Revelation 8-11 Seven Trumpets Sound

Revelation 8-11 Seven Trumpets Sound

TMS Philippians 2:3-4 Other-centeredness

Phil 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,

if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love,

being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind

let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests,

but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Observations: 2:3-4 Because of what we have in union with Christ, believers have a basis for unity. That unity is developed by considering others as more important than ourselves, and destroyed by selfish ambition (wanting what we want without regard for how it affects others) and conceited behavior (literally “vain/empty glory”). The trick to considering others more important than ourselves is recognizing that when it comes to being rewarded (as Christ was in the rest of the chapter, whose mindset we are exhorted to embrace) they are. Jesus said that if we wanted to be great, we needed to be a servant of others. It was because of His service of all (Phil 2:9) that God exalted Him above all. So we don't totally neglect our needs (if we do, we will not be in any condition to serve others), but we look out for what is in their best interest, even if it means sacrificing our desires (definition of love). God will make it up to us.

Application: Loving our neighbor as ourselves means looking out for their interests and benefits to at least the degree that we do so for ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help me develop a sensitivity to the needs of others, and recognize the importance of serving them as You have me. Amen.

Revelation 8-11 This section covers the seven trumpet judgments which comprise the seventh seal on the title deed to the earth. The judgments result in the destruction of a third of the earth and half of its population. The cumulative effect of the catastrophes should cause those experiencing the Tribulation to repent, but not many do. Two witnesses testify to the nation of Israel with fire and plagues; when their ministry is concluded, they are overcome by the Beast and killed, but God resurrects them and calls them to heaven. The seventh trumpet sounds and the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of God. John is seeing individual events, in sequence. All these events are obviously future, and are specific, not mere symbols for the general triumph of good over evil.

Revelation 8 Trumpets and Woes

8:1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6 The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of the waters. 11 The name of the star is called "Wormwood." One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. 13 I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!"

Observations: 8:1-6 When the seventh seal is opened, there is silence. It could signify a pause in the progression, or emphasize the impending doom. In the OT there was a pause between the sacrifices being offered, and the incense and prayers being offered. Seven angels with trumpets are revealed in the seventh seal. Then in a scene very similar to Ezekiel 10 (when the glory departed from the temple) an angel took coals from the altar and scatters them on the earth, followed by all kinds of disasters. It's possible that the judgments are in response to the prayers of the saints who are being persecuted during the Tribulation or who had been previously martyred (cf Rev 6:10).

8:7 The first trumpet results in a third of the earth and its vegetation being destroyed.

8:8-9 The second trumpet summons something like a burning mountain which destroys a third of the seas and ships.

8:10-11 The third trumpet causes a great star to fall, named Wormwood, which poisons a third of the rivers and streams and results in many deaths, of an unspecified number of people.

8:12-13 The fourth trumpet wipes out a third of the sun, moon, and stars. An eagle (could also be translated “vulture”) flies by with more bad news, a triple “Woe” for those who dwell on earth. Woe means bad news. There are some double woes (Exek 16:23), but this is triple woe is really bad news for the people, since they will be harmed directly.

Application: Judgment comes from the presence of God as a function of His justice. Just like He destroyed the OT temple for the Israel's rejection of Him, so too, He destroys the nations and earth for rejecting His revelation.

Prayer: God, may I live so that I experience Your blessings rather than Your cursings. Amen.

Revelation 9 Torment and Death of Sinners

9:1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. 2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke came forth locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only those people who don’t have God’s seal on their foreheads. 5 They were given power not to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion, when it strikes a person. 6 In those days people will seek death, and will in no way find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like those of lions. 9 They had breastplates, like breastplates of iron. The sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, or of many horses rushing to war. 10 They have tails like those of scorpions, and stings. In their tails they have power to harm men for five months. 11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." 12 The first woe is past. Behold, there are still two woes coming after this.

13 The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!" 15 The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million. I heard the number of them. 17 Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulphur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulphur. 18 By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulphur, which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm.

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.

Observations: 9:1-12 The last three trumpets of the seventh seal are the three “Woes” the eagle announced. When the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, John saw a star which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of abyss was given to the “star” and he opened the pit to let loose a swarm of “locusts.” The pit is the temporary prison of demonic angels (2Pt 2:4; Jude 6) and the beast (11:7); Satan will spend a 1,000 years there (20:3) before being tossed into the lake of fire. It turns out the “locusts,“ like something out of a horror movie, have the power to sting like scorpions and torment (but not kill) those who don't have God's mark on their foreheads (7:3-8), for five months. It will be so bad, people will want to die, but death will elude them. A swarm of locust was impossible to stop or evade. The “locusts” appear like warhorses, with crowns and flowing hair; they sting humans and follow a leader, so they are not your basic garden variety locusts, but rather demonic creatures (cf Joel 2:4-6 Day of the Lord). The leader's name means “Destroyer” but is probably not Satan, who makes his grand entrance in chapter 12. The eagle (or perhaps John) makes an editorial comment: “one down, two to go.”

9:13-19 The sixth angel sounded and a voice from the horns of the altar (where a sacrifice was usually bound) instructs the four bound angels (probably not those in 7:1 due to location differences, and only fallen angels are recorded as being bound), be let loose to kill a third of the earth's population. A quarter of those living on earth after the Rapture had been killed in the fourth seal judgment (Pale Horse -6:8). The timetable of their release had been planned down to the specific hour. Neither man's sin, nor rejection of Christ was a surprise to God. We're not given any information as to when the fallen angels were bound (but it's most likely it happened when Satan rebelled), nor are we given the significance of the specific time in history. John hears that there are two hundred million horsemen, which he then sees spewing three plagues out of their mouths to kill a third of mankind. Like the locusts, these are demonic beings, under control of the four previously bound fallen angels.

