1 Corinthians 10:23-24

“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. RSV

Americans are, if nothing else, individualists. It’s difficult for us to understand the concept of “corporate” or “group” because our country was founded on the idea of the individual going forth and conquering to achieve his goals. Other cultures are not so individualistically minded, but work together over long periods for the corporate good. But ultimately every sinner (meaning every human being) struggles with the idea of stepping back and allowing someone else to achieve, to have, to succeed.

Father God deals with us both corporately and individually; Christ died for us both corporately (the elect) and individually (the sinner). And the Spirit is concerned with how we interact, individuals, with each other, the group.

Here Paul tells us two things: (1) that we are freed from the constraints of the Law, and (2) that within that freedom, our constraint is that everything we do is to be directed to the good of those around us. In other words, we cannot use our freedom to satisfy our own desires, but must also, in every choice, consider the edification, the spiritual well-being of those around us.

It seems very popular these days to tout the idea of spiritual freedom. I’ve heard often, from the pulpit, from books, from other Christians, about the freedom that we have in Christ. There is no longer any rule upon us; we are free to do as we choose in Christ. The thing is, as Paul states here, that freedom ends at the point where it fails to bring good to those around us.

And before we think there is a constraint on who is our neighbor, the Lord Jesus already admonished us that our “neighbor” even includes our enemies (the parable of the Good Samaritan).

Thus, as Christians, we have a higher calling when it comes to what we may choose, what we may do. Our ultimate motivation must be not our own good, but the good of those around us. Is what we’re doing building up our family, our friends, our co-workers? I was just reading today (in Tozer’s That Incredible Christian):

“The truth is that while Christ dwells in the believer’s new nature, He has strong competition from the believer’s old nature. The warfare between the old and the new goes on continually in most believers. This is accepted as inevitable, but the New Testament does not so teach. A prayerful study of Romans 6 to 8 points the way to victory. If Christ is allowed complete sway He will live in us as He lived in Galilee.” (p. 40).

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? RSV

When I first met my husband, he had attended only Catholic churches. And while there are (and we know many) wonderful devout Christians within the Catholic church, there are also (as within our own churches) those who are nominal members or attenders. My husband’s family was such a family.

He used to tell me about “Sunday morning obligation” where they would attend mass and then go home for mimosas (an alcoholic drink). The entire family, including the teenage kids, would be inebriated by evening.

I think that we often think of communion as some sort of ritual or habit that we do without understanding the full impact of participation.

Paul teaches:
“We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” (Romans 6:6-8 RSV)

When we participate in communion, we are acting out in a ritualistic sense this relationship between Christ’s death and our own. We are acknowledging that we are setting aside, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the demands of the flesh and are embracing the life of the Spirit.

(It’s an interesting note also that those who are not saved are slaves to sin—they have no choice—but those who are saved choose to sin because we do have a choice.)

Paul says (in Corinthians): “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” Our participation in communion is holy reminder that we are the people of God, not just at the moment, but in every moment of our lives. That being said, why then do we choose to worship idols?

What is worship exactly? It is more than we think because it is more than just coming to a church building on Sunday morning and singing songs. Webster’s defines worship as “extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem.” In other words, that which we want, that which we desire, that which we spend time or resources on . . . that is the thing we are worshiping.

So what is an idol? Again, the dictionary tells us “an object of extreme devotion.”

So what are we devoted to? Our children? Our husband? Our job? Our reputation? Our homes? Our possessions? Our dreams? Our future plans?

Anything to which we show devotion that is outside of Christian duty is idol worship; in other words, what God commands us to love is allowed . . . as long as we love Him more and we love that thing or person because He commands it. Otherwise, it is either an idol or is liable to become an idol.

Paul goes a step further. He cautions Christians against embracing even those things which are related to idols (the food offered to idols). In other words, rather than skirting the edge and still living without sinning, Paul is admonishing us to keep a large distance between ourselves and those things which would demand our devotion.

God will not share us with idols. He will not share our affection, our devotion, our worship. And if we are not His friends, we risk becoming His enemies. He is a God of mercy Who readily forgives us when we repent, but He is also a God of jealousy who isn’t content with only a part of us. He wants all . . . or nothing.

Think about it. I wouldn’t be content with a husband who was willing to share me with other men. Why should I be content with a God who would share me with other objects of worship? God, simply because of Who He is, deserves all of my worship, my focus, my attention. God, Who because of what He’s done (by providing salvation through the death of His Son), demands all of my worship, my focus, my attention.

I am His by original ownership (through creation). I am His by right of purchase (through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ).

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same supernatural food and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless with most of them God was not pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to dance.” We must not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put the Lord to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents; nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. RSV

Historical accounts in the Old Testament are both true and pictorial. In that, I mean that they both actually happened and have been recounted for us as a way for God to show us truths of our relationship with Him.

The children of Israel were freed from Egypt and given the hope of the Promised Land, Judea. Between the two, there was a journey they would have to make. In normal travel, it would take a matter of days. In actuality, because of their sin, it took 40 years.

Paul shares with us that there were those in the company who left Egypt (left the life of sin) but never reached the Promised Land. While they were witnesses and participants in a number of miracles, they continued to allow themselves to be tempted into sin and they died in the desert.

Paul says: “these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.” In other words, what the Israelites went through was a warning to them, a warning many ignored. And now, this is recounted to us as instruction; we are to learn from their mistakes.

We are a people that doesn’t learn well from others’ mistakes. It seems fairly common that most Americans claim they need to live their own lives, make their own mistakes in order to learn. That, in a fact, should not be the way of the Christian. This isn’t the first time that we are told, in scripture, that history has been preserved for us in order that we might learn from it and not repeat the same mistakes.

Paul gives a list of the “lessons” we are to learn from the Jews’ experience in the desert:

• Not to desire evil as they did
• Do not be idolaters
• Not indulge in immorality
• Not put the Lord to the test
• Not grumble

It’s interesting that the list of “sins” really runs the gamut of human behavior, everything from indulging in immorality (adultery, pornography, fornication) to not grumbling to simply not desiring evil. And Paul doesn’t give self-help tips for avoiding these sins; he simply says not to do them.

In other words, in each action, in each thought, we have a choice. And he admonishes us to choose holiness and righteousness over sin, to choose the Lord over our flesh, to choose heaven over the world.

