(continuation of meditation 79)
3. The Churches in Galatia (part of modern Turkey)
The apostle Paul founded these churches during his first missionary journey c. A.D. 46-48 (see Acts 13 and 14).
After Paul’s departure, it seems that people came to the churches with a false gospel. These were Christians from a Jewish background. They taught that Paul’s Gospel was not complete.
According to them, one could only be a true Christian by being circumcised and keeping the Mosaic Law.
By listening to this teaching, the churches in Galatia were in danger of losing their freedom from bondage to the Mosaic Law through the sacrifice of Christ and the gift of God’s Spirit. Consequently they would ‘miss the way’ towards Christlike holiness.
Paul’s entire letter to these churches in Galatia deals with the fact that we only set things right with God through our faith in Jesus Christ, without trying to keep the Mosaic Law.
• Their lack of discernment regarding false teaching
The apostle Paul begins his letter with an attack on these false teachers: “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
Straightaway, Paul condemns these false teachers and places them under God’s judgment: “Let God's curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about.
Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.
I will say it again: If anyone preaches any other gospel than the one you welcomed, let God's curse fall upon that person.”
(Galatians 1:8-9)
Paul goes on to address the lack of discernment in these churches regarding the false teachers: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the [Mosaic] Law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Have you suffered so much for nothing -- if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the Law, or because you believe what you heard?" (Galatians 3:1-5)
Later on, Paul warns the churches in Galatia: “... Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the (Mosaic) Law.
Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. I'll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole Law of Moses.
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the Law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.
But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.
For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
You were getting along so well. Who has interfered with you to hold you back from following the truth? It certainly isn't you to infect all the others -- a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough!
I am trusting the Lord to bring you back to believing as I do about these things. ...
Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised -- as some say I do -- why would the Jews persecute me? The fact that I am still being persecuted proves that I am still preaching salvation through the cross of Christ alone.
I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom -- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”
(Galatians 5:1-10a and 11-13)
As we have seen in the two previous meditations, the apostles warn us that ungodly behaviour in the church will be subjected to God’s judgment: “God will judge that person, whoever it is, who has been troubling and confusing you.” (Galatians 5:10b)
At the end of this letter, Paul lays bare the true motivation of these false teachers: “Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised are doing it for just one reason. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.
And even those who advocate circumcision don't really keep the whole (Mosaic) Law. They only want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it and claim you as their disciples.” (Galatians 6:12-13)
The apostle closes his letter to the Galatian churches with a personal testimony: “As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead.
It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people [NIV: what counts is a new creation].
May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God.” (Galatians 6:14-16)
4. The Church of Thessalonica (Greece)
The apostle Paul went to Thessalonica during his second missionary journey c. A.D. 49-52 (see Acts 17:1-9). Probably within months if not weeks after his first letter, Paul wrote a second one.
In this letter Paul instructs the church about the coming ‘Day of the Lord’ (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Anticipating that day, the church should stand firm and continue to pursue Christlike holiness (2:13-17).
• Warning against idleness
The apostle warns the church about those who were not pursuing Christlike holiness in expectation of Christ’s return. Instead, they were living disorderly lives. Paul writes: “... we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people's business.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11)
Paul instructs the church how to deal with this kind of church member: “... dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from any Christian who lives in idleness and doesn't follow the tradition of hard work we gave you.
For you know that you ought to follow our example.
We were never lazy when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It wasn't that we didn't have the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘Whoever does not work should not eat.’ ...
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we appeal to such people -- no, we command them: Settle down and get to work. Earn your own living.
And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed. Don't think of them as enemies, but speak to them as you would to a Christian who needs to be warned”
(2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Since Meditation 78 we have looked at how God dealt with churches in New Testament times that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word, and did not pursue Christlike holiness.
In the coming meditations we will continue this theme and examine the rest of the New Testament letters.
(to be continued)
Galatians 3:1-5 is a quote from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
79. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (q): Pursuing Christlike holiness (4)
(continuation of Meditation 78)
• Idolatry and the Lord’s Supper in the Church of Corinth
Paul warns the church members in Corinth not to attend pagan festivities nor to engage in idolatrous practises.
He urges them: “... my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true.
When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body.
And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all.
What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.
What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
• Dissensions at the Lord’s Supper
Paul also warns them about dissensions at the Lord’s Supper:
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.
When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! ...
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.”
