Spiritual

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Thu 2 Feb 2012

Led or Lead?

Posted @ 8:55 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Spiritual
When it comes to listening to God, how can we know whether we’re being led by the Spirit or whether our ideas and methodology are making us as lead weight?
 
I’ve been considering the question, “Does God use methods, plans and procedures?”  I am convinced He does.  Take a Sunday sermon, small group lesson, or a larger event – such as a Luis Palau festival or a Billy/Franklin Graham Crusade/festival as examples.  I absolutely believe there needs to be a clear understanding of objective, purpose, and flow.  EVERYTHING in that event needs to hone in on the focal point.  In my humble opinion, anything less is just plain sloppy.
 
That being said, I believe equally as strongly that unless personally directed by the Holy Spirit, with a submissive spirit, it’s all for naught.
 
So what’s the problem?  It seems people in either of these camps can’t find peace in the other camp.  Isn’t it both?
 
Take a well prepared sermon.  I’ve prayed and prayed.  I’ve put 20-30 hours into preparation with a good portion of that being prayer for guidance and leading.  Not just that others will hear, but I’ve prayed that my heart will hear, that this message is from God, not me.  I’ve prayed for the Lord to remove ME from the equation.  To guide my thoughts and heart, to give me the topic that my hearers need to hear.  So here it is Sunday morning.  I am prayed up.  I have others praying for me.  The entire service is orchestrated to point to the central theme of the morning.  The worship in music, the worship in prayer and even the offering.  It all flows.  It all points to the central message God has laid on my heart.
 
If I am convinced God has led me in this way, would God ever mid-sermon direct me to throw away all my notes and all my planning?  Would He ever just say, “Let’s do this instead?”  AND if He did, what would my reaction be?
 
If I’ve prayed for God to lead me and I firmly believe He has prepared me would He not use my preparation?  Would He not direct the building program for the needed expansion wing to be added, after months of tedious labor and meetings?  Would He not direct me to follow through on plans for my succession – that He has so clearly guided me in?
 
All these things are good.  In the end it’s His will we should honestly desire.  BUT His ways are not our ways.  His thoughts are not our ways.  Maybe there was another point to 30 hours of sermon preparation.  Maybe He has something else in mind when He called me to spend that time and effort and then discard it.  Maybe He knows something I don’t know.
 
Truly submitting to God means clearly hearing His voice and responding in obedience.  If I have to stop and question Him doesn’t that in itself say that I am not in a posture of acknowledging His Lordship?
 
The above examples were selected for their relatability.  Not because we all have are will be there, but because we should be able to relate to the concept as it applies in our everyday effort as we try to serve God and honor Him with the greatest things we can give, our entire being.
 
If I am not willing to listen anytime, no matter what, I have a problem.  If I am not willing to give Him my entire energy and focus for a task I have been given, I have a problem.  The two ideas are not mutually exclusive.  I believe this intersection of ideologies is where a Christian is tested by fire.  This is where my faith is tested.
 
Am I willing to do what it takes to ensure my life is not lived willy-nilly?  Am I willing to do what it takes and give up all my own efforts when called – not later, now?
 

Wed 10 Aug 2011

Where My Heart Is

Posted @ 9:17 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Personal , Spiritual
Okay, here’s little personal bit in my journey.
 
Yesterday morning I felt as if I were on the edge.  The edge meaning feeling completely overwhelmed with life and all it’s responsibilities, and “my wanna-do’s”.  Basically picture a mountain growing up in front of you.  Getting taller by the minute.  Pretty soon the mountain is touching the clouds and the top is out of sight.  Now, the path to the top of the mountain is not a cakewalk.  As you ascend the mountain it gets steeper, narrower, more harrowing as it clings to the side of sheer drop-offs.  To rest means to lean against a scrawny tree because with this level of steepness sitting is not an option.  There is nothing to keep one from sliding down and getting up would be hazardous if one lost their balance.
 
That’s my word picture.  This leads to a feeling of panic.  Heart beating ever faster, hands shaking.  It’s as if the body is prepared for a snake to jump out from behind every rock and prepared to jump back in the nick of time.  Not a pleasant place to be and the body cannot sustain such high adrenalin for very long.  I’ve been there before.  I’ve been on the edge for a while but just under that threshold.
 
Back to yesterday.  Finally, here it is.  That e-mail comes in – the one that says here’s one more task for you.  One more simple thing.  The one that says don’t worry about me – I’m just a little straw.  Instantly I recognize it for what it is.  THE straw.
 
So what does one do when there are more things to do in a day, week, month and foreseeable future than you can do?  Stop.  If there’s no more time to do one more thing it’s time to take a break and spend with my God.
 
So…  I applied all that I’d been teaching and believe and when things are too busy and there’s no time – it’s time for a God break.
 
I stepped out of the office, got my earbuds and took at slow 2½ mi walk to worship music.  My “worship walk.”  That’s what I needed when the day couldn’t hold “one more thing”.  I talked with God, the music kept me on task when my mind would wander back to try to fix all my cares.  By the end of the walk I felt much more relaxed and that relaxation continued throughout the day.  Actually as the day progressed I found I was more relaxed, more at peace.  That 1 hour walk in the middle of a day that was terribly busy actually found my day more at peace and relaxed.  I got more done than I thought I could get done AND with 1 hour less to do it in.
 
Important lesson for me.  I don’t need God a day at a time.  I really need to seek His resources a task at a time.
 

Thu 16 Jun 2011

When Will These Thorns Be Gone!

Posted @ 10:38 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Personal , Spiritual

Judges 2:20-3:2

 
Interesting…
 
It appears the nations were not driven out as a consequence of disobedience to God.  You might say it was a removal of blessing.  As if to say, “you want to do what you will, then have the results of my blessing removed.”
 
Then what comes next is quite fascinating.  The peoples are left in order to test, to prove, to refine, to make Israel more than they are.  There is no doubt reading this passage and continuing through the rest of the book of Judges (and beyond) that this testing was a very painful process.
 
Then another interesting thing is said in this passage.  It goes on to say that part of the reason for leaving the inhabitants in the land is to provide experience for those who had not been to war.
 
How like my life.  Many times I see the results of the after-effect of my having my own way – sometimes weeks or years later.  Why doesn’t today’s action make all that go away?  It seems to me the “good” in this is for my further refinement.  Maybe I have learned a few lessons here and there (I hope) but I need the test to confirm and solidify the lesson.  And oft-times to show me that I am not ready yet.  Time to renew my efforts and work harder.
 
Additionally, I am not prepared for the battles ahead without going through this process.
 

Reminds me of Romans 8:28

 

Fri 18 Feb 2011

“With Regards…”

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 16:1-24
“With Regards…”
Date: 20-Feb-11
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to understand the active responsibility of being a believer

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
Conclusionary exhortations

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:40)
I. On Resurrection (v15:1-58)
Ü J. Conclusion (v16:1-24)
   1. A collection for the poor (v1-4)
   2. Paul’s plans to visit (v5-12)
   3. Final Exhortations (v13-24)
Homework
  • Read 1 Corinthians 16
  • Review your notes and come prepared to share how God used this study of 1 Corinthians to speak to you.