Paul ends, however, with this marvelous promise: “God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

What’s interesting is that Paul doesn’t say “that you may be able to escape it,” but rather that you may be able to endure it.” Temptation isn’t something that comes fleetingly and then vanishes like a vapor into the air. Temptation comes as a battle we must fight, but a battle for which we are mightily equipped because God will provide the way of escape.

I think that, too often, we don’t look for the way of escape because, if the facts be known, we don’t want to have to endure the temptation, even if there is a way of escape. I think about the new studies that say that, once we’ve eaten the portions we know to be healthy, we need to wait 20 minutes because it takes that long for the brain to process that we are truly full. It seems to me that this might be similar to the idea of temptations. If we simply waited and refused to act on the temptation, rather than jumping right now on our first impulse, we would more readily see God’s way of escape and be able to take it.

Unfortunately, we have become a fast-food society, a people that want what we want right now without the waiting. Instant gratification. And that’s simply not how life is.

We need to learn to wait. Isaiah 40:31 says:

“they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” RSV

Psalm 27:14:

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
yea, wait for the Lord!” RSV

In fact, there are many verses about waiting upon the Lord and receiving strength after the waiting.

The Jews in the desert weren’t content to wait. They wanted the promise now, rather than waiting until they reached the Promised Land. As Christians, we need to learn to wait for the gratification that will eventually come, both here on earth, but moreso in Heaven. We need to learn to deny ourselves, to put off the sin, and to persevere through this life, as hard as it is, so that we might one day receive the Hope of the Promise . . . eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJ

It’s important that, as wise scholars, we not apply every analogy in the Bible literally (as would be unwise), but that we do ferret out the truth that we might apply it to our lives.

Paul says: “one receives the prize.” We know that there will be more than one Christian, so this isn’t a matter of competing against each other in order to gain heaven. Thankfully, the Lord hasn’t created such a system, but rather offers salvation to any and all who will receive Him, who will believe on His name.

What then is the kernel of truth that we should grasp from this passage? “Run in such a way that you may obtain it (the prize).” The point is that there are those who run but don’t obtain the prize, those who will live as Christians, but won’t persevere to finally end seeing the face of Jesus as Savior (though all will see the face of Jesus as Lord).

So how should one “run,” how should one live her life? What does it take to gain the prize?

• Be temperate in all things. Strong’s tells us that this Greek word, eágkrateáuoámai, means to be self-restrained in the matters of diet and chastity. In other words, to regulate and control one’s lusts. The fact is, we see lusts bursting out in all kinds of ways (shopping, gossiping, fighting, alcoholism, drugs) as well as in overeating and sexual sin. And yet Paul tells us that we must be self-restrained. In other words, we must learn how to discipline ourselves so that we don’t give into the temptations that exist all around us.

The person who allows herself to be focused on these kinds of indulgences allows herself to be involved in activities that interfere with running for the prize. Think about it! When you are focusing on eating (even secretly) those candy bars, when you are looking at pornography (even on the TV), when you are buying one thing after another for yourself . . . are you focusing on the Lord? Are you in sweet communion with the Holy Spirit? No, of course, we aren’t. We’re thinking about ourselves.

Paul teaches in 2 Corinthians: “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (10:5b NKJ). This is the kind of self-restraint about which Paul is talking. Bringing thoughts (and their resulting actions) into obedience by restraining ourselves from actions which are ungodly.

• Run with certainty. The opposite of “certain” is “uncertain” or unreliable, untrustworthy, not able to count on. In other words, do we live our lives knowing that every decision we make will be as a Christian, will be in order to please God? Or are we, as James described, those who doubt, who are tossed to and fro as by the wind? (James 1:6-7).

The fact is, while we would like to deny it, every decision that we make is made with certainty. We make decisions. Even those decisions where we allow ourselves to be influenced by those around us or by our circumstances, we are still making even that decision.

Paul is encouraging us to be deliberate and strategic in our walk with the Lord, to make decisions to move us closer to our goal, of being in heaven with Him.

And while I don’t think we can stretch the analogy too far, I do believe that “run” has a certain ironic twist to it. Isn’t life getting faster and more furious? Don’t you often feel that you are running through the day, that the minutes fly by so fast it’s difficult to even process all that’s happening? And yet Paul tells us to run with certainty. How do we do that?

Think about an Olympic runner. That runner doesn’t just walk up to the starting blocks, wait for the gun and go. That runner has, instead, checked out the course, studied it, determined even where on the course he would like to run, where the path will lead to victory.

We need to do the same thing. We need to take time each day to chart a course, not of circumstances, but of reactions, of dependence upon the Spirit. We can’t predict the situations in which we will be in with much certainty, but we can predict the reactions that we will give to each circumstance . . . if we have prepared ourselves by basking in the presence of the Father and looking to Him to guide us each step of the day.

• Paul concludes by saying that he disciplines his body, brings it under subjection. Under subjection to what? To the will of Father God, rather than to the whims of the flesh (including the emotions).

We have become a society guided by our desires, our lusts, our emotions, and our rights. As Christians, we have a higher calling . . . to be guided by the principles and commandments of the holy scriptures, God’s Word. When we make decisions, even such innocuous ones as what to eat, we are often guided by what we “want,” rather than what is best for us, what is righteous, what is holy. And each decision made based on what we “want” strengthens our lusts and weakens our spiritual resolve.

As Christians, we have a duty, an obligation, in fact a dire need to so discipline ourselves as to focus on what God wants in all situations, rather than what we think we want. We need to, as athletes, run the race to win the prize, the prize of eternity in Heaven with Him Who gave His all for us.

Mark 16:15

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. NLT

I think it is the desire of every Christian person to work within a “Christian” environment. How often have you wished you could have a job (albeit with your same salary) at your local church, at the local Christian school, at a Christian bookstore, at a Christian camp? The desire of Christians to be together is inbred into us at our salvation, the desire of “family,” the desire to be with ones who are like-minded in the things of the Lord.

But the fact is, the highest calling of the Christian is very likely the calling to be “in the world, not of it.” The Lord Jesus has commanded us to “Go into all the world.” And while He tells us to “preach” the gospel, it doesn’t mean that we all are preachers. The fact is, the preaching that is done when we “go into the world” is more often done with our lives than with our mouths, more often done with our deeds than with our words.

