Saved to Good Works – Not By Good Works
Today’s Passages – Ephesians 1 – 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 40:31
Read the “1210 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – (Ephesians 2:8-10)
These verses in Ephesians are perhaps among the most familiar in the Bible. We often use vs. 8 – 9 to convince people that salvation is not through our good works but solely though the grace of God, which is available only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace has been defined as unmerited favor, or more simply put, it is receiving something that we do not deserve. What a wonderful truth it is to know that our salvation is not dependent upon our good works, which are totally insufficient and fall miserably short of the mark. As the verse teaches, salvation comes solely through the free gift of God’s grace. Jesus paid the total price for our sins when He died on the cross and now makes salvation available to anyone who will simply receive Him by faith.
However, just because works are not acceptable as payment for our sins, it doesn’t mean that we should not “work” for the Lord after we are saved. Verse 10, which is not quoted nearly as often as vs. 8 & 9, teaches very plainly that God has ordained that we should work for Him after salvation. God has a specific plan for each one of His children. He has something for all of us to do. Our job is to determine what God’s will is for our lives and then do it. There are lots of opportunities for service within a local church.
Are you working for the Lord doing His ordained tasks? If not, you need to get busy:)
Posted in Thoughts from Ephesians by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Don’t Shoot the Messenger
Today’s Passages – Galatians 4 – 6; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read –Psalm 41 – 45; Proverbs 9)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 48:1 & 2
Read the “1209 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” – (Galatians 4:16)
As I read verse 15, I thought of the phrase, “Don’t Shoot The Messenger”. I looked back in the blog archives and discovered that I have used that phrase as the title to two other posts derived from two different passages. It seems that men of God throughout the Bible have had trouble being negatively received by the people they are ministering to.
In this morning’s passage, Paul is trying to straighten out the problem of legalism in the churches of Galatia. They apparently were trying to mix New Testament Christianity with the Old Testament Law. By doing so, they were adding to salvation by grace through faith, making it a salvation of works. Paul explained to them that if they were going to try to keep the Law, they had better do it perfectly, which, of course, is an impossibility. We are not saved by keeping the Law, and we are certainly not kept by keeping the Law. Salvation comes through faith in Christ, and our Christian life is to be a walk of faith.
The point I am trying to make here in this post, however, is that the Christians in Galatia were very fond of Paul until he started preaching something that went contrary with what they were doing. They had been influenced by some people who were corrupting their thinking. Paul was merely trying to get them back on the right path, but the people didn’t want to hear it. Instead of searching the Scriptures as the Bereans did, and listening to the truth, the people were stubbornly holding on to their false doctrine; and Paul became the bad guy.
I have had this type of thing happen to me in the ministry. I have had people who at one time loved me, later turn on me and become an enemy. Usually it was because there was something in their lives that was inconsistent with the teaching of the Bible and the will of God. Instead of fixing the problem, they decided to get mad at the messenger. I understand that doctors sometimes experience this same scenario. They are just reporting the truth revealed through their examination. They didn’t cause the problem, but somehow they end up with the blame.
Let’s stop blaming the messengers that God sends into our lives. If the messenger is telling us the truth, then we must face it. We really ought to thank those who are being honest enough with us to help us by telling us what we really don’t want to hear. But how can we get help if we don’t know the truth. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Read the other two “Dont’ Shoot The Messenger” posts from 2 Chronicles 16 and 1 Kings 18
Posted in Thoughts From Galatians by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
We Are Free
Today’s Passages – Galatians 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 47:1
Read the “1208 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Schoolmaster“
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
The letter to the Galatians was one of the earliest of the epistles written by the Apostle Paul through the inspiration of the God. In the very early church, there was evidently a problem with legalism. Legalism is the attempt to put people who are saved by faith back under the law. I need to explain here exactly what I mean by “under the law”. In Old Testament days the people of God (the Jews) lived according to the law of Moses which contained three different types of laws: civil law (government), which helped them live in a peaceful society; moral law, which taught them what was right and wrong, morally speaking; and ceremonial law, which were the particular laws that had to do with their system of worship. These ceremonial laws legislated their holy days, their assemblies, and their feasts, etc. The Jews created a system of rules that was impossible for anybody to keep perfectly. That’s why Paul says later in this letter to the Galatians that the law was our “schoolmaster”, in that it taught us that we were sinners in need of mercy. Christ is the only man who perfectly fulfilled all of the law, meaning He never was guilty of violating any command of God in any of the three categories.