(1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34)
The apostle forewarns the church members for God’s judgment on them as a wake-up call to pursue Christlike holiness:
“So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world.”
(1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul shows how the liberation history of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt is also a serious admonition to them:
“I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago.
God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea.
And all of them ate the same miraculous food, and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did.
For the Scriptures say, 'The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.'
And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
• Lack of discernment regarding false teaching
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth he addresses their lack of discernment regarding false teachers: “I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
But I don't think I am inferior to these 'super apostles.'
I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again. ...
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers.” (2 Corinthians 11:1-6 and 13-15a)
Again, the apostle warns that those who lead the church astray, will be subjected to God’s judgment: “In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
(2 Corinthians 11:15b)
• Paul’s summary of sins allowed in the Corinthian church
The apostle ends his second letter to this church by summarizing its catalogue of sins. Furthermore, he urges this church to check out if its members really pursue Christlike holiness:
“For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.
Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
This is the third time I am coming to visit you.
As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 19:15], ‘The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit.
Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that this next time I will not spare them.
I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power -- the power we use in dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.” (2 Corinthians 12:20-13:5)
Next time we will see how God dealt with unholiness in the Galatian churches and the church in Thessalonica.
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
• Idolatry and the Lord’s Supper in the Church of Corinth
Paul warns the church members in Corinth not to attend pagan festivities nor to engage in idolatrous practises.
He urges them: “... my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am about to say is true.
When we bless the cup at the Lord's Table, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ? And when we break the loaf of bread, aren't we sharing in the benefits of the body of Christ? And we all eat from one loaf, showing that we are one body.
And think about the nation of Israel; all who eat the sacrifices are united by that act.
What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all.
What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want any of you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.
What? Do you dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy as Israel did? Do you think we are stronger than he is?” (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
• Dissensions at the Lord’s Supper
Paul also warns them about dissensions at the Lord’s Supper:
“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.
When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not! ...
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.”
(1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34)
The apostle forewarns the church members for God’s judgment on them as a wake-up call to pursue Christlike holiness:
“So if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily, not honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
But if we examine ourselves, we will not be examined by God and judged in this way. But when we are judged and disciplined by the Lord, we will not be condemned with the world.”
(1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul shows how the liberation history of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt is also a serious admonition to them:
“I don't want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, what happened to our ancestors in the wilderness long ago.
God guided all of them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them, and he brought them all safely through the waters of the sea on dry ground. As followers of Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and the sea.
And all of them ate the same miraculous food, and all of them drank the same miraculous water. For they all drank from the miraculous rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ. Yet after all this, God was not pleased with most of them, and he destroyed them in the wilderness.
These events happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did.
For the Scriptures say, 'The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged themselves in pagan revelry.'
And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
And don't grumble as some of them did, for that is why God sent his angel of death to destroy them.
All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close. If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin.
But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
• Lack of discernment regarding false teaching
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth he addresses their lack of discernment regarding false teachers: “I hope you will be patient with me as I keep on talking like a fool. Please bear with me. I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ.
But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.
You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
But I don't think I am inferior to these 'super apostles.'
I may not be a trained speaker, but I know what I am talking about. I think you realize this by now, for we have proved it again and again. ...
These people are false apostles. They have fooled you by disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers.” (2 Corinthians 11:1-6 and 13-15a)
Again, the apostle warns that those who lead the church astray, will be subjected to God’s judgment: “In the end they will get every bit of punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
(2 Corinthians 11:15b)
• Paul’s summary of sins allowed in the Corinthian church
The apostle ends his second letter to this church by summarizing its catalogue of sins. Furthermore, he urges this church to check out if its members really pursue Christlike holiness:
“For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won't like what I find, and then you won't like my response.
I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior.
Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
This is the third time I am coming to visit you.
As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 19:15], ‘The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit.
Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that this next time I will not spare them.
I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak in his dealings with you; he is a mighty power among you. Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.
We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God's power -- the power we use in dealing with you. Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.” (2 Corinthians 12:20-13:5)
Next time we will see how God dealt with unholiness in the Galatian churches and the church in Thessalonica.
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 and 33-34 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
Monday, April 2, 2012
78. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON (p): Pursuing Christlike holiness (3)
(continuation of Meditation 77)
c-3.) How did God deal in New Testament times with churches that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church?
In the last meditation we saw that the local church as Christ’s Body (empowered by God’s Spirit) should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
Pursuing holiness has nothing to do with living an ascetic life.