When I was growing up, chalk artist evangelists and preachers were very popular. These were people who had the ability to draw pictures related to their sermons on large canvases or sheets of paper. As they talked and quoted scripture, the pictures would come alive under their fingertips. The importance of chalk sermons isn’t the medium, but the fact that these pastors understood the importance of the visual (what we see) as compared to the auditory (what we hear). Often what we see far outweighs, in our hearts and minds, what we hear.

“Your actions speak loud than your words.”

The Lord Jesus needs His Church to refuse to cloister itself, but to permeate the world with the gospel through our lives. Paul taught, in Philippians:

“You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.” (2:15b-16 NLT).

The Lord Jesus taught us (also) that we are the salt of the world (Matthew 5:16). But think about salt. By itself, it is bitter and distasteful. Added into food, it permeates everything it touches and changes it through it’s very nature. If we, as salt, cloister ourselves away, then we become useless and should be thrown out.

It may be that we are working a job that is difficult, where being a Christian is hard. But that may be the very situation where God needs us to the most: in politics, in public school teaching, in the military, in the retail industry, wherever it’s difficult to easily shine as a light for Christ . . . that’s where Christians are needed the most! We need to stand firm in this invisible calling to ministry and to remember that we are there first to serve the Lord and His purposes. Like an underground army, we are the army of the Lord, spreading the gospel in covert and overt ways as He makes possible.

Matthew 6:12-15

And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. RSV

One of the frequent commercial jingles around the Christian season is the phrase: “Give the gift that keeps on giving.” I think that one of the gifts we can give others–as well as ourselves–is the gift of forgiveness.

I often see us, when we interact with the people around us, like balls in a pinball machine. Did you ever play pinball as a kid (or even as an adult)? You watch that little ball bounce around, often rather fiercely, against all the obstacles, racking up points. Well, imagine that you were able to release not one but dozens of balls into the game. Not only would the balls be bouncing off the obstacles, trying to avoid anything and everything in their paths, but they would also–with the same intensity–be bouncing off each other. Not really intentionally, but simply because that’s the nature of a pinball game.

As human beings, we are born sinful. We tend to be demanding, egocentric, selfish. Even at our best, we grate against each other, do the wrong things, make the wrong choices. Like dozens of balls in a pinball machine, we bounce off each other, sometimes accomplishing something worthwhile, but more often changing the course of another’s path, interfering with their goals, bruising their feelings. And, of course, because we see things from our own perspective, we don’t see ourselves as the culprits as much as we see others as interfering with us.

The fact is, even at our best, we often bounce off others causing them physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial harm.

The Lord Jesus, when He taught His disciples (and us), to pray added two very interesting (and related) phrases:

• And forgive us our debts (sins), as we also have forgiven our debtors (those who sin against us)
• For if you forgive men their trespasses (sins), your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses (sins), neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (sins).

There many be scads of reasons why Father God connected the forgiveness of our own sins to our willingness to forgive others, but the fact is, He did . . . and we should! Forgiveness is that gift that truly “keeps on giving,” not only because it benefits us, but it truly heals relationships. Even when we forgive those who don’t want to be forgiven, when we set aside our resentment and anger to reach out in forgiveness, we give to ourselves.

I know that, in my own life, when I have held grudges, I have done so in some kind of extended punishment for the person with whom I’m angry. I figure that if I stay angry, they will continue to be hurt by my anger. Do you want to know the truth? Usually that person hasn’t the foggiest idea that I’m angry and, if they do know, they don’t care. In other words, all the effort and energy I’m spending on maintaining my anger isn’t doing anything except harming me.

Not only am I exerting energy and effort needlessly, but I’m actually consciously rebelling against the commandments of God.

Why would I want to do either?

As we all look toward the beginning of the New Year, perhaps this would be the time to look at our resentments of old, to finally and completely put them at the Throne, and to walk away. To forgive those who have sinned against us and to completely and fully embrace the forgiveness of our Lord, paid by His precious blood.

Isaiah 9:1-7

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation
And increased its joy;
They rejoice before You
According to the joy of harvest,
As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You have broken the yoke of his burden
And the staff of his shoulder,
The rod of his oppressor,
As in the day of Midian.
For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle,
And garments rolled in blood,
Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us . . .”, is a familiar passage for the days of Advent. Many pastors choose it during the Christmas season to either read or upon which to base their sermons. “For unto us a child is given, unto us a son is born.” It—seemingly—so fits with the pastoral scene of the Nativity.

But, in some ways, this passage is more about Easter than Christmas, more about freedom than gifts, more about salvation. Period.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.”

Who walks in darkness, dwells in death except an unredeemed sinner? Who needs the light—the Light of salvation—desperately? Those who need the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage is hailed as one of the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. When the Jews were looking for a Messiah, they weren’t looking for a babe in a manger; they weren’t looking for a baby at all, but rather for a warrior-king who would free them from the slavery of the oppressive governments that had conquered them. “For you have broken . . . the rod of his oppressor.” War, servitude, subjugation would be over. Israel would be free.

What the Jews didn’t grasp, didn’t realize is that this life in itself is oppression. There is a sense of slavery to the very sin that permeates the earth that crushes each and every one of us. Paul writes: “. . . the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption . . .” (Romans 8:21b, NKJ). Simply living here, in this life, is a kind of slavery, a slavery to sin.

Paul talks about this slavery . . . to the earth, to sin:
“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:15-24 NKJ)

As Christians, we feel this slavery down to the very cells in our body. Our hormones, our lusts, our very sin nature fight against our desire to please God and to do His will. We know that it’s only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to trust Him and to do His will.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.”

The wonderful truth is that Jesus, the Lord Jesus Whom we love and trust, is the One Who has become our judge, our jury, our King! It is to Him we owe allegiance, Him that we serve. And He, through His great sacrifice, has already paid the price of our sin. The miracle of Christmas isn’t about Bethlehem, as tender and wonderful as it is, but rather is about Calvary and what Father God planned and accomplished that Easter week long ago. The miracle of Christmas is about a baby who became a man, but more than a man. Who because our Savior, Who died and rose again to pay the price for our sins.

It’s easy and fun to celebrate all the aspects of Christmas. But what looms as a shadow over every nativity is a cross, for without the cross, the nativity has no value, makes no sense.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, as we look, even today, toward the next weeks where the decorations are packed away, where homes are cleaned of the accumulated clutter, let’s also look toward the spring where the celebration of Easter rises. Let’s not see Christmas as an end unto itself, but rather the beginning of the time when we rejoice because our Lord is truly risen indeed!