9:20-21 The purpose of these judgments is to execute judgment on those who were rejecting God, but even though people were experiencing wrath, they didn't repent of their idolatry, murders, sorceries, immorality, nor thefts (sins against God and man). Some people just don't learn.

Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."

Application: God doesn't delight in the death of sinners, but will discipline them unless they repent. Learn at the low volume, and from the mistakes of others.

Prayer: God, may I be sensitive to Your will and discipline, so I am quick to repent when erring. Amen.

Revelation 10 The Little Book of Revelation

10:1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them." 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land." 9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 They told me, "You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

Observations: 10:1-7 John sees a mighty angel with a glorious appearance set a foot on land and the other on the sea. In his hand is a little book/scroll, that was for the entire world to hear (land and sea). The angel cried out with a loud voice and seven thunders replied. John was forbidden to record what he heard. Apparently God is not going to reveal everything until it happens, which might have something to do with the timing of the return of Christ to earth. The angel swears by the Creator that there will no longer be a delay, but that in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, the mystery of God will be completed/brought to fulfillment, as He declared to the prophets. This is a reference to the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of the Messiah, which occurs at the seventh trumpet (11:15). The mystery (Eph 1) was to sum up everything under the headship of the Messiah which at this juncture is still future.

10:8-11 John gets told to eat the book, which was sweet to his taste, like honey, but gave him a bitter stomach ache. Like Ezekiel (3:1-11) the word of God was sweet to those receptive to Him, but when they sought to share it with others, they were rejected by them. John is given the revelation (rest of the book) which tells of the triumph of Christ, but it too, until this day, is rejected by most.

Application: Our belief and witness must be based upon God's revelation, which must become part of our lives.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want Your word to be an integral part of all that I do and say. Amen.

Revelation 11 Two Witnesses and the Seventh Trumpet

11:1 A reed like a rod was given to me. Someone said, "Rise, and measure God’s temple, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside of the temple, and don’t measure it, for it has been given to the nations. They will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months.

3 I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain during the days of their prophecy. They have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. 7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will be in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 From among the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations people will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 Those who dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and they will be glad. They will give gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 After the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 I heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" They went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In that day there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe comes quickly. 15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" 16 The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God’s throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 God’s temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

Observations: 11:1-2 Like Ezekiel in chapter 40, John is told to measure the temple. This is not the Millennial temple which Ezekiel measured, because the outer court of this temple and the Holy City is given to the nations/Gentiles to trample for 42 months. No such fate befalls the Millennial Temple and City, since they are set up after Christ returns. According to Daniel 9:27, the Anti-Christ will make a covenant with the nation of Israel (after the Rapture, and at the beginning of the Tribulation) which will allow them to rebuild the temple. Halfway through the seven year Tribulation (42 months) the Anti-Christ will break his covenant with the nation of Israel and Gentiles will trample the courts of the temple and the Holy City (for another 42 months). The act of measuring the temple, altar, and those who worship is probably a reference to God's ownership (and thus protection) of them, since John is instructed to not measure the part that the nations will defile.

11:3-14 The temple reference leads into two Spirit empowered witnesses. The lampstands symbolized the light of witnesses to God, which was the role the nation was supposed to play. The design of lampstands was such that they were fueled by oil of the trees (symbolizing never-ending supply, and thus ever-present witness). The two witnesses of this chapter were prophesied in Zechariah 4:11-14. The oil is usually a symbol of the Holy Spirit, who empowers the witness (cf. Acts 1:8). These two witness aren't identified in the text. Elijah and Enoch are two frequently mentioned candidates since neither of them died during their time on earth. Malachi 4:5 prophesied that Elijah return before the Messiah (cf Mt 11:14). Elijah also appeared with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:2). The wearing of sackcloth was a mourning over loss and a prophetic call to repentance. The two witnesses would be able to call down fire to protect themselves (as did Elijah in 2Kings 1:10-14). The length of their ministry matches the length of the drought in Elijah's day, so he's the most likely to be a witness to the Jews during the second half of the Tribulation. Enoch is my choice for the second witness (since people are only suppose to die once, and Moses was already dead -Heb 9:27). Enoch had also prophesied of end time events (Jude 1:14). It really doesn't matter who they were, but what does matter is that God still calls the Jewish nation to repentance even in the midst of judgment. The other noteworthy dynamic, is that God let's His servants be overcome by evil (the Beast) when, but not until, their job is done. Then, after they are killed (and the whole town celebrates), God brings them back to life, using their death to glorify Himself. God resurrects them, and calls them up to heaven. He destroys 7000 people and a tenth of the city, and some respond with glorifying (believing in) God. This, in addition to the drought and plagues of the witnesses, constitute the second “woe.”

This is the first of many references in Revelation to the Beast prophesied by Daniel (7:21). His home was the abyss where the demons were kept and he is energized by Satan (Rev 9:1-3; 13:4). Another editorial comment indicates “two down, one to go.”

11:15 The seventh trumpet heralds the return of Christ. It is only after the ministry of the two witnesses (and all the preceded) that the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of our Lord God, and the Messiah. Not until then (as in not in our time, nor the NT time) will Christ reign. Within the seventh trumpet are seven bowl or vial judgments that will be poured out as Christ comes to earth (chapter 16). Before and after that, there are a few interludes describing the Beast, False Prophet, and Satan, as well as Armageddon, and the events that precede the establishment of Christ's rule on earth (19:6) such as the Fall of (Mystery) Babylon. Here the seventh trumpet announces the transfer of kingdoms, and that the Messiah shall reign to the Ages of the Ages.