Now when God says in the New Testament that we are no longer “under the law,” and that we have been freed from the bondage of sin and the law, He is not saying that we are free to commit moral sin, or that we are free to break the laws that government creates in order to keep the peace, unless, of course, those man-made rules disagree with God’s rules. We are, however, free from all of the ceremonial laws that the Jews lived by, and there were a whole lot of them. By the way, not being “under the law” also means that we have been freed (saved) from the penalty of not keeping the law. The people of Galatia were “bewitched” into attempting to combine the doctrine of salvation through faith alone with the keeping of the Jewish law. By doing so, they just frustrated the concept of grace. Christ fulfilled the law, and He died for us who could not keep the law. We are free! Free from the penalty of sin; free from the bondage of a myriad of rules and regulations that are impossible to live by anyway; and free to love and serve God according to the dictates of our own consciences and understanding of God.
I feel compelled to make one final comment here. The term “legalism” has often been used in reference to standards and convictions. I am not a “legalist” if I have a personal standard in my life that I believe God is pleased with. Having some Biblically based guidelines in my life to live by does not make me a legalist, unless I believe that adhering to these rules somehow saves me. I am not saved by how I live my life, but I do try to live a life that glorifies God because I am saved.
Posted in Thoughts From Galatians by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Without Wax
Today’s Passages – 2 Corinthians 6 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read –Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34:6
Read the “1206 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “And Be Ye Separate” and “Casting Down Imaginations“
“I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” (2 Corinthians 8:8)
“Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” (2 Corinthians 8:24)
Tradition states that back in the days of the Roman Empire there were unscrupulous stoneworkers who crafted sculptures, but would sometimes cover the flaws and cracks in their work with wax. However, when the hot sun would beat upon their products, it would melt the wax and ruin the appearance of the sculpture. Potters also were guilty of sealing cracked and even broken wares with wax in order to sell them at the market, but when the unsuspecting buyer returned home and put something hot in the the pot, plate, or cup, it would also melt the wax. Eventually, men of character who traded these goods would stamp their wares “sine cera” meaning without wax. These two words eventually evolved into meaning “genuine” or “honest”.
In our text Paul states very candidly that we prove the sincerity or the genuineness of our love through the grace of giving. If you love someone you will give to them. If you love God, you will give back to Him. You may have heard this old saying that bears repeating here: “You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.” Do you genuinely and honestly love the Lord, then give to Him. You may say, how do I do that? Well for starters, I would strongly recommend that you give to the work of His local church. God has chosen the local church as the vehicle for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. But then beyond that, you may want to give to some things that you believe in. At our church, we are always taking up special offerings for various causes and people that have a need. Learn to give. God is a giver, not a taker. People who are yielded to God will be like Him and will also have a giving spirit about them.
Giving not only proves the genuineness of your love, but it also demonstrates the sincerity of your faith. If you say that you believe God, than believe what He says about giving:
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shallnot be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
God promises to bless those who give back to Him. Notice that I said “give back”, because everything we have was given to us by Him in the first place. You can trust God with your money. Don’t get greedy. God loves to bless His children, but He cannot bless a child that doesn’t listen to Him.
Posted in Thoughts from 2 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Are You Blind?
Today’s Passages – 2 Corinthians 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34:1 – 4
Read the “1205 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “What’s New About You?” and “Ambassadors for Christ“
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” – (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
I remember one time I was walking in a store, kind of in my own little world, when I turned and accidentally bumped into someone. In their frustration, they asked me: “Are you blind?”. I guess I was. I mean I wasn’t paying attention, I was too busy focusing on other things that I just didn’t see the person I bumped into. Many years ago something similar happened to me. I was going along, living my life, when all of a sudden a light bulb clicked on in my heart and mind, and I saw for the first time that I was a lost sinner in need of a Savior. I had been in that condition for a very long time, but I just didn’t see it. I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand it. Someone once said that light is to the eyes what understanding is to the mind; and although I had been a lost sinner for my whole life, I didn’t realize it until God opened my understanding to the Truth.