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NKJ

One of the dearest words in a Christian’s vocabulary is “tomorrow.” While the rest of the world has to plan, has to insure against sorrow and harm, has to face the future with trepidation for what can’t be controlled, the Christian can rest in the knowledge that we have a “living hope,” an inheritance that is protected by the power of Father God Himself, reserved in heaven for us!

As Americans, it’s so easy to get caught up in the “planning” frenzy of our society. The holiday season brings with it the focus on making resolution for the new year. And yet, what we have, what we can cling to, is the knowledge that “tomorrow” is already planned for us! Because “tomorrow”—the true tomorrow of eternity—is bringing a culmination of all this suffering in the reality of heaven.

I think that one of the reasons Americans are infatuated with fiction (literature, television, movies) is because, unlike reality, fiction brings with it conclusions. In fact, if you were to ask many people, they love a movie with a happy ending! We like endings because they bring resolution to the conflict, bring answers to the questions, bring happiness to the heroes.

If you think about it, stories with happy endings are based on the idea that we can have heaven on earth . . . which, of course, we all know is impossible. But the good news is that there is heaven! That while there isn’t heaven on earth, there is heaven in life because of our trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, because He died for our sins, paid the penalty of death for us.

The fact is, that regardless of what we plan, regardless of what we anticipate, regardless of what we fear there is a “tomorrow” coming that, for the Christian, means a cessation of all the struggles and a reconciliation, a reunion with the One we love best!

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 NKJ)

The “tomorrow” we seek—the lack of worrying, of anxiety, of stress, of hurting, of struggling—is coming for us as believers! Our commission now is to persevere in our faith, trusting the Lord that the “tomorrow” is coming when He Himself will dry the tears from our eyes and establish us as His people in the New heaven and new earth!

1 Corinthians 6:12-13a

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. NKJ

The Corinthians had become obsessed with the idea that they were “free from the law.” Wrongly, they applied this concept to the idea that, if they were free from the law, then they were free to do anything they liked. That freedom from the law was akin to license.

Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:4-6 NKJ

Arnold Fruchtenbaum (from Ariel Ministries) teaches that while we have been released from the Law of Moses, we are called as Christians to a higher law, the law of Christ. Freedom doesn’t give us the right to do anything we please, but rather empowers us to do what pleases God.

Matthew Henry writes:

“The connection seems plain enough if we attend to the famous determination of the apostles, Acts 15, where the prohibition of certain foods was joined with that of fornication. Now some among the Corinthians seem to have imagined that they were as much at liberty in the point of fornication as of meats, especially because it was not a sin condemned by the laws of their country. They were ready to say, even in the case of fornication, All things are lawful for me. This pernicious conceit Paul here sets himself to oppose: he tells them that many things lawful in themselves were not expedient at certain times, and under particular circumstances; and Christians should not barely consider what is in itself lawful to be done, but what is fit for them to do, considering their profession, character, relations, and hopes: they should be very careful that by carrying this maxim too far they be not brought into bondage, either to a crafty deceiver or a carnal inclination.”

I believe that here (from Henry) what is most important is that:

“Christians should not barely consider what is in itself lawful to be done, but what is fit for them to do” so that they should not become “a crafty deceiver or a carnal inclination.”

Often we believe that we are doing the right thing because it is the thing we want to do. And yet, if we truly want to please God, we will be willing to do the difficult thing, the hard thing, the painful thing because that is what is “fit” for us to do.

Do we truly believe Romans 8:28, that God will work all things out for our good? Or do we, in our hearts, not really trust God to do what He says, and think that we must do what is for our own good? I think that if we are honest, we will admit that often we aren’t willing to wait for God to act; we act in His place and then ask (or assume) His blessing on our own choice, our own action. I know that, in my own case, I’m often not willing to wait on God’s timetable, but want to do things in my own time. I don’t trust Him to get things done and when I don’t see Him acting (when or how I think He should), I go ahead on my own. Unfortunately, I often experience bad consequences because of my own impatience.

When I wait on God, I am trusting Him and I’m thinking of others around me (rather than myself). And isn’t that the point? To love those around us more than ourselves? When I force the issue, I’m thinking of myself. When I allow God to work in His time, I’m thinking of all the others involved in the situation and allowing God to do what is best. Sometimes He will direct me to act, but more often, He directs me simply to trust and let Him act.

1 Corinthians 6:7-11

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. NKJ

What’s interesting about this passage is that Paul is talking about two believers bringing each other to court and he immediately (without change of even paragraph) goes into this seeming tirade about how the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. In Paul’s mind, the two are somehow connected, are somehow related.

The transition sentence is: “No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” This statement is in contrast to: “Why do you nor rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?”

The fact is that, in most disagreements, there are two sides where each side is both somewhat wrong and somewhat right. And while we—being on one side—may believe that we are entirely in the right, often conflict comes out of two things: (1) miscommunications, and (2) refusals to give in, even an iota. Paul calls the refusal to give in, the refusal to accept a “wrong” rather than fight with a brethren “unrighteous.” In other words, when we fight with other believers—even if our “position” is right—it places us in the wrong. “Why do you not rather accept wrong?” Paul is pretty clear.

Then he gets really down and dirty. Believers who fight with other believers are included in his list of the “unrighteous:” fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners. This is a familiar list, one that Paul has used previously. What is interesting about the list is that there are things that are very obviously not part of whom we are as Christians . . . and then . . . they are things that are very much part of who many of us are. Do we not covet (want that which we don’t have)? Do we not extort (try to manipulate others into the position we want them to have)? Paul is telling us that there can be a very fine line between being a Christian who follows the Lord regardless, and being someone who only things they are a believer.

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I’ve been learning, through a very difficult personal lesson, that God is much more concerned about the people in our lives (and how we relate to them) than He is about the tasks that we accomplish. Think about it! He doesn’t need us at all to do anything for Him; He is fully able to do everything He desires. But He has charged us with the duty to love others, particularly those within the Church: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 NKJ). How we relate to each other is much more important to the Father than what we accomplish in this life.

1 Corinthians 6:1-7

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? NKJ

One of the most difficult things for me to do in life is to let a wrong go un-righted. And yet, there is a very strong admonition here for Christians to either keep disputes “in house,” so to speak, (within the Church) or to allow other Christians to have their way, trusting God to make things right.