Nine months ago I embarked on leading this study in the book of 1 Corinthians.  You may not recall, but the first week I had planned to cover the first 9 verses of chapter 1.  They were all salutary verses, obligatory in a letter.  In 1½ hours we did not make it past verse 3.  The reason?

We were trying to understand why Paul, with all sincerity of heart would call those in Corinth SAINTS.  There is no doubt to any scholar that this letter was written to a bunch of misfits.  They were divisive.  They were selfish.  They were greedy, immoral, self-righteous and proud.  They brought the ways of their culture into their church.  They abused the grace of God with all forms of license.  The women flaunted their independence at God’s order.  The men had no qualms about taking their fellow believers to court to get what was due them, or practicing the immoral ways of their culture.  They were out for themselves.

Paul called them saints.

I could take the self-righteous approach and reproach them for things I would never do.  But you know what? I have committed many of the exact offenses.  I am in their class.

Positionally I am a saint.  Functionally I am a sinner.  A saint that sins.  Not pretty but the truth of my identity is clear.  My real issue in this life is to live up to my calling.  It’s not where I’m at, it’s where I am going.  Life is forward moving, not static, not backward motion.  Time only moves in one direction and it never stops.
The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
A collection for the poor

1 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.
4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

¿: Why is Paul advising to set some aside every week?
¿: If they used this method, who was going to be credited with the giving, the individuals or the church?
Ü ¿: How would this collection aid Paul’s thesis of the letter (cf. 1 Cor 1:10)
¿: In what cases do you think it would seem advisable that Paul to go with the gift?
¿: Who was the gift intended for? Why?

“God’s people” (read other xlations) = “the saints”
Read Romans 15:25-27
Ü ¿: Who was the collection for?
Ü The poor are called saints
Ü ¿: When Jews from all over the Roman empire were in Jerusalem at Pentecost who supported the thousands who came to the Lord?

“On the first day of every week” – giving was part of their worship

¿: How much were they to give?
Ü “in keeping with his income”, “not grudgingly or from compulsion” (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7), “give and it will be given to you..” (cf. Luke 6:38), “sow bountifully…” (2 Cor 9:6)
Ü The “tithe” was an Old Testament system of taxation of support for the temple/levites – and the nation.  When you read all the taxes imposed regularly, at special times and over multi-year periods it amounted to about 23%.
Ü The Lord loves a cheerful and sacrificial giver, not one who gives of their excess OR one who gives because they are “supposed to.”

“If it seems advisable for me to go”
Ü Paul only wanted to go if the gift was generous, and not embarrassing?
Ü Paul only wanted to go if the funds collected were so much as to require his presence for added security?

¿: What does 1 John 3:17-18 say about our attitude toward a brother/sister in Christ?
1 Corinthians 16:5-12
Paul’s plans to visit

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia.
6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help  me on my journey, wherever I go.
7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

Applicable truths present in these verses:
  • Paul made plans for the future (didn’t live life haphazardly)
  • His plans left room for God to alter them (our original understanding of the Lord’s will may not have been complete or even correct)
  • Paul didn’t want to “just make an appearance,” he wanted to spend quality/quantity time (we should not take on a ministry without being willing to thoroughly prepare and work at it)
  • Sensitivity to God’s independent call on other believers (Apollos did not feel it was God’s time after Paul’s urging)

“so that you can help me” – Paul was inviting himself to their help
Ü ¿: How would this be received today?

10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.
11 No one, then, should refuse to accept him. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¿: What would Timothy fear? [disrespect because of age cf. 1 Tim 4:12]
If the church did not pay full attention to Paul’s authority, how much less young Timothy’s?

¿: Compared to Paul and his mighty stature, how was Timothy to be treated?

12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Paul wanted Apollos to go with Timothy, perhaps the maturity would be huge asset to Timothy.  Paul respected Apollos even though he himself “strongly urged” Apollos to change his mind.

An important lesson: even though someone of Paul’s stature urges us – it’s the Lord’s prompting we should follow. Give weight, but always seek God’s wisdom.
1 Corinthians 16:13-24
Final Exhortations

13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
14 Do everything in love.

¿: What five admonitions does Paul give here?
Be on guard:
for subtleties of satan – cf. 1 Peter 5:8-9
for temptation – cf. Mark 14:38
against apathy – cf. Rev 3:1-3
for false teachers – cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-5
Stand firm:
To doctrine – cf. 1 Cor 15:1; 2 Thess. 2:15 – scripture is far more than a “commentary” on views how someone long ago lived.
Men of courage – “act like men” (NASB)
“Shall I come to you with a rod?” – 1 Cor. 4:21
Be strong:
Our strength comes from God.  Spiritual strength comes from self-sacrifice, self-denial, & self discipline – Phil. 4:13
In Love:
Love keeps our firmness from becoming hardness
Love keeps our strength from becoming domineering
Love keeps our standing firm on doctrine from becoming dogmatism


Achaia
uh-KEE-uh
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,
16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it.
17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

These closing words are not simply niceties.  These are God’s words recorded for a divine purpose.  “All Scripture is profitable…” (2 Tim. 3:16)

In his conclusion to this letter, Paul intermingles his exhortations with all the ways love is exemplified:
  • In his evangelism of Stephanas as the first convert in Achaia
  • In the service of ministry for the saints
    15b …that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints (KJV)
  • In submission, not only to leaders but to all who faithfully labor in the Lord
  • In true, refreshing, renewing companionship with fellow believers
  • In recognition of God’s servants
  • In hospitable love
  • In affection

The main part of the letter would have been dictated to a scribe.  Paul finished and signed the letter himself to establish the letter’s authenticity.

“a curse be on him.. Come, O Lord” – God come and remove them before they cause harm to the body.  This can be taken as an admonition to submit the Christ before He returns and the chance is lost forever.

Paul ends the letter with the blessing of Grace and Love.  He began the letter with Grace and Peace (v1:3)

Conclusion
Personal Application:
Homework: Pass out outline
¿: How has God used this study in the letter to the church at Corinth to speak to you?
 

Fri 11 Feb 2011

“The Nature of the Resurrected Body”

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 15:35-58
The Nature of the Resurrected Body
Date: 13-Feb-11
Required Resources:
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to motivate today’s action based upon tomorrow’s promises

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
The nature of the resurrected body

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:40)
I. On Resurrection (v15:1-58)
   1. Resurrection of Christ (v1-11)
   2. Resurrection of the Body (v12-34)
Ü 3. The Nature of the resurrected body (v35-58)
Homework
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 and complete a page in your study booklet
  • Bring a picture of yourself at a very early age

WHITEBOARD: words randomly spirit, body, soul
¿: Name a phrase that uses these 3 words.
Note: that we tend to order as “body, soul, spirit”  Scripture orders differently.
1 Thes. 5:23 – spirit, soul , body
Deut. 6:5 – heart, soul, strength
Ps. 84:2 – soul, heart, flesh
Matt. 22:37 – heart, soul, mind
Luke 10:27 – heart, soul strength

¿: What happened to our body at The Fall? [something visibly changed]
Ü Read Genesis 2:4-9; 15-25 (Man and woman created – no shame)
Ü Read Genesis 3:6-7 (a visible change?)

In the text a few key questions are anticipated:
How are the dead raised, (their bodies are decomposed and/or scattered)?
What kind of body will they have?
What about a body for those not dead when Christ comes?

