I Corinthians 13
Importance of love in Christian lifeverses 1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels
and have not charity
I am become as sounding brass – or a tinkling cymbal
And though I have the gift of prophecy – and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge
and though I have all faith
so that I could remove mountains
and have not charity – I am nothing
and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor
and though I give my body to be burned
and have not charity
it profits me nothing
Description of loveverses 4-7
Charity suffers long – and is kind – charity envies not
charity vaunts not itself – is not puffed up
does not behave itself unseemly
seeks not her own – is not easily provoked
thinks no evil – rejoices not in iniquity
BUT rejoices in the truth
bears all things – believes all things
hopes all things – endures all things
Duration of loveverses 8-13
Charity never fails – BUT whether there be prophecies
they shall fail
whether there be tongues – they shall cease
whether there be knowledge
it shall vanish away
FOR we know in part – and we prophecy in part
but when that which is perfect is come
then that which is in part shall be done away
When I was a child – I spoke as a child – I understood as a child
I thought as a child – BUT when I became a man
I put away childish things
FOR now we see through a glass – darkly – BUT then face to face
now I know in part
BUT then shall I know even as also I am known
And now abides faith – hope – charity – these three
BUT the greatest of these is charity
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (26 “charity” [agape] means love, Love feast, fellowship meal, affection, or benevolence)
DEVOTION: Paul is dealing with a church that has many problems. There are people who think that they have a good speaking voice and can present a message that people compliment they have all they need. There are individuals who think that can manage a church to the point that it grows into a megachurch they are blessed of the LORD.
Here we find Paul explaining that love is not selfish. Love wants to help those around them and not just the person who is willing to show his talent.
There are those who seek the gift of speaking in tongues. They think that when they speak they have spoken in an angel’s language that only God and they understand. My mother went to a college that taught people how to speak in tongues. There was a class to learn the language. She was proud of her ability to speak in tongues.
That is not what God wants us to understand regarding tongues. Tongues in the New Testament was one who had never learned a language being able to speak the language to help someone understand who Jesus is and what HE had done for them on the cross. The goal of tongues was salvation or proof of salvation in those who heard the gospel presented by an apostle or prophet.
If someone has these gifts and is selfish they don’t have the love of God in them. They are looking for personal glory rather than the glory of the LORD.
Paul warns them that they are going to be judged for their selfishness. There is going to be a time divine judgment. Love that is unselfish and working for the glory of God is the only acceptable love.
CHALLENGE: Look at your motives regarding using your spiritual gifts for personal gain. The only motivation God wants to see in HIS children is a love for one another and those who don’t know Jesus as Savior.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil (3947 “easily provoked” [paroxuno] means to irritate, arouse to anger, make angry, to exasperate, to be or become incited or stirred up, be upset, or distressed)
DEVOTION: Love is described in this verse. It is not rude to people who they concern unimportant in their life. There are many times in some churches where people will not talk to other people who are considered outcasts. They will allow them to worship with them but will not speak to them or even greet them during a time of greeting during the church service. They will avoid them.
It doesn’t demand that someone gets the best spots during the service. Some people are singer and desire to sing every Sunday to get the applause of men. Others just want to be the head usher to show how important they are in the service. Some want to be up in the pulpit area to show how important they are to the church. Many don’t want to share these activities with others.
Have you ever come to church and found someone who was irritated with something that was happening in the church. They are angry and want to speak to whoever will listen to them. They want to cause division before the worship service. Some people seem to be always angry at something. That is not what should be manifested in a believer.
Finally, there are people who keep scorecards on how people treat them. They want to keep a record of what someone has done to them in the past. They are looking to put down something that irritates them in the present and are sure that someone is going to hurt them in the future. This is not love.
CHALLENGE: Try not to be someone who keeps a scorecard on people you love or are trying to reach for the Lord or mature in the Lord.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.(4722 “beareth” [stego] means endures without divulging,to roof over, to cover with silence, suffer, keep confidential, to conceal the faults and errors of others, or to preserve)
DEVOTION: The word charity is taken from the Greek word agape. Agape is different from most people understanding of love. It is an unconditional love. It is the love the LORD has for us.
