"On every page of the God-breathed writings are many thoughts that stretch out like long, clear arms of light across the darkness, discovering things otherwise hidden and illuminating wider areas than those of the immediate context. They are searchlights. I have selected one in each chapter of Scripture, for at least one central thought in every chapter should arrest the mind and affect the life," wrote G. Campbell Morgan, a skilled, wise, warm-hearted Bible teacher who conducted a classic 3-year study called Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible. Here is the fruit of that research—summarized, illustrated, and amplified with useful details—on all 66 books of the Bible.
DEUTERONOMY, JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH,
1 JOHN, 2 JOHN, 3 JOHN, JUDE, REVELATION
1 Corinthians 1:9 "Called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul addresses this letter "to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." He begins a similar way in his letter to the Ephesian church: "to the saints who are in Ephesus ... faithful in Christ Jesus." Saints, in the biblical usage of the term, are all genuine Christians, whom Christ saved to be increasingly faithful and holy in this life and perfected in the next. That sanctification process takes place in the context of fellowship with the risen Christ. Those who are in fellowship have resources and responsibilities in common. All our Lord's resources are at His people's disposal; all our resources are at His. We are committed to His responsibilities; He is committed to our responsibilities. When there is any failure in this relationship of resource and responsibility, it is in us, never in Him. Are our resources all at His disposal? Are we availing ourselves of His resources? Are we facing His responsibilities? Are we trusting Him to help us with our responsibilities? Thus we may profitably question our souls when we are alone with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:12 "We have received ... the Spirit who is from God that we might understand." Just before that encouraging declaration is this quote Paul gives from the prophet Isaiah: "As it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him'—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit." There are secrets God keeps from us temporarily or even forever for His good pleasure and our own good, but our great privilege is all He has been pleased to reveal to us so we might understand and obey Him! As Deuteronomy 29:29 states, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Law." Divine wisdom about redemption and salvation cannot be apprehended by the seeing eye and hearing ear of human intelligence. They need divine revelation and interpretation, being made known by the Spirit of God, who alone knows the deep things of God. We are not to live in ignorance of these things when He makes them known to us. The child of God, who by definition has the Spirit of God, has no right to be content not to understand the deep things of God. The Spirit is ours that we may know. Therefore, we should give all diligence to know, depending on the teaching of that Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:15 "Saved, yet so as through fire." Those sobering words describe the possible condition of a Christian in the Day of final testing. The testing is of one's service, not eternal life. It is not a reference to the non-biblical doctrine of purgatory. As we have seen, the saint of God is in fellowship with the Lord in responsibility. That means work, and here Paul describes it with the analogy of building on a secure foundation, which is Jesus Christ and His saving Gospel. All that we build will be tested with fire, which in the Bible is a word picture for difficulties and trials. That which is true and precious will be made more beautiful by the fire. That which is false and unworthy will be destroyed by the fire. Can anything be more calculated to give us pause in our work? What are we building? What sort of material are we laying on the foundation? Things of "gold, silver, and costly stones" represent eternal things. Those of "wood, hay, and stubble" are only of time. When the saints of God are tempted to forget the spiritual and eternal implication and application of all they do, they are in danger of doing work that must be destroyed. We are humbled by the grace that will destroy our unworthy works, yet preserve our salvation. Therefore, we are constrained to take heed how we build, "making the best use of the time because the days are evil."
1 Corinthians 4:7 "What do you have that you did not receive?" That question is a prescription for pride, either for those subtly proud of themselves or of their favorite teachers, such as Paul and Apollos. All such pride is foolish. "Grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift," as Paul explains elsewhere with detailed teaching on the different types of spiritual gifts Christ chooses to give those who love and serve Him. We are to thank God for these gifts in others and ourselves with all humility, which is the virtue opposite to the vice of pride. The gifts by which we serve, and the gifts that bless us from the service of others, are all gifts from God. We do not create them; we are to receive them joyfully and with gratitude.
1 Corinthians 5:13 "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." That was the Apostle's final word in dealing with a specific case in the Corinthian church. One of its members had been guilty of flagrant immorality, but no church discipline as outlined by Jesus Himself had taken place. Incredible as it may seem, Paul tells us with horror that in some way the church was glorying in the matter! They probably were not happy about the sin itself, but apparently were congratulating themselves on their tolerance of it. Paul protests strongly against that attitude of disobedience to the Lord's clear command for the purity of His Bride, the Church. Using the analogy of removing leaven before the Passover feast, Paul explains that the life of the Church is a perpetual Passover feast that must be maintained in sincerity and truth. No defiling leaven must be permitted to remain. The Church is always weakened when it lacks the power to maintain its purity. Our one business is to represent the Lord to others, individually and corporately. Tolerating evil in our fellowship is treachery to the Great Commission Jesus gave His disciples then and now. Church discipline, however, is always to be carried out in a spirit of love. As Jesus Himself said, the goal is to gain back our brother. Paul ordered the unrepentant church member to be removed from their fellowship so he would be moved to repentance. By God's grace through the church's obedience to Christ's command this time, the man was apparently restored to fellowship and the church was purified.