David Stern, in the Jewish New Testament Commentary, states:

“Verses 1–8 clearly forbid lawsuits between believers in secular courts. Although embarrassment at airing dirty laundry before pagan judges is a reason (v. 6, 10:32), one which Christians share with Jews (“What will the Gentiles think?”), there should be greater embarrassment at the failure of the Messianic community to function as it should (vv. 2–8). Also, those who are not God’s people and therefore lack the Holy Spirit are incompetent to apply believers’ principles properly.”

In John 13:35, our Lord Jesus tells us that “all” (including the world) will know that we are Christians if we have love for one another. By going to court, particularly to a secular court, we are not showing love, but rather animosity toward one another; we are saying that it’s better if “I” win than if I love.

There isn’t room in this scripture for debate or going outside of this admonition. Paul is clear: “it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another.” As Christians, our responsibility is to trust the Lord, even when we are being cheated by another Christian, to back away and allow the Lord to deal with them as He sees fit.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.” RSV

Scripture talks a lot about not judging others. And then, Paul comes along and commands us to judge others. It seems to contradict itself. This isn’t the kind of judgement that brings condemnation or punishment, but rather is the kind of judgement that calls into question. It is, in fact, the judgement that is done in love and demands that another believer turn away from their sin.

Matthew Henry says:

“. . . as to members of the church, they are within, are professedly bound by the laws and rules of Christianity, and not only liable to the judgment of God, but to the censures of those who are set over them, and the fellow-members of the same body, when they transgress those rules. Every Christian is bound to judge them unfit for communion and familiar converse. They are to be punished, by having this mark of disgrace put upon them, that they may be shamed, and, if possible, reclaimed thereby: and the more because the sins of such much more dishonour God than the sins of the openly wicked and profane can do. The church therefore is obliged to clear herself from all confederacy with them, or connivance at them, and to bear testimony against their wicked practices. Note, Though the church has nothing to do with those without, it must endeavour to keep clear of the guilt and reproach of those within.”

J. Vernon McGee writes:

“Paul says that he is not judging the people on the outside. That is not his business. He is to judge those inside the church. God will judge those who are on the outside. It is the business of the church to judge evil which is in the church.

“We are interested to know how things worked out in Corinth. To find the answer we need to turn to 2 Corinthians 2:4–8: “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.”

“This immoral man had come in deep repentance after Paul put it down on the line in his previous epistle. Today we need a great deal of courage—not compromise—in the church to point out these things and say, “This is sin.” I think that when this is done, the believer who is in sin will confess, like this man in Corinth and like David did, and will repent and change his ways. The Corinthian church handled this very nicely. Why? Because Paul had the courage to write this kind of letter. In 2 Corinthians Paul explains why he had done it: “Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you” (2 Cor. 7:12).

“Paul says that he wrote as he did for the welfare of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today we hear this flimsy, hypocritical attitude: “Well, we don’t want to air this thing. We don’t want to cause trouble. We’ll just sweep it under the rug.” My friend, God cannot bless a church or an individual that does this. If God did bless, God would be a liar. And you know that God is no liar. He will judge inaction in a case like this.”

The fact is, Pastor McGee is right! When we refuse to deal with the sin that is within our midst as a church, we weaken the church. Think about it! It’s one of the things that’s happening within the American Church. We accept other Christians—and even pastors—who are obviously living in sin, catering to the lusts of their flesh, and we treat it as if it is simply common behavior for all believers! We accept their weak excuses and think that we can simply ignore it and go on.
Why do we love our sin so much and our Lord so little that we would dishonor Him by doing this? The Christians who are effective in witnessing, in ministry, in life are the Christians who have enough fortitude to stand up for the obviously morality that is taught in scripture, who deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow the Lord (rather than their own desires). We accept rationalizations like: “I made a mistake” or “I have an addiction” or “I couldn’t help myself.” Really? The fact is, we all know better. Our consciences have been quickened by the Holy Spirit. We (and they) knew the behavior was wrong.

We need to call a spade a spade, a sin a sin. And sin demands one response: repentance.

Repentance is more than simply saying one’s sorry. It’s making amends and turning back to go another way (the righteous, obedient way). A pastor who apologizes for the divorce he is still determine to have is not repentant. A man who has stolen from his company, who claims to be sorry for his actions, but who refuses to fully embrace the consequences of his choices (including imprisonment if that is warranted) isn’t repentant. A woman who commits adultery and justifies it because she is in a hard marriage isn’t repentant.

There is a difference between being repentant and being sorry one was caught. Christians are required to be repentant. If they aren’t, they are to be ousted from the fellowship of the community in hopes that the shame and isolation will compel them back to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.” RSV

If we, the Church, were more obedient to God’s Word, churches would probably be much smaller. Paul’s admonition here is for Christians not to associate with those bear “the name of brother” if:

• They are immoral
• They are greedy
• They are an idolater
• They are a reviler
• They are a drunkard
• They are a robber

Immoral: Literally translated “fornicator.” Having sex with someone to whom you’re not married. Our Lord Jesus told us that even lusting after someone is considered to be sexual sin:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

Unfortunately, as a Church, we support even pastors who lust after those to whom they aren’t married. We have failed to define and then support biblical marriage. Instead, we have followed after the example of our secular society to preach that marriage is about being happy and finding one’s soul mate. Nothing about controlling one’s lusts or emotions.

Paul tells us not to associate with the people who practice such things, who are immoral, who fornicate.

Greedy: Holding or wanting more. Covetous. The dictionary defines “covet” as “to wish for earnestly.”

How many of us don’t wish for a better car? A nicer house? More money? Newer clothes? More improved technology? A bigger TV?

“To wish for earnestly.”

Idolater: One who worships anything other than God.

When we worship, we give extravagant respect or devotion to something or someone.

The other day, a young woman posted a video on YouTube. This young woman was hysterical and ranting on about how everyone should just leave Britney Spears alone.

Worship.

Our Lord Jesus tells us: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34 RSV)

Where is our treasure? What do we worship? We can answer those questions by observation, even observing ourselves. What do we spend time with? What do we spend our resources on? That’s where our heart is.

Reviler: Someone who scolds others using abusive or harsh language. An abuser.

Is our anger out of control? Do we use words (or actions) to try to manipulate, rather than to minister?