REVIEW HOMEWORK
¿: What age will your resurrected body be?

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians 15:35-41
What kind of body will I have?

35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?“
36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.
37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

“With what kind of body will they come?” – this is a foolish question which is beyond our understanding.  We can’t even fully comprehend how a seed can produce a plant so unlike the seed itself.  Even with our understanding of DNA leaves us wondering at the mystery of a change from one thing into another.  The seed and the plant are directly related but vastly different.

“How foolish!” – Paul pulls no punches for those asking this question.  He is likely addressing the Greek dualists who in an effort to scorn an eternal resurrected body are derisively saying, “So you believe in a resurrected body – well what’s it going to be like?”

God produces a body according to the seed that was sown.  Each seed has it’s own type of plant.  The specific characteristics of the plant are within the seed.

What will be the “seed” of our body?
Ü It will not be necessary for God to use every part of this body when he raises it from the grave. Such a thought is not taught in Scripture. In fact, it is scientifically true that the component parts of our bodies undergo periodic changes. We receive new bodies every seven years. We have not the same body today that we had seven years ago.
Ü Yet, there is an identity that we maintain all our lifetime, and yet there is not one cell in our bodies that was there seven years ago.
Ü In the resurrection the bodies of the saints will bear their individual identities. Ü The fact that after death our physical substance disintegrates and scatters, creates no difficulties for God

There will be glorious differences between our current body and our resurrected body but in all this we will be distinct.

¿: Will people recognize us in heaven?
ÜWhen David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby.
ÜIn Luke 16:19-31, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were all recognizable after death.
ÜAt the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognizable (Matthew 17:3-4). In these examples, the Bible does seem to indicate that we will be recognizable after death.

ÜMany people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). If Jesus was recognizable in His glorified body, we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies.

39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.
40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.
41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

Notice how a series of contrasts are used to explain the unexplainable.

God is infinitely more creative than we can even comprehend.

Paul is saying, “There are obviously differences in what is created, don’t expect the resurrected body to be like the physical”
Ü Addresses the scoffers as well as answers the curious
1 Corinthians 15:42-49
The nature of the resurrected body

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

The “seed” of our future body is this corruptible shell we carry now.  This will die and be raised to produce a glorious new body.

44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

“it is raised a spiritual body” – this is not to say it is made out of spirit, rather that the future body will be adapted for a different kind of existence.
Ü Luke 24:38-40 Christ’s resurrected body was flesh and bones
Ü Phil. 3:20 – our bodies will be transformed
Ü 2 Cor. 5:1-5 – we are naked without a body
¿: Will our bodies be like Adam & Eve’s before the fall? [they had not eaten the tree of life]
Ü Gen. 2:7 – man made of dust of ground
Ü Gen. 2:9 – two trees ¿: Why?
Ü Gen. 2:25 – naked, no shame
Ü Gen. 3:7-8 – eyes were opened ¿: Why shame?
  • It must have been more than an awareness of nakedness.  Shouldn’t a husband and wife with perfect bodies be comfortable in their nakedness with each other?
  • Could they have lost something more? A glory, perhaps?  Something to physically be ashamed of.

Ü Gen 3:22 – eat and live forever (even in fallen state!)
Adam and Eve had perfect bodies, however there was something more the tree of life would have given them, the resurrection will bring us to that state.

The spiritual body is required to accommodate spiritual things.  But since it is also physical it will have physical qualities.

46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

“we bear the likeness of the man from heaven” – Christ’s resurrected body is the prototype for ours
If Christ’s was prototype will we also have these characteristics?
Ü Luke 24:36 – Jesus “appeared and startled them”
Ü John 20:19 – Jesus appeared in a locked room
1 Corinthians 15:50-57
The victory of a transformed body

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

A short message about our bodies:
“There is a preacher of the old school, but he speaks as boldly as ever. He is not popular though the world is his parish, and he travels every part of the globe and speaks in every language. He visits the poor, calls upon the rich, preaches to people of every religion and no religion, and the subject of his sermon is always the same. He is an eloquent preacher, often stirring feelings which no other preacher could in bringing tears to eyes that never weep. His arguments none are able to refute, nor is there any heart that has remained unmoved by the force of his appeals. He shatters life with his message. Most people hate him; everyone fears him. His name? Death. Every tombstone is his pulpit. Every newspaper prints his text, and someday every one of you will be his sermon.” – David Cawston “Ready to Face the Music”

“I tell you a mystery” – a mystery is something that has not been previously revealed.  The fact of the resurrection had been revealed in OT times…
¿: What is the mystery?

“We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” – After all this talk of an incorruptible body for the dead, what about those living?

“perishable must clothe itself…” = could possibly refer to the dead whereas “the mortal…” could refer to the living.
1 Corinthians 15:58
So what?

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The consequence of this discussion is the command to stand firm in the faith.

We will live forever in a new, resurrected body.  Our works will be tested through fire.  There are eternal rewards for what is lasting.  What we do in the flesh has eternal consequences.

This word is alive for countless Christians who work and pray and give and suffer as little as they can!  How can we be satisfied with the trivial, insignificant, short-lived things of the world!  Our society today worships the idols of leisure and relaxation.

Conclusion
Personal Application:
¿: Does it matter what I do with thins body since I’ll get a new one anyway?

Homework:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 16
  • Review the general outline of the letter and sum up Paul’s message to the church
 

Fri 4 Feb 2011

“The Believer’s Resurrection”

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
I Corinthians 15:12-34
“The Believer’s Resurrection”
Date: 6-Feb-11
Required Resources:
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to challenge to consider how we live out our beliefs

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
Believers will be resurrected

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:40)
I. On Resurrection (v15:1-58)
   1. Resurrection of Christ (v1-11)
Ü 2. Resurrection of the Body (v12-34)
   3. The Nature of the resurrected body (v35-58)
Homework
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 and complete a page in your study booklet
  • Read Revelation 20.  Make of list (to bring to class) of things you can determine about the resurrection of the dead from this passage.
  • Come to class with a list of beliefs about what happens after death

The first part of chapter 15 built a solid case for the resurrection of Christ.  Paul now takes that proof to the next level by showing that the believer’s life in intermingled with Christ.  Since Christ was resurrected we will be resurrected.

Homework review
Job’s view – Job 19:25-26
¿: What did Job believe about the afterlife? [In my flesh I will see God]
Christ’s promise to us – John 6:44

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Consequences of the denial of the bodily Resurrection

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

¿: Based on this passage, what do you think is the underlying question behind chp. 15?

Ü Most Jews believed in the resurrection of the dead (cf. Daniel 12:1-2)
Ü The Greek culture generally believed the physical world, including the body was inherently evil – therefore to have a resurrected body was unthinkable.  They felt that the soul contained all that was good in their destiny.

Paul had already gained their assent that Christ was raised (v1-11), so he uses that argument as a basis of proof that believers are raised.
To paraphrase Paul: “How can you agree to the resurrection of Christ and yet say there is no bodily resurrection, this argument does not hold water?”