1 Corinthians 6:5 "Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers?" There is a gentle but definite note of sarcasm in that question. Some members of the church in Corinth were engaged in litigation and taking their cases before the courts of the city. Paul tells them that is wrong. He presents each true church as a society, a household, self-contained, and having the power and right to deal with all matters arising within itself. It has no need to seek guidance or directions from those beyond its own borders. In fact, doing so would lower the church's standard of life and weaken the power of her testimony. In cases where the principles and practices of righteousness have to be maintained between members of a church and those outside, it is right and necessary to appeal to civil courts, as we see Paul himself doing more than once in the latter chapters of the Book of Acts. But the relationship between Christians in Christ is so close and so wide, there can be no dispute or difficulty that cannot be adjusted by the church itself through our Lord's wisdom and grace.
1 Corinthians 7:24 "In whatever condition each was called, let him [or her] remain with God." These words teach us that circumstances are of minor importance in spiritual growth and godliness. They neither help nor hinder believers in Christ from developing purity and strength in character and service, which are the outcomes of their faith. Note the applications of that truth in this chapter: married or unmarried, Jewish or Gentile, slave or free—major social differences like that make no difference in the believer's spiritual progress. On the contrary, his or her faith in Christ changes and qualifies all such conditions. The pressures and frictions of conditions that seem to make the Christian faith difficult to practice actually contribute to maturing Christian character. Therefore the tempting idea that if we change our circumstances, we may develop our saintship is unwarranted. The secret of life is that it be lived with God. Such fellowship transfigures circumstances, changing forces that hinder into forces that help. How freeing to realize that whatever your calling may be as a believer—whatever your family relationships, education, employment, and social standing—you may remain there in the company of God and make the circumstances of your life occasions for manifesting His glory in you!
1 Corinthians 8:1 "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." This contrast is repeated often in the Bible. For example the prophet Habakkuk is given this message from God about the proud man: "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." Paul here contrasts knowledge with love. Is he saying knowledge is wrong? No, for he just said, "We know that all of us possess knowledge" in the matter under discussion in this chapter, which is food offered to idols. He goes on to explain that mature Christians understand "an idol has no real existence, and there is no God but one." All such knowledge is of supreme value. When does it become dangerous? When we develop pride in what we know and allow that to increase what we think of ourselves, but to diminish what we think of others, which will adversely affect how we treat them. Love will condition our use of knowledge so it becomes useful to others, building them up instead of tearing them down (and ourselves in the process). The person who knows, but lacks love, is dangerous. The one who knows and loves is a perpetual blessing to everyone in his or her sphere of influence.
1 Corinthians 9:22 "I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some." Does that seem like a startling statement? The examples Paul gives are striking: becoming like one under the Mosaic Law to fellow Jews, becoming like a Gentile to those outside that Law, becoming weak to those who are weak. How far may we go in that direction before we damage our testimony and usefulness? A second look will save us from all doubt in the matter. Paul tells us he became all things to all people "that he might save some." That goal qualifies our accommodations. It is always wrong to endanger our chances of leading people to saving faith in Christ. The idea Paul is communicating is not that the ends justify any means, but that the end qualifies or guides the means. For example, we may travel sympathetically with men and women along the pilgrimage of their doubts, but we must not go so far as to deny the Christian faith in any aspect. If we do, we cannot help them come to sound faith in Christ. To help save others, we may enter into their social life and share their recreations, but never in such ways that jeopardize our power to help them in spiritual matters.
1 Corinthians 10:6 "These things took place as examples for us that we might not desire evil, as they did." The historical examples in Scripture are meant to strengthen the faith of God's people in all times. The ones Paul gives in this chapter point to the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt through the Red Sea and into the wilderness, where God sustained them with bread, meat, and water. "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness" by their evil desires and ungrateful hearts. They became idolaters, engaged in immorality, and complained against God. We can easily commit similar evils today, even though we have been blessed with much more revelation from God than they had. Let us then read to our profit these historical accounts of God's dealings with others, remembering with holy fear that we have at our disposal in Christ greater spiritual resources than they had. Such remembrance will not make us careless, but more careful to avoid failing as they failed. Indeed, "if they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him [Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant] who warns from heaven?" (Hebrews 12:25).