We are commanded to love one another. It used to be taught that we are commanded to love one another but we don’t have to like one another. This is not true. We have to like one another as well as love one another.
What we don’t like in others is their actions. Others have mistreated all of us. All of us have a problem with people we consider worse sinners than ourselves. All of us have looked down on other Christians because of some of their actions. That is not what love is all about. God loved us just the way we are by sending HIS Son to die for us. Everyone has an opportunity to follow Christ but many chose not to follow HIM.
Those who are followers of Christ need to love one another. Even after we become followers of Christ we commit sin. Does God want us to sin less? YES!! Will we ever become sinless? NO!!! Christ was the only one who was sinless. Does HE want us to become more Christ-like? YES!!! Do we still do things that God calls sin. YES!!! Does HE stop loving us? NO!!! Does HE chasten us if we are not obedient? YES!!! HE does it in love.
When we agape (love) toward someone we look right pass the faults and look for ways to encourage them. Does that mean we never confront? NO. It means that most of the time we are covering over in silence and forgetfulness the faults that bother us. We keep all the actions of those we love confidential. How much are we covering and forgetting or are we remembering and bringing it up later? The world likes to bring up past sins. Our enemy, Satan, wants to bring up pass sins. We don’t have to bring them up. God sees the end result of our lives. As believers we have to take God’s perspective on others. Too often we can find fault and never encourage. That is a sin.
There is constructive criticism and destructive criticism. Those who love will not use past mistakes or sins to criticize in a destructive way. In fact, they won’t even remember the past.
CHALLENGE: Are you one of those individuals? Are you keeping confidences?
: 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (3516 “childish” [nepios] means a minor, infant, a very young child, small child, immature, innocent, or babe)
DEVOTION: Paul was teaching the people of Corinth how to think. They were having problems in the church because they were thinking wrong. They were thinking like little children who are mostly selfish. They want what they want when they want it. They thought what they should want is the ability to present a good message in church. They thought they should want to be able to tell others what the future holds. They thought they only needed enough faith to move mountains.
It was wrong thinking. What they needed according to God was a love for each other so that there was no fighting in the church over who was the greatest. Their thinking had to grow up.
We need to think properly about our relationship to the LORD and to fellow believers. Too often we are selfish in our attitude. We can think that others should look up to us. That is wrong.
CHALLENGE: We are to be servants to others. We are to help others succeed. We are to want the best for others.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Give my body to be burnedverse 3
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Give my goods to feed the poorverse 3
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Tongues of angelsverse 1
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Tongues of menverse 1
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Not have charityverses 1, 3, 4
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Manifest loveverses 4-7, 13
Suffers long
Is kind
Envies not
Vaunts not itself
Not puffed up
Does not behave itself unseemly
Seeks not her own
Not easily provoked
Thinks no evil
Rejoices not in iniquity
Rejoices in the truth
Bears all thing
Believes all things
Hopes all things
Endures all things
Charity never fails
Know in partverse 9
Prophesy in partverse 9
See through a glass darklyverse 12
Faithverse 13
Hopeverse 13
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Gift of prophecyverses 2, 8, 9
Understanding of all mysteriesverse 2
Gift of knowledgeverses 2, 8
Gift of all faithverse 2
Feed the poorverse 3
Gift of tonguesverse 8
Last Things (Future Events)
Face to faceverse 12
Then shall I know even also as I am knowverse 12
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QUOTES regarding passage
12. Through a glass (διʼ ἐσόπτρου). Rev., in a mirror. Through (διά) is by means of. Others, however, explain it as referring to the illusion by which the mirrored image appears to be on the other side of the surface: others, again, think that the reference is to a window made of horn or other translucent material. This is quite untenable. Ἔσοπτρον mirror occurs only here and Jas. 1:23. The synonymous word κάτοπτρον does not appear in the New Testament, but its kindred verb κατοπτρίζομαι to look at one’s self in a mirror, is found, 2 Cor. 3:18. The thought of imperfect seeing is emphasized by the character of the ancient mirror, which was of polished metal, and required constant polishing, so that a sponge with pounded pumice-stone was generally attached to it. Corinth was famous for the manufacture of these. Pliny mentions stone mirrors of agate, and Nero is said to have used an emerald. The mirrors were usually so small as to be carried in the hand, though there are allusions to larger ones which reflected the entire person. The figure of the mirror, illustrating the partial vision of divine things, is frequent in the rabbinical writings, applied, for instance, to Moses and the prophets. Plato says: “There is no light in the earthly copies of justice or temperance or any of the higher qualities which are precious to souls: they are seen through a glass, dimly” (“Phaedrus,” 250). Compare “Republic,” vii., 516.
