Lessons From 1 Corinthians – Lesson 18
Paul has dealt with a lot of issues in this letter. I think the biggest issue he dealt with near the end of the letter in Chapter 15. Because if there is no resurrection then the Christian faith is vain. Without the resurrection you don’t have Christianity.
And at the end of showing the fact of the resurrection and its importance Paul gives this great statement of truth. A statement full of hope and victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of what Jesus has done and because there is a resurrection and because He has given us victory. It is a done deal and will happen guaranteed at the appointed hour for each of us.
Because of that then therefore.
1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
That truth is an encouragement for all Christians who labor for the Lord. He is watching and working, and He will make sure that our labor is not in vain.
And now Paul wraps up the letter with a few details of what is going on in his work and gives a few more instructions.
1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
The first day of the week is Sunday. Just another place that shows they moved the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday.
Things had gotten real bad for the Christians in Jerusalem. If you remember they had refused to obey Jesus command in the great commission and take the gospel into all the world and preach to every creature.
Persecution then was allowed to come and it was so bad that a large number of believers left. And the Bible tells us that they went preaching the word.
But James took the position of you go to the gentiles, and I will go to the circumcision, meaning Jews. The Apostles, except Paul, mostly stayed in Jerusalem during these early years. We know that Peter at least went on a few trips.
And the persecution did not end with the mass exodus of many of the Christians. It seems it actually got worse. It got bad enough that the Christians in Jerusalem needed financial help. So Paul who was forward to help the poor asked churches to give.
1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
And notice it is let everyone give. It is not make everyone give. And notice it is not everyone give say 20 dollars each. Their money was not dollars, I am just using a form of money we are familiar with.
Paul did not say everyone should give 20.00. That is actually not fair. If someone only made 30.00 that week, 20 dollars is 2/3 of their paycheck.
On the other hand if someone made 2,000 dollars that week, giving only 20 is nothing to them.
So Paul says voluntarily let everyman give as God hath prospered him. The man who has little gives little and the man who had a bounty should give more. That is fair.
1 Cor 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
Paul clearly has intentions to go see them and be involved in getting this money to Jerusalem.
1 Cor 16:5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
1 Cor 16:6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
1 Cor 16:7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
1 Cor 16:8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
Paul was headquartered at Ephesus for over 2 years. It was in his heart to visit the Corinthians and spend time with them but he never did.
God was using Paul in Ephesus in a big way. And with that there is pushback.
1 Cor 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Cor 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
1 Cor 16:11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
1 Cor 16:12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
Final thoughts
1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
1 Cor 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.
Stand fast in the faith, not in your carnality. Quit you like men, be strong.
And let all be done with charity. He taught on all of those earlier in this letter and brings them back up at the end. They are all very important for all Christians but super important for them because those things will help them get victory over their carnality.
1 Cor 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
1 Cor 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
1 Cor 16:17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
1 Cor 16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
1 Cor 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
1 Cor 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
1 Cor 16:21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
1 Cor 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
1 Cor 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Cor 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.