Ephesians 5 - Imitators of God

If I'm not careful Ephesians 5 can very easily turn into a burdensome list of rules.  Avoid sexual immorality (every hint of it), impurity and greed.  There should be no obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking since these things are "out of place".  I am reminded that it's shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret.  I must not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  This is quite a list, and I've failed in every one of these at least a few times in my life.

Fortunately, there's a 'good news' flip side to this chapter.  First, Paul presents positive alternatives to all the 'bad stuff' mentioned above.  We can imitate God, living as children of light (which shows itself in goodness, righteousness and truth).  We can live wisely, making music in our hearts to God, always giving thanks to God and submitting to others out of reverence for Christ.  Perhaps most of all, we can be filled with the Holy Spirit.  This 'good' way of living really is possible because of the reality that the Spirit dwells in those who are in Christ.  We become members of God's family, His children even.  And that's the part that ties all this together, as Paul reminds us in verse 1 that we are to imitate God not because He'll be mad at us if we don't.  But rather because we are "dearly loved children".

Learning to live a wise, good, righteous, Spirit-filled life is a life-long journey.  I won't do it perfectly.  And when I fail, it's so good to remember that I am a dearly loved child of the King.

Ephesians 4 - A Life Worthy of the Calling

While Paul clearly teaches that our outward behavior can never earn our right standing with God, he also clearly teaches that our faith in Christ should result in behavioral change.  Ephesians 4 is a great example.  We are to "live a life worthy of the calling" we have received so that "we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ."

Earlier in Ephesians (ch. 3), we learn that it is God's power that enables us to live these worthy type of lives, not our power.  Important to keep that in mind.  But what do these worthy lives look like?

Be completely humble and gentle
Be patient with one another
Unity within the Body of Christ
Put off falsehood and speak truthfully
Control anger and seek reconciliation
No more stealing
Work hard to provide for one's needs
Share with the needy
Use edifying speech only
Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and malice
Be kind, compassionate and forgiving

Quite a list, isn't it?  Lord, help us live this way.

Ephesians 3 - Immeasurably More

Starting at the end - God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (v. 20).  As Han Solo said, "I don't know, I can imagine a lot".  And yet we know that God is infinite and perfect in His goodness, wisdom and power.  In Christ, He has made us all heirs of His Kingdom, Jews and Gentiles alike (v. 6).

His eternal purpose was to provide fallen, sinful human beings access to Himself, and this was accomplished in Christ (v. 11-12).  We are recipients, both now and into eternity of His riches, which are both "unsearchable" and "glorious" (v. 8 and 16).  As Paul wrote, "to Him be the glory, throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" (v. 21)

Ephesians 2 - The Gospel in a Nutshell

What we were:  Dead in transgressions and sins, objects of wrath, disobedient, separate from Christ, excluded in citizenship in Israel, without hope and without God in the world (bad news)

What we are: Alive with Christ, seated with Him in the heavenly realms, brought near to God, God's workmanship created in Christ to do good works prepared for us in advance, people with access to the Father and Holy Spirit (good news)

How we got there: the incomparable riches of God's grace, His kindness, the blood of Christ

What we have done to deserve this:  Nothing

What we can do to continue to deserve this:  Nothing

God really loves me that much?:  Yes

How am I to respond?:  see Ephesians, chapters 3-6, among others

Ephesians 1 - Kicking Things Off

Why does Paul write this letter?  An important question to begin with and in chapter 1 we get a few clues.  In the first few verses after the greeting we see the idea that we were predestined to be adopted into God's family.  Theologians throughout the ages have debated the free will vs. predestination idea, and gone round and round with that.  Why?  Maybe I'm too simple, but to me, God is bigger than all that.  He provided a way for fallen, sinful people to come to Him through Christ, and He has always known who would accept that offer.  He is the One who provides the Holy Spirit that enables a fallen, sinful human being to come to faith in the first place.

In this chapter we learn that we are adopted in the family of God, that we have a rich inheritance, and that our inheritance has been earned by the blood of Jesus, providing forgiveness thanks to the lavish grace of God.  Grace means undeserved favor.  We have not and cannot earn our standing with God.  Jesus has made the only way for us to be in right standing with an infinitely holy Creator.

Galatians 6 - It's All About the Cross

After beginning this final chapter of the letter with a few last encouragements and serious warnings, Paul finishes by recapping his primary purpose for writing.  And here it is:

¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. ¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Paul understands that even our very best efforts to live for God are tainted by sin, and there is literally nothing we can ever do to deserve the grace and blessing He has poured out and made available to all who would receive the gift of Christ's death and resurrection.  

There is plenty in Galatians, Paul's other writings, and the rest of Scripture that pushes us toward right living, but when we get it right, our motivation can never be a desire to earn God's favor.  We are unable to deserve blessing from Him based on our accomplishments.  God blesses (and redeems) us not because we deserve it, but because of His love.  He is our Father and our lives are lived for His sake as a result of that love relationship.  That's where I so often go wrong.

Galatians 5 - Freedom and Fruit

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery.  If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you.  You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.  In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  You, my brothers were called to be free.

Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.  The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Galatians 4 - Jesus + Nothing = Everything

This whole book deals with the idea that our standing with God has nothing to do with anything we do ourselves.  There is no level of achievement or accomplishment on our part that obligates God to include us in His family.  Our best efforts are tainted with sin and worthy of death.  That's the bad news.

The good news, found throughout the Scriptures, shows up again in Galatians 4:
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."

