And Ye Are Christ’s

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2019
Chapters: I Corinthians 1-4
Message: And Ye Are Christ’s

Hello My Friend,

Puffed; Driven out suddenly, as air or breath; blown up; swelled with air; inflated with vanity or pride; praised. Christians, especially those who have prominent positions within the Church, often are puffed up. I have been a Christian for over fourteen years, I have seen pastors, deacons, youth leaders, teachers, and laymen become so puffed up that the entire congregation sets them on a pedestal. I have also seen many fall from grace as their sin is found out. No one is without sin, those who serve in and represent the Church are more accountable for their actions as everything they do reflects the Church as a whole. While we ought to be faithful and obedient Christians, we must remember that we are no different than the one who is admittedly struggling with sin, nor are we to raise someone up so high that when they fall they are shattered. We all belong to Christ, we are all sinners saved by grace. Therefore, we are not to puff ourselves up for a job well done, or glory in others, rather glory in Christ. “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” – I Corinthians 3:21-23.

For all things are yours;” It does not matter who we are, if we received Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we all belong to Christ, and God is no respecter of persons, everything He has to offer is at our disposal, regardless if we are a pastor in the Church or a janitor in a store. The Book of I Corinthians was written by Paul, and was addressed to the Corinthians, but it applies to all believers, it was written around 59AD. The purpose of the book was to address doctrinal problems that brought division between the Corinthian believers. What we are to learn from the book is that Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, indwells and works in every believer through the Holy Spirit. Paul spent nearly two years in Corinth, preaching the Gospel with great success, it was there that one of the first Christian churches was formed, consisting of both Jews and Greeks. Paul wrote the letter, sending it along with Timothy, when a conflict arose, a false doctrine of the Gospel was being taught, and this caused a great division among the members. Paul stresses the importance of knowing and preaching the same Gospel.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – I Corinthians 1:1-2,4-8.

with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,” Sosthenes was the church leader, he was obviously concerned when there was a division among the congregation about the Gospel of Christ. There is only one Gospel, which is that believers are saved by grace alone in their faith in the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10). To the world, and false religion, it is impossible to think that anyone can end up in heaven or hell when they die, and if by some chance some do believe in God, they cannot comprehend how one man could redeem them alone. We must understand that Jesus knows who are His, our faith in Him confirms that we are not only fellow heirs with Him, but saints as well. We are not here to be approved by man, but by God, and if we are depending on the faith of man, then we are, but fools ourselves. Paul continues in his letter, telling them not to put their faith in the wisdom of man, but of God alone.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” – I Corinthians 2:1-5,9-13.

For I determined not to know any thing among you,” It is a sad reality that if everyone knew everything about everyone, then they would have nothing to do with them. Whether we realize it or not, Christians can be judgmental of one another, which is why many people leave the Church, and why we need to treat everyone the same way. It is not for us to know everything about each other, and it if comes up, then we need to be unbiased, nonjudgmental, and love them as Christ. If they have sin in their lives, then we need to address it as Christ would. And when addressing people, especially new converts or those fallen from grace, we need to do it in a way that will not preach to them, but reach them. We have no idea what people are going through, the flesh is awfully weak, and the strongest Christian is just as capable of falling from grace as the weakest. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” – Romans 15:1-4.

comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” Spiritual things; The things of the Spirit of God, the doctrines of the Gospel, with the spiritual writings of the Old Testament. Spiritual; Pertaining to spirit or to the affections; pure; holy. As Christians, we need to examine ourselves to see if we too are comparing the spiritual things with what we are doing spiritually. If we discern the spiritual things then we will apply them to our lives. The Holy Spirit will teach us how we are to behave, and are better able to reach each person. As Paul continues his letter, he teaches them that since they were carnal, meaning worldly, he had to approach them in the same manner.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” – I Corinthians 3:1-9,15-17.

for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,” New converts, backsliders, and those who have gotten saved, but just have not been taught anything else, are not able to bear all the knowledge of mature Christians. Therefore, we are to approach them as babes in Christ. God has so much to show and tell us as we grow here on earth in Christ, and even more in heaven. Praise God! Right now, you are where you need to be, the foundation has been laid, and you are standing upon the rock of Christ. Brick by brick, God is building something great inside of you, no matter what You do, you will not fail with Christ, and even if you do, God will bless you through your faithfulness. Paul stress the importance of our being ministers of Christ, that we be accountable.

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 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. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” – I Corinthians 4:1-6,10,14-16,21.

that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” We learn and teach absolutely nothing if we rip and tear each other apart. The reason this happens in the first place is when those who are puffed up, so full of pride that they think themselves above every other Christian. Let me tell you, I have left a church because of false accusations about a family member over something that we never even knew was said. It does not matter if one is the pastor of the church, a deacon, or a layman, we are all the same, and ought to be treated the same way. And if there is someone in the congregation living in sin then we need to approach them as Christ, not with the rod, but with love, and meekness for we too are sinners. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – I Corinthians 6:9-11.

Today’s Prayer: God, They may call me a fool for trusting in You, but I rather be a fool for Christ than go through this life without you. When affliction comes my way, I admit, all I want to do it hide in a corner somewhere, and not talk to anyone, but when I come to my senses I realize You are always there, ready to pick me up, and show me how to handle things. You are so merciful to me that it tears me to think that I suffered when all I had to do was come to You. Lord, there is no one like You, so loving, so trusting, so fearing, just as a Father should be, You may not remove the affliction, but Your grace is sufficient enough to help me through, and I thank You for that. Walk with me, guide me, and abide in me, give me that consolation that I know only comes as I remain in Your presence. I love You Lord and ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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