Darkly (ἐν αἰνίγματι). Lit., in a riddle or enigma, the word expressing the obscure form in which the revelation appears. Compare διʼ αἰνιγμάτων in dark speeches, Num. 12:8.
Face to face. Compare mouth to mouth, Num. 12:8.
Shall I know (ἐ̓πιγνώσομαι). American Rev., rightly, “I shall fully know.” See on knowledge, Rom. 3:20. The A. V. has brought this out in 2 Cor. 6:9, well known.
I am known (ἐπεγνώσθην). The tense is the aorist, “was known,” in my imperfect condition. Paul places himself at the future stand-point, when the perfect has come. The compound verb is the same as the preceding. Hence American Rev., “I was fully known.” (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 266–267). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
In a mirror (δἰ ἐσοπτρου [di’ esoptrou]). By means of a mirror (ἐσοπτρον [esoptron], from ὀπτω [optō], old word, in papyri). Ancient mirrors were of polished metal, not glass, those in Corinth being famous. Darkly (ἐν αἰνιγματι [en ainigmati]). Literally, in an enigma. Old word from αἰνισσομαι [ainissomai], to express obscurely. This is true of all ancient mirrors. Here only in N. T., but often in LXX. “To see a friend’s face in a cheap mirror would be very different from looking at the friend” (Robertson and Plummer). Face to face (προσωπον προς προσωπον [prosōpon pros prosōpon]). Note triple use of προς [pros] which means facing one as in John 1:1. Προσωπον [Prosōpon] is old word from προς [pros] and ὀψ [ops], eye, face. Shall I know (ἐπιγνωσομαι [epignōsomai]). I shall fully (ἐπι- [epi-]) know. Future middle indicative as γινωσκω [ginōskō] (I know) is present active and ἐπεγνωσθην [epegnōsthēn] (I was fully known) is first aorist passive (all three voices). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Co 13:12). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
13:12. A city like Corinth, famous for its bronze mirrors, would have particularly appreciated Paul’s final illustration. The perfection and imperfection mentioned in verse 10 were deftly likened to the contrasting images obtained by the indirect reflection of one’s face viewed in a bronze mirror and the same face when viewed directly. Such, Paul said, was the contrast between the imperfect time in which he then wrote and the perfect time which awaited him and the church when the partial reflection of the present would give way to the splendor of perfect vision. Then Paul would see God (cf. 15:28; 1 John 3:2) as God now saw Paul. Then partial knowledge (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1–3) would be displaced by the perfect knowledge of God. (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 536). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
8–12 Love is permanent, in contrast with prophecies, tongues, and knowledge—all of which will cease to exist because they will cease to be needed. In v. 8, Paul uses the verb (katargeō, “abolish”; hence “cease,” “pass away”) to describe the cessation of prophecies and of knowledge; of tongues, he says “they will be stilled” (NIV). Here the verb is pauō, which also means “cease.” The reason these three will cease is that they are imperfect and partial (vv. 9, 10) compared to perfect knowledge and prophetic understanding in heaven. He does not say when they will cease. Some think he meant that the need for miraculous gifts would cease to exist at the end of the apostolic period. This view is based in part on the implications of the meaning of the term teleion (“perfection”) v. 10, which is taken to refer here to the completion of the canon at the end of the first century A.D. With this view, the term “prophecies” in v. 8 is taken narrowly as referring to direct, inspired revelatory communication from the Holy Spirit or possibly to some special aid given by the Spirit to understand and present truth already revealed, as given in the written Scriptures (cf. Hodge, in loc.). All this, then, was done away when the canon was completed about A.D.100. This cessation would apply also to tongues and to the special gift of knowledge (vv. 8, 9)—the “gift correctly to understand and properly exhibit the truths revealed by the apostles and prophets” (Hodge, in loc.).