There is nothing we can add to the work Jesus has done that qualifies as sons/daughters of the living God.  So when Paul learns that the Galatians are worried about turning back to weak and miserable principles, observing special days and seasons, and being circumcised in an effort to earn status with God, he responds forcefully.  The Galatians need to be reminded of the truth of the Gospel; the good news that we can add nothing to the work of Jesus.  And that any attempts to add to what He has accomplished are misguided at best and probably incredibly dangerous.

We see Paul's passion for the purity of the Gospel, along with his passion for allowing Christ to love people through him.  I know that God is always working in us to gradually become like Jesus, but I wouldn't mind being a lot more like Paul along the way.

Galatians 3: Best Kept Secret

I got nearly all this, including the title of this post, from an author named Jerry Bridges.  In his devotional book called Holiness, he writes about Galatians 3:3:

"One of the best kept secrets among Christians today is this: Jesus paid it all.  I mean all.  He not only purchased your forgiveness of sins and your ticket to heaven, He purchased every blessing and every answer to prayer you will ever receive.  Every one of them -- no exceptions."

How often do I live like these Galatians, who apparently had fallen into the trap of believing that once they were forgiven in Christ, it was their responsibility to clean up their act so that they could earn and deserve God's gift to them.  That's the reality of the Gospel; there is nothing and never will be anything we do to merit God's blessing on our lives.  We are certainly called to obedience, discipline, etc., but these do not earn our status as children of God.  In fact, the obedience, discipline, etc. we are called to is impossible apart from the redemptive, transformational work of the Holy Spirit.  Last week we looked at chapter 2 in which Paul claimed that he no longer lives, but that Christ lives in him.  That reality is the only thing that makes obedience and faithfulness and ultimately, Christlikenss a possibility for any of us.

The final verse of the chapter summarizes nicely for us:

"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."  We don't work to earn it.  It's a gift to be received gratefully.

Galatians 2 - The Real Deal

It seems odd that Paul waited fourteen years between trips to Jerusalem if he was concerned that he was "running or had run his race in vain".  But the very good news for Paul, and for the rest of the world, was that  he and his message were accepted by James, Peter and John, who were "reputed to be pillars" within the early church community.  It's a beautiful picture of the one body, many parts idea that Paul writes about in Romans, 1 Corinthians, etc.

But then we get another, uglier picture of the divisions that creep up within the church, as Paul is led to confront Peter in his hypocrisy.  It's interesting that Paul confronts Peter in front of others, rather than pulling him aside and talking things out privately.  I've always wondered what that scene must have been like to push Paul to such forceful, rather than gentler action, at least at first.

Toward the end of the chapter we get the often quoted and memorized verses 19-21, highlighted by verse 20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galatians 1 -- Called

Paul's not going to let these Galatians wonder about his authority to write this letter.  In verse 1, "sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead".
In verses 11-12, "the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."

There are a few writers, Josh McDowell maybe most notably, who offer three possibilities for the person of Jesus.  If the biblical accounts are accurate (and McDowell provides a great deal of evidence that suggests they are), then Jesus is either a crazy person, a huge liar, or the Son of God.  That same test could be applied to Paul.  In writing that his message is the result of direct revelation from Jesus, Paul positions himself  similarly.  He's either crazy, a huge liar, or in fact, has received this message straight from God.  He's putting himself out there in a big way, and after reading through 2 Corinthians, it's pretty clear he's not a liar.  He's not making this up for personal gain.  His life is brutally difficult.

Which leaves two possibilities.  He's either nuts, or absolutely truthful and the recipient of incredible revelation from God.  We'll consider this question as we continue through Galatians.

2 Corinthians 13 - Wrapping it Up

A few verses that jumped off the page at me that summarize much of the entire letter:

v. 4  Christ "was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power"
v. 5  "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves"
v. 10  "I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority -- the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down"
v. 11  "Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace"

Galatians 1 for next week.  God bless you.

2 Corinthians 12 -- More Boasting/More Weakness

Paul takes the defense of his ministry to entirely new levels in chapter 12.  We read about a man (presumably Paul) who has been taken up to the "third heaven", aka paradise, or what we might commonly refer to as, simply, "heaven".

That sounds like a great deal.  The flip side of that deal doesn't sound nearly so great.  To make sure he stays humble, God allows Paul to be tormented by some "thorn in his flesh", clearly described as a "messenger of Satan".  Yikes.  That sounds terrible.  But, as usual, Paul's attitude is not one of complaint, but of mature perspective.  He doesn't hesitate to ask God to remove the "thorn", but his request is denied and Paul learns yet another lesson about the sufficiency of God's grace and power.  God's grace and power are most useful and help when we are at our weakest.  We see in verse 10:

"I delight in weaknesses, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong".

They say God doesn't allow people to have to deal with more than they can handle.  I think nothing could be further from the truth.  He often allows us to face much more than we can handle, since that's the way that 99% of us learn to trust Him and rely upon His strength, power and grace.

2 Corinthians 11 - (I am out of my mind to talk like this)

Verse one -- the first sentence of chapter 11 tells us where Paul is coming from here.  "I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that."  What is this foolishness Paul speaks of?  He continues his defense of his work with the Corinthians that began in chapter 10, and in chapter 11 gets a little more boastful.