Nor is it an exercise in world-denial, nor a kind of ‘platonic’ spirituality. From the entire Bible it is clear that holiness is an essential character trait of God.
It is God's Spirit who wants to empower every local church and its members to pursue Christlike or Godlike holiness. Therefore, the apostle Peter gives the order: “... you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
In short, to live a holy life means to live a Christlike life. And pursuing holiness as a Christian community means to pursue a Christlike lifestyle as a community. In Meditation 77 we mentioned some examples of a Christlike communal life.
The question for today is: How did God deal in New Testament times with local churches and its members who did not pursue Christlike holiness? Here are some examples:
1. Ananias and Sapphira
I think that the first shocking example in the New Testament is found in Acts 5:1-10. In the midst of the exciting story of Christlike love and compassion in the early church in Jerusalem,
we read about Ananias and Sapphira. This mischievous couple outwardly imitated the generous love of their fellow Christians. Yet, it was all show. Here was no Christlike compassion for the poor, but 'satanic pretence'.
As the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the true motives of this couple, the apostle addresses the issue head-on.
To Ananias he said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)
To his wife Sapphira Peter said later: "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this -- conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)
God severely warned the Jerusalem church not to follow this unholy way of acting. Luke writes in this story: “As soon as Ananias heard these words (from Peter), he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.” (Acts 5:5)
Later on Luke mentions Sapphira's death and the reaction of the entire Jerusalem church: “Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.” (Acts 5:10-11)
This incidence was profoundly shocking for the young Jerusalem church that experienced its ‘first love’ for God and fellow-men. God used it to warn this church for an ungodly, dead-end road and to keep this congregation on the right track, pursuing Christlike holiness.
2. The Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey c. AD 50, the apostle Paul stayed for 18 months in this Greek port (Acts 18:11). He taught there God’s Word and gathered new converts around him. That was the start of the Corinthian church of which we read more in Paul’s two letters to this congregation.
In his first letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth he addresses various unholy practises in this church:
• Controversy because of leadership preferences
As a good shepherd and true pastor Paul took this young church firmly in hand. He begins his first letter to them with the earnest request: “Dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves.
Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters.
Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter’, or ‘I follow only Christ.’” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Further on Paul continues to address the problem of division among them: “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.
I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires.
You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.
When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,’ and another says, ‘I prefer Apollos’, aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
The apostle warns the Corinthian church for the way God will deal with such attitude: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
• The arrogance of some church members
Then Paul points to the haughtiness of some church members:
“I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again. But I will come -- and soon -- if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power. For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)
Paul, the founder of this church, threatens these arrogant church members, because he wants to see the entire church grow in Christlike love: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
• Licentiousness within the church
Furthermore, Paul addresses sexual immorality within the church which was probably regarded as an expression of ‘Christian freedom’: “I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife. And you are so proud of yourselves!” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2a)
Paul, as an apostle and servant of God, tells them how they should deal with this kind of excesses within the congregation so that the church is able to continue pursuing Christlike holiness:
“... you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?
Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.
Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on.
Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.
Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:2-13)
• Prostitution
Closely linked to the earlier case of licentiousness, was the problem of prostitution. Apparently the Corinthian church proudly elevated prostitution, which was an integral aspect of Greek culture, as a demonstration of ‘Christian liberty’.
Paul writes: “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything. You say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.’ This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.
But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise our bodies from the dead by his marvelous power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say [Genesis 2:24], ‘The two are united into one.’ But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Paul’s earlier warning applies also to this case: “... you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin... It certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. ... As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
• Legal disputes amongst church members
Another issue Paul tackles in this letter is about law-cases among fellow Christians. He writes: “When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right?
Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves?
Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth.
If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you.
Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But instead, one Christian sues another -- right in front of unbelievers!
To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
Paul reminds the church of God’s coming judgment: “Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves.
Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers -- none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:21 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
c-3.) How did God deal in New Testament times with churches that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not live up to God’s view on Christ’s church?
In the last meditation we saw that the local church as Christ’s Body (empowered by God’s Spirit) should pursue purity, blamelessness and holiness in preparation for Jesus’ return in glory.
Pursuing holiness has nothing to do with living an ascetic life.
Nor is it an exercise in world-denial, nor a kind of ‘platonic’ spirituality. From the entire Bible it is clear that holiness is an essential character trait of God.
