How We React to Jesus and His Word Has Crucial Consequences to Which Many Are Totally Unaware
As servants of Jesus Christ, we are nothing if we do not have Jesus and His Love, and we are powerless without the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Paul, a committed and dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ is dealing with no light and superficial issue in this letter and the practical and relevant application for us today is immense.
He is writing to the Church of Jesus Christ in Corinth.
Do take time to read the crucial opening Chapter.
Of course, all of it is crucial.
Every part of the Word of God is crucial but it is the early verses to which I am referring in these articles.
Division and groups and cliques had crept into the fellowship at Corinth and believers were following men and personalities.
That is always a temptation and a great danger.
You cannot divide Christ.
There is only one Christ.
Paul presents some challenging questions.
Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul? No.
You were baptised in the name of Jesus.
Christ is one.
That is why Paul is pleading with this young fellowship of real and true believers not to divide over men and ministers and servants and preachers.
In these first 17 verses Paul mentions Jesus Christ some 15 times, and of course this was the theme of his entire ministry.
His main emphasis here and elsewhere is Jesus Christ crucified and risen - Jesus Christ, having been crucified, and who is now alive.
The theme of his letter is emerging.
It is simply this.
The closer you get to Jesus Christ, the fewer problems you will have.
We do not follow men.
We do not run after personalities.
Yes, we are taught to appreciate those who are over us in the Lord, but that is different thing.
Be careful who you follow.
Be careful who you follow, and to whom you listen, and from whom you take advice.
Let this word be sown deep, and influence you in such a way that you will do all you can maintain the unity of the Church of Jesus Christ, so that the power of the Cross will be effective, and thereby lost men and women may be found and saved and rescued and forgiven and loved.
This letter deals with so many issues.
It raises and answers many questions.
How are we to deal with immorality when it may arise within the Church of Jesus Christ? Ought a Christian ever to go to law, and take another Christian to court? What is the evidence for the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Does it matter if I dabble in the occult? What is real love? What is the task and role of the spiritual leaders! He deals with so many matters of belief and behaviour which would never have arisen had there not been these very real and serious problems of immorality and misbehaviour at the table.
How we approach the table and partake of the bread and wine is important.
Corinth is 100's of miles away from here, and 100's of years away from today, but we face many of the issues raised in this letter.
Situations change, but people don't, and Jesus changes not either.
He is the same and able to help us.
How we react to Jesus and His Word has eternal consequences, and so many are so totally unaware of this.
Paul, a committed and dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ is dealing with no light and superficial issue in this letter and the practical and relevant application for us today is immense.
He is writing to the Church of Jesus Christ in Corinth.
Do take time to read the crucial opening Chapter.
Of course, all of it is crucial.
Every part of the Word of God is crucial but it is the early verses to which I am referring in these articles.
Division and groups and cliques had crept into the fellowship at Corinth and believers were following men and personalities.
That is always a temptation and a great danger.
You cannot divide Christ.
There is only one Christ.
Paul presents some challenging questions.
Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul? No.
You were baptised in the name of Jesus.
Christ is one.
That is why Paul is pleading with this young fellowship of real and true believers not to divide over men and ministers and servants and preachers.
In these first 17 verses Paul mentions Jesus Christ some 15 times, and of course this was the theme of his entire ministry.
His main emphasis here and elsewhere is Jesus Christ crucified and risen - Jesus Christ, having been crucified, and who is now alive.
The theme of his letter is emerging.
It is simply this.
The closer you get to Jesus Christ, the fewer problems you will have.
We do not follow men.
We do not run after personalities.
Yes, we are taught to appreciate those who are over us in the Lord, but that is different thing.
Be careful who you follow.
Be careful who you follow, and to whom you listen, and from whom you take advice.
Let this word be sown deep, and influence you in such a way that you will do all you can maintain the unity of the Church of Jesus Christ, so that the power of the Cross will be effective, and thereby lost men and women may be found and saved and rescued and forgiven and loved.
This letter deals with so many issues.
It raises and answers many questions.
How are we to deal with immorality when it may arise within the Church of Jesus Christ? Ought a Christian ever to go to law, and take another Christian to court? What is the evidence for the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Does it matter if I dabble in the occult? What is real love? What is the task and role of the spiritual leaders! He deals with so many matters of belief and behaviour which would never have arisen had there not been these very real and serious problems of immorality and misbehaviour at the table.
How we approach the table and partake of the bread and wine is important.
Corinth is 100's of miles away from here, and 100's of years away from today, but we face many of the issues raised in this letter.
Situations change, but people don't, and Jesus changes not either.
He is the same and able to help us.
How we react to Jesus and His Word has eternal consequences, and so many are so totally unaware of this.
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