Lessons From 1 Corinthians – Lesson 19
1 Corinthians is a letter of rebuke and correction. It is a hard letter. No doubt. Those in Corinth were a carnal mess.
Can you imagine one day this church gets mail? It could have been hand delivered by someone Paul could trust. There would be some excitement.
They all gather and someone then stands up and reads it. It would not have been long before the atmosphere of excitement is over.
Paul starts into their problems very early on. And it just keeps going one carnal issue then another and then another.
The Holy Spirit would have been working. Obviously God wanted this fixed and inspired Paul to write it. And the conviction would have built and built.
I can imagine heads starting to go down. And a tension filling the air. And it just keeps coming. And then near the end Paul writes I speak this to your shame.
Ouch.
Face it being carnal is not God’s will for His children. Anything against God’s will is sin. And this letter not only exposed their sin but kind of slapped them in their face.
The Holy Spirit bears witness of righteousness. He bears witness that His word is true.
When a Christian is confronted by their sin from the Word of God, there can be different reactions. Some will just reject the truth and refuse to see it. Others will deflect, change the subject, and put the blame elsewhere many times on the one who pointed their sin out.
Still others will get angry. And the way they handle that anger can take many different forms.
And some will man up. They will see their error and learn, and repent. Some precious souls will put Jesus and His word 1st and they will change and conform their lives and behavior to God’s will.
I have said it many times. People have a free will to get saved or not, and after salvation God does not make you a robot. He does not take your free will away. Jesus does not force anyone to conform to His Word.
The Bible does teach a reward system in Heaven and for that to not be a sham any rewards you receive must come out of a free will.
This hard letter that Paul wrote was a needed wake up call, and actually an opportunity for them to not waste their Christian lives on carnality, and instead start living to lay up treasures in heaven that last an Eternity.
Paul knew it was a hard letter. If fact he tells us in 2 Cor that it was so hard that he did not go and see them.
2Co 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
2Co 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2Co 2:2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
2Co 2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
2Co 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Paul wanted to go see them after they got the letter, but he determined that he would not come to them in heaviness. He delayed to spare them the face to face scolding that would have had to happen.
1 Cor is a very hard letter.
After going thru the entire book, the question is, did it work. Did the letter have the desired effect? And how much effect? Did it help them grow? What was some of the reactions to this hard letter?
We get the answers to those questions in 2 Corinthians.
The 1st proof that 1 Cor had a positive effect is found in 1 Cor Itself. What do I mean? How can that possibly be?
The 1st proof is that we have the letter. I think that the top carnal reaction to this letter would have been to tear it up. Or burn it.
A 2nd carnal reaction would have been to not let the world see it because it displays their sin for all to see.
I think the fact that they not only preserved it but copied it and shared it with others so that others could learn from it and not make the same mistakes shows some spiritual maturity.
The 2nd evidence that 1 Cor worked is found early in chapter 1 of 2 Cor.
At the end of 1 Cor Paul told them:
1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Paul expands upon that in 2 Cor.
2Co 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2Co 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
Paul was in the battle and on the front lines. Opposition was great. And Paul says something about the Corinthians now that shows they had grown a lot.
2Co 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
The Corinthian’s are now helping. Before they were carnal Christians who were all about self. They all wanted the spotlight. Now you see they are concerned about others. Specifically here about Paul and his team.
And they are doing something about it. They are praying. Paul who is inspired by the Holy Spirit writes ye also helping together by prayer for us.
So that means God was hearing their prayers, and even more than that, God was taking action and answering. The prayers of the Corinthians were helping.
This is evidence that as a group they moved from carnal to spiritual. Not all of them. People are individuals and they would not all had the same reaction. But enough of them changed so as a group they are now helping in the spiritual battleground of prayer.
After going over all of 1st Cor you should see that this is a big move in the right direction.
Paul gives details of how this letter affected them in chapter 7.
2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
After Paul sent the letter a part of him felt bad about it. He says though I did repent. Past tense. So for a short time Paul felt bad he sent it. But not after he heard of the results.
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent. Now Paul rejoices that he sent it.