There are a lot of people out in this dark world who are lost in their sins. The god of this world (Satan) has them blindfolded. They are either deceived because of their religion, or distracted due to their pursuit of power, possessions, and pleasures; but they simply do not recognize their lost condition. Jesus talked about this:
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” – (Matthew 13:15)
The Bible tells us that Israel is blind (at least for now) to the fact that their Messiah has already come:
“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” – (Romans 11:25)
These people are not less intelligent than those who have been saved, and neither are they worse sinners than Christians; they are just blind. I have some friends and family members that are blind to this truth, but what can I do about it?
1 I can pray – God will have to open their eyes to the Truth. I must pray that they will be able to see the truth of the gospel before it is eternally too late.
2 I can continue to proclaim the truth. Satan is busy deceiving and distracting. I need to be busy proclaiming. I need to figure out ways to get people to listen to the Word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
3 I can persist – There were many people who were trying get me to see Christ before my eyes were opened. They never gave up on me. They kept preaching to me, and praying for me, until finally it all sunk in. I must not give up on the people I love, either. I am not sure whether or not they will all come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but I am confident that some will. I need to keep at it, for their sakes.
Posted in Thoughts from 2 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
Special Offerings
Today’s Passages – 1 Corinthians 15 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 25
Read the “1204 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “A Family Addicted to the Ministry,“ and “Most Miserable.“
“1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)
In this last chapter of 1st Corinthians, Paul addresses a special offering that he was collecting for the poor saints in the church at Jerusalem. This was something that Paul had also asked the churches in Galatia to participate in as well. The offering was to be collected and set aside every week on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. The early church gathered often and sometimes daily, but they also set aside Sunday as a special day because it was the day that the resurrection took place (Mat 28:1, Mar 16:2, Mar 16:9, Luk 24:1, Jhn 20:1, Jhn 20:19, Act 20:7, 1Co 16:2). Sunday may also be referred to as “the Lord’s Day” (Rev 1:10 – McGee, McArthur, Gill, Patterson), though there is some disagreement among theologians regarding the reference in Revelation (Ryrie, Phillips, Walvoord).
This offering was a special offering that was to be given to the church at Jerusalem. The money collected was not going to be used to meet the needs of their own church. It was not a tithe. Tithing was a practice that was commanded under the Old Testament Law, but was also practiced before the Law (Gen 14:20; 28:22). In the New Testament, Jesus commended the tithe. He told the Pharisees that it was right to tithe, but wrong to neglect the more important “matters of the law,” involving judgment, mercy, and faith:
“23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Mat 23:23)
This offering was to be ready to go and given to Paul when he arrived at Corinth, which would be at the end of his third journey. The church was to approve men and send them to Jerusalem with the offering. At the time of the writing, Paul was not sure whether he would be traveling with these men. Notice that Paul set it up so that these approved men would actually be the ones handling the money, which demonstrated that Paul wanted to be above board in his financial accountability (see also 2 Co 8:16 – 21). I believe, the special offering referenced in 2nd Corinthians 8 & 9 is the same one that Paul was preparing this church for in 1st Corinthians (see 1 Co 9:2 – “a year ago”).
Thoughts About Giving
- Though not a New Testament commandment, regular giving to support the local church is a good practice. In the Old Testament, Israel tithed (gave ten percent of their income) to the storehouse, which was the Temple (Mal 3:8 – 11).
- If God has blessed and prospered you financially, you should give special offerings over and above your regular giving to support special projects that God impresses upon your heart.
Cindy and I regularly give special offerings to wherever our local church may need it (missions, academy, others, bus, etc.), but we also give to people who have need outside of our church. Yesterday was “Giving Tuesday.” The college I attend was taking up a special offering to help them provide Bible college education freely (or very cheaply) to students in third world countries. God impressed upon me that this was a good thing and something that Cindy and I could invest in, so we did. We give occasionally to the organizations like the Red Cross when there are tragedies that take place, like the recent flooding in NC. Our church is collecting money for a Christmas dinner for the Ronald McDonald House, and Cindy and I will contribute to that as well.