"I do not think I am in the least inferior to those 'super-apostles'"
"I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge"
"I was not a burden to anyone"

Then in verse 21, he really turns it loose.  He equates his boasting with speaking as a fool, but he can't help himself.  From verse 22 through the end of the chapter, we read of Paul's qualifications, hardships, suffering, and other things endured for the purpose of sharing Christ with the world.  Referring to his list of boasts as foolish, we get a picture of Paul's humility, even in the midst of his boasting.  This comes together in verse 30, "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."  God is the one who gets the credit and the glory.

2 Corinthians 10 -- Paul Gets Tough

Paul is talking about being bold toward people who are talking trash about him, waging war with weapons with divine power to demolish strongholds, and being ready to punish every act of disobedience.
He continues on, indicating he has no problem with being as forceful in person as he appears to be in his letters.

What makes all this talk meaningful is what we read in verses 15-16, as Paul reminds us what his purpose is in all he does.  "Our hope is that....our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you".  Paul is a man on a mission.  Every day.  All the time.

2 Corinthians 9 - More On Generosity

Chapter 9 continues the conversation about giving and generosity.  We see that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, and that when we give 'cheerfully' we are assured that we will have all our needs met (v. 7-9).    
You've probably heard somebody say something along the lines of, "if I want to know what's important to you I will look at your checkbook or credit card statement."  And it's true.  Jesus told us our hearts will be where our treasure is (Matthew 6), and it's really hard to argue with that.  My dollars and my time go to the people and things that I deem most important.

Isn't it encouraging to read the last paragraph of the chapter?  To know that our generosity will result in many expressions of thanks to God?  I can know that when I give, especially when I give sacrificially, that one of the products of that giving will be people praising and thanking God.  That's a powerful idea when you think about it.  God has given me the ability and opportunity to act in a way that directly causes His Name to be praised.  Good stuff.

2 Corinthians 8 - Give Generously

How about those Macedonians?  Their severe trials and extreme poverty (this sounds familiar, see 2 Cor. 4-7) welled up in rich generosity.  They gave sacrificially to churches in other cities, and begged for the privilege of doing so.  There was no command to do so, but they were responding with grace to the needs of others.  Paul encourages the Corinthians, and by extension, all of us, to do likewise.  How much is too much to give?  I have yet to meet the person who gave more than he/she thought was wise to God's work who lived to regret it.  I have seen that we can't outgive God.  I wish I had the courage to live more generously myself.

2 Corinthians 7 -- More Joy in the Midst of Bad Stuff

No rest, harassed at every turn, conflicts, and fears.  These are Paul's words to describe his situation.  And yet God steps in at just the right time, in just the right way.  He comforted Paul and his assistants by sending them Titus, with an encouraging message from the Corinthians.

When things look bleakest, we can expect God to provide the comfort we need when we look to Him for that comfort.  He "comforts the downcast".  The joy Paul receives from Titus and the stories brought from Corinth provide the exact type of encouragement he needed in a challenging time.

God can be trusted no matter what.  His love is infinite and His timing is perfect.

2 Corinthians 6 - Hardships

Troubles, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, hunger, dishonor, bad report, regarded as an impostor, regarded as unknown, dying, beaten, sorrowful, poor and having nothing.  These are some of the ways Paul describes his life.  There are a few positive descriptions mixed in, but the point is that this guy's life is brutally difficult by just about any cultural standard.  And yet he knows his God in a way that makes all of that not only worthwhile, but a cause for celebration.

Paul is a man who spends almost no time worrying about his personal circumstances.  He cares so little about himself, it almost doesn't seem possible.  He cares only about trusting the Lord, and carrying out the calling placed on his life.  His type of faith is a great inspiration to those of us who spend time thinking about ourselves and our present circumstances...maybe even worrying or being anxious occasionally.

2 Corinthians 5 - Purpose

In chapter 5 we have more talk of trouble and hardship, and just as in chapter 4, we are encouraged by the promise of what the hardship is preparing us for.  Fact is, "we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands".  And in verse 5 we see that God "has made us for this very purpose".  Our purpose is to be united with Him for eternity.  Our current existence is painful because we are not yet with Him completely.  So "we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling".

And yet "we are always confident", walking "by faith, not by sight".

Two final thoughts on this chapter.  First, it's awfully common in today's world to hear people talk about the need to keep one's own faith a private matter, that it's rude to have spiritual conversations with others.  Sounds nice, I guess, but it's definitely not biblical.  Verse 11 is clear: "we try to persuade men".  Now how we try to persuade them is incredibly important.  Nobody likes a pompous, arrogant spiritual bully who tries to persuade men motivated by his own insecurities.  But Paul (and Jesus) don't leave us the option of keeping our faith a personal matter.  We are to share this good news of Christ's death and resurrection with others, motivated by our love for God's people.

Lastly, we have to mention verse 17, which reminds us that in Christ we are new creations.  The old has gone, and the new has come.  Even when it doesn't appear to be true, it is.  I am a new creation, and I'm learning to act more like it all the time.  Hopefully you are too.

2 Corinthians 4 - Jars of Clay....not just a rock band

We saw at the end of chapter 3 that we are constantly being transformed into the likeness of Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit.  In chapter 4 we see that this work of transformation is largely accomplished by the fact that life is hard.  Paul writes, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."  (v. 8-9).

God gives us much to do, but does not want to give us the option of thinking we are accomplishing anything on our own.  We are described as "jars of clay", designed to show that the power working within us is from God and not from ourselves.