2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Did the letter work? O’ yes. For many it really did. It brought indignation for their sin. It gave them the healthy fear of God.
It gave them great desire for the things of God and for God’s work. Zeal Paul calls it. Revenge here is not revenge against people, which is bad. It is revenge against their past carnality.
2Co 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
2Co 7:13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
After they received the letter Titus goes and visits the Corinthians. And Titus then goes to Paul and tells him of the changes.
2Co 7:14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
2Co 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
The way they treated Titus is another evidence of their move from being carnal to being spiritual and walking with God.
And notice that Titus saw that the Corinthians were now walking in obedience. That would be to the teachings of Paul before he left and obedience to the letter they received.
Listen to what Paul now says about them.
2Co 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Their change in behavior that Titus reported was enough to give Paul confidence in them. In all things. We just went thru all of 1st Corinthians and it was a long list of issues. So to say I have confidence in you in all things means Titus had to see major changes in them in many areas.
Did the letter work? O’ yes for many of them it worked and in a huge way.
Before they could only handle milk. They were not growing carnal baby Christians.
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Before Paul could not teach them anything but the basics. But now Paul can teach them deeper things. And we see the evidence of that in 2 Cor.
He can now teach them about though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Co 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
He can now teach them to look not at the things which are seen, but for things that are not seen. He can now teach them to put a priority on the eternal and not on the temporal.
He can now teach them about the earnest of the Spirit and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and walking by faith and not by sight.
Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
He can now teach them about the judgment seat of Christ which is for Christians. And there the judgment is not about salvation, but about how you lived your life for Jesus.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Paul can now teach them about living for Jesus.
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Paul can now teach them about how we have been given a job to do. Called the word of reconciliation. That is about being an ambassador for Christ. That is about giving the lost the gospel.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Paul can now teach them since we have great promises, then let us walk in cleanness before God.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Paul can now teach them about false teachers and deceitful workers.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
That was a highlight of just some of the things that Paul can now teach them because they are now ready. Paul taught some deeper things in 2 Cor. That is evidence that the hard letter of 1 Corinthians worked.
The Word of God is quick and it is powerful even to the pulling down of strongholds in the heart. The Word of God has the power to make huge changes in lives.
And it did so for many of the Corinthians.
But not all of them. It was God’s will that they change, but that change is not forced. And some of the Corinthians exercised their free will and refused to get right.
2Co 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Some of them remained the same. Some of them refused to repent of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness that they committed.
Some of them reacted to the letter by criticizing Paul. Yea the old shoot the messenger thing.
2Co 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
Some said Paul walks according to the flesh and that his speech is contemptible.
2Co 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
2Co 10:11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
Paul gives a warning to those who did not repent. He will come in power and will not spare them.
2Co 13:2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
2Co 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Did the letter of 1st Cor work? Yes for many it did. You see evidence of completely changed lives. Going from carnal to spiritual. And being able to be taught the deeper things of God and you see changed lives. People who are now walking with God and serving Him.
But it did not change everyone.
And that is not because the word of God is lacking power. It is not because God did not want them to change. It is not because there was something missing in the letter.
It was actually given by God and the Word of God is perfect.
The reason it did not work for everyone is some people will choose sin over God’s instructions.
They love sin and darkness more than light.
People have a free will to accept Jesus or not and after they accept Jesus they have a free will on how close they want to walk with Him.
And there will always be some who will take salvation and stop there. There will always be some who will use their free will to not change and not give up sin and not walk with God.
And that is the way it works.
But thanks to God that He gives everyone who get saved a chance to get close to Him and change and learn and walk with Him and put Him first.
And Praises to God for all those who chose to honor Him and change and walk with Him.
And this shows us something else as well. Even though they were carnal, Paul and God never gave up on them. God still gave them another chance. God gave them chance after chance for the 1 and a half that Paul was there to not be carnal.
And when they refused and got even worse, God still did not give up on them and had Paul write a hard letter. And when they read it, God brought conviction and God gave mercy and He gave them the help and grace they needed to change.
Never doubt the Love of God.