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.

QT 29 Jun 10

1 Cor 8:1-3, 9-13 (NIV) Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

...

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.

NOTE: It appears that the Corinthian letter, to which Paul is responding, contains a dissertation on the freedom we have in Christ, and the non-existence of idols (so-called gods). Paul starts with a gentle reminder of the danger of thinking you know it all, that you have solved all the issues by logic and wisdom. In fact, Paul then goes on to argue two points, the fact that eating food sacrificed to idols should not be an issue, but because of conscience and the weaker brother, you sin against Christ when you eat food sacrificed to idols in the weaker brother's presence. So then, the problem is not quite as easy as their letter seems to suggest it to be. Or in other words, don't be too quick to judge or to rely on human reasoning.

QT 22 Jun 10

1 Cor 7:8-16 (NIV) Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

NOTE: Verses 15 and 16 do seem to recognize the marriage of believer and unbeliever. It could be that the person comes to believe after marriage, but it doesn't seem to exclude that possibility of prior. Verses 10 and 11 are commands from God, which basically say that we are not to divorce our believing spouse, although separation may be useful for a time. Verses 12 through 14 are clearly Paul's instructions, and not necessarily God's, which also tell the believer not to divorce, but recognize that one cannot stop the unbeliever from divorce. Clearly there are some cases where divorce is acceptable or at least separation: physical abuse, illegal activity, and sexual immorality. So, Paul's rule and Jesus command are the general rule.

QT 16 Jun 10

1 Cor 5:9-13 (NIV) I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

NOTE: Paul refers to a previous letter, of which, we have no copy today. Apparently, the letter was not worth saving or not inspired. In the letter he tells the readers to avoid sexually immoral people, but he was not referring to the people of this world, but to those inside the church. We are to judge those inside the church, at least in a limited sense. I would not judge a person's motives or a person's convictions or behavior that does exhibit a pattern. We are to judge public sin, doctrine, and a pattern of sin. At least that are the boundaries that scripture suggests. And we are to expel the brother or sister who refuses to repent of their sin.

QT 15 Jun 10

1 Cor 5:1-5 (NIV) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

NOTE: The Corinthian church lived in a pagan, wealthy, and highly sexual environment. Possibly, Paul is not surprised that some would struggle with immorality, but he is amazed that it would be sexual immorality which doesn't even happen among pagans. The fact that they are proud suggests that some of the teaching has to do with what is acceptable sexual mores. This is clearly against Paul's teaching and seems to reinforce the view that the leaders were preaching a message that "made people happy." The message was that "God wants you to be happy," and here is a perfect case where "we are free to do what our hearts lead us to do." This sounds much like the health and wealth gospel, as some of the discussion in chapter 4 leads one to believe. Rather than saying this good, their attitude should have been to condemn the activity, to remove the person from the body, in the hope that life outside of the body would bring the person back to the Lord.

QT 9 Jun 10

1 Cor 4:6-7 (NIV) Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

NOTE: The saying "Do not go beyond what is written" is perplexing. I think Paul is saying that we must be careful to not develop doctrine that is not completely supported by the text of scripture. In which case, what a particular person thinks or doesn't think is not important, only what God says is true. Paul then summarizes in three questions.

"Who makes you different from anyone else?" I suppose Paul is saying that if we are different, which I am not sure we are, at least in authority of statements, then it would be God who made us different. But Paul is saying that we are not different, therefore God's word is our ultimate authority, not a person's interpretation of it.

"What do you have that you did not receive?" The answer is nothing. Everything we have, has been given by God. God has given us his word, and that is our source of truth.

"And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" When God does give understanding, we should give him the credit. It should not be a new thought, but rather what God has clearly revealed. In other words, I don't get to create doctrine. Truth comes from God and is revealed in the scriptures.

QT 2 Jun 2010

1 Cor 1:10-17 (NIV) I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

NOTE: Two things stand out to me. The first is the importance of unity in the body of Christ. Paul appeals to the brethen to agree with one another, and to be perfectly united in mind and thought. Jesus also prayed for unity of the spirit prior to his death. There is an expectation that believers should be able to come to a common agreement about issues that commonly divide any normal group. And so this should be a priority for the body of Christ.

