel, the apostle Paul met people in their current circumstances. He did emphasize that people had to change through the power of the Holy Spirit, but at least initially Paul always tried to not be burden to people, but rather to lift them up. This is a lesson that is true today; the Gospel spreads when people preach the true faith with a sense of humility and wonder.

Knowledge puffs up, love edifies

3/27/2013

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him (1 Corinthians 8:1-3).

Knowledge of truth is of God. But knowledge for its’ own sake can be misleading. It can be misleading as it can lead people to think too highly of their own intellect and therefore rely on their own understanding. In this case, knowledge can be prideful. But God desires our knowledge to lead to love, first and foremost to the love God. It is in this relationship, founded on love, that we are known by God and in turn know Him.

Servants

3/26/2013

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. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God (1 Corinthians 7:22-24).

Paul is saying that each believer is called to serve Christ first. When Paul says not to be servants of men, he is not saying that we shouldn’t help and be concerned for people but rather that our obedience is ultimately toward God as opposed toward men. Christ paid a terrible price so that we can be His servants. As servants, we are saved and work according His purposes. God calls each person to these specific purposes and God then equips each person to carry out the purposes. And in so doing, we abide with God.

Not our own

3/25/2013

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? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Paul is reminding believers that they are God’s. And therefore all actions that are committed should be glorifying to God. Any action committed by a person that is not glorifying to God should be eliminated. When we intentionally sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit and this should cause us to stop and repent immediately. We are never alone and while this should be a comfort to us, if we are not doing what is righteous we should feel very uncomfortable with the knowledge that we are grieving God.

Church discipline

3/24/2013

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:4-8).

Paul is trying to have the church at Corinth expel an immoral church member (member committed adultery with his own father’s wife). Paul is not condoning hypocrisy or arbitrary judgment but rather is exhorting believers to eliminate intentional sin from their midst. Believers cannot continue in blatant and obvious sin without repenting. Once a sin is committed and known it must be dealt with preferably first by the one that committed it, but if not, then by the church. The actions though of the church are always with the purpose of restoring the individual to fellowship through repentance. The problem with not dealing with these issues is that the whole church can be corrupted by the actions of a few.

The cost

3/23/2013

10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you (1 Corinthians 4:10-14).

Paul is describing the cost of discipleship. Paul, among all people, knew what it meant to suffer for the Gospel’s sake. Paul was ridiculed, beaten, starved, tortured, imprisoned, shipwrecked and ultimately beheaded for the sake of the Gospel. Paul understood what was at stake in this world: The very lives of countless souls that apart from Christ have no hope. Paul was obedient so that others would benefit and come to the knowledge of Christ as Savior. Paul indicates that he is not trying to shame people into following his path, but rather pointing out what true discipleship looks like. His warning is for followers not to be complacent, but to follow the path that leads to light and life regardless of the apparent cost.

Author of faith

3/22/2013

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:4-6).

God in His sovereignty is the source of faith. Faith then is a gracious gift. God does use people to help spread the Gospel, but it is ultimately God that does the work in the heart of the individual. Paul in this passage is trying to draw attention away from the messengers of the faith to the author of the faith. We too can learn from this so that we keep our focus on God. It is not the preacher, pastor, or theologian that is the ultimate authority and worker of grace, but rather the God that created us is the authority and the worker of grace.

Created Through Him