11:16-19 The twenty-four elders worship God, who was, is, and is to come because He has taken (perfect tense) His great power and begun to reign (NIV). “Reign” is in the aorist tense, which is the unspecified tense, giving a snapshot of the action, which is usually translated in the past. However, Christ's reign isn't past and over, but as the rest of the book demonstrates, hasn't occurred yet. The aorist is often used to describe future prophetic events, since from the prophet's point of view, they have already happened. Attention to the surrounding context gives insight into how the aorist should be translated. All the actions for which the elders praise God are in the aorist tense: His wrath coming, the judging of the dead, the rewarding of the faithful, and the destruction of those who destroy the earth, yet none of those events have happened, as the future chapters will demonstrate. So here the elders are anticipating the rule of the Messiah. His judging and rewarding are major events of His coming as Isaiah 40:10 and John the Baptist foretold, Jesus predicted, and the other NT authors anticipated as a means of motivating their audiences to obey. The elders specify that the Lord's reward is for those saints who fear His name. The temple of God in heaven was opened, accompanied by elaborate effects.

Application: Fearing God (being careful to do what is right in His sight) is essential to being rewarded, regardless of what may befall us here on earth.

Prayer: God, thanks that Your future return, reign, and reward are guaranteed by Your promises and John's witness; may I be faithful to accomplish Your purposes for my time on earth. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God will judge without mercy those who refuse His mercy. He sends discipline in the hopes that people will repent (and some do).

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is not yet reigning over the earth; He won't begin His Messianic rule until the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of God, at the seventh trumpet.

Us in a nutshell: Those who fear and serve God will be rewarded. Those who rebel and serve their pleasures will suffer destruction.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Romans 12 Transformed Thinking Sermon

Romans 12 Transformed Thinking © 2012 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.Blogspot.com

I. A Renewed Mind is Necessary for Sacrificial Service and Experiencing the Perfect Will of God.

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living/ongoing sacrifice,

holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable/”of the word” service of worship. (Cf 6:11 reckon dead/alive 12:11 serving)

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove/demonstrate what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Caterpillar Christians are not much different from they way they were, nor from other worldings (no metamorphosis). They inch along on their own power (rather than riding breezes), blending in (rather than attractively reflecting God's glorious creativity), never rising above the circumstances, eating weeds (rather than sipping nectar), not reproducing. [robot not reprogrammed]

A Conformed Mind is bound by old identities and what others think (rather than free to be what God wants them to be), selfishly views itself as the center of the universe, lives for immediate gratification of senses (no spiritual insight nor eternal objectives), consumes vs invests.

A Transformed Mind, renewed by the Truth, is very conscious that this world is not all there is; that a new world is coming in which God rewards righteousness, service, and love; that independence is the essence of sin, and dependence is the essence of delight; makes disciples.

II. A Renewed Mind Has a Proper View of Oneself in Relationship to the Body (new identity, focus, and purpose)

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soundmindedly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

III. A Renewed Mind Serves with Grace by Faith to accomplish God's purposes in building up the Body.

6 Having then grace-things differing according to the grace that is given to us (1Cor 12:11), let us use them: (saved sinner or serving saint)

if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to the measure of the faith;

7 or ministry/service, let us use it in our ministering/serving; he who teaches, in teaching;

8 he who encourages/exhorts, in encouragement/exhortation;

he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

IV. A Renewed Mind Loves Purely (sanctifies & sacrifices oneself to do what is in another's highest interest -other-centered)

Love: 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth through the Spirit for a sincere love for the brothers, love one another fervently from a pure heart, 2 Peter 1:5-7 virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love, agape love.

Service/Ministry: 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; (cf 12:1; Matthew 25:40 done to me; John 21:17 feed sheep)

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute/harass you; bless and do not curse. Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Matthew 6:15 if you do not forgive...neither will your Father

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (other-centered emotions)

Unity: 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. 1 Corinthians 1:10 I plead with you, by the name of our Lord that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion/estimation.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Purity: 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Do most believers live like caterpillars or butterflies? How does one undergo metamorphosis? What happens if one doesn't?

2. Why is independence the essence of sin? Can someone be pleasing to Christ and not a functioning member of His Body (biblical)?

3. Why do you think the Holy Spirit gave differing grace to believers? How are the grace-things necessary for a Body to function?

4. Do you have to like someone to love them? Is love an emotion or a decision of the will? What hinders fondness and affection?

5. How has your life changed in response to the mercy of God? How have you changed others' lives? What help do you need?

1 John 1-2 Fellowship with God and Man

TMS 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Reaping What You Sow

2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say:

he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7 So let each one give

as he purposes in his heart,

not grudgingly or of necessity;

for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Observations: 9:6-7 God doesn't need our money, but we need to give. God actually provides us with the means of giving, and we are just being stewards of His stuff when we give. So we want to determine what He wants us to do with His stuff. God wants us to give of our own free will (as He wants us to live all our lives), choosing to do what pleases Him, and benefits us. So we should determine God's will for our giving, and then give, knowing we will benefit in return. We can't out-give God, and He is totally just in recompensing those who honor Him. See the context in 2 Corinthians 9 for a better understanding of giving, and the series of being faithful with God's treasure at the end of the TOYL book on Truthbase.net.

Application: Know that God gives you what you need, and will give you back more than you give or willingly “sacrifice.” (see Malachi 3:10 comments).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thanks that You have so graciously given of Yourself in providing my salvation in Christ, and in meeting all my needs; may I mirror Your grace and generosity in my giving. Amen.

1 John 1-2 The first epistle of John is considered the most difficult to outline in the New Testament, but it is fairly easy to understand and apply the individual verses without a thorough knowledge of the literary structure (like Proverbs). One commentator declared that the book made as much sense reading each sentence beginning at the last verse of chapter 5, as it did beginning in 1:1. However, there are discernible blocks of text (lots of structure in triads, etc,) and a logic flow, but the argument isn't as smooth due to our insufficient understanding, not John's writing. The apostle John writes to born-again believers so they may have fellowship with God and each other, and continue to abide in Christ (John 15)  so they can reap the abundant life God offers. The epistle addresses a number of errors and false teaching that could keep believers from being blessed. Just like in the end of his gospel, John reveals his purpose in writing at the end.