1 Corinthians 11:28 "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the Bread and drink from the Cup." Participating in the Lord's Supper proclaims fellowship with our Risen Lord and the reality of His death and resurrection on behalf of all who come to Him in repentant faith. It is an act of worship. Before this time of worship and fellowship for the church, there should be solemn self-examination. It should not take place in the service, but before it. The Table of the Lord is not the place for confession of sin; that should precede it. Forgiveness from Jesus, our Great High Priest, and anyone we've sinned against, is to be sought before we enter into the sanctuary to offer our corporate worship. We are to eat the Bread and drink the Cup together as cleansed worshipers. It is at our peril if we neglect such preparation.
1 Corinthians 12:18 "God arranged the members in the Body, each one of them, as He chose." As the psalmist proclaims, the human body is "fearfully and wonderfully made." That made it the inspired choice for Paul's illustration in this chapter of unity in the Church, described as the Body of Christ, a picture of all God's people of all time. The astonishing unification of the most diverse powers and capacities, all fitting instruments for life and expression, is beyond wonder. God's Spirit works through them all to accomplish the will of the One who arranged the Body as He chose. These words bring rest and comfort for every Christian. Our place in the Body of Christ is not the result of our own choosing, neither is it the result of appointment by other members of the Body. We are where we are in the Body, and we are who we are there, by the good pleasure and placing of God Himself. To realize that is to be saved from any dissatisfaction. No service or position is unworthy if it is what God has chosen, either for ourselves or for others. Knowing that helps us esteem one another. It also helps us take seriously and joyfully whatever our appointed work may be. As we do so, we are enabling the other members of the Body to do the same.
1 Corinthians 13:8 "Love never fails." Since that is true, how much of what we have called love should be called by another name? Love from God never fails because its final proof is in God Himself, who never fails or falters. What is His love like? Jesus famously described it this way: "
For God so loved the world," that so meaning this is how the Father showed His love for the people of the world: He
gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." Later Jesus said to His disciples on the night He was betrayed, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you." Loving one's neighbor was not a new command, but loving with this divine sacrificial love was. This is the kind of love that never fails. By that standard we are rightfully almost afraid to call anything of ours love at all. There is so much selfishness lurking in us. We love those who love us, but as Jesus said, what reward is in merely that? True love, the love with which God loves, continues to love in spite of unworthiness and failure. That kind of love inspires and compels sacrificial love. All the attitudes, habits, and activities of this love are set like jewels in this magnificent chapter, for 1 Corinthians 13 is rightly called the love chapter of the Bible. The more we ponder it, the more we are prompted to practice it, laying ourselves at our Lord's feet for this love from God Himself to master us.
1 Corinthians 14:26 "Let all things be done for edification." That is the standard for all the ministries in any genuine church. We learned in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every member of the Body of Christ for the common good. This chapter emphasizes that edification, a common theme in the apostolic writings, is not focused on deepening the spiritual life of the individual, but on the whole Body. The test of any ministry is its value in perfecting and building up the Church, which is Christ's Bride or all His redeemed people. No member has the right to exercise a gift, even a gift given by the Spirit, to secure attention or popularity. That needs to be emphasized because this selfish temptation is subtle. Some things need to remain between you and God, but in church life the law of ministry is ministering to each other for the common good. When there is no seeking for glory or personal profit, ministry becomes powerful.
1 Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." This chapter is rightly called the Resurrection Chapter of the Bible since Paul by the Spirit talks extensively about the literal, bodily resurrection of Christ, about the future resurrection of all the dead, and about what a resurrected body is like. He begins with these facts: "I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain alive, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me." That is sober eyewitness testimony, not wishful thinking. The idea that the resurrection of Christ is meant only as a comfort for this life is patently absurd. Is it conceivable that a delusion could so powerfully and persistently create Christian hope and joy, even amid suffering for testifying faithfully to the reality of the Risen Christ? Jesus said the night before His crucifixion, "In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?... I will come again and take you to Myself.... I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus not only tells the truth, but is in fact the essence of truth. Our eternal destiny depends on it.
1 Corinthians 16:2 "On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper." This apostolic command establishes how churches are to be financed. Whether money is needed to help saints in need, maintain the work of God in a given center, or send the Gospel to the remotest parts of the world, if this rule is obeyed by all true church members, there will be no lack. Giving is an activity for an appointed day, the first day of the week. That is Sunday, the day Christ rose from the dead, when His people ever since have gathered to worship Him in faithful local churches around the world. That corporate worship prepares us to be spiritually fruitful during the remaining days of the week. Giving is an individual responsibility between the believer and God without any third party directly involved. That guards against the temptations of not being generous or of trying to appear generous before others. Giving is also to be set aside from all your other possessions, devoted to God's use through your church, so that it will be available each Sunday. That is not raising money to pay debts, but instead providing so that no debt be incurred. The amount we give should be directly proportional to how we prosper. That means continual readjustment. "The point is this," said Paul to the Corinthians in his second letter to them: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
No comments:
Post a Comment