- Don’t be stingy in your giving and learn to give cheerfully:
“7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2Co 9:7)
- The New Testament principle regarding giving is to “seek God first.”
“33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mat 6:33)
“38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luk 6:38)
Cindy and I have been giving over and above the tithe for many decades now, and God has always given back to us far more than we could ever give to Him.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
The Greatest of These is Charity (Love)
Today’s Passages – 1 Corinthians 13 – 14; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1 – 4
Read the “1203 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“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.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44)
“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23)
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12 & 13)
The Bible speaks much about love. In our passage today the word “charity” is used, which is the same word that is translated “love” many other places in the Bible. It means to love unconditionally; to have a deep abiding love that goes far beyond mere affection. This is the kind of love that God has for us. It was what He demonstrated (commendeth – Romans 5:12) when He died for us sinners. Why God loves us I do not know, but the Bible tells us He does.
This kind of Bible love spoken of here in our text and some of these other passages as well is something people often claim to have for others, especially in word. In other words, we often say that we love certain individuals or people in general. However, in practicality, I don’t think that we are being entirely truthful. Love is clearly more than just words, and it is even more than just feelings. Love is action. Love can be seen in the things that we do as well as say. In vv 4 – 7 of 1 Corinthians 13 there are listed practical examples of how love is put into action. Let me list them for you here:
Charity:
suffereth long, (patience)
and is kind;
charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, (does not boast)
is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, (inappropriately)
seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things,
believeth all things,
hopeth all things,
endureth all things. (is able to survive anything, unconditional)
There are 15 practical applications of real love in those four verses. Take a good look at each one of them individually. Now ask yourself honestly: “Do these demonstrations of love show up in my love for others? Or am I falling short?” I think we both know the answer to that question. We all fall short, don’t we? I am not trying to make you feel bad, but I am trying to get you to realize how much needs to be done in our lives in order for us to truly represent Christ as His ambassadors. Remember, the Bible is clear that people will only see Jesus in us as we demonstrate love before them and to them. Now, here is the exciting part: You can’t love people in the flesh. It is not something that you can do on your own. You see, God is love; and you can only love people if the Holy Spirit of God is in you and is not being quenched (hindered from working in and through you). We must yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit of God inside of us. We must allow Him to love people through us. We must somehow get ourselves: our feelings, our hurts, our desires, etc. out of the way.
Do you want to love people as Jesus loves people? The world has love, but it is a conditional love. Some people are easy to love, but most people are not. Jesus died for a bunch of unloveable people. We must take our love up another notch if we are truly going to be His disciples.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Corinthians by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Finding Your Place
Today’s Passages – 1 Corinthians 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 6 – 10; Proverbs 2)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read the “1202 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “Are You Unworthy?” “Be Careful,” and “Learn from the Past.”
“18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)
1 Corinthians 12 discusses the spiritual gifts given by God to individual members of the Body of Christ, which are to be used edify and encourage the Body as a whole. Many of the particular gifts discussed here in this chapter were transitional gifts that were prominent in the first century when the Church was very young. This here particular gifts, including healing, tongues, miracles, etc. have ceased since the full canon of Scripture was completed (see 1 Corinthians 13:8). Another list of spiritual gifts is given in Romans 12, which is more applicable to the Body of Christ today (see Romans 12:5 – 8).
Within the context of the body of a local New Testament Church, there are many needs, which God has promised to supply (Philiipians 4:13). Each member of the local body must find the gift (or gifts) that God has given him (or her) and then find the place within the body where that gift (those gifts) can be put to full use, and where they can be beneficial in edifying the body as a whole. Some can teach; others are good administrators; others are quiet encouragers; some have been blessed financially and love to give; still others are handy and build and fix things. Whatever gift(s) you have, you need to fully develop them for the Lord and put them to a good use at the church.
By the way. These gifts are God-given. They are not given to glorify any individual, but to edify the body. Some gifts will be readily seen by others, while some are more behind the scenes; but, all are equally needful. Every member of the body is just as important as another.