The argument is developed with 6 “if’s”

Consequences of no believer’s resurrection:
  1. Christ was not raised (v14)
¿: Why would their faith be useless?
1) because Christ promised He was rise from dead on third day – if He didn’t he was lying or not God

2) proof indeed that His death was of greater value than any persons – only God could raise Himself
  1. The apostles are false witnesses of God (v15)
  2. Christ not raised either (v16)
  3. Faith did not cleanse them of sin (v17)
  4. Loved ones who died did not go to heaven (v18)
  5. The cross was foolishness (v19) (cf. v1:18)

v18-19 touch on the idea of immortality of the soul without a bodily resurrection.  It is obvious that Paul believes that without a bodily resurrection there is no afterlife.

NOTICE: he does not even subscribe to the idea that the soul goes on with no body.

1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Theological implications of the Resurrection

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

A believer’s destiny is intermingled with Christ.  Paul spells out the consequences of Christ’s resurrection.

“firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” – Christ’s resurrection is our guarantee of resurrection. The firstfruits indicates there is more in store.

“death came through a man” see Romans 5:12-19

“in Christ all will be made alive”
¿: Does this mean that all will eventually be saved? [no, Adam and Christ are listed as the heads of those lines.  One born of Adam will die, one born of Christ will live.  Verse 23 clarifies the “who” of “in Christ all”]

“but each in his turn”
¿: When does the resurrection take place? [v23 & Revelation 20 (HOMEWORK)]

¿: What happens to us between the time we die and Christ returns?
Cf. 2 Cor 5:8 – away from body, with the Lord

¿: Do you see time intervals in v23-28?
4 stages – dependant on eschatology
1) Christ,
2) Rapture – those “in Him” up to that point in history (1 Thess. 4:16)
3) 2nd coming to reign – those who died during tribulation (Rev 20:4)
4) Wicked who died – for judgment (cf. Dan. 12:2, John 5:29, Rev 20:5)

When God is all in all the new creation will be consummated and the resurrected Christ and His church will share in that experience.
1 Corinthians 15:29-34
Living life based upon the Resurrection

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33 Do not be  misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

v29 – verse are up to 200 explanations of this verse!
Ü This verse may mean that there was a practice of baptizing for the dead by those who denied the resurrection – Paul holds this teaching up as useless.
That someone can be baptized for those that have gone ahead in dead.  This teaching would contradict scripture.
1) Baptism is a sign – it has no redeeming quality
2) Scripture is clear that this life is where our salvation takes place
3) Scripture is clear that our belief in Christ must be personal
Ü This verse may be referring to the baptism that occurred for believers that had since passed away.  The point being “why bother to baptize if the body itself would perish”
Ü This verse may refer to harsh persecution of the church.  When a believer was baptized he was martyred; therefore someone getting baptized was taking the place of one who was dead.
Ü This verse may be simply saying “those who are baptized” (a sign of their faith) “for the dead” (because of those who have gone on before) – meaning “if there is no resurrection, what about those who are saved (baptized) because of the hope they have in being reunited with the friends and family that have gone on ahead of them to be with the Lord (their salvation could have been brought about by the death of these saints)”

v30 – Paul holds his own life up in contrast to this indeterminate practice that was being conducted.
Why would Paul subject himself to all the peril he did if this life were all that there was?
“fought wild beasts” – we do not know if Paul a Roman citizen was ever physically in the arena. (cf. 2 Cor. 1:8-11)

“bad company…” – Paul very clearly says, ”Don’t associate with these teachings, whoever they come from.”
A FAULTY WORLDVIEW LEADS TO UNGODLY BEHAVIOR.

“some who are ignorant of God”
¿: Is this speaking of those outside the church? Or to those within the church creating this argument on the resurrection?

Conclusion
Personal Application:
¿: What positive kingdom impact has Christ’s resurrection had on you?
¿: How does your belief about an afterlife and bodily resurrection affect you life?
Homework:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
 

Fri 28 Jan 2011

“Of First Importance”

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Category: Studies

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
“Of First Importance”
Date: 30-Jan-11
Required Resources:
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to grasp how the resurrection of Christ can/should transform us.

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
Without Christ’s bodily resurrection there is no faith.

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:40)
I. On Resurrection (v15:1-58)
Ü 1. Resurrection of Christ (v1-11)
   2. Resurrection of the Dead (v12-34)
   3. Resurrection of the Body (v35-58)
Homework
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 and complete a page in your study booklet
  • Spend time meditating on the power of Christ’s resurrection.  Focus on the impact it has had on you personally.

In this section Paul begins a discussion of the resurrection.  This was possibly prompted by some not believing Christians will receive a physical, resurrected body.  It does not appear to be a question of the immortality of the soul, but instead whether there will be a physical body in heaven.  The point of chapter 15 is not to prove Christ’s resurrection – that was a verifiable fact – it is to prove the believer’s resurrection.

The argument is laid out in a logical fashion, first building on the gospel and the resurrection of Christ.  It then progresses to a discussion of the believers resurrection and finally onto what may have been the confusion that prompted this section – What is the nature of our resurrected body?

The resurrection is the heart of the gospel and resurrection of the Christian’s body is the logical consequence.

This week we begin by examining Christ’s resurrection.

¿: Why is the resurrection of Christ important, wasn’t His death enough the pay the penalty?
(Acts 4:33; Ro. 1:2-4; Php. 3:10 – power of the gospel, deity of Christ, promise of eternal life)

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
The Truth of the Gospel

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

¿: In this passage what is the very first evidence of the power of the resurrection? [“you were saved”]

Paul begins his argument with something personal that the Corinthians can identify with.

“if you hold firmly” – can be read as a parenthetical or a conditional statement
¿: What can this phrase be understood to mean?
This does not imply that not holding firmly could result in the loss of their salvation.  Instead it says, “if there is no resurrection then there is no salvation”
“Unless your faith was a delusion”
Our salvation is kept by Christ’s holding fast to us, not our holding fast to Him. (John 10:28)
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
The Testimony of the Gospel

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.




















ò
“what I received I passed on to you”
¿: Do you recall another time Paul used a similar phrase? [1 Cor. 11:23]
¿: What was the occasion, and why did he use the phrase?
Paul reminds them of the oral teaching he first brought to them

“died for our sins according to the scriptures” – Isaiah 53
Ü Christ did not die for His sins, or as a martyr.  Christ’s’ was substitutionary for MY sins.  It was my penalty (and yours He died for).

That Christ was buried verified His death:
Ü The empty tomb – Matt. 28:1-10 (v28:6); Mark 16:1-8 (v16:6); Luke 24:1-12 (v24:3); John 20:1-9 (v20:2)

“raised on the third day according to the scriptures”
¿: What scriptures prophesied this?
Ü Christ referred to the sign of Jonah – Matt. 12:38-41) Jonah 1:17, Psalm 16:8-11 (cited by Peter at Pentecost – Acts 2:31)

Note: how important the testimony of the scriptures is.  It is not what Paul may have told them, it’s what the scriptures said.

James was probably the half-brother of Jesus (vs one of the apostles Mark 3:17-18).  He likely came to faith at the post-resurrection appearance of Christ. (John 7:3-5)

The apostles were clearly more than the 12.  Note: apostles saw the resurrected Christ.

With the possible exception of James, Paul is the only appearance to an unbeliever.  Paul refers to himself as one “untimely born” as in a miscarriage.  He was not a believer (malformed, dead), yet Jesus appeared to him.

