July 16, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the next 16 days we will be reading through the book of 1 Corinthians together. The church in Corinth was an absolute mess! They were plagued by serious issues of arrogance, division, sexual immorality, and confusion concerning doctrine as well as the particulars of their moral living under the gospel. This church needed a wake-up call, a call to repentance and purity, to renewed devotion to Christ, to love and unity, and to zeal for the gospel. The church has changed little over the last 2,000 years, but praise God that there is abundant grace for the mess! Each of us needs this same call to humility faithfulness, unity, and fervor today as much as they needed it then. Let\u2019s heed this call which God gave the church at Corinth through the apostle Paul and let it shape the way we live as Christ\u2019s body!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul continues his scathing admonishment towards the Corinthians for their behavior in this chapter, essentially telling them they have been acting like a bunch of babies (v.1-2)! In being boastful about their preferred Christian teacher, they were acting just like the unbelieving world around them and demonstrating their immaturity in the faith. Paul urges them to remember who they are (the dwelling place of God\u2019s Spirit cf. verse 16) and whose they are (Christ\u2019s cf. verse 23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How often do we see jealousy, arrogance, strife, and division in the church? Yet Paul says here that these things demonstrate a lack of spiritual maturity! These are worldly, fallen, and sinful ways of living; the gospel calls us to a supernatural way of living and makes it possible for us by means of the Holy Spirit! Instead of jealousy, arrogance, and strife, which are all focused on the self, God calls us to dwell in unity, love, and selflessness together as the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lord calls us to put away merely human, worldly ways and walk in a supernatural, Spirit-empowered, new way as His people. Are you living as a spiritual infant, or are you growing up into maturity in Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n