Have you found your place within the body? Have you discovered the gift(s) that God has equipped you with? If you have, you need to develop those gift and put them to full use for the cause of the Lord Jesus Christ within the body of your local church.
If you haven’t discovered your spiritual gifts yet, here is a spiritual gifts test that may help you:
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Stay Pure
Today’s Passages – 1 Corinthians 6 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Joshua 1:8
Read the “1201 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this passage – “Stumblingblocks,” “Property of Jesus,” and “Settling Disputes Within the Church.“
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
The words, “fornication” (πορνεία – porneia) or “fornicators” (πόρνοι from πόρνος – pornos) is found four times within today’s reading passage (1 Corinthians 6 – 9). Fornication is a more general term than adultery, which specifically involves at least one person who is married; or homosexuality, which involves people of the same sex. Fornication has been defined as “illicit sexual intercourse in general.”[1] So, adultery and homosexuality are types of fornication, but fornication is not necessarily adultery or homosexuality; it may just be sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons.
Fornication has always been a problem. This church in Corinth certainly had people within it who were guilty of it. In fact, according to Paul, it was quite common within the church:
“1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” (1 Corinthians 5:1 )
What is worse is that the church did not seem to be troubled about it. Paul rebuked them for being proud about it (“puffed up” – verse 2), instead of mourning because of it. It is not much different in American churches today. Fornication is very common; yet it does not seem to be getting the attention from the pulpit, or from the parents, as it should. It is almost like believers today just turn their heads and pretend like it is not happening. Or, they somehow think that God has become OK with fornication; that He does not think it’s that big of a deal. However, that could not be further from the truth. God hates sin of any kind, including sexual sins. Just because the culture in America has become completely accepting of all kinds of sexual impurity does not mean that God has changed His mind about it.
Thoughts About Sexual Purity:
- Sexual impurity begins in the heart:
“19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Matthew 15:19)
- The heart is affected by what the eyes see, and what the mind thinks about:
“51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.” (Lamentations 3:51)
- Believers need to be careful about what they look at, and what they allow their minds to think about:
“8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
“7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” (Proverbs 23:7)
There is more porn available today than ever before. The average twelve year old has a XXX-rated book store in his pocket via his smart phone.
- Adult believers need to voluntarily put accountability fences up in their lives that will help them stay pure:
“1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)
People criticized Mike Pence because he stated that he tried not to be alone for any length of time with any woman except his wife or members of his family, but he was merely putting up accountability fences to protect him from sinning and also protect him from accusations.
- Parents need to help their children stay pure by ensuring that those accountability fences are in place.
Make sure that dating couples are chaperoned.
- Young unmarried couples need to get married if they feel like they will not be able to keep from committing fornication:
“2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2)
- Married couples need to work hard to make sure their marriages are sexually healthy:
“3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
- Strengthen your relationship with God:
“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
- Develop some godly character and willpower regarding your flesh:
“24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
- If you have fallen in the area of purity, as many of us have, remember there is grace from the Lord.
“10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)
[1] Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Being Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti (New York: Harper & Brothers., 1889), 532.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Doubtful Disputations
Today’s Passages – Romans 14 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 141 – 145; Proverbs 29)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Deuteronomy 32:4
Read the “1129 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this passage – “Responsibility,“ “Giving Back,“ “It Is Written,” “Just One More Thing,“ and “If the Lord Will.“
“1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:1-4)
“10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)
There are a lot of great nuggets of truth within these concluding chapters of Romans, and through the years, I have pulled devotional thoughts from many of them. As I was considering what to write about from this passage today, I went back to see if I had ever considered the first part of Romans 14 in a blog post before. Paul dealt with the subject of Christian liberty here. There are some things regarding our conduct that are not clearly and specifically revealed in the Scripture. You might call these gray areas or questionable things. Is it OK to do them? This is the area of Christian standards, preferences, and even convictions. My standards, preferences, and convictions are probably a little different from yours. How am I to treat others who may believe a little differently than me in these areas? Again, we are not talking here about things that are crystal clear in the Scripture, even though by your own conviction, they may seem perfectly clear to you. Others may not see it the same way that you do.