1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

1 John 1 Fellowship with God and Man

1:1 That which was from the beginning,

that which we have heard,

that which we have seen with our eyes,

that which we saw,

and our hands touched,

concerning the Word of life

2 and the life was revealed,

and we have seen,

and bear witness,

and declare to you

that eternal life,

which was with the Father,

and was revealed to us;

3 that which we have seen and heard

we declare to you,

that you also may have fellowship with us.

Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father,

and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you,

that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him

and walk in the darkness,

we lie, and don’t tell the truth.

7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son,

cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

He is faithful

and just

to forgive us the sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we haven’t sinned,

we make Him a liar,

and His word is not in us.

Observations: 1:1-4 John opens the epistle with words very similar to the prologue of his gospel: “in the beginning,” “the word”, and “life.” He testifies to Jesus (the word of life) so that the born-again readers may have fellowship/participation with the apostles in the life of God, so that their mutual joy might be full (because his children walk in the truth - 3 John 1:4). It might be worth making sure you understand what fellowship is: its root is “to have in common” and by extension “to share” or “participate in.” We share or participate in the life of Christ, both as the animating force of our spiritual existence, and the rule or practice of our lives. If Christ is not living in and through us, we won't have Biblical fellowship with each other. Unity is achieved, not by compromise, but by all parties moving to the truth.

1:5-7 Since God is light (another concept from John's prologue), and in Him is no darkness, then those who share His life (fellowship) can't walk in darkness, but must walk in the light (not live in sin). This general principle is stated in verse 5, and then elaborated in verses 6-10. Those who say they have fellowship with God, yet are sinning, are liars. But those who walk in the light, not only do have fellowship with God, but also have fellowship (as shared life) with other believers. This is not about sinless perfection, but about being forgiven through the sacrifice of Christ so that one can be cleansed from sin (see comments on Heb 9:14, where the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works so we can serve the living God).

1:8-10 Those who say they have no sin are deceived (psychologists say we're blind to most of our faults), and the truth is not in them. However, the corrective to sin, the Christian bar of soap, is to “name it and claim it.” Name the sin, and claim forgiveness. “Confess” means to “say the same thing” as God does about our behavior, that it is wrong, and leads to death. Acknowledging what is wrong is tantamount to forsaking it, for why would someone want to continue in what is wrong and deadly? Confession opens the door to cleansing. If we confess, God is faithful and just. The structure is chiastic, with God's justice being the basis of our forgiveness (Christ paid the penalty so we don't have to -Rom 3:23-26), and His faithfulness to His promises is the basis of our cleansing (1:7), so we can walk in the light of His truth. This is not justification, but the sanctification or holiness necessary for living in unity with a holy God (see comments on Mt 6:15).

Verse 10 essentially restates verse 8, forming an inclusio; those who would deny their sin are not only liars, but make God a liar as well. Such folks don't have the light of the truth in them, and are not in fellowship with God.

Application: God wants us to walk in the light so we can share His life; if we find ourselves slipping into the dark, use 1 John 1:9 to get back into the light.

Prayer: God, I praise You for wanting to share Your life with me; may I walk in the light and enjoy fellowship with You and my fellow forgiven believers. Amen.

1 John 2 Confidence at His Appearing

2:1 My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin.

If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

2 And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,

and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.

3 This is how we know that we know Him:

if we keep His commandments.

4 One who says, "I know Him,"

and doesn’t keep His commandments,

is a liar,

and the truth isn’t in him.

5 But whoever keeps His word,

the love of God has most certainly been perfected in him.

This is how we know that we are in Him:

6 he who says he abides in Him

ought himself also to walk just like He walked.

7 Brothers, I write no new commandment to you,

but an old commandment

which you had from the beginning.

The old commandment is the word which you heard

from the beginning.

8 Again, I write a new commandment to you,

which is true in Him and in you;

because the darkness is passing away,

and the true light already shines.

9 He who says he is in the light

and hates his brother,

is in the darkness even until now.

10 He who loves his brother abides in the light,

and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.

11 But he who hates his brother

is in the darkness,

and walks in the darkness,

and doesn’t know where he is going,

because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I write to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13 I write to you, fathers,

because you know Him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, little children,

because you know the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers,

because you know Him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Don’t love the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If anyone loves the world,

the Father’s love isn’t in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

isn’t the Father’s,

but is the world’s.

17 The world is passing away with its lusts,

but he who does God’s will abides forever.

18 Little children, these are the end times,

and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming,

even now many antichrists have arisen.

By this we know that it is the final hour.

19 They went out from us,

but they weren't of (ek) us;

for if they were of us,

they would have continued with us.

But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them were of us.

20 You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth,

but because you know it,

and because no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?

This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

23 Whoever denies the Son,

the same doesn’t have the Father.

He who confesses the Son has the Father also.

24 Therefore, as for you,

let that abide in you

which you heard from the beginning.

If that which you heard from the beginning

abides in you,

you also will abide

in the Son,

and in the Father.

25 This is the promise which He promised us, the eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.

27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you,

and you don’t need for anyone to teach you.

But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things,

and is true, and is no lie,

and even as it taught you, you will abide in Him.

28 Now, little children, abide in Him,

that when He appears,

we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.

29 If you know that He is righteous,

you know that everyone who practices righteousness

is born of Him.

Observations: 2:1-2 John said in chapter 1 that he wants his readers to walk in the light and not sin. He reiterates that intent, and adds that if we do sin, we have an Advocate or Counselor with the Father, Jesus the Messiah, the Righteous. He is the atoning/covering sacrifice for our sins. But wait, there's more! Jesus died for the whole world (John 3:16) so He is the sacrifice for all people who put their faith in Him.