Control is important to many people. Often people use words to try to control others, to try to assuage their own pain.

I remember one woman. I don’t know whether or not she was a believer, but she was a psychologist. She became irate at something I did (which wasn’t at all what she thought it was). She came to my work and, in public, proceeded to dress me down for insulting and hurting her.

Reviling. Railing. Scolding.

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22 RSV)

We are to forgive. We are to minister. Sometimes ministering means being firm. But it never means being insulting or abusive.

Drunkard: Someone who is habitually drunk.

Alcohol, drugs, intoxicating substances . . . none of that should be part of a believer’s life. Ever.

People imbibed because they are in pain. They are in pain because they have no hope. We have both a Hope and Someone to whom we can go to when things are dark and painful. Our recourse should be prayer, not masking the pain.

In today’s society, we use many things to escape pain. Often those things become addictive: shopping, partying, computer games, TV, Internet chats. There are others.

To whom or what did the psalmist David escape when he was suffering?

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief,
it grows weak because of all my foes.
Depart from me, all you workers of evil;
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled;
they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.
(Psalm 6:6-10 RSV)

This is a description of abject pain. And yet, to whom does the psalmist turn? To the Lord. To prayer. To faith in God.

Robber: Rapacious. Extortion. Thievery. Someone who covets what isn’t theirs and takes it by illegal and immoral means.
Do we lie on our income taxes? We have stolen what isn’t ours.

Do we use time at work for personal business (other than our allotted breaks)? We have stolen what isn’t ours.

Do we charge for purchases and then declare bankruptcy? We have stolen what isn’t ours.

The key to all of this are Paul’s words: . . . if he is guilty. Those of us (and yes, I’m included in this list) who have committed these sins, repented of them, and are forgiven are no longer guilty! (In fact, later, in 2 Corinthians, Paul tells the Corinthian church to restore the man in question because he has repented.)

What does it mean to repent? Is it enough simply to say “I’m sorry”?

No.

Repentance is about three things: (1) Asking for and accepting God’s forgiveness; (2) Restoring what has been taken, if at all possible; and (3) Turning around and going a different direction (e.g. never doing it again).

The dictionary gives this definition of repent: “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life.” We become “not guilty” when we repent.

However, until a person repents, Paul gives a very strong admonition: But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty . . . not even to eat with such a one.

We are commanded to cut off relations with those who choose to sin until such time as they truly repent.

Do we do this in our churches? No. In fact, we boast about how tolerant we are of sinners, how much we embrace and love them. But, if we are not being obedient to scripture, do we truly love them or are we only loving ourselves? God gave us commandments for a reason. It’s because this is how things work best! Isn’t it about time we started doing what He has commanded?

1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. RSV

Paul has been admonishing the Corinthian church for allowing (even welcoming) within their midst a man who is knowingly sinning . . . and continues to sin. This is a huge deal in our churches today because we embrace, even in our leadership, those who not only have sinned in the past, but who continue to embrace their sin in one way or another. We refuse to judge them based on the scripture in Matthew 7: Judge not, that you be not judged (v. 1, RSV). But I think the reason we refuse to judge is revealing. I think we refuse to judge, not out of some sense of obedience to God’s word, but because we don’t want anyone messing around in our lives. The old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” We embrace sinners because we are sinners ourselves, but more than that: We don’t have to give up our own sin. By embracing the sin of others, we feel protected, justified.

Paul cuts to the heart of all this: Your boasting is not good. You might say, “Well, I don’t boast.” But by insisting that you are accepting, tolerant, basing your argument (wrongly) on Matthew 7:1, you are boasting. I am boasting when I embrace the sinner without addressing the sin in her life. There are many churches in America who define themselves as reaching out to the disenfranchised, the lost, the hurting. Unfortunately, for most of the people attending these churches, the issues of their sins is rarely addressed. “Oh, well,” you might say, “at least they are saved.” But are they? Are they truly living lives obedient to the Word of God? Paul tells in a number of places in the Word that those who embrace sin consciously and continually will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Does a sinner who chooses to sin truly love God?

Not only that, but Paul tells us here (as he has stated earlier in chapter 5) to refuse to associate with the unrepentant believer: “Cleanse out of the old leaven . . . the leaven of malice and evil.” Here Paul gives two synonyms: kakia and poneria. Think about how one uses synonyms. They are most often used to make a point, to emphasize what one wants to say. Both these words connote evilness, wickedness, maliciousness. Paul is telling us that sin, chosen over and over again, has not place within the family of God. Not within our corporate family and not within our own lives. As Father God—through scripture, through the words of another, through the soft voice of His Spirit—reveals the sin within our lives, we are to cut it out, to discard it, to abandon it completely.

Why would Paul, then, tell us to embrace “the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth?” Think about it! When we turn our backs on sin, regardless of where it is found, we are being sincere in our faith. When we leave sin behind, wherever we find it, we are being truthful about being believers.

Matthew Henry states:

“Christians should be careful to keep themselves clean, as well as purge polluted members out of their society. And they should especially avoid the sins to which they themselves were once most addicted, and the reigning vices of the places and the people where they live.”

Do we avoid the sins of America, of our society, of our culture? Or do we embrace them, excuse them, justify them, ignore them? As Christians and as Americans, these are questions we need to seriously consider.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. RSV

If the apostle Paul, instead of writing this in one of the sacred epistles, had wrote this on an Internet message board or in a blog, I can hear the responses: “Judged? How can you judge him?” “The Bible tells us specifically not to judge one another.” “We need to love this man, not judge him.”

And yet, not only the sinful man, but the entire congregation . . . Paul judged! And pronounced sentence. He condemned what was happening among them.

Our lack of love, true love, for each other and particularly for those who sin appalls me. It isn’t love when we tolerate sin. It isn’t love when we ignore the fact that someone’s lifestyle may lead them eventually to an eternity in hell. It is self-love. We are cowards. We are afraid how we will be seen. We aren’t concerned about the sinner. We are concerned about ourselves.

Does that seem harsh? And yet, I hope it rings true in your heart.

I just attend the memorial service of a dear friend. None of her children—for whom she prayed for years—are saved. And, in fact, they are living lives of terrible sinfulness. And yet, both pastors who were asked to speak soft-petaled (until it was almost invisible) the strong gospel of Jesus Christ. What’s interesting is that they did what my friend would have never done! She never soft-petaled anything in her life. And given the opportunity to speak boldly to her children about the Lord, she did. Here was the perfect opportunity and both pastors, in an effort to be loving, spoke about grieving and memories and the psychological steps of mourning.

