QT 20 Jul 10

1 Cor 15:9-11 (NIV) For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

NOTE: It is an interesting way in which Paul words this passage. He says he "worked harder … yet not I, but the grace of God that was within me." Well what is it then? Was it God's grace or his hard work? All the apostles had grace, why was his grace more effective? So, it is not grace alone--in the sense--that no effort is required on our part. We need grace, but we need to work in conjunction with God's grace to achieve the effect desired, spiritual growth (not spiritual salvation, that only requires belief). Could we do it on our own? No. Could we do it just by God's grace inhabiting us? No. We work together with God's grace. Working without it will cause failure. Living without working will cause failure. No, in conjunction with God's grace we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Well, the next thing is to figure out what that looks like. Clearly dependence is required. That also suggests prayer. Part of the work is probably prayer. Who we give credit to is also key -- so that we do not fall into the devil's trap.

QT 19 Jul 2010

1 Cor 15:1-8 (NIV) Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

NOTE: The interjection here seems to be different from the others, I need to check that later. I'm not sure this was in the letter from the Corinthians that he is addressing, or he is just changing subjects from his long discussion on the gifts of the spirit, maturity, and worship. The subject of the discourse shows up later in the section -- that some people doubted the resurrection -- I suppose they would be Christian Sadducees. Paul boils the gospel down into a nutshell; Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the day, all in accordance with scriptures. And he appeared to multiple people after his resurrection from the dead. He actually appeared to one of the women first, then to Peter. And the angel spoke to the other women as well, but Paul primarily focuses on the men, which culturally makes the argument less debatable. At the end of the list is Paul. He is a witness of the fact of the resurrection. Later, he will talk about some of the dangers he has faced taking the message to others, and makes it very clear, that if it there is no resurrection, he would have been wasting his time. In fact, he says he would be worse than a fool. The message of the gospel is clear, Jesus died for my sins, and he rose from the dead, and my hope is in my resurrection of the dead as a result of what Jesus did for me.

QT 14 Jul 10

1 Cor 13:1-3 (NIV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

NOTE: No matter how spiritual we might consider ourselves, if we do not have love, we are nothing. We have very little value in the kingdom of God, at least as a witness or a force for good. Sure, we have value because Christ died for us, but our usefulness for the kingdom is zilch. It might even be negative, although Paul doesn't say that. Of course, if it was, the advance of the kingdom is better off with us in the grave than living on earth under the title "Christian."

I think many "churchy" people fit in this category. There is no love, there is no reality of the Christian faith in their lives. They are grumblers and complainers. They lash out at service personnel when their order is wrong. They get huffy when they wait. They really are no different than the world -- why should the world even consider their Savior -- he didn't do them any good.

Father, open my eyes to see where my witness fails, and where love is lacking in my own life.

QT 8 Jul 10

1 Cor 12:1-7 (NIV) Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

NOTE: We know that the Corinthians had questions about spiritual gifts, although it is not entirely clear what the questions were or why they would reference there time in pagan belief systems. What I find interesting, is that Paul distinguishes gifts, service, and working. Gifts is the Greek word, charisma, and refers to a divine gratuity or special endowment Service is the Greek word, diakonia, and means attendance, figuratively aid or service. And lastly, working is the Greek word, energema, meaning an effect.

The first, gifts is tied to the Holy Spirit. The second, service, is tied to the Lord, possibly Jesus. The third, effect, is tied to God, possibly the Father. So, the HS gives gifts, we serve the Son in ministry, and God gives the results. In each of the three, there are differences, be they gifts, ministries, or effectual results. So, in the same way one wouldn't compare gifts, one can't compare service, or results, because they are all different.

My place in ministry may not correspond to anybody else, but that does not diminish my unique gifts, ministry, or what God does through my life. My job is to be obedient, not to compare.

QT 1 Jun 10

1 Cor 9:1-6 (NIV)

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living?

NOTE: It is not completely clear what the issue is here. It does appear to be a response to something in the previous Corinthian letter to Paul since it sits between other responses. It is about financial support to Paul. What is not clear is what their beef was -- did Paul ask for support? Were they considering support? Were they jealous because some people were supporting Paul, and he was accepting their money? I have seen this in the church where some people are upset because the Pastor gets paid more than they do, and they perceive the Pastor's job as easier than theirs, and for that matter, the Pastor's lifestyle easier than theirs. But that is a complete lack of understanding and appreciation for what is truly involved in that lifestyle. Some may have thought that Paul's apostleship gig was a good deal -- lots of travel, light work, celebrity status, etc. May God forgive us for such thinking and for judging our leaders. God will judge his leaders. And God will judge us for how we use the money and the things he has lent us. God protect me from such petty jealousies.