2:3-4 John gives a number of benchmarks throughout the book, so we don't deceive ourselves into believing what isn't true. We can have confidence that we know God if we keep His commandments. As Jesus said: “If you love me, obey me” and “Why do you call me Lord and don't do what I say?” (John 14:15; Luke 6:46). So if we are intimately acquainted with God, we will be keeping His commands. Those who don't obey are lying when they say they have a good relationship with God. The truth isn't abiding in them and there will be no fruit either (John 15).

2:5-11 Those who keep (abide in) God's word, have the love of/for God (objective genitive) brought to completion in living loyally for Him. This is how a believer knows they are living “in union with Him” (a major concept in the epistle); they who abide in Him, walk/live, as Jesus did, particularly in relationships with other believers that reflect self-sacrificial love (agape). This is in accord with the summation of the law (love - Galatians 5:14), the old command which Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:43), and the “new” major command Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper (John 13:34-45), expressing the higher standard to love self-sacrificially as Jesus loved them. The basis of the command is that the old dark order was passing away, and the new true light (of God's requirements) was already shining, for them to walk by. The one who hates his brother/sister is walking in the dark. The one who loves, abides in the light. One could argue that the old commandment was to believe and follow Christ (cf 3:23) but that command doesn't match the parallelism, nor the emphasis on loving others in the epistle. . 

2:12-15 It would have been the better division of the chapters, to begin chapter 2 here, since the earlier section relates to the theme of fellowship with God and others by walking in the light, and now John turns his attention to overcoming satanic obstacles to fellowship with God. There is a stylistic change of “I am writing to you” and the naming of three groups, possibly related to stages of spiritual development (young believers, mature believers, and those in the middle).

In verse 12 he writes to the “little children” whose sins are forgiven for the sake of God's glory or name. In verse 13 John addresses the same group, who have progressed from being forgiven to knowing God.

John writes to the “fathers” who have had a mature relationship with God, from the beginning, and are abiding in it, so the same content in is both verses.

John writes to the “young men” who initially have overcome the evil one, and then progressed to maintaining their strength by having the word of God abide in them (an ongoing necessity for fellowship -John 15).

2:15-16 Next John addresses their desires and values, which could trip them up. Unsanctified desires, derived from Satan's world, are the major reason believers continue to sin, and don't live in victory. See comments on Eve's temptation Genesis 3 and Jesus' temptation in Matthew 3. The desire for temporal power (pride-security/significance), pleasure (flesh), and possessions (eyes) motivate us to seek those things in the world, rather than the delights of the Father. The world, with its temporal trinkets will pass away, but the one who does God's will (which is knowable and doable) will abide forever. See series on Deadly Desires on Truthbase.net.

2:18-19 John warns them of the chief agent of Satan, the Antichrist, and the lesser minions, the false teachers who would seek to dissuade them from following Christ in the light. These false teachers went out from the the apostles, but they were not of (literally “ek” denoting source or origin, as in sharing the same source of teaching and doctrine) them. If the false teachers were from the apostles, they would have continued in the apostolic teaching. Their departure from the apostolic doctrine proved they were not based in them, and thus should be ignored. This indicates that the problem facing the readers is the same as that of the rest of the NT, Judaizers, who were denying the validity of the believer's experience in Jesus the Messiah, and teaching the OT as the basis of righteousness, rather than the words of Jesus. In fact they would go on to deny that Jesus was the Messiah (same word as Christ) of the OT, come in the flesh. Those who posit some sort of Gnostic teaching are ignorant of the fact that Gnosticism didn't become a coherent philosophy until the second century after Christ.

2:20-23 John reminds his readers that they have an “anointing” from the Holy One, so they have the correct knowledge, and don't need the Judaizing teaching. Apparently they still need John's instruction, and were in danger of being led astray, so they didn't know everything. The fact that they had an “anointing,” a reference to the Holy Spirit which the Messiah was to give, validated the Messiahship of Christ, and their accurate/true belief in Him. That was all they needed, not the false teaching of the antichrists. John isn't writing because they don't know the truth, but because they do know it (and don't need anything additional). No lie comes out of the truth; the liar is the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah. Note they are not denying what He did, but that He is the promised Messiah of Isaiah 40-66 fame (as well as other places in Isaiah and the rest of the OT).

Satan is the one who denies the Father (as he did in Isaiah 14) and the Son (as he was doing through his agents, the false teachers. Whoever denies the Messiahship of the Son, doesn't have the Father either (so don't pay attention to them). Whoever confesses/acknowledges the Son (as the believers did) have the Father also (and don't need anything else).

2:24-27 Therefore (conclusion of the above), the believers should abide/remain in the teaching they heard from the real apostles, and have it abide in them (John 15). If they abide/remain in the truth, they will abide in the Son and Father, and have the fellowship John promised in the beginning of the epistle, and the eternal life Jesus promised in the gospels (cf John 3:16, 36). So the recipients of the letter don't need anyone to teach them anything else. The anointing they received (the fact of receiving the Holy Spirit) teaches them all they need to know to ignore the false teaching. This is not a blanket statement to all believers that they don't need teaching, but is context specific to the audience, with regard to the error of the antichrists. Jesus gave the responsibility to teach people to obey (Mt 28:20); Paul instructed Timothy to teach people who could teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2); the Holy Spirit gave gifted men to teach (Ephesians 4); and the gift of teaching to the early church (1 Corinthians 12). The author of Hebrews outlined the Christian career path of progressing to be able to teach others (Heb 5), so obviously believers need teaching, just not the false teaching of the antichrists (those opposed to Christ as Messiah, and probably advocated Judaism as the means to getting blessed). John closes the chapter, and opens the next one with the instruction to abide in what they had been taught, so they would abide in union with Christ.