Maybe that sounds discouraging, but Paul speaks to that as well.  "We do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 3 - Humble Confidence

I love Paul's confidence.  He knows he has done good work with the church in Corinth as he writes, "you yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."
And then in the very next paragraph, Paul gives the reason for his confidence.  "Not that we are competant in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."  Paul doesn't shy away from the reality that he's conducted a successful ministry, and yet he knows that this success is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.  Awesome.

Paul concludes by contrasting the glory of the old covenant with that of the new covenant in Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit among followers of Jesus.  I love verse 18, where we are told that we are able to reflect the Lord's glory while being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Holy Spirit.  Awesome again.

2 Corinthians 2 - The Aroma of Christ

There are a few primary reasons that I'm going through the New Testament at this chapter/week pace.  One of those reasons is to improve my ability to avoid saying things like "I know that's in one of Paul's letters....I just can't remember where."

One of the phrases that I've never been able to place is the one found in 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, about how God leads in triumphal procession, spreading everywhere the fragrance of knowing Him.  I've always loved that image.  I want to be "the aroma of Christ" among the people in my life.

2 Corinthians 1: Comfort

He is the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles.   He provides holiness and sincerity.  He makes us to stand firm in Christ.  He put His Spirit in our hearts to guarantee what is to come.  He is faithful.

1 Corinthians 16: Wrapping it Up

In this final chapter of Paul's letter we see him encouraging the Corinthians to give a portion of their income, both to provide for the needy (v. 1-3), and to help provide for his travel expenses (v. 6).  We see Paul's care for his co-laborers: Timothy, Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus.

We also see the charge he makes to the Corinthians, and what a beautiful word of encouragement it is.

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

It's a great prayer for us all.

1 Corinthians 15 - An Amazing Hope

Some great truths to cling to are found in this chapter, and we are first reminded that all of it hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  If Christ was not raised from the dead, then none of what He said is worth anything.  But Paul gives us assurance that Christ indeed was resurrected, and that we who believe will follow in His steps (v. 20-22).

Because of Christ, we are destined for immortality in imperishable bodies.  We will never know permanent death.  Because of Christ, eternal victory has been achieved for us.  And we are assured that all the good we do in the name of Jesus will never be in vain (v. 53-58).

1 Corinthians 14: Prophecy and Tongues

I'm still not quite sure what to make of the gift of speaking in tongues, but Paul seems to less than inclined to make speaking in tongues an integral part of a community worship service.  Perhaps there were people in Corinth who were speaking in tongues and wearing the gift like a badge of honor.  He validates tongues as something to build up the individual, but in the corporate setting Paul is much more interested in those who can bring an understandable message from God.

"Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" (v. 1)
"But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." (v. 3)
"Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying?" (v. 8)
"I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." (v. 19)

You have to admire the practicality of Paul's faith.  If his faith does nothing to build up others, it is far less valuable than a faith that builds the Body of Christ, particularly in the context of the corporate worship setting that Paul is outlining in this chapter.

The end of the chapter provides more direction for orderly worship.  People who have something to say that fails to benefit the entire group are encouraged to do so on their own time.  This applies to speaking in tongues (v. 28), those who are prophesying (v. 30), and women who have questions (v. 35).  The last part about women comes across as a chauvinistic command, and I agree with people who struggle with the line "it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church" (v. 35).  I found something written by Amanda Beattie that  helped me make sense of this passage:

  Paul clearly wasn’t forbidding tongues-speakers and prophets from ever speaking in the church at all. Neither was he forbidding women from doing so.

With all three groups of people, we see two clear points being made. One point is demonstrating theinappropriate time and manner in which to speak, and the other lays out the appropriate time and manner in which to speak. Paul is not regulating the activity, but only the context in which it is done.

We also see that Paul was topically consistent when addressing each group. Paul didn’t tell the tongues-speakers, “Be silent in church. If you have something to say, give a prophecy  between yourself and God.” He told them to be silent, and to speak (in tongues) between themselves and God. The type of speech/silence is consistent.

He didn’t tell the prophets, “Be silent in church. If you have something to say, go speak in tongues when it’s your turn.” He told them to be silent, and to prophesy in turn. The type of speech/silence is consistent.

So why should we then try to say that Paul is telling the women to be silent and not preach, and then if they have something to say, go ask their husbands at home? There’s no consistency in that statement. If Paul is redirecting the women’s speech into the appropriate context, he wouldn’t suddenly change the terms of what they were trying to do in the first place. Again, Paul is not regulating the activity, but only the context. Asking questions in the middle of the teaching was the wrong time and place. The right time and place was later, at home, when they weren’t going to disrupt the whole assembly.

1 Corinthians 13: The Most Excellent Way

What would the world look like if people as a rule were patient, kind, without envy, without boasting, humble, not rude, helpful, not easily angered and forgiving?  It would indeed be a most excellent world.

Interesting that Paul concludes his discussion of love by comparing his old childish ways to his life as a grown man.  In a society that is so confused about what is manly (or womanly), by what separates childhood from adulthood, we see Paul clearly stating that it's love that makes an adult.  The practice or habit of being patient, kind, etc. is the defining characteristic of grown ups.

1 Corinthians 12: Built for Others

Maybe it's just me, but chapter 12 feels like a refreshingly clear passage compared to chapter 11.  Although I guess there's still room for an additional controversy or two, mostly related to the idea of Spiritual gifts.  Do these same gifts exist in today's world?  People are often skeptical of those who claim to heal others.  We don't really seem to know what to think about speaking in tongues.  But regardless, verse 11 sums up the gifts discussion nicely with, "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit and he gives them to each one just as he determines."