The Gospel Testimony of the Post-Resurrection Appearances
Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18 – Mary Magdalene on the Garden
Matt 28:9-10 – other women
Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32 – Two people going to Emmaus
Luke 24:34 – Peter
¿: Why was Peter singled out for a visit? (see Luke 21:61-62 – visiting Peter emphasized God’s grave)
Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25 – disciples in the upper room
Mark 16:14; John 20:26-31 – disciples in the upper room, a week later
John 21:1-23 – 7 disciples while fishing
Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18 – 11 disciples on a mountain
Acts 1:3 – over a period of 40 days
Acts 9:1-8 – Paul

Notice how the quality of the witnesses can be attested to (men known by name that could be interviewed) PLUS the quantity of witnesses, most of whom were still alive.
1 Corinthians 15:9-11
Paul’s Testimony of the Gospel

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

In spite of Paul’s harsh persecution of the church, God selected him.

Whatever Paul is now, it is ONLY through God’s grace – which held Paul to an obligation of love.  Paul understood his absolute unworthiness.  He also understand the fullness of God’s grace showered down on him.  He did not live in guilt for what he had done for the church, instead he used that knowledge to view the depth of God’s love for him.

¿: Why is the resurrection important?

¿: Paul says, “His grace to me was not without effect,” can you give examples of what Paul is talking about?

¿: What effect “should” His grace have upon us?
     
Conclusion
Personal Application:
¿: What power has Christ’s resurrection had in your life?

Homework:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
 

Fri 14 Jan 2011

Orderly Worship

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Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
“Orderly Worship”
Date: 16-Jan-11
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to openly discuss the meaning of this difficult passage and its application for today.

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
All things should be done in a fitting and orderly way

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:39 )
        1. Submission to established order (v11:2-16)
        2. Order in the Observance of the Lord’s Table (v11:17-34)
        3. About Spiritual Gifts (v12:1-11)
        — Indentifying your Spiritual Gift(s) –
        4. The functioning of Spiritual Gifts (v12:12-31a)
        5. The rule of using Spiritual Gifts (v12:31b -13:13)
        6. Proper use of the sign gifts (v14:1-25)
  Ü 7. Orderly worship (v14:26-39)
Homework
1. Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 and complete a page in your study booklet
2. Write a statement of what you think verses 34-35 are saying
3. Find scriptural basis for your viewpoint, if your viewpoint does not match the plain text
4. Read 1 Corinthians 11:5; 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12; Acts 18:26 and 1 Corinthians 14:36-37, how do you reconcile these verses?

¿: Do you think it’s scriptural to forbid women from preaching in a church service?  What about writing the sermon for teaching (and a man delivers it)?  What about writing the hymn to teach?

The Text
Conclusion
Personal Application:
Chapters 11-14 express the viewpoint that this is not “my church” or “our church” but God’s gathering.
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians 14:26
All For Edification

26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

The coming together for worship sounds a little more interactive than many church services today.
A diversity of gifts were present and each was expected to be allowed to participate with no one gift dominating the service.

¿: Would you find a Corinthian service uncomfortable or dull?
¿: Why do you suppose the church moved away from this model?


The rule of love is the guiding principle. – although each had something to offer, it wasn’t about what they had, it was about what builds up the church.

“strengthening” – is from a Greek word which has to do with house building.
1 Corinthians 14:27-28
Guidelines for Speaking in Tongues

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

3 rules laid out: 1) 2 or 3 at most, 2) one at a time, 3) interpreter required

¿: Does tongues without an interpreter have a purpose in the body?
1 Corinthians 14:29-33a
Guidelines for Prophesy

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
33a For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.












ò
3 rules laid out: 1) 2 or 3 at most, 2) others should weigh carefully, 3) if a second begins, the first stops

See 1 John 4:1 – test the spirits

¿: Why do you think the instruction would be for the first to stop and allow a second person to interrupt? [It is possible that in many words someone may be more likely “adding” to the truth from their own wisdom and understanding]

v32 – ¿: Could the Corinthians have had the idea that the MORE spirit controlled a person was the less in control of himself he was?
¿: Does this idea ring true today?

Ü No one is carried away without his consent – whether for good or bad.  It would be inconsistent with this passage to say, “I couldn’t help myself”
¿: What about the old adage, “The Devil made me do it?”

Disorder IS NOT a sign of God’s presence.
Although order may not be a sign of God’s presence, disorder is never of God.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. James 3:13-16
1 Corinthians 14:33b-35
Guidelines for Wives

33bAs in all the congregations of the saints,
34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.





































ò
Some manuscripts move the order of these verses to the end of the chapter, indicating the scribes may have felt these out of place in this passage.  Because of this some commentators feel the confusion was because the verses were never in the oldest manuscripts to begin with.  Thus the reasoning is to ignore this section.
These verses ARE in every manuscript, the order is simply different.  Also, the specific manuscripts which have the verses at the end of the passage are known for generally poor scribal practices.

Notice that Paul DID NOT dodge the problem in order to be politically correct.

¿: Was the admonition addressed to ALL women or married women?
[Word for woman can be general or wife – depending on context]

“remain silent” – same Greek word as in v28
¿: Would you expect the meaning to be different when the same word is used in the same passage?

See 1 Tim. 2:11-12 for a parallel passage.

¿: How do you reconcile v34 with 1 Cor. 11:5, where women are allowed to speak?
OR
Acts 18:26 where a woman was involved with the teaching of Apollos?
Also, Galatians 3:28-29; Colossians 3:11

¿: What would be the difference between the “praying and prophesying” mentioned in v11:5 vs. what is mentioned in v14:34? [exercise of spiritual gifts vs. general speaking]

“As the law says” – possibly referring to the order of creation.

This passage can be understood:
1) Women of the day were trying to circumvent “teaching” restrictions by “teaching via questions” – if so, this loophole is closed

2) The speaking could be referring to gossip or idle chatter – disruption

3) Women were forbidden to speak in a teaching capacity for any reason
Ü In 1 Cor. 11 we studied about the head covering as a sign of submission to God’s created order (with restrictions on the man as well as the woman!)

Ü In light of other passages it appears that “silent in the churches” would mean the formal times of corporate worship – and in a teaching capacity.  Since v11:5 allows them to prophesy

Consistent  with other NT teaching, women have many valuable ministries, however public ministries over the entire church are not exemplified in scripture.  Even if one only sees a cultural restriction in this passage, 1 Cor. 11:3-16 makes a clear case for submitting to God’s order of creation – not as a sign of value but as acknowledgement that men submit to Christ as even Christ submitted to the Father.

Comparing the idea that women should not teach the entire church with the whole of other scriptural teaching does not contradict scripture.  However even if you do not believe this is the correct interpretation for today – remember there are principles of order and discipline God has established.  The truth of these principles should be followed regardless of our individual interpretation of these few verses.
Ü Some may think that it is more important to encourage participation than to abide by a seemingly out-of-date rule. So the question becomes, are we seeking to obey the Word of God or seeking to satisfy ourselves and placate others?
Ü It is not always easy to determine when the rule of silence applies. However, it is the responsibility of each session to apply that rule when appropriate—and of each woman to consider when it may be pleasing to God for her not to speak. We may be confident that if we sincerely and prayerfully seek to understand and apply biblical principles in these matters, God will lead us into his truth and bless us.