There is something to commend this view as an argument against the position that the gifts mentioned in vv. 8–10 continued, beyond the apostolic period, especially prophetic revelation. For if such revelation is held to continue, then might not the Koran, The Book of Mormon, and Science and Health be considered inspired revelations from God?
Nevertheless, it is difficult to prove the cessation of these gifts at the end of the first century A.D. by taking teleion to refer to a completion of the canon at that time, since that idea is completely extraneous to the context. While teleion can and does refer to something completed at some time in the future, the time of that future completion is not suggested in v. 10 as being close.
On the other hand, in a number of contexts the related words telos (“end,” “termination;” “last part”) and teleō (“bring to an end”) are used in relation to the second coming of Christ. This is true in both non-Pauline writing (cf. James 5:11; Rev 20:5, 7; 21:6; 22:13) and 1 Corinthians 1:8; 15:24. Since in the contexts of the Second Coming these related words are used and since Paul himself used telos in talking about the Second Coming elsewhere in 1 Corinthians, it seems more normal to understand teleion in v. 10 to mean that “perfection” is to come about at the Second Coming, or, if before, when the Christian dies and is taken to be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:1–10).
There are other problems regarding the completion-of-the-canon view of teleion here. The conditional temporal hotan with the subjunctive form of the verb, “[whenever the end] should come” (v. 10), suggests that Paul felt an indefiniteness about when the end he has in mind would come. But he shows no such indefiniteness in regard to the written Scriptures or the special position of the apostles (9:1, 2), whose work would be assumed to be coming to an end shortly upon their death. Similarly, the hotan with the subjunctive clauses and telos used of the Second Coming in 15:24, are also indefinite and open-ended: “then … when [or, whenever] he hands over the kingdom.…” Here again, Paul does not know exactly when this will occur. In contrast, the hote with the indicative clauses in 13:11 are quite definite as to the time of their occurrences: “When I was a child … when I became a man.”
One more problem with taking teleion to refer to the completion of the canon is found in the tote, (“then,” “at that time”) clauses in v. 12. Did Paul really expect to live to the time of the completion of the canon and then expect to “know” or “know completely,” when other apostles (e.g., John) might (and actually did) live longer than he and it would be they who at that time would “know completely”?
All things considered, it is better to argue for the cessation of the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and the special gift of knowledge on the basis of the larger context of Paul’s writings and on the basis of the grammar of vv. 9, 13: prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will pass away soon. Paul’s viewpoint seems to be that it would be when the important office of apostle with its requirement of men having seen the Lord and having been a witness to his resurrection (Gal 1:14–24) is no longer exercised. But “now” (nyni) faith, hope, and love continue to remain (menei, present continuous sense).
Paul’s illustration of a child’s thoughts and speech, real but inadequately conceived and expressed in comparison with those of a mature person (v. 11) aptly conveys the difference between the Christian’s present understanding and expression of spiritual things and the perfect understanding and expression he will have in heaven (v. 12). The metaphor is that of the imperfect reflection seen in one of the polished metal mirrors (cf. James 1:23) of the ancient world in contrast with seeing the Lord face to face (cf. Gen 32:30; Num 12:8; 2 Cor 3:18). Paul’s thought in 12b may be expanded as follows: Now through the Word of God, I know in part; then, in the presence of the Lord I will know fully, to the full extent that a redeemed finite human being can know and in a way similar in kind to the way the Lord in his infinite wisdom fully and infinitely knows me. The Corinthians, Paul implies, must not boast now of their gifts (cf. 13:4), for those gifts are nothing compared to what is in store for the Christians in heaven. (Mare, W. H. (1976). 1 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, pp. 268–270). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
In the New Testament (which at that time was not completed) we have a complete revelation, but our understanding of it is partial. (Review 1 Cor. 8:1–3 if you think otherwise.) There is a maturing process for the church as a whole (Eph. 4:11–16) and also for the individual believer (1 Cor. 14:20; 2 Peter 3:18). We will not be fully completed until Jesus returns, but we ought to be growing and maturing now. Children live for the temporary; adults live for the permanent. Love is enduring, and what it produces will endure.