This provides a nice transition into one of the coolest ideas found anywhere in Scripture...the Body of Christ existing as the group of believers throughout the world.  We saw that the Spirit allocates gifts to Christians for the common good, and now Paul takes the idea of operating for the common good a step or two further.  We can understand how the different parts of our physical bodies have different functions, and yet together they make up the whole of our physical being.  Similarly, every follower of Christ has been uniquely constructed for a specific role in the Kingdom of God, and together we comprise the Body of believers throughout the world.  We see that "God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be" (v. 18).

I'm not sure we can overemphasize how remarkable it is that God has given each of us such care and consideration as individuals as He has put together the human race as a whole.  And we see that we exist for each other.
"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (v. 26).  I want to live in that world, where we empathize with all who hurt and celebrate with those who rejoice.  It's a beautiful picture.

1 Corinthians 11: Hats?

The second half of the chapter seems easy enough to understand.  In verse 17, Paul writes that the meetings of the Corinthians 'do more harm than good'.  Tough criticism, to be sure, but Paul is clear that in their gatherings the Corinthians have divisions among them.  This is certainly not God's design for the church, as we are called to celebrate together, apparently particularly as it relates to celebrating the Lord's Supper.  And no doubt this is a serious charge, as Paul states that many in the Corinthian church have gotten sick and even died because they have taken the Lord's Supper in an unworthy, selfish manner.  'When you gather to eat, you should all eat together' (v. 33) seems to be the main point Paul makes.

The first half of the chapter is a little more difficult to figure.  Paul seems to be saying that at worship gatherings, women need to cover their heads and men must not do so.  Is this a cultural issue from long ago?  Are these clear commands to be followed even today?  Is it wrong for a man to pray while wearing a hat?  I needed to know more, so I did a little digging.  There's no shortage of explanations and guesses about the whole issue of hats, but probably the best I found comes from a sermon by Rick Stacy, as he writes about the symbolism of the head covering in those times, and how covering one's head indicated they were under the authority of another.  Rick writes:

What do we do about haircuts and hats?
For us, the answer may not be quite as obvious because our culture has changed. The principle has not changed and never will. 
Are we rebellious and arrogantly holding on to power and control. Do we demand our place of honor? Do we simply serve those in our lives?
Remember that what you do with your head often reveals what is in it.
Men, when you pray and prophesy, bow your heads –take off your caps. Let God and man know that you are under his covering and no one else’s. Don’t bring shame to your head.
Women, when you pray and prophesy, dress in a way that reserves your body for your husband. Don’t bring shame to your head.
When you pray and prophesy make sure you are under the authority of Christ, the chief shepherd and those he has given over the shepherding of the body to in his absence – the shepherds of the body.

1 Corinthians 10 - Good Advice

Wrapped into the framework of the ongoing discussion about idols, meat, Israel's history and more, this chapter is chock full of straight forward mandates like:

'Do not be idolaters' (v. 7)
'We should not commit sexual immorality' (v. 8)
'We should not test the Lord' (v. 9)
'do not grumble' (v. 10)
'be careful that you don't fall' (v. 12)
'flee from idolatry' (v. 14)
'Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience' (v. 25)
'eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience' (v. 27)
'whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God' (v. 31)
'Do not cause anyone to stumble' (v. 32)

How great life would be if every one of us did our best to live like this.

1 Corinthians 9 - "The Rights of an Apostle"

In this chapter we see Paul's passion for his purpose, "to win as many as possible" (v. 19).  He spends the first 14 verses in the chapter claiming his right to earn a living from his teaching and preaching.  He makes a compelling case, talking about oxen, soldiers and 'those who work in the temple'.  And then in verse 15, he turns this all around, saying that although he had this right, he didn't make use of it, to the point that he'd rather 'die than have anyone deprive him of this boast'.  So apparently Paul is pointing out to the Corinthians how he went above and beyond in his dealings with them, so that none of them would be put off by the Gospel.  Seems to tie in with the discussion in chapter 8 about avoiding practices that will cause others to stumble in their faith.

We know from other letters he wrote that Paul did receive gifts from churches and friends, that he did, at least at times, earn his living from the Gospel.  I think that's an important point.  The argument he makes here seems to be somewhat unique to his dealings with Corinth.

I want to emulate Paul, doing all I do for the sake of the Gospel, sharing in its blessings, making my body my slave, and not being disqualified for the prize.

1 Corinthians 8 - Compassion vs. Freedom

Thirteen short verses with a common theme, summarized well by verse 9.  We see in the first 8 verses that we have great freedom in Christ.  Idols are worthless, and the eating of food that's been sacrificed to these worthless idols makes us no less holy.  In 2012, although we rarely come across people struggling with those who eat meat sacrificed to idols, we do see Christians struggling to embrace other believers who drink alcohol. There are Christians convinced that we must not eat pork.  There are some who have a real problem with a believer watching an R-rated movie.  Bottom line:
"Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." (v. 9).  Also, we see that Paul clearly puts his obligation to others ahead of his own personal freedom in Christ:
"if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." (v. 13).  First and foremost, we are built for others, not ourselves.