2:28-29 John exhorts the believers to abide/remain in union with Christ so that when He appears to judge and set up His Millennial Kingdom, they would have confidence to stand before His judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Those who were not loyal to Him, or who spent their time stumbling around in the dark, would be ashamed at His coming.

Knowing that Jesus is righteous (and requires righteousness for blessing) they know that everyone who is born of Him would also have/practice righteousness.

Application: If we abide in the truth and aren't deceived by the world or false teachers, we will live in love and righteousness, and thus have confidence to stand before the Messiah when He returns.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray You would guide me in understanding and applying Your truth, so I will abide in You,and will not be ashamed to stand before You when You return. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God wants us to share in His life, and have proper relationships with others. He provides the means of doing that with His truth (light), and forgiveness, and wants to cleanse us from all our sin.

Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the word of life and the coming Messiah, regardless of what anyone says. One day all will stand before Him and acknowledge that truth, even the Antichrist.

Us in a nutshell: We need to walk in the light and love each other if we are to share in the life of Christ.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

1 Corinthians 1-4 Carnal Christians

1 Corinthians 1-4 Carnal Christians

Psalm 134:1-3 Praise and Blessing

Ps 134:1 Song of The Steps* “Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house! 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise Yahweh! 3 May Yahweh bless you from Zion; even he who made heaven and earth."

Observations: (*See note on Ps 120) 134:1-3 This is the last of the fifteen Step Psalms which Hezekiah wrote in response to the fifteen extra years of life that God gave him (Isaiah 38:20). Praise is the preoccupation of God's servants. Blessing is the occupation of God. When we acknowledge who He is, and respond appropriately (worship=response to revelation), we set ourselves up for His blessings. The background to this psalm is probably found in Hezekiah's instructions to the priests when he regathered them to reopen the temple in the first year of his reign.

2Chronicles 29:6 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God; they have forsaken Him, have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. 10 "Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense."

Application: God blesses those who praise Him with pure hands.

Prayer: Maker of heaven and earth, may my praise of You be both day and night, and pleasing in Your sight; may You be pleased to bestow Your blessings on me and Your people. Thanks. Amen.

TMS John 14:21 Obey For Intimacy

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments

and keeps/obeys them,

it is he who loves Me.

And he who loves Me

will be loved by My Father,

and I will love him

and manifest Myself to him."

Observations: 14:21 We cannot have an intimate relationship with God, apart from abiding obedience. Jesus said it directly, a few verses earlier: John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Love is not primarily a feeling (although feeling is usually an accompaniment). Love is a decision, an act of the will to do what is in another's best interest (usually at the expense of ourselves). Love is a decision to be loyal, and look out for the other's interests, (almost always at the cost of our own interests and ambitions). A parent who abandons a baby to go a party with friends, could not be called loving nor loyal. If we love God, we will be loyal to Him, regardless of the cost. Talk is cheap. Love is costly. Jesus wants our obedience, since, believe it or not, that's in our best interest). It's not in our best interest to do what is harmful to ourselves, nor to waste our lives on accumulating kindling (see 1Cor 3:15 below).

The one who loves and obeys Jesus' commandments will love others (Jn 13:34), and be loved by the Father and Jesus. Is that conditional love/agape? You tell me; it's got conditions. However, the benefits of an intimate relationship with the God of Creation and the King of Kings, who has demonstrated His love for you is totally worth it. Reciprocal, mutual love is the best! See Barriers to Intimacy on Truthbase.net.

Application: If you don't know and do what Jesus requires, you don't know Him very well, but that can change when you do.

Prayer: God, I want to know You. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1-4 Corinth was infamous for carnality, and the church was not much different from the culture. Christ is glorified (looks good -Matthew 5:17) when members of His Body live together in unity, which is only possible if believers draw on His grace/power to live in union with Him. As you read, note how Paul seeks to move the believers from self-centered indulgences of their pride and passions to Christ-centered service of others, and God.

Unlike Romans, Paul had been to Corinth, and they heard him teach, reason and persuade for a year and a half (Acts 18). However, given their background, they didn't immediately become like Christ when they believed, but needed to put a lot more effort into learning and maturing. Paul writes in response to reports of their problems (1:11) and specific questions they had asked him via a letter (7:1; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1). The book also has the fullest discussion in the NT of spiritual gifts, the Lord's supper, and the resurrection (which serves as the motivation for obeying).

1 Corinthians 1 God Glorifying Unity

1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything you were enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge; 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 8 who will also confirm you until the end that you may be (kjv) blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

10 Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you

• all speak the same thing and that there
• be no divisions among you, but that you
• be perfected united
• in the same mind and
• in the same judgment.

11 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions/divisions among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name. 16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void. 18 For the word/message of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called/invited, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 28 and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are: 29 that no flesh should boast before God. 30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

Observations: 1:1-9 Paul, who was directly and vocally called to be an apostle, writes to the church/assembly at Corinth, those who are set apart or sanctified in Christ (that means they are believers), and called (as in a written invitation to a future event) to be saints (holy ones), along with all the other believers (Rm 10:14) who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Messiah. As with the Romans he wishes them the blessings of grace and peace, and instructs them about how to get blessed. He starts with thanking God for the confirming grace He gave them (since there wasn't a whole lot else that was praiseworthy about their behavior). Note that the manifestations of the Spirit were given to confirm the testimony of Christ (Mk 16:20), and enable them to successfully wait for the return of the Messiah. All seven times “wait” is used in the NT, it refers to the expectation of the hope of the Messiah's reward when He glorifies His saints (Rm 8:19, 23, 25; Gal 5:5; Phil 3:20; Heb 9:28) at His revelation (1Pt 1). God will establish them so they may be blameless when Christ returns. God called/invited people into fellowship (union) with Jesus, and it is such abiding that results in blamelessness (being above reproach, nothing that anyone can find fault about, a condition that the carnal Corinthians don't possess, yet). This word is used in Col 1:22; 1Tim 3:10; Titus 1:6-7.

