NOVEMBER 22, 2021 READINGS... 1 Corinthians 14:1-15:58
I remind you that this letter is an epistle of correction from the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth, who in many ways had already headed in the wrong direction in the practice of their faith. In chapter 14 Paul deals with two issues that still are not understood in the church today. We have those today who teach poorly about the subject of tongues and prophecy. Paul tried to bring clarification, but many still use the gifts to evaluated other’s spirituality…to degrade those who do not practice them as they do…and to leave people with a sense of being an incomplete Christian. There are those that teach that unless one speaks in tongues they have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit…the biblical truth is that if you are a genuinely born-again Christian, you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. Even Paul in his letter acknowledges here in chapter 14:5, and in our earlier readings in chapter 12:30, that not all believers speak in tongues. Stop listening to those who misuse the gifts to exalt themselves as being more spiritual than other Christians. Paul also writes about prophecy, and how it brings clarity to the listener. The point is to speak that which is unknown to the listener, so that they can know. This prophecy that Paul speaks of is more of a “forth-telling,” than a “fore-telling.” It is not a service where the “person of God” tells you what a good year, or bad year you will have.
Paul calls the church to stop with their disorderly worship, and to do all things decently and in order. He speaks of the role of both men and women in the church. Then in Chapter 15 Paul teaches the church the most important fundamental truth of our faith…the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why is the Resurrection the most important truth of the Christian faith? I will let Paul answer that from his writings, but first let me remind you that the word used for Resurrection means “full body being raised”. There are those false teachers out there telling their churches that Jesus’ resurrection was only spiritual, that His body did not rise, but is still in a tomb in the middle-east. Don’t listen to these lost apostates…for their rejection of Christ’s Resurrection marks them as still being lost in their sins. Paul tells us that Jesus’ Resurrection is important because without it…our faith and all preaching of the Gospel is useless…the Apostles would be liars, and the foundation of our faith would crumble…we would have no hope of eternal life. The Resurrection is Christ’s victory over death, therefore it is our victory. We find comfort and hope in the assurance of the Resurrection from the dead.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 & Acts 19:21-20:6 & Romans 1:1-32
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