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| Day 81 Part 1: Christ Crucified; the Power and Wisdom of God |
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 The reading for day 81 was Romans 15:1 - 1Corinthians 14:40.
I'm going to start with 1Corinthians. If anyone has any questions on the last two chapters of Romans for me, feel free to ask :-) I will do my best to answer.
The first chapter of 1Corinthians, in verses 10-31 speak of our unity in Christ, the power of the cross, and the foolishness of the gospel. Verse 10 is Paul's exhortation to them to be united and not divided. In verse 13 he says "Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" The obvious answer to these questions is NO. Paul didn't want for there to be denominations (pretty sure that has something to do with names) within the church. When we are baptized into the name of Jesus we become a part of the "body of Christ." This is why Paul says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1:17,18 NASB). Paul didn't want people to say, "hey look at me...I was baptized by Paul himself." It wasn't supposed to be about anyone other than Jesus and it had become a contest of who was the best Christian because of their, for lack of better term, spiritual ancestry. Paul quickly set them straight. It wasn't about what he did. It was about the power of the cross! The word of the cross is the power of God to us! Wait...it gets even better! In verse 23 and 24 we see that the preaching of Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God. You want to see God's power? Preach Christ crucified! You want to know God's wisdom? Preach Christ crucified! This is why Paul can say in chapter 2, 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 2:4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. How much better can it get for us? Our faith is rooted in the power of God! Where is your faith? It is in Christ crucified; the power and wisdom of God!
In chapter 3 we have one of the famous "you are the temple of God" passages. 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
Now...a lot of the time, you will hear this passage quoted to denounce things like smoking and drinking, etc., but go back and look at the context of this chapter. He's not even talking about individuals here. He's talking about the church. Consider verses 11-15 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Now go back and look at verses 16 and 17. What is Paul talking about?
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| To add a comment to "Day 81 Part 1: Christ Crucified; the Power and Wisdom of God" |
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| September 13, 2007 |
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| Thanks for the quick star Pastor Tim :-) |
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| September 13, 2007 |
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Wow. I don't think I've ever seen that context re: v. 16-17 before. It's interesting how you can hear something so many times that you simply assume that's what it means every time you read over it.
As far as your denomination theory goes, I would half agree with you. I think truly, Paul would not have wanted denominational splits. But I think overriding that, he would not have wanted a watered-down single denomination. In heaven, there won't be denominations, because their will no longer remain false theology. If a church splits over a personality (i.e. a loved pastor leaves), that is wrong. But if a church splits over a defense of the truth, then I think Paul would have stood behind that. Now, that can be taken to extremes, but on the basics, we must not be afraid of separation to defend them. Truth is more important than superficial unity, for there is no unity without truth. |
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| September 13, 2007 |
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I appreciate your comments Barret. I also half agree with you :-) I do believe Paul would definitely stand behind those who defended the truth. I think however, that he would not have condoned a "split" but instead would have measured out a healthy dose of church discipline to the erring parties. In autonomous churches you have no way to truly practice the kind of discipline needed for the Corinthian church, but Paul, being one who appointed elders, would be able to discipline those in error even if the elders had not or if they were the offenders. I think it is wrong to leave a church because the pastor you love left, and I also think it is wrong to not stay when someone is offensive to the truth and needs correction. How we get to that point in the American church today I have no idea, but I think its what we should be striving for.
Thanks for the comment :-) (where's the star?..jk).
God bless! |
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| September 14, 2007 |
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True. Paul would have definitely resigned someone over to Satan for their own salvation...(1 Cor 5:5) :-) I think it is one of the unfortunates in church today that discipline has disappeared, and the use of discipline today is not enforced by neighboring churches. Too often, a person is under discipline at one church and leaves to the next church down the street, to be received with open arms.
P.S. Here's your stinking star... since when did these become wages, not grace? LOL |
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| September 14, 2007 |
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| I work hard for those graces...jk :-) |
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| September 15, 2007 |
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| lol...thanks for the comment pastor Tim. I'm sure Ravi is right. |
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