Read: “Should Women Be Allowed to Speak…”
1 Corinthians 14:36-40
Order in All Things

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Paul’s sarcastic words are a biting reminder that what he said was not cultural norm or even Paul’s own bias as a Jew or a man; these words were directly from the Lord.

“be eager to prophesy” – you all be eager (2nd person plural), as a church be eager and desirous of this gift.  Hold it in high esteem.  He was not telling them individually to try to obtain this gift, he was telling them as a church to prize those who had this gift because it builds the body.

“fitting” – becomingly, gracefully

Conclusion
Personal Application:
Chapters 11-14 express the viewpoint that this is not “my church” or “our church” but God’s gathering.

 

Fri 7 Jan 2011

Building Up the Body

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
 
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Building Up the Body
Date: 9-Jan-11
Required Resources: Use of Spiritual Gifts (comedy).mpg (2min 21sec); A PRIVATE PRAYER LANGUAGE
Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
The purpose of this lesson is to open up dialog regarding what the gift of tongues is and is not

Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
Tongues must be used for the edification of the Body

Introduction
Review & Homework:
Outline
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
 – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:39 )
        1. Submission to established order (v11:2-16)
        2. Order in the Observance of the Lord’s Table (v11:17-34)
        3. About Spiritual Gifts (v12:1-11)
        — Indentifying your Spiritual Gift(s) –
        4. The functioning of Spiritual Gifts (v12:12-31a)
        5. The rule of using Spiritual Gifts (v12:31b -13:13)
  Ü 6. Proper use of the sign gifts (v14:1-25)
        7. Orderly worship (v14:26-39)
Homework
  • Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 and complete a page in your study booklet
  • Come to class with one (or both) of these:
    • What can you glean from this passage about the nature and purpose in the gift of tongues?
    • What problems does this passage create? (Does it challenge your thinking?  Are there apparent contradictions?  What problems has it created in the church as a whole?)
    à Bring all your “problems” with this passage to class and let’s discuss them to bring light to this area.

    This chapter is crowded with difficulties.  It does not seem likely that the Holy Spirit should, in a church, suddenly inspire a man with the knowledge of some foreign language, which none in the church understands without an interpreter – why not speak in the plain language of the hearer?  One the other hand, if the language referred to is a “heavenly language” for personal edification then how does it fit into the class of gifts which edify the body?

    Some have reconciled this by saying it WAS a known language, like ancient Hebrew, which no one knows today.  The rationale being possibly that Hebrew was a reminder that Truth came through the Jewish nation.

    There is no doubt that tongues was being abused at Corinth.  After a discussion of spiritual gifts and their diversity and function within the body, followed by a discourse in active love as the method of use, the apostle spends a significant amount of time to specifically address the proper use of tongues within the church.
    METHOD OF DISCERNING A DIFFICULT PASSAGE
    Before we look at this difficult passage we must first clearly discern what the central message is.  After we have determined this central message we can place all our observations and questions in the context of that central message.
    1. What is the occasion (reason) for the writing of 1 Corinthians?
    2. What verse in the boot best sums up the theme of 1 Corinthians? [hint:see cover of study guide – 1 Cor. 1:10]
    3. In the greater passage (1 Corinthians 11-14), what is the central message? [Order in worship]
    4. Within this text what are the main ideas which all other text seems to support? Note: in several translations the translators built paragraphs around what they thought were developed thoughts… Do you agree with the translators (don’t assume they got it right)?
    5. Consolidate the main ideas into one central idea [v14:1, 3, 6, 13, 25 – were what I see as central]
      THESIS: “eagerly desire… prophecy(v1)… everyone speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort”
      Restated: “Be eager to do what builds others up for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort”
    6. TEST: Does this thesis fit the immediate context, greater context and the letter as a whole?
    7. Pray and meditate on this – what does God say?


    The Text
    Scripture
    Observation
    1 Corinthians 14:1-5
    What to Chase After

    1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
    2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
    3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
    4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
    5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.


























    “Follow the way of love” – better translated “Pursue love” (NASB) – diōkō (grk) = “to pursue; to hunt, chase with intensity”  In some contexts it is translated “persecute”

    “eagerly desire”
    ¿: Is the apostle saying we should not be content with the gift(s) we were given?
    ¿: Can we decide the gift we have?
    ¿: What reaction is expected when the hearers hear “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire…”? [they will be less enamored by what currently holds their attention]

    There is considerable debate over the nature of “speaking in a tongue.”  Was tongue speaking a known language of men or was it a “heavenly” language?

    Tongues – known or unknown language?
    See:
    Ü v13:1 – language of angels?
    Ü v14:4 – praying “in the spirit?”

    ¿: Why does v2 say tongues “speaks to God?”
    Ü Matthew 6:7 addresses meaningless repetition in prayer. Does this apply?
    Ü The Lord’s prayer is a model of a simple prayer (cf. Matt 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)

    v4 seems to refer to personal edification.  See Romans 8:26.
    ¿: What are your thoughts?

    ¿: In light of 1 Cor. 12 & 13 do you think Paul is building up the use of a private use of tongues?
    Ü The gifts were given for common good (cf. 1 Cor 12:7), this does not exclude personal benefit, but it does mean that its direct usage was to be primarily focused within the Body.
    Ü Love focuses on others not self (1 Cor. 13:4-8)

    “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues”
    ¿: Was this a command? (see 1 Cor 7:7 re: celibacy)
    ¿: Did Paul expect all to speak in tongues? [1 Cor 12:29-30]

    Obviously they didn’t all have the gift of tongues nor would they.  Paul uses this hyperbole to elevate speaking intelligible words in prophecy.  The point is not that he actually desires all to prophesy, the point is that tongues is relatively unimportant when it comes to edifying the body. It’s about edifying the Body.

    ¿: Does this mean there is not a private prayer language?

    From these verses we can deduce that tongues was:
    1) known language, but unknown to the hearers (as at the day of Pentecost)
    Or/And
    2) language unknown to mankind that requires interpretation for men to understand

    Either way, the following passage clarifies the proper use of this speaking…
    1 Corinthians 14:6-12
    Intelligibility Edifies

    6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
    7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
    8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
    9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
    10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
    11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
    12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.














    For a message to be profitable it must be understood

    Note that Paul is not discouraging their zeal in the use of tongues, instead he is encouraging the desire they edify the church with their gift.

    Ü There is no dispute that one sense of the gift of tongues was speaking in a known language without having studied it for the purpose of communicating God’s truth while at the same time validating the message was from God.

    READ: A Private Prayer Language

    Ü There is no clear teaching which speaks of a second variation of this gift for personal use as a language unknown to man.  This IS NOT to say God doesn’t use whatever means He wishes to communicate with us today.
    1. We know that the gifts were given for the “common good”
    2. We know that when God speaks He will often validate His word through unique methods so we have no doubt it is Him speaking.  This may include some unique circumstance, visions, dreams, His Word, etc.  This does not exclude a supernatural utterance.