These children—her beloved children—will spend their eternities in hell unless they accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Where was the urgency in that?

If our child was running across the lawn and the next few steps would take her into the street right in front of an 18-wheeler, would we be concerned about sparing her feelings or would we be screaming for her to stop?

Paul heard that the Corinthian church had allowed one of its attenders to participate in the church fellowship while he was living in sexual sin. It doesn’t say whether or not the man was in leadership, but it does say that the church was “arrogant” about this situation. Perhaps they felt proud of their “love and tolerance.” Perhaps this man was prominent and they wanted him to be a part of their group. Whatever the reason, Paul is strongly concerned about what’s happening because this man’s behavior is leading him down the broad path to hell. Paul’s concern is for this man’s eternal salvation:

Verse 5: “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul didn’t tell the church to counsel this man, to embrace him in hopes that he would repent. He told them to cast him out of their fellowship, to repudiate their relationship with him. But the purpose wasn’t some formula for exacting punishment; it wasn’t because Paul was angry with this man. The purpose of the punishment was to convict the man of his sin and to compel him to repent.

In 2 Corinthians, it’s obvious that it worked:

But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to you all. For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough; so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. (2:5-8 RSV)

We need to ask ourselves what’s our motivation when we tolerate sin, when we reach out “in love” but ignore the fact that the person is flaunting their actions in God’s face. Do we really love that person, enough to risk their ire, their disdain when we speak the Word boldly? Or are we simply trying to save our own relationship with them?

1 Corinthians 4:15b-17

For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. Therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. RSV

I have a sign in my classroom: “Fewer people with kids; more parents.” The crux of the sign is that simply having kids (begetting them, living with them in the same house, etc.) isn’t the same as parenting. Parenting is a responsibility, probably beyond all others, that requires that a parent sacrifice for their child: sacrifice time, sacrifice resources, sacrifice priorities.

Many American parents don’t do that.

I’ve found that most parents fall into two categories: (1) The ones who refuse to raise their children the way they were raised (usually meaning that their parents restricted what they could have and do and it made them resentful), and (2) the ones who insist that this is now their time in life to be able to do what they want to do. And while that’s a discussion for another time, the fact remains that these kinds of parents have calloused American Christians to the idea of having spiritual parents (or, for that matter, spiritual children). In fact, for many adult Christians, if an older Christian were to stand up and announce, “I’m your spiritual father (or mother),” that adult would likely simply sigh and think, “Oh, someone else to make demands on me.”

But for Paul, the idea of being a spiritual father was a very precious thing. And, in fact, for many Americans 100 years ago, it was natural. It was natural to submit to elder Christians. It was natural to learn from them. It was natural to imitate their lives because they knew how to be Christians.

No more. The American Church has become enamored with the American youth culture. More and more our pulpits and worship teams and church leadership are filled with the young and beautiful, rather than the elder and wise. We have become a Church that leans more toward Manhattan Avenue (and all its advertising methods), rather than a Church that seeks the Bible for its definition and purpose.

But Paul insists. “I became your father in Christ Jesus . . . be imitators of me.” Why?

The fact is, most of us learn by example, by modeling, by mentoring. While we insist that we would prefer to learn through our own experiences, the fact is, that’s not an efficient or healthy way to learn. After all, who wants to learn that a saw blade is sharp by having their arm cut off? And yet, spiritually, that’s what we often do. This insistence is born in a spirit of independence and rebellion that refuses to submit to anyone else.

My own son, who is a believer, who loves the Lord greatly, shared with me that his generation doesn’t trust my generation. With cause! But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t godly men he can imitate. It simply means there are fewer are them. The fact is, my generation hasn’t been trustworthy, but rather has been self-centered and, often, self-destructive. In order to say, as Paul, “Imitate me,” we must first be imitatable.

Are we?

Many of us haven’t taken Paul’s advice to heart and looked for those godly men and women that we can imitate. How many of us have Christian mentors (either formally or informally) from whom we can learn the skills and secrets of the faith? How many of us have elder Christians who call us to account when our behavior is rebellious and wrong?

And, as we grow older, as the former generation dies and we, by nature of our years, step into that place, can we say with confidence to a younger Christian, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ”? If someone were to receive no Christian training but only had our lives to see, would they understand what they were to become as a believer?

Paul said with confidence, “Imitate me,” because he knew that his life reflected the essence of the gospel. Do our lives reflect the Lord Jesus in the same way?

1 Corinthians 4:3-5

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God. RSV

The opinions of others mean very little. People only see our outward actions, not our inward motivations. “Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b RSV).

Paul tells us that neither the opinions of others nor our own valuation of ourselves is actually valid. So while our actions are judged by the world (Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12 RSV), they—our actions—are not how we determine our own value or even necessarily our own standing with God.

It’s an interesting dichotomy. We cannot judge what we do as good in the sight of God, and yet we are to continually judge what we do, whether or not it is sin or obedience:

But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 RSV
The world judges us, but we aren’t to necessarily respond to that judgement. The world’s opinion doesn’t save us.

We are to judge ourselves, but we aren’t to cling to that judgement as our hope. Our own opinion doesn’t save us.

I think that Paul has hit upon a very important idea here. And that is the idea of being solid in who we are based on either our own or someone else’s opinion about us. I think about my husband. He admires me greatly as a Christian and yet I know that my own heart is unbelievably wicked; I am capable of the most dire sins even if they are hidden within my own heart and thoughts. And yet neither his loving opinion nor my own will save me. I am only saved through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God— not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 RSV

I do believe, however, that we can use the estimations (opinions) of others around us as a second conscience. If others see us as admirable, we need to check our pride, our own complacency. If others see us as sinful, we need to check our behavior, our lifestyle.

Paul says: “I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.” Even if he isn’t aware of sin in his own life, that doesn’t acquit him. David spoke of “hidden faults” (Psalm 19:12). There are even the sins we commit of which, at this point in our spiritual maturity, we have no awareness because we still too childish to recognize them. So not believing or thinking we are in sin doesn’t acquit us. We are still desperately in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

Lastly, Paul’s comments here seem to be, not so much about evaluating whether or not something we do or choose is sin, but more about commending ourselves for a job well done: “who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God.”