The second thing is that the believers were dividing themselves among famous leaders, as if the leaders taught some different message, or that there is some status in having been trained by so-and-so. First, Paul argues to their commonality, Jesus and him crucified alone. Pride is a dangerous thing, especially in the church, and can be argued was the reason for Lucifer's fall. So, why are we allowing the body to fall in Satan's trap? The message is clear, unity should be the goal, and pride is the weapon Satan uses to divide people.

QT 28 May 10

1 Cor 1:4-6 (NIV) I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

NOTE: I'm not sure what comes first. Are the Corinthians enriched because of Paul's testimony? Or is Paul's ministry confirmed because of their enrichment from God? Either way, real life in Christ should show some difference. I look at my navigator friends from college, and I see so many serving God in very different and unique ways. Their work of faith confirms the testimony of those who shared Christ with them. No wonder Paul starts out by saying, "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." I feel the same way, so unworthy of the people I helped come to Christ or even to grow in their relationship with the Savior. Why am I? Nobody, but I hope someone that is useful to my savior.

QT 27 May 10

1 Cor 1:1 (NIV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

NOTE: It seems a remarkable coincidence that Paul should be writing a letter with Sosthenes to Corinth, when the name Sosthenes is the same as the synagogue ruler who took Paul to court, and then was later beaten by his own brethen for the failure to get Gallio to act on any of the charges, at Corinth. Maybe the beating convinced Sosthenes that he really had no true friends, and the Christians lived much different loving lives. It may be coincidence, but when it comes to the gospel, it really is not unusual at all to find those who fought so hard against it to turn to it in the end. Paul is the proto-typical example. A man determined to snuff it out, becoming the man God used to spread it over the known world.

It really is amazing that God uses imperfect and dirty lumps of clay to accomplish his glorious and majestic work. How unworthy are we to the task that we are called! But our unworthiness is no excuse to not respond to the grace that was showered upon us. Yes, we are sinners, but when God calls us to a task, we must respond. He deserves nothing less than our full attention.

QT 26 May 10

Lev 27:30-33 (NIV) "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock — every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod — will be holy to the Lord. 33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.'"

NOTE: This verse does a good job explaining the tithe. It is one-tenth of all the grain and fruit the man produces, and one-tenth of his entire flock and herd. So, it is ten percent of that year's produce, but ten percent of the entire flock. Also, there are three different tithes, which most people conveniently forget. There are two tithes given every year (or 19 percent -- 10 percent plus another ten percent (9 percent) of the remainder (90 percent)). Finally every third year there is a special tithe for the poor, so a person who tithes would give over three years, 19 percent, 19 percent, and 27.1 percent. In the end, a tithe works out to 22-23 percent a year as an average.

In the new convenant, the tithe is never repeated. Paul makes it clear that giving is regular and important but not prescribed. "God is not mocked, a man reaps what he sows." "Each one should give as he has made up his mind to, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give."

QT 24 May 10

Lev 26:3-13 (NIV) "'If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,

I will send you rain in its season, ....

Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and

the grape harvest will continue until planting…

"'I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. …

"'I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers,…

I will put my dwelling place among you, ...

I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people…

NOTE: The old covenant's blessings were works-based. Salvation was faith based, as Paul, James, and the writer of Hebrews argue when discussing Abraham's faith and the resulting righteousness. Unfortunately for Israel, they did not enjoy a lot of the blessings because they failed to follow the decrees and were not careful to obey the commands.

The new covenant's blessings are not material but spiritual. While grace is showered on the NC believer, the effects of sin and disobedience do affect the spiritual blessings. Sin separates us from God and closes the door to the spiritual blessings that God wants to shower on us.

QT 20 May 10

Lev 17:3-5 (NIV) Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord — that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people. 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings.