Note that all three of the Christian graces will endure, even though “faith will become sight and hope will be fulfilled.” But the greatest of these graces is love; because when you love someone, you will trust him and will always be anticipating new joys. Faith, hope, and love go together, but it is love that energizes faith and hope.
Unfortunately, some of the emphasis today on the Holy Spirit has not been holy (because it has ignored Scripture) and has not been spiritual (because it has appealed to the carnal nature). We must not tell other believers what gifts they should have or how they can obtain them. This matter is in the sovereign will of God. We must not minimize gifts, but neither should we neglect the graces of the Spirit. In my itinerant ministry, I have run across too many local church problems created by people who were zealous for the gifts, but careless of the graces.
Unity—diversity—maturity; and maturity comes through love. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 611). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
13:1–13 Spiritual gifts were present in Corinth (1:7); right doctrine was even in place (11:2); but love was absent. This led to the quarrels and exhibitions of selfishness and pride that plagued the church—notably in the area of spiritual gifts (see notes on 12:14–31). Instead of selfishly and jealously desiring showy gifts which they don’t have, believers should pursue the greatest thing of all—love for each other. This chapter is considered by many the greatest literary passage ever penned by Paul. It is central to his earnestly dealing with spiritual gifts (chaps. 12–14), because after discussing the endowment of gifts (chap. 12) and before presenting the function of gifts (chap. 14), he addresses the attitude necessary in all ministry in the church (chap. 13). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Co 13:1–13). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 12. For now we see through a glass, &c.] In this present life, they that are enlightened by the spirit of God, see God, the perfections and glory of his nature, the riches of his grace and goodness, as displayed in Christ; they behold the glory of Christ, as full of grace and truth, and are filled with love to him; the desires of their souls are after him, and they are changed into the same image by his spirit; they discern the things of the spirit of God; the veil being removed from them, they behold wondrous things, out of the law of God and Gospel of Christ, even such things as are unseen unto, and unknown by the natural man: but then it is all through a glass; not of the creatures; for though the invisible things of God may in some sort be seen and understood by the things that are made; and God, as the God of nature, may be seen in the works of creation and providence, yet not as the God of grace; ’tis only in his son, and through the glass of the Gospel, he is to be beheld in this light: and so it is through the glass of the word and ordinances, that the glory of the person of Christ, of his offices, fulness of grace and righteousness, is only to be seen; in these he is evidently set forth to the eye of faith, as the surety, Saviour, and Redeemer of his people, and through these the knowledge of divine truths is communicated: and through all these but darkly; in an enigma, or riddle, or dark saying, as the word here used may be rendered; that is, in this present state, in comparison of the future one; for though the sight of things under the Gospel dispensation is clear, and with open face, in comparison of the legal one, yet even this is very obscure, and attended with great darkness and imperfection, when compared with the beatific vision in heaven, which will have no manner of interruption and obscurity in it: but then face to face: there will be no intervening mediums of vision; not the glass of the word and ordinances; there will be no need of them, God and Christ will be seen as they are; the judgments of God, his providential dispensations, will be all made, manifest, and will be legible without the help of a glass; the doctrines of grace and truth will lie open and clear, free of all dark speeches, obscure hints, or enigmatical expressions: and as there will be nothing to intervene by way of assistance, there being no need of any, there will be nothing to intercept the sight; the objects will be nigh, even face to face; the view will be full and clear, the sight will be perfect, as well as the converse with the objects will be familiar; and which, without the least obstruction, will always so continue: there seems to be here a double reference, partly to what the Lord says of Moses, in Numb. 12:8 with him will I speak, mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and partly to what the