A friend of mine once commented that God wasn’t nearly as concerned about what we did as who we are. Now, while I think we can’t apply that statement broadly, I do believe there is a very important kernel of truth in it. In any given situation, I believe that God is most concerned about how we respond (which is a measure of our heart attitudes) and not so much concerned about how we affect the outcome of that situation. In other words, God isn’t nearly as concerned with our success (particularly as how the world judges success) as He is about how we treated those we passed along the way.

I think about Philippians 2:3: Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. If we truly count others better than ourselves, then we will promote them, rather than ourselves. We will allow them the advantage, rather than ourselves. We will allow them to succeed, rather than ourselves. But if we do all this with a selfish heart, we still don’t meet God’s goal. The point of anything we do should be to love others as God loves us. When He loves, He does so without reservation. When He forgives, He restores. When He provides, He does so lavishly. He is our model. And rather than commending ourselves for doing the same, we should understand that everything we have, everything we do, everything we are comes completely and absolutely from Him.

Philippians 2:3-11

Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. RSV

2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. RSV

John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. RSV

I think that it’s often extremely difficult to be a contemporary American and be a Christian. It wasn’t always so. The values that this country embraced in its infancy were similar to Christian values.

Not so now.
When America was founded, duty was put before privilege, obligation before rights. Now, not only do we demand our rights, but we actually believe that our value comes from the fact that we are people who have rights.

Our thinking goes along these lines: We are human beings. We have rights. Therefore, we are valuable; we should be valued.

This is very different from the thinking of the early Americans and from the thinking of the Bible. Our value doesn’t come from our being human beings. Our value comes from our being loved by God. And that love—that value—doesn’t guarantee us rights. Just the opposite. It guarantees us obligations.

Paul tells us in Philippians to do nothing from selfishness or conceit. We have convinced ourselves that we aren’t selfish. But we are.

The RSV here actually waters down the meaning as given in the Greek. What is translated here as selfishness is translated in the KJV as strife. And that doesn’t even really explain what the Greek word means. In fact, we really don’t even have an English word that gives the complete meaning to this very broad and expressive Greek word.

The Greek erithia means (according to Vine’s): denotes ambition, self-seeking, rivalry, self-will being an underlying idea in the word. It includes the meaning of “seeking to win followers.” So, in a sense, it’s the desire to have everyone be in your side, want what you want, support your views, defend your position. It is the sense that we are the center of the universe and that our priorities are what matters.
Doesn’t that sound to you like the constant demands for rights that we have in America? And Paul tells us not to do anything from this perspective, from this desire, from this motivation.

“But I deserved that promotion. I worked harder; I’m more qualified.”

Paul tells us to do nothing from this perspective.

“But there are people who have greater advantage than I do.:

Paul tells us to do nothing from this perspective.

“But that person always gets more than I do even though things should be equal between us.”

Paul tells us to do nothing from this perspective.

Even as churches, we want every right that we can gain from the government. I read part of a discussion last month where it was asserted that churches needed to legally organize (incorporate) so that members could be protected and could access the tax benefits.

What would Paul say? Obviously, we aren’t to consider anything from a self-serving perspective. Why? He who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with him? (Romans 8:32 RSV)

The second thing Paul tells us to do is to not seek things from the perspective of conceit. The definition of conceit is “a result of mental activity : thought; individual opinion; favorable opinion; especially : excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue.” The thing is, none of us think that we excessively appreciate our own worth or virtue . . . but we do. Any time we aren’t willing to give in to the demands of someone else, any time we aren’t willing to consider the situation from their perspective, any time we think that someone is mean to us simply because they are a “bad person,” we are having an excessive appreciation of our own worth or virtue.

Paul tells us to do nothing from this perspective.

“In humility, count others as better than yourselves.” Rather than demand our own rights, we are to focus our efforts on doing for others, because—in our minds—the others are better than us. That’s not the mindset of the contemporary American and, unfortunately, the contemporary American Christian. But it should be! Rather than being people who demand our rights, we should be people who are acting in humility, trusting God to take care of us when we are put upon, when we are taken advantage of, when we are persecuted.

God gave us His Son. That is what gives us value. God will give all things to us; we don’t need to demand them, to fight for them, to insist upon them.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. RSV

Even though Paul is speaking here, specifically, about the apostles, I believe that this is an admonition to all of us. In truth, we are all considered to be stewards of God in one way or another. If we are moms, we are stewards of God’s most precious possessions: children. And it is our responsibility to be trustworthy in that stewardship.

In fact, if we are not teaching our own children, we should be, as mature women in the Lord, teaching others somewhere what we have learned about being Christian women. Titus 2 tells us:

Bid the older women . . . to teach what is good, and so train the young women (v. 2-3, in part, RSV). If we are the “young” women, we likely have our own children at home to teach and train. If we are the “older” women, our responsibility is to mentor the younger women around us.

We are stewards . . . and it is imperative that we be found trustworthy.

Trustworthiness is a concept that’s, for the most part, grown out of favor among American Christians. We are much more comfortable touting our “sinfulness” and inability to achieve (as sinners). We would rather excuse our inabilities, rather than challenge ourselves to rise above our base instincts and achieve what God has called us to be.

I find more and more as I’m involved with conversations with Christians all over America (and in Western countries throughout the world) that we would rather accept our limitations and live with ourselves as imperfect and sinful, rather than to trust God to strengthen us to do more than we are able.

Romans 8:37: “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

It used to be that Christians believed, truly believed, that not only were they called to live lives morally above reproach, but that such lives were possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Now some of us are more content to sit on our duffs and wait for God to somehow change us, albeit against our will. Others are simply willing to accept that we are sinful and think there’s no reason to even consider whether or not our behavior is pleasing to Him. It’s all covered by the blood anyway.

We have not been found trustworthy.

The true sense of the Greek is that we must the kind of people that God (and others) can trust. As we trust God, they can trust us. Think about it. We trust God because of His nature, because of Who He is. We know that He won’t let us down, that what He says He will do!

Is that true about us as believers? Can people believe what we say? When we are wrong, do we apologize and make it right, even if making it right brings us hurt? Are we focused on what’s important for others, rather than simply getting out of life what we want (or think we need) for ourselves?

Are we trustworthy?

I think it’s high time that we, as American Christians, begin to consider whether or not we have become what the Lord Jesus really wants us to be.