It is God's Spirit who wants to empower every local church and its members to pursue Christlike or Godlike holiness. Therefore, the apostle Peter gives the order: “... you must be holy in everything you do, just as God -- who chose you to be his children -- is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
(1 Peter 1:15-16).
In short, to live a holy life means to live a Christlike life. And pursuing holiness as a Christian community means to pursue a Christlike lifestyle as a community. In Meditation 77 we mentioned some examples of a Christlike communal life.
The question for today is: How did God deal in New Testament times with local churches and its members who did not pursue Christlike holiness? Here are some examples:
1. Ananias and Sapphira
I think that the first shocking example in the New Testament is found in Acts 5:1-10. In the midst of the exciting story of Christlike love and compassion in the early church in Jerusalem,
we read about Ananias and Sapphira. This mischievous couple outwardly imitated the generous love of their fellow Christians. Yet, it was all show. Here was no Christlike compassion for the poor, but 'satanic pretence'.
As the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the true motives of this couple, the apostle addresses the issue head-on.
To Ananias he said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)
To his wife Sapphira Peter said later: "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this -- conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)
God severely warned the Jerusalem church not to follow this unholy way of acting. Luke writes in this story: “As soon as Ananias heard these words (from Peter), he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.” (Acts 5:5)
Later on Luke mentions Sapphira's death and the reaction of the entire Jerusalem church: “Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.” (Acts 5:10-11)
This incidence was profoundly shocking for the young Jerusalem church that experienced its ‘first love’ for God and fellow-men. God used it to warn this church for an ungodly, dead-end road and to keep this congregation on the right track, pursuing Christlike holiness.
2. The Church in Corinth
During his second missionary journey c. AD 50, the apostle Paul stayed for 18 months in this Greek port (Acts 18:11). He taught there God’s Word and gathered new converts around him. That was the start of the Corinthian church of which we read more in Paul’s two letters to this congregation.
In his first letter to the followers of Jesus in Corinth he addresses various unholy practises in this church:
• Controversy because of leadership preferences
As a good shepherd and true pastor Paul took this young church firmly in hand. He begins his first letter to them with the earnest request: “Dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves.
Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters.
Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter’, or ‘I follow only Christ.’” (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Further on Paul continues to address the problem of division among them: “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.
I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't handle anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires.
You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord.
When one of you says, ‘I am a follower of Paul,’ and another says, ‘I prefer Apollos’, aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
The apostle warns the Corinthian church for the way God will deal with such attitude: “If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
• The arrogance of some church members
Then Paul points to the haughtiness of some church members:
“I know that some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will never visit you again. But I will come -- and soon -- if the Lord will let me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people are just big talkers or whether they really have God's power. For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God's power. (1 Corinthians 4:18-20)
Paul, the founder of this church, threatens these arrogant church members, because he wants to see the entire church grow in Christlike love: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
• Licentiousness within the church
Furthermore, Paul addresses sexual immorality within the church which was probably regarded as an expression of ‘Christian freedom’: “I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife. And you are so proud of yourselves!” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2a)
Paul, as an apostle and servant of God, tells them how they should deal with this kind of excesses within the congregation so that the church is able to continue pursuing Christlike holiness:
“... you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?
Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.
Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus.
You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on.
Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure.
Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people.
It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.
God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:2-13)
• Prostitution
Closely linked to the earlier case of licentiousness, was the problem of prostitution. Apparently the Corinthian church proudly elevated prostitution, which was an integral aspect of Greek culture, as a demonstration of ‘Christian liberty’.
Paul writes: “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.’ And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything. You say, ‘Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food.’ This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.
But our bodies were not made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. And God will raise our bodies from the dead by his marvelous power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which belongs to Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say [Genesis 2:24], ‘The two are united into one.’ But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?
You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Paul’s earlier warning applies also to this case: “... you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin... It certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways. ... As the Scriptures say [e.g., Deuteronomy 22:22], ‘You must remove the evil person from among you.’" (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)
• Legal disputes amongst church members
Another issue Paul tackles in this letter is about law-cases among fellow Christians. He writes: “When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right?
Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves?
Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth.
If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you.
Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But instead, one Christian sues another -- right in front of unbelievers!
To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters.” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
Paul reminds the church of God’s coming judgment: “Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves.
Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers -- none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
(to be continued)
1 Corinthians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:21 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
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