1:10-16 Verse 10 is a great statement of the unity God desires for Bodies of believers. Note the characteristics in the text. It's not outward conformity or uniformity, but an inner embracing of the will of God as revealed by the Spirit of Truth, in the objective word (mostly) and subjectively (when necessary) in the minds of those submitted to the word and Lordship of Christ. People can't know the subjective will of God if they aren't doing the objective will (because He is not on speaking terms with rebellious sinners, except to tell them to repent). Group-speak and group-think are usually dangerous, unless people are thinking Biblically and speaking the truth. Then there is a basis for unity. Notice that “same judgment” indicates that there has been debate and discussion, and a verdict has been reached based upon the facts (correctly), not preconceptions, nor theories.

Paul address the disunity of factions. When people get their worth and value from being individually pleasing to God, they aren't as concerned about group affiliation. Nationalists, Nazis, rabid sports fans, gang-members and those who cling to ethnic or affiliation (college, corporation, church, culture) identities as a basis of their worth and value usually have nothing intrinsically or meritoriously valuable about them. Unless one finds their identity as a faithful child of God, and their worth from being pleasing in His sight (through doing what is right in His sight), they will seek it in all the wrong places, and lose value from God. (See The Magic Lamp of Self-esteem on Truthbase.net for outline.)

1:17-31 God didn't send Paul to baptize (must not be that crucial in the overall scheme of things) but to proclaim the message of the cross (which is that Christ died for our sins so we don't have to die). This is a weak and foolish message to those who look for power and wise words. It is through the “foolish” message that people are saved, and receive wisdom and power, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption/reward (Rom 8:23). Christ will be seen as powerful and wise when He returns, and no one will boast or glory in anyone or anything other than Him.

Application: The kind of unity God desires members of Christ's Body to have is only achieved by all the parts being correctly united to the Head, and each other.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may my worth and value come from my relationship with You, and living in obedience to Your will; may my relationships with other believers glorify You by exhibiting the unity You desire. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2 The Mature Understand, The Carnal Don't

2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn’t come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are mature; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained/pre-planned before the worlds for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him." 10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God’s Spirit. 12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, interpreting spiritual “things” to spiritual “people.” 14 Now the natural man doesn’t receive/accept the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t intimately know them, because they are spiritually discerned/judged. 15 But he who is spiritual discerns/judges all things, and he himself is judged by no one. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?" But we have Christ’s mind.

Observations: 2:1-6 When Paul was at Corinth for a year and a half (Acts 18:1-17), he didn't use fancy schmancy Greek rhetoric to convince his hearers, but he reasoned/debated and persuaded about the facts of Jesus the prophesied Messiah and his death (and its benefits). People believed the words and were baptized. Acts doesn't mention Paul performing miracles in Corinth which engendered belief as had happened at other places (Acts 13:12; 15:12; 19:11).

2:7-15 Paul isn't opposed to wisdom, and in fact, speaks it among the mature. This wisdom is the previously undisclosed (mystery -Rm 11:25; 16:25; Eph 1, 3) plan of God which He had planned for our glory. Note this is not for our forgiveness, but our glorification, reversing the effects of the Fall. If you don't fully understand this, please see comments at end of Romans 16). Had people understood that the Messiah was bringing the glory they craved, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of Glory, who gives that glory to those who loyally love/serve Him. The blessings God has planned for those who love Him (see John 14:21 in the TMS above) go far beyond what we could even imagine. Trust that if there is anything in this cursed world that you like, God will have something hugely better in the future for those who are loyal to Him.

God has revealed His plan to the miracle working apostles, not you and me, unless we study their words. Only the miracle working Spirit knows the mind of God and has communicated that to the miracle working apostles (these are the "we" to which verse 12 refers to, not every believer). They are the ones who have the mind of Christ. The only way non-apostles develop that is though renewing our minds in the accurately understood word.

The last phrase of verse 13 is frequently not understood. Literally it's three Greek words: “spiritual spiritual together-judge.” The first is a dative adjective (indirect object), the second an accusative adjective (direct object), and the verb is a present participle (modifying how Paul and the apostles speak). The verb means to “judge together” or closely compare, or interpret or explain. A decent rendering is “interpreting/explaining spiritual (truths) to spiritual men (note the contrast in the next phrase with natural men). Those who haven't accepted Christ, and thus don't have His Spirit, don't receive/accept or appropriate the things of God's Spirit because they are “spiritually” discerned/appraised. “Discerned” in verse 14 is the same word for interpreted or discern/judged in the verses before and after. Unbelievers can trace the argument and meaning of a passage better than believers sometimes, so the issue isn't being able to understand the words, but to accept and embrace them, and thus experience or “intimately know” them. The “spiritual men” to whom Paul explains the wisdom of God are able to accept it, not because of some magic work of the Holy Spirit (because then all believers would understand accurately, and all commentaries by prayerful believers would agree), but rather they accept it because they approach the truth from a spiritual rather than carnal perspective (they value the spiritual, as shown by their reception of Christ). They also have experienced the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Jn 16:8) and are more “in tune” with the Spirit of Truth who wants to communicate to them His truth. Alas, this is not the case with many, otherwise they'd know and apply/obey the Scriptures better. See 1Cor 3:1 where being spiritual is contrasted with being a babe in Christ. The one who looks at things from a “spiritual” perspective, discerns (comparatively judges) the truth about all things.

Application: Go beyond the cross to maturity, as you understand and accept the message of glory.

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Prayer: God, I trust that whatever You have planned for me as I follow You is far, far better than anything I could dream up on my own. Please give me diligence to understand Your word so I can share it with others. Thanks. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3 Carnal Christians Get Burned

3:1 Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, 3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren’t you fleshly?