1 Corinthians 7 - Marriage Talk

1 Corinthians 7 is one of those chapters that can get someone in a lot of trouble if quoted recklessly and without context.  For example:

"It is good for a man not to marry"
"Those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this"
"Those who have wives should live as if they had none"
"Were you a slave when you were called?  Don't let it trouble you"
"He who marries does right, but he who does not marry does even better"

Any of these could be controversial if removed from the broader context of understanding to whom Paul is writing and why.  The church in Corinth was suffering from the sexually immoral behavior of some of its members, which Paul has already specifically addressed in earlier chapters.  Then at the end of chapter 6, we read even more about sexual immorality in more general terms.  All this paints for us the picture of a people who were constantly bombarded by sex-related issues.  Probably not too different from modern-day Western society.

Even more, we see this in verse 1 of chapter 7: "Now for the matters you wrote about".  The people in Corinth apparently had asked Paul some specific questions about marriage.  Questions like: is it OK for a Christian spouse to divorce an unbeliever?  Is it OK for a widow to remarry?  Is it even good to marry at all?  Paul answers these directly; even being careful to explain where he is applying the known Scriptures of the time, and where he is trusting his own judgment.  The funny part for us, of course, is that Paul's writing became part of Scripture. (An aside: do you ever wonder if the writers of what became the books of the Bible had any sense that they were being used to put the Word of God on paper?  I wonder about that all the time.)

Clearly, Paul has an understanding of basic biology and knows that apart from procreation, the believers in Corinth will die out after a single generation.  So is he really saying that they should do their best to stay unmarried if possible?  Is there a broader truth to apply here...namely that the heart turned toward God does well to remain as undivided as possible?  Sometimes reading and studying the Bible causes me to turn toward God and just ask Him, what does this mean?  What are you trying to tell me?

1 Corinthians 6 - Tough Teaching

On the heels of chapter 5's charge to expel the wicked man, in chapter 6 we have more tough talk directed at those followers of Jesus who sue each other, and those involved in sexual immorality.  At first glance these two topics don't seem to have much in common, but maybe a closer look shows us something different.

I honestly don't know how directly we would look to apply Paul's warning against Christians opposing other Christians in court these days.  I suppose there are a number of different factors that would need to be considered.  Regardless, the point Paul makes isn't tough to understand.  Instead of spending the majority of our time demanding our own rights and fighting for our own good, why not rather spend time and effort seeking the good of others?  Yielding and meekness need not be a sign of weakness or a lack of backbone.  Perhaps they are indicators of a life that is more interested in helping others than helping myself.

With respect to sexual immorality, we see in Matthew 5, in the Sermon on the Mount, that sexual sin is more pervasive in the life of most people than we can observe on the surface.  No doubt it's a body issue, but it's also a heart issue, and Jesus and Paul clearly teach that idea.  At the end of the day, it helps to ponder and adopt the attitude that Paul communicates in v. 19-20, chiefly 'You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.'

My life isn't supposed to be about me doing what seems right or feels good to me at the expense of other people.  God has created all of us to put each other's interests before our own, and it's tough to argue that there's a better way for the world to work.  What would a planet characterized by people who thought of others before themselves actually look like?  It's interesting to think about.  I thank God that I'll get to see it someday.

1 Corinthians 5 - Expel the Wicked?

This chapter is a tough read, no question about it.  There is talk of removing people from the fellowship of believers, judging, handing someone over to Satan, and not associating with sexually immoral people.  Thankfully, Paul clarifies in verse 10, "not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral....In that case you would have to leave this world" (hard to argue with that one).  But Paul is clearly condemning the behavior of those who claim Christ and boast (v. 6) or are proud of their sin (v. 2).  There is to be great tolerance toward sinful people, but no tolerance for sin itself.  The distinction can be murky sometimes, but it doesn't appear to be very murky in this case.  Paul concludes the chapter by quoting Deuteronomy, "expel the wicked man from among you."

1 Corinthians 4 - Fools for Christ

In verse 1, Paul continues the thought at the end of chapter 3.  He, Apollos and others who teach in the name of Christ are not to be followed as Christ is followed.  And yet, there is a respect due those teachers, as they are to be regarded as "servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God".  It's clear then in verse 3 that Paul requires this treatment not out of any selfish desire on his part, but rather because having respect for the apostles, or teachers, shows that the Corinthians have respect for God.  It's never about what Paul wants from people, but rather that he usually seems to know what is best for them.

We see further evidence of Paul's all-out commitment to the cause of the Gospel in verses 8-13, describing himself as a man condemned to die in the arena, a fool, weak, dishonored, hungry and thirsty, in rags and brutally treated, homeless, cursed, persecuted, slandered, and finally, scum of the earth and refuse of the world.  Not a pretty picture, and honestly, pretty strange language.  Perhaps Paul is showing his willingness to endure any hardship for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.

Verse 15 is another head scratcher at first, when Paul indicates the Corinthians have had 10,000 guardians in Christ, but few fathers.  Paul is positioning himself as a higher authority, a true spiritual father to this church, which apparently is long on mediocre teachers, but short on true apostolic influence.  Finally, Paul concludes with a tough sounding speech about how he plans to visit them again soon, and talks about coming with either a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit.  You can almost hear the parental tone, "we can either do this the easy way or the hard way.  It's up to you."