Paul gave us three principles in this chapter that will help us determine whether these things are right for us or not:
- Conviction (v. 5) – In other words can you be fully enthusiastic about the thing that you want to do. Everything you allow yourself to do in life ought to be something that you can do without any reservation.
- Conscience (v. 22) – Is there any doubt about what you want to do? Is there any question as to whether it is right?
- Consideration for Others (v. 13) – Will the thing that you want to do send the wrong message to other people? Will my brother be offended? Will it cause him to stumble?
Paul also dealt with this subject in 1 Corinthians 8.
We Are to Receive One Another (vs. 1 – 12):
- So Don’t Argue (vs. 1 – 3)
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.” (Romans 14:1)
We are to receive those whom God receives. The early church had a problem with this. The Gentiles were just as saved and accepted by God as were the Jews, but some of the Jews would not fellowship with the Gentiles because they were different in areas that no longer mattered.
“doubtful disputations” means arguing about these areas of disagreement. We are not to receive someone so that we can debate with him about our differences.
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” (Titus 3:9)
Someone once said, “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
“For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” (Romans 14:2)
You will notice here that the weaker brother was the one who placed more restrictions on his diet. He was weak in the faith and was placing himself back under the law.
“Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.” (Romans 14:3)
There is a myriad of areas where we might have higher or lower standards, preferences, or convictions than another brother or sister. I can have fellowship on a personal level with other believers that may not believe the same way that I do.
On an ecclesiastical level, however, before I will allow a fellow believer to minister to our people, there must be a higher level of agreement.
- So Don’t Judge (vs. 4 – 12)
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4)
Each individual believer will ultimately only have to answer to his own Master – Christ.
“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5)
In the early church particularly, there were differences in the observance of the Sabbath day, Sunday, and certain Jewish holidays. Today, we could apply this verse to many different areas. Some Christians think it is OK to watch television, others do not; etc. This is where conviction comes in. Each believer must be fully persuaded that what he is doing is right for him, or not.
“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.” (Romans 14:6)
If I am fully persuaded in my own mind, then I believe that the thing that I allow or do not allow is right within my relationship with God.
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:7 – 8)
This verse, in context, is not saying that each of our lives affects the people around us, though that is how it is commonly used. It is stating that everything that we do in life is tied into our relationship with God. Someone once said that you bring Christ with you wherever you go, and if you can go to a place and it does not displease the Lord, then it is OK for you to go there.
Dr. McGee gives this illustration:
Questionable amusements are wrong for the believer if they are questionable to him. If he can participate in them and maintain a close relationship to Christ, they are not wrong for him. Let me tell you a little story in this connection. Many years ago, in Tennessee a young lady went to her pastor with the question, “Do you think it is wrong for a Christian to dance?” He said to her, “Anywhere you can take Jesus Christ with you is all right to go.” That made her angry. She said, “Well, I can take Him to the dance.” The pastor said, “Then go ahead.” So she went to the dance. A boy whom she had not met before cut in on her and danced with her. She had determined to take Jesus Christ with her, so she asked him, “Are you a Christian?” He said, “No.” Wanting to make conversation with her, he asked, “Are you a Christian?” She said, “Yes.” And this is what the unbeliever said, “Then what are you doing here?” After she got home that night, she decided that maybe she couldn’t take the Lord Jesus Christ there after all.[1]
“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” (Romans 14:9)
This verse is parenthetical referring to the last statement in v. 8. The bottom line is that we are purchased possessions of Christ. We belong to Him. Christ death and resurrection give Him the right to exercise Lordship over the individual.
“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)
Paul now concludes the argument. We are not to judge our brother, or “set at nought” our brother, which means to despise him or hold him in low esteem.
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11 – 12)
We will all have to answer to God individually. I won’t have to give an account for you, and you won’t have to give an account for me. Even as a pastor, I will not have to answer for the decisions that the people in my church make. I will only have to answer for what I taught them, and for the example that I lead.
[1] McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 9-16) (electronic ed., Vol. 43, pp. 101–102). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.