    A key factor would be, “is the meaning of what God is saying to me clear?”
    Ü God may give a supernatural utterance as a confirming sign and that’s a clear meaning.
    Ü But if someone continually speaks in tongues with no idea what is being said, it seems improbable that the spirit can edify because of the emphasis placed on understanding in this chapter.  The clearest way to edify is simplest.
    1 Corinthians 14:13-19
    1 Corinthians 14:13-17

    13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
    14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
    15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
    16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
    17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
    18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
    19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

    10,000 is the largest Greek number

    ¿: John MacArthur sees this section as sarcastic in tone (he also validates this thinking because of the singular and plural tenses used with the word tongues – in one sense it’s counterfeit in the other it’s anointed). He says counterfeit tongues are being reprimanded, thoughts?
    1 Corinthians 14:20-25
    1 Corinthians 14:22-25

    20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
    21 In the Law it is written: “Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.
    22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
    23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
    24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,
    25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”





    “stop thinking like children” – children prefer amusement to usefulness; flashy things to stable things.

    ¿: How does this phrase have application in our lives: “Be childlike when it comes to evil but in other matters think and act with maturity?”
    v21 is a quote from Isaiah 28:11.  In this verse God says that because the children of Israel had rejected His message and had mocked it, He would speak to them through a foreign language.  The fulfillment of this took place when the Assyrian invaders came into the land of Israel, and the Israelites heard the Assyrian language being spoken in the midst.  This was a sign to them of their rejection of God’s word.

    v22 makes it clear that tongues was intended by God to be used for unbelievers (as in the context of Isaiah 28:11), so therefore should not be so valued in the assembly.

    “some who do not understand” – implication is that some do understand.

    ¿: How would you reconcile the apparent contradiction between “a sign for unbelievers” (v22) and “unbelievers come in, and say they’re out of their mind.?”
    Ü v22 is listed for those who have rejected the word and closed their hearts. – for them it’s a sign of judgment.
    Üv23 & 24 are for those unbelievers who are open, as evidenced by their physical presence – for them there will be no understanding

    “secrets of his heart” – it’s the truth that will expose the hearers heart and convict him of sin.

    Conclusion
    Personal Application:
    ¿: Did you personally glean any truths from this passage?
    ¿: Where the tools (methods) useful for other scriptures?

    Homework:
    • Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-39
     

    Fri 31 Dec 2010

    The Rule of Engagement

    Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
    Category: Studies
    1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13
    “The Rule of Engagement”
    Date: 2-Jan-11
    Required Resources: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Corinthians; shiny crystal like object (to make point)
    Purpose (Why am I teaching this lesson? What effect did the writer expect it to have on the recipients?)
    The purpose of this lesson is to motivate the participants to exercise love in a more selfless way.

    Theme (What central idea does this passage communicate?)
    A gift exercised outside the context of love is meaningless

    Introduction
    Review & Homework:
    Outline
    A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
    B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
    C. …of conduct unbecoming a believer (v5:1-13) {church discipline}
    D. Dealing with offenses in The Body (v6:1-11)
    E. The bondage of sexual sin (v6:12-20)
     – Now For The Matters You Wrote About –
    F. Marriage, Divorce & Singleness (v7:1-40)
    G. Christian Liberty (v8:1-11:1)
    H. Order in Worship (v11:2-14:39 )
    1. Submission to established order (v11:2-16)
    2. Order in the Observance of the Lord’s Table (v11:17-34)
    3. About Spiritual Gifts (v12:1-11)
    – Indentifying your Spiritual Gift(s) –
    4. The functioning of Spiritual Gifts (v12:12-31a)
        Ü 5. The rule of using Spiritual Gifts (v12:31b -13:13)
    6. Proper use of the sign gifts (v14:1-25)
    7. Orderly worship (v14:26-39)
    Homework
    • Read 1 Corinthians 12:3b thru 13:13 and complete a page in your study booklet.
    • See if you can come up with a unique title for this often taught passage
    • Come to class with a list (and definitions) of the Greek words translated into English as love.

    Review Homework

    ¿: Is love a choice or a feeling?

    Some believe that chapter 13 is a parenthetical passage designed to relieve the tension between chapters 12 & 14 as Paul speaks of the misuse of the spiritual gifts.  On the contrary, this passage is vital to the proper use of gifts in the Body.

    Throughout history it seems the church has found it difficult to be loving.  It is easier to get our doctrine right than be loving.  It is easier to be active in church work than to be loving.

    To best understand this passage we must look at love in the context of where this chapter is located.  To look at love in isolation is beautiful but it misses the point.

    Review context of 1 Corinthians 13, sandwiched between chapter 12 and 14 on the exercise of gifts in the body.

    The Text
    Scripture
    Observation
    1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:3
    Only Emptiness Can be Found Without Love

    31b And now I will show you the most excellent way.
    1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
    2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
    3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

    READ MacArthur, pg 329  ¶ 2-5

    Paul speaks in the first person, showing that this applies to himself as well as to his readers.

    “tongues of men and of angels” – Paul may be saying there are separate languages OR Paul may be being all inclusive by all who spoke languages we know of.  Since angels are appointed over men, it is reasonable that they speak the language of that respective nation.

    The Greek word used for tongues is the literal tongue, it means language.  It would be equivalent to you and I saying, “Jim enjoys speaking in his mother tongue.”

    The implication is “known” languages.  Although there is nothing in scripture that even infers an “angelic language,” and angels always speak in men’s languages when communicating with men, this does not preclude an angelic language – it just doesn’t seem to support it.

    To help us interpret the meaning we have to look at the context of the teaching surrounding the text.

    The central message of this passage is not to teach on language – these verses are obviously hyperbole in order to drive the point about love home.  Any secondary teaching about known/unknown languages is only inferred, not taught in this passage.

    The central message: Any supernaturally bestowed spiritual gift becomes useless without love.

    Note that Paul is not simply saying tongues is unimportant – he also classes it with prophecy which is highly touted in 1 Cor. 14:1, 5.  This will be important to our understanding of v13:8 where he says all the gifts will cease at some time.

    The absence of love in ministry means that I am changed for the worse. “I have become hollow,” “I am nothing,” “I gain nothing for all my effort.”

    The greatest truth, spoken in the most elegant way, falls short without love.
    1 Corinthians 13:4-7
    Qualities of Love

    4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
    5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
    6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
    7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


    Show SHINY CRYTALINE OBJECT to illustrate



    WHITEBOARD















































    ò
    ¿: What is the source of our love? [Gal 5:22-23]

    There are 15 QUALITIES of love mentioned.  Each is like a color in a brilliant diamond.  They are all active words, adding their individual hue to the whole.

    Love does not “feel” these qualities, it is these qualities in their ACTIVE sense.  Love does not feel patient is acts out in patience.


    “patient” – “unwearied endurance under provocation”
    Ü Love’s patience is the ability to be inconvenienced or taken advantage of by a person over and over again and yet not becoming upset or angry.

    “kind” – “active goodness manifest toward the interests of others”
    Ü Same root as used in Matt 11:30 (“easy” = “kind”)

    Patience takes anything from others, kindness gives anything to others.

    è == Love Does Not Exist With the Following == ç
    “not envy” (or jealousy) – “to have strong desire for”
    Ü Envy has two forms:
      1) I want what you have
      2) I wish you didn’t have it
    ¿: Have you ever talked behind someone’s back in jealousy?  If so, you are trying to take something from them.

    Ü Envy puts others down

    A loving person is never envious.  He is loving toward another even if their success works against his own.

    “not boast” (or bragging) – “to parade oneself”
    Ü Boasting is the other side of envy.