1 Corinthians 3 - Mere Infants

To Paul, jealousy and quarreling are indicators of worldliness and immaturity in Christ.  The call is to maturity through humility.  "Do not deceive yourselves.  If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise" (v. 18).  "No more boasting about men!" (v. 21).  We don't follow Paul, Apollos, Peter, our parents, our pastor, or our friends.  We are "of Christ, and Christ is of God." (v. 23)

1 Corinthians 2 - God's Secret Wisdom

Verse seven of this chapter gives us a phrase that I believe is a big deal.  "God's secret wisdom".  I know this much, if God has wisdom, I want some of it.  And if it's a secret, how do I get in on that secret?

We read that this is a wisdom that has "been hidden and and that God destined for our glory before time began" (v. 7).  A few lines later we see that "God has revealed it to us by his Spirit" (v. 10).  So the Holy Spirit of God is the source of hidden wisdom that is distinct from the "wisdom of this age", which is the worldly wisdom that the culture buys into.  It's not hard to think of examples of cultural norms that people rarely question, but that Scripture tells us is "coming to nothing" (v. 6).

In verses 10-16 we see a beautiful description of some of how the Holy Spirit works in us.  By the Spirit, we are able to understand God's gifts to us (v. 12), able to express spiritual truth in spiritual words (v. 13), and are able to make spiritual judgments about all things (v. 15).  Through the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ (v. 16).  Sounds like a good deal to me.

1 Corinthians 1 - Diving Right Into It

Straight from my Bible chapter intro:
"The church in Corinth serves as Biblical 'Exhibit A': It shows evidence of enormous potential in troubled times and of great promise amid chaos.  Planted within one of the most culturally diverse cities of the ancient world, the church finds it difficult to keep the negative influences of society at bay.  There is division and disorder that threaten to tear the church apart.  As you read 1 Corinthians, notice how Paul's words overflow with the tough love of a godly leader."

In the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul really doesn't waste any time.  After a short but warm introduction, he immediately launches into his dual purpose of encouraging and also righting wrongs.

Encouragement: "I always thank God for you", "in him you have been enriched in every way", "you do not lack any spiritual gift", "He will keep you strong to the end", and so on.

Correction: "I appeal to you...that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you", "some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrel among you", etc.

Paul concludes this first chapter with a discussion of wisdom and foolishness.  The Gospel of Christ is "foolishness to those who are perishing", and a "stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles".  We see that "the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength".  Of course, God has no foolishness or weakness, but we can see Paul's point.  God is so incomparably greater than anything man can imagine.  So much so that He chooses the weak, lowly and foolish of the world to accomplish His purpose.  Those who think they are great had better think again in light of the greatness of the Living God.  "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord".

Romans 16 - Final Greetings

At first glance there doesn't seem to be a whole lot happening in this chapter as Paul/Tertius (v. 22) provide their concluding thoughts and personal greetings.  It's not a chapter that theologians will break down and debate, and yet there are a couple quick points worth making.

First, I want to be like Apelles (v. 10), tested and approved in Christ.  My prayer for myself and others is that we could be like that guy.

Secondly, as look through the list, I think it's a beautiful picture of what Paul wrote about in the beginning of Romans 12, about how we are one body, and each member belongs to the others.  Paul clearly values people, and that is absolutely one of the marks of great leadership.  He also values unity in the body, writing in v. 17 that the Romans are to "watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way".

God has done so much in me through this study of Romans over the past 17-18 weeks (I know I skipped at least one or two weekly posts).  I am continuing to be transformed as He renews my mind and fills it with His Word.  Can't wait to dive into 1 Corinthians next week.  God bless.

Romans 15 - One Heartbeat

"Each of us should please his neighbor for his good to build him up" (v. 2)  I can only really do that if I believe that God is working on my behalf and looking out for me way better than I could do for myself.

We know that He gives "endurance and encouragement" (v. 5), and wants us to have a "spirit of unity....so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 6)

We are to accept one another (v. 7) and "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (v. 13)

Paul spends the last half of chapter 15 beginning his wrap-up for the letter.  He restates some of his purpose in writing (v. 15-16), his dependence on Christ (v. 18-19), and finishes the chapter with his plans to visit the believers in Rome.

One last chapter to cover next week, then on to 1 Corinthians!

Romans 14 - Weak and Strong

Sometimes the Bible surprises us.  In Romans 14 we see that, at least when it comes to 'disputable matters', those who are most vocal about their convictions are described as being weaker in their faith than those who are more tolerant.  Verses 1-7 show us a picture of some of these disputable matters.  Some eat meat, others do not.  Some honor certain days above others while some consider every day equal.  Sounds like Paul could have been writing to the church of 2012.  How many denominations do we have, and how many of their differences boil down to disputable matters?  Why are we so divided?

Regardless, verse 13 is clear: "let us stop passing judgment on one another".  Verse 4 is similar: "Who are you to judge someone else's servant?"

Verses 15-19 provide a nice summary of these ideas.  Make every effort to live in peace and mutual edification.  The Kingdom of God is about righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Finally, and most importantly, act in love.

Romans 13 - Clothe Yourself

Interesting that Paul ends chapter 12 with instructions to not be overcome by evil, and then goes straight into a discussion of submission to the government at the start of chapter 13.  I always thought that was a curious transition.

Anyway, for me the question inspired by v. 1-7 is "what happens when a government is clearly evil, operating contrary to God's Word and standards?"  In this case, we have a clear answer in Acts 4:19, when Peter tells the religious leaders that he must obey God rather than man.  And yet, in general, Paul's instruction is clear...

"Give everyone what you owe him: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect, if honor, then honor".

Two verses that sum up much of what this Christian life is about are found toward the end of Romans 13.

