The Plain Truth

Paul's conversion, apostleship, and example of using the liberty we have the way God intended: not always doing something just because you can, living charitably, and doing what the Lord has called you to do. 

Forgive us for the mic quality, we will address that problem for next time. This episode Rick takes over covering the liberty of a Christian and how it can be abused by some. 

After dealing with the fornication in their church, Paul takes this time to turn the conversation to their question about marriage. While many try to use this chapter for false doctrine, we should just stick to the scriptures context of what the Holy Ghost has said through Paul. 

Paul is still dealing with the fornication in this church, and their views of sin/ how they deal with it. Now he is moving on a little bit more into the subject of liberty in these verses. Where we are because of what Jesus did, and our future bodily redemption in the resurrection, doesn't give us permission to use this body for sin. It is also for the Lord, it belongs to Him, He bought it and will raise it again, it is the dwelling place for the Holy Ghost, so therefore glorify God with our body and spirit which are His. 

If you have believed on Jesus Christ for salvation, you are not who you used to be. You have been washed, sanctified, and justified. This church needed a reminder of that. All have sinned, but have you been justified? Some have a past, some have never changed. Are you saved? Then follow the leading of the Holy Ghost, mortify the deeds of the flesh, and leave all that behind. If you struggle with forgiving yourself for your past, look at the cross. This verse is a good reminder to those who have changed, such WERE some of you. 

What a great salvation, and what a great intercessor! Also, a good warning to all churches and christians about our adversary the devil. 

There was no church discipline going on, no judgement in the church, and no separation. They were puffed up. The judgment of the Bible is different from what people think of it today. God wants it among His people, He wants us to look at everything through the scope of His word. BUT, when they repent, and the man repents, Paul then tells them to confirm their love toward him and receive him. That is what we need more of. Not one without the other. 

This chapter is one of the more well known chapters of the book. The fact that it was commonly reported that they had fornication happening in the church, especially to this degree, is sad. What was maybe even more sad, was the lack of church discipline. There must be church discipline, and there must be restoration if true repentance happens. Paul may seem harsh to the church today, because of our lack of church discipline, but it was needed for the sake of the rest of the body.

Paul gives a loving warning about the huge contrast in the lives of the members of this church and his own. It is easy to get caught up in measuring success the wrong way. According to Jesus we will have persecution and tribulation in this life, and we aren't promised an easy life or an abundance of money. If we are doing what we should be we can count on push back from the world. This church was living like kings. So something was definitely not lining up. 

This episode finishes up with the topic of pointing out why God deserves all the glory, and not His servants. Chapter 4:6+7 perfectly sums it all up. Paul also points out who the judge of the servant is. We all have to remember men may try exalt us like they did these men of God, but at the end of it all God knows who we really are. God knows and is the judge of whether or not we have been faithful stewards.