#1Corinthians7-9 - Running for the Prize

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 7-9:


After a busy weekend I am playing catch-up, so there will be at least one more post with multiple chapters. It's nice that it's easy to catch up and stay on track with this format.

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Chapters 7 and 8 of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians address some specific questions the church had for him after he had left their company. Although we don't even know the exact questions, we can guess pretty closely by his answers that they had to do with sexual immorality and how it relates to marriage, circumcision versus uncircumcision, and eating food that was sacrificed to idols. Interestingly enough, these would not have been questions for Jews under the old covenant law of Moses. It was clear: DON'T DO THOSE THINGS! But Paul is saying a few things in these chapters. Jesus came to fulfill the law of Moses and the old covenant because we couldn't. In doing so he also brought about the new covenant, which didn't totally do away with the law. Rather we are now freed from the demands of the law, so that eating food sacrificed to idols is now nothing, and circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing. The important thing is that we are preaching the gospel of Jesus and putting as few stumbling blocks in the way of our brothers and sisters as possible. Paul compares this to a race and says that we should "run in such a way to win the prize."

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount" which is found in Matthew 5-7, we hear something very familiar concerning the law and the new covenant. Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17) He is essentially telling us that we are no longer bound by the old law, although the law is still there to guide us. Throughout the new testament we see passages that help us see in many ways which parts of the old testament laws are not important anymore. Colossians 2, for example, lists several examples of the kinds of laws that no longer bind us - circumcision, rules regarding eating and drinking, rules regarding specific religious festivals or Sabbath days (think of Jesus healing on the Sabbath), and rules about what is okay to touch (ceremonial uncleanness). From Hebrews we read that the old covenant system of priests and sacrifices were basically fulfilled and no longer binding, since Jesus is our eternal high priest and our perfect sacrifice. However, that doesn't mean that all old testament laws don't still have authority over us. Many of the laws were more about morality and God's design for life, including worship of God alone, sexual purity in marriage between man and woman, stealing, murder, lying, envy, etc. These laws are all re-emphasized in the new testament by Jesus, Paul, and others as being important guidelines that are forever in place by God.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I was personally moved by Paul's desire to share the gospel to all people. 1 Cor. 9:22-23 summed it up, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." Paul relates to people, doesn't consider himself worth more than others, and find ways to make the gospel personally relevant to different audiences. His hopes is that some (many) would believe in Jesus and be saved. I especially noted how Paul used to word "all" three times to describe his efforts and then the word "some" to describe the response of his listeners. He knew not everyone would receive the gospel message of Jesus Christ, but he spent his entire life towards that goal regardless. I want that to be true of me too.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In two different sections of chapter 7, Paul advises people not to be married. He suggests it is better for most that they remain single, unless they can't control themselves sexually (then it's better to be married). What is he really saying and what are his motivations for saying it? Was he addressing this specific congregation and the issues of sexual immorality? Would he say the same thing today? It seems that part of it was a belief that Jesus would come back any day, literally, and that because time was so short we should all dedicate our energy 100% to the work of the gospel. However this presents a problem if every Christian remained single. As that generation died off, there would only be unbelievers left marrying and having kids. If he understood that it would be at least 2,000 years, would he have spoken differently?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#Matthew19 - God's Plan for Marriage

Click here to read Matthew 19:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

The chapter opens up with some Pharisees asking Jesus about divorce. Divorce is a touchy subject today, because it affects a lot of people and becomes very personal very quickly. But what I observed in this passage is that Jesus doesn't just address divorce, he basically reveals God's best plan for marriage. In verses 5-6, Jesus reiterates what God declared all the way back in Genesis about marriage, that it was designed to be between one man and one woman, for life. Anything outside of that design (divorce, adultery, homosexuality, other sexual immorality) is not approved by God. There is no place in the Bible where God speaks favorably of any of these other actions or behaviors. And every time God talks about marriage in Scripture, it says, "husband and wife," or "man and wife."

2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus also talks about divorce and adultery in Matthew 5:27-32. He uses almost the same language. And what is notable is that many people read this part about divorce thinking Jesus allows it or even blesses it in the case of sexual immorality or unfaithfulness. When I read it, I don't think he is saying it's somehow "okay" under these circumstances, I just read it to mean that under these circumstances, you are not making your spouse a victim of adultery because they have already committed it. I don't think Jesus ever says divorce is okay.

3. What does this mean for my life?

PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS. It would be really easy to read the first two sections and think that I am standing in judgment over people who are divorced as if God hates them. NO. God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), but he never stops loving divorced people. Are there second chances for divorced people? ABSOLUTELY. Just like I get second and third chances when I stumble in sin and repent. Is divorce unforgivable? ABSOLUTELY NOT. It is in no way my intent to condemn divorced people, but rather to point out my observations in this passage about God's design and ultimate hope for marriage. I need to remember that for all people, that we are all sinners saved only by grace through faith in Christ. Christians are simply believers who are being transformed into Christ's image daily through the renewal of the Holy Spirit.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

The story of the rich young man is actually kind of puzzling to me. When he honestly asks Jesus what good thing must I do to get eternal life, why didn't Jesus just say, "There's nothing good you can do to earn this, you must simply repent of your sins and believe in me?" Why did Jesus answer him by telling him to obey the commandments? Why did he say he had to sell everything he had? I realize that on some level he was pointing out his deepest sin, which seems to be putting all his trust in his wealth. But there's no follow up. The answer to the man's question from Jesus is, "Sell everything and give it to the poor." Weird. Then there's the challenge of applying this to us. Is every Christian really supposed to sell everything that we have and then give it to the poor? Or is it just for "wealthy people" which would describe a great majority of American Christians (myself included) when compared to the rest of the world. I don't know it's just a weird one.