Jews say of him, with a view to the same passage: “all the prophets (say they) looked through a glass, which did not give light; (or, as they sometimes say, which was spotted, and was not clear;) Moses our master looked באיספקלריא המאירה, through a glass that gave light;” or, as elsewhere, was bright and clear, and without any spot. Again, they say, “all the prophets prophesied by the means of an angel: hence they saw what they saw במשל וחידה, by way of parable and riddle, or dark saying; Moses our master did not prophesy by the means of an angel; as it is said, with him will I speak mouth to mouth; and it is said, the Lord spake to Moses, face to face; and it is also said, the similitude of the Lord shall he behold; as if it was said, that there should be no parable, but he should see the thing clearly without a parable; of which likewise the law testifies, saying, apparently, and not in dark speeches; for he did not prophesy בחידה, by way of riddle; (in an enigmatical way, darkly;) but apparently, for he saw the matter clearly.” The two glasses, clear and not clear, the Cabalistic doctors call tiphereth and malchuth. “Tiphereth (they say) is a clear and well-polished glass, by which Moses prophesied and had visions, and saw all things most exactly, in a very singular manner; malchuth is the glass that is not clear; so that he that prophesies by that, prophesies by riddle, and parable.” Now the apostle suggests, that as there was such a difference between Moses and the rest of the prophets, the one saw clearly, the other through a glass darkly; a like, yea, a much greater difference there is between the clearest views saints have of divine things now, and those they shall be blessed with hereafter, and which he exemplifies in himself: now I know in part; though not a whit behind the chief of the apostles; though his knowledge in the mystery of Christ was such, as had not been given to any in ages and generations past; and though he had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard words not lawful to be uttered, yet owns his knowledge in the present state to be but imperfect; which may be instructive to such, who are apt to entertain an high opinion of themselves, and dream of perfection in this life: but then shall I know, even as I am known; in the other world and state, he signifies that he should know God, Christ, angels, and glorified saints, and all truths in a perfect manner, even as he was known of God and Christ perfectly, allowing for the difference between the Creator and the creature; his sense is, that he should have as full and complete a knowledge of persons and things as he wag capable of; it would be like, though not equal to, the knowledge which God had of him; and which would be attended with the strongest love and affection to the objects known, even as he was known and loved of God. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 709–710). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Pentagon: Religious Proselytizing is Not Permitted – Religious liberty groups have grave concerns after they learned the Pentagon is vetting its guide on religious tolerance with a group that compared Christian evangelism to “rape” and advocated that military personnel who proselytize should be court-martialed, Todd Starnes reports. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation — whose president, Mikey Weinstein, met privately with Pentagon officials on April 23 — is calling on the Air Force to enforce a regulation that they believe calls for the court martial of any service member caught proselytizing. Weinstein, who called the act of evangelizing “a version of being spiritually raped,” said U.S. troops who proselytize are guilty of sedition and treason and should be punished — by the hundreds if necessary — to stave off what he called a “tidal wave of fundamentalists.” He said: “Someone needs to be punished for this. Until the Air Force or Army or Navy or Marine Corps punishes a member of the military for unconstitutional religious proselytizing and oppression, we will never have the ability to stop this horrible, horrendous, dehumanizing behavior.” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, told Fox News he was stunned that the Pentagon would be taking counsel and advice from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. “Why would military leadership be meeting with one of the most rabid atheists in America to discuss religious freedom in the military?” Perkins said. “That’s like consulting with China on how to improve human rights.” The FRC has launched a petition drive urging Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to protect the religious freedom of troops “and not to proceed with the purge of religion within the ranks called for by anti-Christian activists.”