5 Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? 6 I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase/growth. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with

gold, silver, costly stones,

wood, hay, or stubble;

13 each man’s work will be revealed.

For the Day will declare it,

because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.

14 If any man’s work remains which he built on it,

he will receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work is burned,

he will suffer loss,

but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

16 Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys/defiles the temple of God, God will destroy/defile him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He has taken the wise in their craftiness." 20 And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless." 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Observations: 3:1-4 A babe in Christ is a fleshly/carnal, immature, non-spiritual believer, who walks/lives like an unbeliever, with an unbeliever's values, who will receive no reward. Their lack of progress and growth in Christ keeps them a creepy caterpillar, causing strife, jealous of the butterflies who sip nectar from the flowers. They try to get worth by crawling over others. Yes, there are such critters as carnal Christians; not a pretty sight.

3:5-9 Believers who are rewarded for their service are those who've actually served. You can't hear “Well done!” unless you've done something praiseworthy. Paul planted the seed of God's word, and Apollos watered it, but God gave the growth. Farmers don't really grow anything, they tend soil, pull weeds, and trim off/prune unprofitable or diseased growth (they also protect it from dangers).

3:10-15 Please make sure you totally understand this passage. If you're a carnal Christian, it might be your motivation to be metamorphosized (Rm 12:1-2). Paul laid the foundation of Christ, which means he preached the death and resurrection of Jesus as the basis of forgiveness for sins. This can't be redone, and when all is said and done, is all that remains of the life of a carnal Christian. Jesus died for your sins so you don't go into the lake of fire. You believed it, and became a child of God. Now are you going to be a good son/daughter or a rotten, unprofitable one? The good, spiritually minded ones build on their justification, using valuable, costly and difficult materials (gold, silver, and precious stones, which have to be mined and refined).

The carnal caterpillar uses whatever is easy, and piles it up to look good. But when Christ returns, everyone's work will be judged by fire. Only the good spiritual building remains. Everything else goes up in smoke. The mature who serve in building up others, get rewarded. They carnal babes lose everything, including their pampers in the fire. (Most likely the burning of their works in the garbage dump of Gehenna -See comments on Mt 5). They will still be saved, but will spend the Kingdom singed and smokey. Suffer loss involves suffering. Here are the only NT usages of loss: Mt 16:26; Mk 8:36l Lk 9:25; 2Cor 7:9; Phil 3:8. How happy would you be if everything you valued and gave your life to, vanished in flames?

3:16-17 But, wait, it gets worse. Believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, thus being God's temple, both individually (1Cor 6:19) and corporately. The corporate aspect is in view here, since that's the thing that can be destroyed by carnal Christians doing their own thing and violating the unity God desires (1Pt 2:5). The temple destroyer/defiler (same word) will themselves be destroyed/defiled. Defiled is the better translation since the consequence is a loss of the holiness which is needed for service in the present and reward in the future.

3:18-23 Paul concludes the argument in this chapter with a reminder not to be self-deceived (believing what you want, rather than all that is revealed). The context is negative judgment for worldly Christians who disrupt unity by their lack of maturity (they're the people who would not have followed Christ to the next town, as the initial disciples did). The immature get worth and value not from God's approval and anticipated reward, but from human sources.

Application: God never stops being just. What about suffer loss, and God destroying, do you not understand? To avoid that fate, build, and do so with what will endure. What have you built that will last for eternity?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me be a wise builder on the foundation of Christ, doing the things that will endure; show me where I might be deceiving myself about what You've revealed. Thanks. Amen.

1 Corinthians 4 Carnal Pride

4:1 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. 2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self. 4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another. 7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor. 11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place. 12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure. 13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News. 16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Observations: 4:1-5 Paul was very conscious of facing the Lord's future judgment (Acts 24:16; 1Cor 9:27). The judgment is not on whether or not a person has believed in Christ; the judgment is of believers for their faithfulness. God will judge us for all He's entrusted to us. Paul admonishes the Corinthians to not judge each other because it's the judgment of the Lord that matters. The Lord will bring to light the motives of the heart. Why we do what we do is more important than the trivial externalities most times. So it is important to examine ourselves and question the motives of those we love who are deceived to bring them to an awareness of what their behavior looks like (see the Ministry of Reproof).

4:6-13 In one of the most sarcastic passages of Scripture, Paul rebuffs the pride of the carnal Corinthians, who think incorrectly, going beyond what the Scriptures reveal, and put each other down. Their pride even spilled out into their attitude toward Paul, as if they had already been exalted (perhaps due to their “gifts” or “wisdom”).

4:14-20 Paul humbly but firmly reminds them that he is their father in Christ, and they should imitate him and follow his teachings. To that end he sends Timothy to remind them of what Paul had taught and still taught all the believers. Those who were disrespecting Paul and his teaching were acting as if he were not coming (just like many people act regarding Christ). But when it was in the Lord's will to do so, he would visit, and it wouldn't be pleasant for those who had big words, but no power. If they repented, Paul would visit in love and gentleness. Otherwise they would face the disciplinary rod of the powerful apostle, through whom God worked mightily.

Application: Since we'll be judged by Christ for our faithfulness to His commands, we should focus on being pleasing in His sight, not puffed up in the sight of others.

Prayer: God, thanks that a focus on faithfulness frees me from the temptation to think improperly about myself, and enables me to serve the needs of others, to receive praise from You. Amen.

Digging Deeper

God in a nutshell: God is the giver of all grace which should be used to build His church. He is glorified by the unity among believers, and will judge those who destroy the church.

Build-a-Jesus: Christ Jesus was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, a complete package of present and future salvation, which we experience as we are in union with Him (faithful daily dependent obedience).

Us in a nutshell: We need to humble ourselves in submission to the Lord Jesus, to live in unity with others, being faithful stewards of all He's entrusted to us, for we will have to give an account.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net