I'd love to hear some thoughts. Oh, and speaking of marriage, there is a great marriage retreat coming up Feb. 13-15 at Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp which is using the DVD series of "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" by Mark Gungor. CLICK HERE for more info.

In Christ,
Dan

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#Ephesians5 - Paul's Controversial Marriage Advice

Ephesians 5:

Quick note, the image I used today is a book called Love and Respect, which my wife and I read as we were preparing to be married. It remains one of the best books on marriage that I have read so far. Whether you have a great marriage or a struggling one, this book can put some tools in your tool belt to strengthen your marriage and get you out of the crazy cycle. Click here to view the Love and Respect website, or click here to purchase the book on Amazon or Christian Book Distributors.

1. What stood out to you from this chapter?

Paul moves from talking about living as a Christian in general to some specific Christian instruction for marriage and family. However he uses a word that raises the blood pressure of some people today who have fought for the "Independent Woman" model of feminism. This vein of feminism would suggest that no woman should ever have to submit to any man. It seems to be a pushback against the thought that every woman should submit to every man. Neither one of these is what Paul is teaching here. Paul shares with us that God's design for marriage is that the husband would be the head of the household, and that the wife should submit to the husband, and as we'll find out later the children would submit to their parents. Notice Paul doesn't place the wife on the level of the children, but rather as an equal with her husband. And yet, there is still this command to submit. I believe the key is then to read on to see the instructions Paul has for the husband. The husband is called to love and serve the wife like Christ loved and served the church, and Jesus died for us. That's an incredibly high calling. I have to believe that there are very few women who would really have a big problem "submitting to" and respecting a man who loved her like crazy and sacrificed for her, who made every decision with her best interests (or that of the family) in mind.

To bring a closure to this talk, and hopefully hit a few objections that arise, I believe that what Paul shares here is God's design for marriage. However, I realize that not every marriage is exactly what God designs. Sometimes one or the other spouse are not living according to God's call, and that makes it hard to submit, love, and respect. Other times there is only one parent in the picture. Those are obviously "exceptions", but I believe that if husbands and wives took this advice there would be a lot fewer "exceptions" today.

2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?

In verses 8-14, Paul uses the imagery of light and darkness to talk about our lives as Christians. Paul isn't the only apostle to use this example however. In 1 John 1-2, light and dark are used to talk about sin and the righteousness that is found in Christ. In another very familiar Christmas passage written 700 years before Jesus was even born, Isaiah also uses light and darkness to talk about the hope found in the Messiah. "On those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned." Light has always been a symbol of hope, truth, goodness, and peace.

3. So what does this mean for my life?

One phrase from this chapter really pierced any possible shred of self-righteousness I may have been feeling and caused me to remember my need for a Savior. In verse 3, Paul says, "there must be even a hint of..." and then lists a few things like sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, greed, obscenity, foolish talking, coarse joking, and getting drunk. Anyone convicted yet? Paul raises the bar for people (like me) who tend to think, "At least I haven't done THAT bad of stuff. I'm PRETTY good." To some degree, if that's you, you do have reason to celebrate how God has kept you from those things. However, our measure of good is not other people, nor is it our own ideas of what is right and wrong. Our measure of good is Jesus Christ, and the whole of Scripture. Lord, help me to have a filter on all of my thoughts, and all of my words, that they may be cleansed from all unrighteousness.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Ephesians 5:5-7 warns believers that those who live in disobedience by practicing these deeds (mentioned earlier) have any inheritance in the kingdom of God. Then verse 7 says, "Therefore do not be partners with them." What does this mean? My real question, when boiled down is, "What level of association are we supposed to have with people who are either unbelievers or living unrepentant sinful lives?" I know Jesus spent a lot of time with "sinners" because they were often eager to hear the good news about God's salvation through faith. So I am far from thinking that we should create a "holy huddle" and just gather up all of us "righteous people." That makes me want to throw up just saying it, because I know in my heart I wouldn't belong in that crowd. But I do feel like Paul is saying there is a "line in the sand" that should be drawn before we commit to a great relationship with them. I just did a little research on www.blueletterbible.org to help shed some light on this. He uses the word, "partners," which is maybe more accurately translated as "partakers," which the King James version uses. The word in Greek is symmetochos, which looks like the word symmetry. It seems as though Paul is saying, "Don't be a mirrored reflection of them. Don't look like people who do these things. Don't do what they do." It doesn't seem like he's saying, "Don't be around them at all." Well, I guess I helped answer my own question, but that's why I ask.

God bless, and join me tomorrow as I wrap up Ephesians with chapter 6.

In Christ,
Dan