NOTE: Two issues are addressed, one is prostitution to goat idols (vs 17:7), but the other issue addresses "private worship." Even today, people avoid public worship, that is church, because their "worship is private." Heb 10:24, 25 addresses the same argument for the new covenant. Here, God makes it very clear that you must come to the tabernacle to sacrifice your offerings. And those offerings, that are not freewill offerings shall be considered fellowship offerings. In other words, fellowship is an important aspect of worship. Private worship in God's economy is an oxymoron when practiced almost exclusively. Private worship, while not wrong, can be used as an excuse to the important task of fellowship and involvement with the larger believing community, in the case of the new covenant, that would be the church.

QT 19 May 10

Lev 13:1-2 (NIV) The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot on his skin that may become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.

NOTE: Chapter 13 and 14 deal with a variety of skin diseases, mold, and mildew. They concern the investigation and cleansing required. Despite the material presented here, no cases of leprosy being healed were ever noted among the people of Israel to which this law would apply (Miriam was before the law, and Naaman was Jewish), therefore it was assumed that the healing of a leper was a Messianic miracle. One of Jesus' earliest miracles was the healing of a leper. In accordance with the law, Jesus sent the healed leper to the Priests.

Lev 14:30-31 (NIV) Then he shall sacrifice the doves or the young pigeons, which the person can afford, 31 one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed."

NOTE: Even though sickness, disease, and other illnesses are not directly related to sin (Job's boils being one example), all sin is indirectly a result of the fall. Therefore, a sin and burnt offering is required upon the healing of the individual, as a recognition of our rebellion from God as the ultimate reason for this world not being what God intended, that is full of evil and pain.

QT 10 May 10

Lev 1:3 (NIV) … offer a male without defect. ...

Lev 2:1 (NIV) … offering is to be of fine flour. ...

Lev 2:13 (NIV) Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.

NOTE: All the offerings are to be quality offerings. Of course this is for the law and so we must be careful in our application. But I think here is a case where the principle would apply in the NT, our offerings to God must be first class. Jesus set the example, "he did all things well." He calls us "to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Our ministry should be characterized by first class effort. The phrase "it is good enough for government work" should be anathema in the church, and in the life of any believer. "Whatever you do, do it as if serving the Lord."

Also, God gets rid of the yeast, but adds salt. The yeast symbolizes sin in the OT and NT. The salt symbolizes preservation and things that bring life. Our ministry needs to excise sin, and bring in those things which give life.

Father help me to think through how I live in these two areas. Do I do my best? Have I let sin into my ministry, or do I provide life and preservation for those involved?

QT 4 May 10

Ex 35:20-22 (NIV) Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses' presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.

NOTE: This part is different from the requirements of the OT law regarding tithe. This is a freewill offering and more akin to the NT concept of giving "each one must as he made up his mind … not reluctantly, but cheerfully." Unfortunately, we do seem to confuse the idea of the OT tithe, which is required by the law, and the NT concepts of giving, which are more akin to the freewill offering here, and not to a set amount. Why is it we feel we must reach some "percentage" to be pleasing God? Why are we not comfortable with freewill offerings in all of our giving? Maybe, we are really holding back, and as long as we hit the magic ten percent, we can do what we want. Of course, that is also a misconception, because the Israelites were required to give a tithe twice a year, and every third year, were required to give three tithes, averaging out to about 23 percent of one's income. Lord, free us from rules and man-made conceptions of serving you. Free us to truly serve you in spirit above law.

QT, 29 Apr 10

Ex 32:25 (NIV) Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.

NOTE: Leadership bears a great responsibility in standing up for truth. The sheep need shepherds, and the shepherds must place responsibility above popularity. Leadership is a lonely job. It is guaranteed to make people unhappy. There will always be tough decisions that will infuriate some portion of the population, if that was not true, there would be no need for the leader, or for decision making, since all decisions would be self-evident. Aaron failed in his role of leading the people. That does not exclude him from God or cause him to be disciplined, but he still failed as a leader. I think teachers have the same role and responsibility today. We must not shrink back from telling people the truth of God's word, even when it is unpopular or not the common view (either of the world or the church-going crowd). Truth is defined by God alone, and not by culture or opinion.