Religion Today Daily Headlines – May 2, 2013
You know there is a bunch of mutts that sit around on stools and whittle and spit and cuss and ___ and say that every man who has an honest dollar ought to divide it with them, while others get out and get busy and work and sweat and toil and prepare to leave something for their wives and families when they die, and spend the rest for good. (p. 270, “Billy” Sunday: The Man and His Message by William T. Ellis, 1914)
The Sunday school teacher will speak to the same little group of children, but there is no spiritual effectiveness to her teaching. The businessman may witness to others of Christ, but it is all just talk. The mother may lead her little family in prayer, but she has lost the power that grips their hearts to win them for Jesus. To lose that is to become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. This is what Paul meant when he climaxed his whole warning by saying, “let him that thinks he stands take heed les the fall.” On the royal route to heaven there is many a pitfall, and the devil’s great objective is to cause the child of God to stumble, to be tripped up so that he loses the power of the Holy Spirit in his witness. When he has lost that, Satan knows, if we do not, that he is helpless. (p. 114)
These tremendous ties bind us one to another in Jesus, the deepest things in our lives we share together. We are not left to be an unruly mob of individuals, unguided and unprotected. We have had the cleansing of His blood, the forgiveness of our sins. We have experienced baptism into the fellowship of the body of Christ. We have known what it is to feed upon His Word, and to drink of the living water of heaven. We are all being sustained by the grace of God, and we have done nothing to deserve it at all. (p. 115)
I don’t believe it operated like that! Aaron deliberately set up something in the place of God, pretending it was unintentional, that it really happened by accident. But it was idolatry; he know what was going to come out of the furnace. And the people worshiped it, they “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (10:7b). In other words, they substituted out of their religion and made it comfortable and easy. (p. 117)
I would pause a moment to underline something: it is clear from the teaching of the apostle here that the Christian as an individual, or the Christian fellowship as a group, is not called upon to live in some watertight compartment, inoculated against possible contamination through contact with unconverted people. Rather, we are to move among them, talk with them, live with them – but always maintain the standard of Christian living. Principles must never be lowered, stumblingblocks must never be put in the way of an unbeliever. The one objective on eveyr occasion is not a social contact; rather, the great concern of the child of God is the spiritual enrichment of his friend. The Christian’s mission in this world is not primarily seeking smugly to make himself more holy, but through contact with an unbelieving world to do everything in his power to win others to Jesus Christ. (p. 122)
In other words, Paul distinguishes between our associations and our fellowship, between out contacts and our communion. Some people do not understand that. If a Christian moves in ungodly circles, has a meal with an unsaved person, goes to the house of unbelieving friends, or has social contact with them, immediately the world says ( or worse still, his Christian friends say), “He is lowering the standard, he is having fellowship with unbelievers.” He is doing nothing of the kind! His fellowship will stay at Calvary and his heart in tune with God while for the sake of the Lord Jesus he moves into contact with ungodly people that he might win them for Him. (p. 123)
The child of God who is observing these three rules: sacrificial living for others, separation unto God, singlemindedness of purpose for the glory of the Lord, as he faces many questions almost every day of his life, before making a decision, he will ask himself three things.
First, “Is it a stumblingblock to other people? For if it is, we must cut it out, because of our concern for their welfare. Then, “Can I ask the blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ on this action that I take?” If we cannot expect Him to bless us in it, then we will not do it, for the blessing of the Lord makes us rich and adds no sorrow – we dare not live for a moment without the sense of His fellowship. After that, we ask ourselves, “Can I do this thing for the glory of God? “ If nto, then we cannot do it at all. In other words, all this talk today about participating in everything, just taking it a little gently, is not for the Christian who seek to please His Lord. A Christian is to live boldly, but with a life that maintains absolutely clear-cut principles. (p. 124-5)
The Royal Route to Heaven (Studies in First Corinthians)
by Alan Redpath
FRANKLIN GRAHAM BANNED FROM VENUES IN ENGLAND, WALES, SCOTLAND FOR “HATE SPEECH” ON PRESSURE FROM HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVISTS (Friday Church News Notes, February 7, 2020, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is excerpted from Pulpit & Pen, Jan. 27, 2020: “[A] prominent Liverpool venue just canceled American evangelist, Franklin Graham, for preaching ‘hate.’ By ‘hate,’ the ACC Liverpool venue means Graham’s preaching of the Bible when it comes to various sin issues like homosexuality. [ACC Liverpool tweeted,] ‘Over the past few days we have been made aware of a number of statements which we consider to be incompatible with our values.’ [BBC reported,] ‘Franklin Graham has repeatedly publicly promoted his homophobic beliefs including, but not limited to, branding homosexuality a sin, claiming Satan was the architect of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights, claiming gay people existing are causing a moral 9/11, declared that gay people are the enemy of civilization and advocates for the highly damaging abusive practice of gay conversion therapy.’ The mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, took to Twitter to rub it in. ‘Our City is a diverse City and proud of our LGBTQ+ community and always will be. We can not allow hatred and intolerance to go unchallenged by anyone including by religious groups or sects. It’s right we have banned from the M&S Arena Franklin Graham. #Love conquers hatred always.’” NOTE: Graham has also been banned from the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport, Glasgow SEC, and Sheffield City Trust.