"Love is the fulfillment of the law" v. 10
"Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature" v. 14

I can't avoid thinking about gratifying the desires of the sinful nature apart from clothing myself with Jesus.  Good to know....

Romans 12 - A Thumbnail Sketch of a Disciple of Jesus

I admire the work of Chip Ingram, a Bible teacher/pastor who has done some fantastic work.  One of the studies that I've had an opportunity to go through multiple times is one that Chip put together about chapter 12 of Romans.  In Chip's words, Romans 12 provides a terrific overview of what it means to be an authentic follower of Jesus, and he breaks the chapter up into 5 parts/themes.  He calls these the 5 S's of Romans 12.

Verse 1  -  Surrendered to God:  We can't become who God intends us to be until we are "all in", and willing to cooperate with His work in our lives.

V. 2 -  Separate from the world:  Not removed from the world, but separate or distinct, understanding that this distinction becomes gradually more apparent as our minds are "renewed" by hearing, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on God's Word.

V. 3-8  -  Sober self-assessment: Understanding who we are, how we are made, and how we fit into the larger picture of the Body of Christ.  Not thinking too highly of ourselves, but also recognizing our gifts and talents, and committing to use them for God's purposes.

V.  9-13  -  Serving in love:  Fairly self-explanatory, but being willing to serve and submit to others.

V.  14-21  - Supernaturally responding to evil with good:  Easier said than done most of the time, but trusting that God will meet our needs, and resisting the temptation to take revenge or harbor bitterness against those who make our lives difficult.

Many thanks to Chip for his work and insight into this chapter.  You can visit Chip's R12 website to learn more.

Romans 11 - Israel, Gentiles, and branches

"Did God reject his people?  By no means!"

The people of Jacob, the nation of Israel have been set apart as chosen by God.  We see that clearly throughout the Scriptures.  And yet, due to the fallen condition of man, even God's "favorites" find themselves in need of grace (v. 5).  There is no one who has earned his/her way to God.  No one who merits his favor on our own.

Not sure I understand and grasp all the theology in this chapter, but I can read things like:
"because of their (Israel's) transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious" (v. 11).
"And so all Israel will be saved." (v. 26)
"God's gifts and call are irrevocable." (v. 30)

Here's a weird one..."For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all."  (v. 32)  What's that all about?

Mark Twain talked about how it isn't the parts of the Bible he didn't understand that bothered him, it was the parts that he did understand.  There's a bunch in Romans 11 that I know I don't grasp, but the chapter ends with this:

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?
Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!  Amen."  (v. 33-36)

That part makes sense to me.  God is awesome, merciful, perfectly loving and all-powerful. Even as I wrestle with passages of Scripture I can't quite wrap my brain around, I know God is revealing Himself to me more each day.

Romans 10 - Beautiful Feet

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (v. 4).  That's good news.  But I also know that Jesus told us he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).  Is it just me, or is there some real tension there?  The reality that we are wholly unrighteous and in need of the righteousness of Christ in order to be reconciled to a Holy God, and yet we are to wholeheartedly pursue righteousness, fueled by God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit....sometimes it all makes my head hurt.

One thing there's no doubt about is the call to share this good news.  "How, then, they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (v. 14)

"As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (v. 16).

May all our feet be beautiful as we live with our eyes on Jesus.

Romans 9 - God is God

Paul liberally quotes the Old Testament throughout this chapter and shows us that some are chosen and some are not.  God is patient and merciful, perfectly just.  Paul writes, "He has mercy and whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden" (v. 18).  Sounds harsh, particularly for those whom he wants to harden.  "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?  'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?"'" (v. 20).

We are reminded elsewhere in Scripture that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).  Wrapping our brains around God's sovereignty and ability to know and orchestrate future events is a challenge to say the least.  But considering this chapter in light of the rest of Scripture, including the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28, it's clear that while God knows those whom He has chosen, we who follow Christ are called to be used by God to share the Good News of God's love and mercy with all.  At the end of the day, God is in charge, and my job is to allow Him to lead me to do that which He wants me to do.

Romans 8 - Wow

Some of the most quoted verses in the New Testament:

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" v.1
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." v. 18
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." v. 28
"What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?" v. 31
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." v. 37-39

But this week I had a great time not only putting those verses into the context of the entire chapter and surrounding chapters, but also rediscovering these gems:

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" v. 17
"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;" v. 6
"But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." v. 10
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.  And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." v. 26-27

I love this chapter.  I love this letter.  I love our God.

Romans 7 - An Inner Battle

After reminding us that sin is always bad in chapter 6, in chapter 7 Paul gives us a glimpse into the struggle each of us deals with as it relates to seeing sin removed from our lives.

We were controlled by the sinful nature, and were bearing fruit for death.  (v. 5)
But through Christ, we have died to the law and are released from the law. (v. 4 and 6)
The law that came from God in the Old Testament is useful to show us what sin looks like, and thus the law is good. (v. 7 and 12)
As a result of my inability to obey and fulfill the law on my own, Jesus took my penalty and punishment. (v. 4 and 25)
In the midst of my faith in Christ, a struggle or battle rages inside me, as my sinful nature "wages war" against God's law in my mind, making me a prisoner of the law of sin. (v. 22-23)
In the midst of that struggle, it's easy to feel hopeless and wretched, and in need of rescue. (v. 24)
Jesus came to rescue us and set us free. (v. 25a)
And yet, the battle rages on. (v. 25b)