    Ü Boasting builds self up

    Envy is to want what others have.  Boasting is making others want what you have.

    C.S. Lewis called bragging the “utmost evil.”  It is the epitome of pride which is the root of original sin.

    “not proud” – “to be puffed up in ones own mind”
    Ü Pride is taking what you have or do and glorifying yourself in your own eyes.

    Ü Ezekiel 28:11-19 chronicles the pride of satan

    “not rude” (or “act unbecomingly” NASB) – “to be inconsiderate of others feelings”
    Ü Love is gracious

    Ü Our attitudes and behaviors, especially in the name of righteousness, are less righteous than what we may be criticizing.

    Our gracelessness is never excused even in light of behavior we may consider offensive.

    “not self-seeking” – “wanting to have ones own way”
    Ü Love is not preoccupied with it’s own things but with the interests of others

    Ü Two tombstones on England that talk of self-seeking love
    Here lies a miser who lived for himself,
    Who cared for nothing but gathering wealth.
    Now where he is and how he fares;
    Nobody knows and nobody cares.
    Sacred to the memory of General Charles George Gordon, who at all times and everywhere gave his strength to the weak, his substance to the poor, his sympathy to the suffering, his heart to God.


    “not easily angered” – “aroused to strong feelings of displeasure” (exasperated in Greek)
    Ü Love does not get self-defensive or seek retaliation when someone displeases us or prevents us from having our way

    “no keep record of wrongs” (or take into account) – a bookkeeping term that means to calculate or reckon. It’s purpose is to make a permanent record that can be consulted when needed
    Ü Resentment is careful to keep books, which it reads and re-reads for one purpose – to settle the score

    Ü Love does not forgive and forget, love remembers and still forgives

    “not delight in evil” – to delight in evil is to justify it; to make the wrong appear right
    Ü Isaiah 5:20 warns about this
    ¿: Name some movies where the protagonist “wins” by doing wrong?  Do we cheer (or overlook) such behavior?

    Ü Delighting in evil can be taking pleasure in misfortunes that befall our enemies

    Ü Gossip is delighting in evil.  Gossip that is true is still gossip

    è ============= ç
    “rejoice with truth” – God’s truth is consistent with love
    Ü 2 John 6 compares love to God’s commands (truth)

    “protects” – “protects others from exposure, ridicule, or harm”
    Ü Proverbs 10:12 discusses loves protection

    Ü Love never protects sin, but is anxious to protect the sinner

    When a best friend does wrong, are we quick to cover her faults by saying, “She didn’t mean it”
    Then when a person we don’t like sins are we quick to offer, “That’s typical of him?”

    “trusts” – “believes all things”
    Ü When there is doubt about guilt or motivation, love opts for the favorable possibility

    Ü If guilty, love credits the best motives; love believes

    ¿: What did Job’s friends believe about him? [his misfortune was due to sin]

    Hatred believes the worst

    “hopes” – when love runs out of faith it still hopes in God’s never-ceasing grace.
    Ü When our hope becomes weak, our love has become weak


    “perseveres” – it endures all things, at all costs
    The Greek for this word is a military term used of an army holding their position at all cost

    Ü Love that preserves bears the unbearable, believes the unbelievable, and hopes in the hopeless
    1 Corinthians 13:8-12
    Permanence of Love

    8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
    9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
    10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
    11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
    12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

    “Love never fails” – does not mean it wins (as in success).  It means it lasts.
    The Greek word behind “fails” basically means to fall, like a flower petal at the end of the season

    Love does not overpower human will -> It cannot always accomplish OUR purposes but without love the Kingdom is not advanced.

    “prophecies… cease” & “knowledge… pass away” – [katargeō (grk)] – “to abolish” – passive tense means that someone or something causes it to stop

    “tongues…stilled” – [pauō (grk)] – “to stop/come to end” – middle voice indicates a self-causing action. It will stop by itself.

    “in part” – we can only partly comprehend with our finite minds.
    ¿: When does the partial become full?
    ¿: What is the “partial”?

    Love does not end, all else is only for a time.  All the gifts will cease when no longer needed.  There is debate regarding the reference to perfection is accomplished.
    Ü Is perfection when the New Testament was completed?
    Ü Is perfection when the church reaches maturity?
    Ü Is perfection when Christ returns?
    Ü Is perfection when there’s a new heaven and new earth?


    ¿: How does the understanding of when the perfection coming affect our understanding of the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge?

    ¿: How does v12 influence our understanding of “perfection?”

    ¿: Is v11 (“when I became”) implying perfection had occurred?
    “poor reflection” – Corinth was known for it’s Corinthian bronze mirrors

    V11-12 talk of our current state.  Some day we will see Him face to face
    1 Corinthians 13:13
    The Greatness of Love

    13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

    “faith, hope and love” – one commentator call these “the main moral principles characteristic of Christianity.”

    These are the “fruit of the spirit” of the Christian life.  They will outlast the gifts of the spirit.

    Faith & Hope have no purpose in heaven.  Love remains.
    ¿: In the context of chapter 12-14 how do you apply “the greatest of these is love?”

    Conclusion
    Personal Application:
    Living Love now is of the utmost importance.  The way to live love is in the actions/attitudes which define our life.

    ¿: Which of the 15 qualities do you most need to lean on the Lord to change in your life?
    ¿: Will willpower help make these changes?

    Homework:
    • 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
    Appendix – Greek Names for Love

    The English language only has one word for love and it is used interchangeably for almost everything. We can say I love my husband and I love Chocolate. Both are using the same word and it is only by the context that we can ascertain the difference. The Greeks, on the other hand, have four different words to describe love. Each word gives a different nuance to the word that helps us understand more fully what is being spoken of.

    Eros

    Eros is the first type of love we are all familiar with. Our English word Erotica is derived from the word Eros. Sadly, some people never get passed this type of love and base their relationships purely on sexual attraction. This is the type of love that merchandisers tend to play on with the public trying to get us to buy their products to make us more attractive to the opposite sex.
    Erotic love is not a deep meaningful love but superficial and based on sexual attractiveness only.

    Storge

    Storge is what we find in families between the different members. It is the love of mother, father, brothers and sisters. This is a much stronger type of love and involves commitment. “Blood is thicker than water” and most people will do all they can to stand behind their families.

    Philia

    Philia is pertaining to what we might call a brotherly love. Not brotherly in the sense of family, but in the sense of kinsmenship. This is the type of love that makes us want to help the little old lady cross the street safely and watch out for our fellow man. It is a good type of love and helps us to see others as needing our love but, sadly, it can often also be a selfish love.

    Agape

    Agape is the highest form of love there is. This is an unconditional love for others in spite of their character flaws and weaknesses. It is a difficult love to obtain simply because we, as humans, are usually concerned more with ourselves and how the world and people around us affect us. In order to love in the agape way, we must overcome our selfishness and look to the needs of others.

    The essence of agape love is self-sacrifice. Agape love is unique and is distinguished by its nature and character.
    This word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love.

    God loves the unlovable and the unlovely (us!), not because we deserve to be loved, but because it is His nature to do so, and He must be true to His nature and character. God’s love is displayed most clearly at the Cross, where Christ died for the unworthy creatures who were “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), not because we did anything to deserve it, “but God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

    The object of agape love never does anything to merit love.
     

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