Exodus 13
All of the firstborn, both man and beast, are consecrated to God.
INSIGHT
The spiritual truths, which God wanted to ensure were never forgotten, are memorialized in a ceremony-often involving a meal. The Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are symbolic meals designed to commemorate the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, so the people of Israel would never forget what God had done for them.
The New Testament counterpart is the Lord’s Supper, in which we eat a symbolic meal to memorialize the deliverance of the church from sin. When we observe communion, we celebrate a meal which has been observed in unbroken succession for 2,000 years.
(Quiet Walk)
HISTORICAL EVENTS
…that he should give eternal life…. John 17:2
If we base our position entirely upon experience, we will convince nobody. We are dealing with certain historical events and facts that we must never allow ourselves to forget. Indeed, I am prepared to go as far as to say that whatever I may feel at this moment, though I may feel that I am in a state of darkness and am utterly discouraged, my position is still safe, and I am secure because of these things that have been done in history outside of me and before I was ever born
Thank God, I do not base my position on how I feel. Feelings are treacherous; they come and go, and what little control we have upon them! We have all had the following experience, have we not? We wake up one morning and find ourselves full of peace and joy and happiness. We have a marvelous day, we read our Bibles, we have freedom in prayer, and all is well. So we look forward to the next day being still more wonderful. But strangely enough, we find that when we wake up the next morning we are lifeless and dull.
If you are going to base your whole position upon experience and feelings, you are going to be a very unhappy person, and your Christian life is going to be very unstable. But the answer is this marvelous plan of salvation. I must, of course, know that I am related to it—that is essential. But what I am arguing for is that if you want to enjoy these blessings and if you want to live this Christian life truly, you do so by looking at these things, by resting upon them, and by saying, if you like, in the words of a hymn:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Edward Mote
A Thought to Ponder
Thank God, I do not base my position on how I feel.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 83-84, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Live Honestly
“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.” (Hebrews 13:18)
It ought to go without saying that a Christian should live honestly in all things. Apparently it does need saying, however, because the Scriptures contain many such references. For example: “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). For the sake of one’s Christian testimony before other men, it is vital that utter honesty must characterize his life. Even if men cannot see our little acts of dishonesty, God can, and so even our secret actions must be “providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21). “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest . . . think on these things” Philippians 4:8).
We live in a corrupt and cynical society where genuine honesty is rare. Petty pilfering at the office, cheating on taxes, plagiarizing, loafing at the job, padding expense accounts, cheating on tests, cutting corners on obligations, breaking promises, exaggerating—the list of petty dishonesties is endless, not even to mention the crime and major corruption so prevalent today almost everywhere. In such an environment dominated and conditioned by a humanistic educational system, unsaved persons easily adapt to such questionable practices, for “unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15).
But when Christians do such things (and, unfortunately, they do!), those same people find it scandalous and blaspheme the gospel because of it. How vital it is for Christians to become scrupulously sensitive about even the smallest matters. This should, in fact, be a major item of daily prayer, as in our text for the day.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
My wife quotes: “I never want to be the kind of Christian who portrays themselves as perfect. I have flaws and I have struggles; that’s why I need Jesus. (I agree with her)
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