Tag: adversary

  • Spiritual Pride Immorality Judged 1 Corinthians 5

    Spiritual Pride Immorality Judged 1 Corinthians 5


    Previously in this first letter to his beloved believers in Corinth the Apostle has suggested:

    For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

    1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT

    True evangelism of Christ through all Scripture becomes a personal challenge to us.

    Pride in Preaching!

    WE love our church — don’t we?

    christian church with contemporary televised service

    Our Pastor is more passionate about US than other preachers of competing gatherings on Sunday. (Or so WE tell some in evangelizing a consumer-friendly gospel of our loving Jesus.)


    The Apostle has challenged such thinking among divided christians within the Corinthian church — some who doubt his distant authority in the Lord.

    Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

    1 Corinthians 4:21b – NIV

    NOW the Apostle REBUKES (judges) a specific evil known publically in the community of worshipers in Corinth.

    It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you..

    1 Corinthians 5:1a
    As is often the case, it's not necessarily the preacher who is the problem (Paul, Apollos or Peter).

    The offenders are generally overlooked witness of fellow christians (with whom you sip coffee and break bread), men and women identified with YOUR CHURCH gathering with their continuing sin evident to all.

    THE LIFE THIS Corinthian christian leads, Paul suggests, is NOT so unlike the pagans WE hope to convert.

    “.. and sexual immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, namely, that someone has his father’s wife.


    It may be some other porneia [fornication] sexual sin, SOCIALLY ACCEPTED SINS generally known, perhaps prevalent in OUR church;

    i.e. pre-marital sex, unmarried mothers, absent fathers, abortions, extra-marital affairs, divorces…

    In Corinth (or Cincinnati, Chongqing or Chicago) our pride flaunts evidence of OUR indiscretions.

    Our Common Era flood of destruction flows from the sins of the church. 

    The world sees christian sin witnessed as worship.

    The Apostle calls on leaders of the Church to judge and remove the offender of Christ.

    Pride in sexual perversion is not only sin, but not the only perversity of rejecting the Gospel of God.

    5:2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. – NKJV

    “And you are proud! – NIV “

    And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. – ESV


    PRIDE in PREACHING or IN THE PRAISE BAND or OUR CHOIR or OUR FESTIVALS; PRIDE in our COMMUNION or BAPTISM or LITURGY or CULTURAL INCLUSION or MISSIONS or PROGRAMS or SCHOOL or other 'church' identities WE CLAIM! 

    ALL distract US from the humility of serving Christ Jesus as our Lord in OUR HOMETOWN "Church."

    Such pride divided the Corinthian Church (as it continues to do in this Common Era).


    Judgment between Christ and Satan

    Several BIBLICAL HEADINGS added to 1 Corinthians 5 reflect the seriousness of the Apostle’s judgment.


    PAUL’S WRITTEN EPISTLE DOES NOT CONDEMN from afar, but informs.

    Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man

    1 Corinthians 5:3 NLT


    The APOSTLE makes a personal connection to the church in Corinth and by the HOLY SPIRIT casts his authoritative judgment against a certain man who is part of their Corinthian church.

    So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

    the Apostle Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians 5:4-5 NIV


    By the Authority of the Spirit the Apostle commands the leaders of this CHURCH to SHOW the Corinthianchristian‘ his choice between this SIN of the flesh and saving his spirit.

    In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, .. with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

    1 Corinthians 5:4-5 excerpt NKJV


    Σατανᾶς – Satan

    As we frequently fail to enlist the power of the Advocate (the Holy Spirit), so too we dismiss the danger and deception of the Adversary, that is: Satan.

    The Deceiver is an enemy of Christ and enemy of the Church.

    Σατανᾶς – Of Aramaic origin corresponding to Σατάν (G4566)

    The KJV translates Strong’s G4567 in the following manner: Satan (36x).

    adversary (one who opposes another in purpose or act), the name given to
    the prince of evil spirits, the inveterate adversary of God and Christ
    he incites apostasy from God and to sin

    Σατανᾶς – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4567 – satanas
    • What does Paul mean by ‘turning this sinner over to Satan for DESTRUCTION of his FLESH?
    • And how can this sinner’s spirit be saved in the day of the Lord’ by his church turning him over to Satan?
    • As a matter of practice (church practice, if you like) HOW can he be saved?

    the power of our Lord Jesus is present

    The issue is communion, purity of worship. 

    Paul illustrates from the Hebrew Law of God concerning leaven and then applies it to worship of the saints in Corinth.

    6 Your boasting is not good.

    Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?

    7 Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are.

    • Are you truly transformed in Christ?
    • Do you count yourself in Christ as part of His body?
      • (Some may recognize this quote of scripture from the traditional church liturgy of Holy Communion.)

    For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

    8Therefore let us keep the feast..

    not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

    1 Corinthians 5:7b-8 BSB

    Note the importance of the contrast Paul presents for communion of the saints of this new group of believers, the Corinthian Church (as they will be identified by the world).

    When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit.. 1Cor5:4


    Judging Outsiders

    For what have I to do with judging outsiders?

    1 Corinthians 5:12a LSB

    PAUL rhetorically asks a MYOB question Christians hear frequently.

    YET we know (and easily neglect) the Apostle’s point of his related question here FOR THE CHURCH.

    I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people;

    10 I did not at all mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the greedy and swindlers, or with idolaters,

    for then you would have to go out of the world.

    I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin,

    or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people.

    Don’t even eat with such people.

    1 Corinthians 5:11:20 New Living Translation

    Do you not judge those who are inside?

    1 Corinthians 5:12b – NKJV

    Translations vary, but the Apostle’s pointed QUESTION for the Corinthians is no different than the Spirit commands of us:

    Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

    1 Corinthians 5:12b – ESV

    13 God will judge those outside.

    “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

    Seems so simple. Endure such dissentions or face a fellow saint in order to save their soul?


    NEXT: Judging Problems Among Christians – 1 Corinthians 6

    HEADING: International Children’s Bible


  • Gardener, Shepherd and Hunter: 7 Scenes Unseen by Man

    Gardener, Shepherd and Hunter: 7 Scenes Unseen by Man

    ACT 2 – Scene 1 – in an unseen place


    Where am I?

    I have brought you to a place unseen by man.

    You showed me a scene I had never seen of the death of Abel.. and Eve mourning the loss of her son murdered by her other son… and about sin in Eden. Was this story of Moses true?

    I have shown you scenes revealed to Moses from near the beginning of time. His story was true, though Moses was not there.

    Tell me, why did Moses leave Egypt?

     By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter..

    [Click here to read NASB in context]

    Hebrews 11:24

    By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen.

    Hebrews 11:27 NASB

    Moses was sort of a shepherd then, wasn’t he?

    Yes, in a sense.. But a later shepherd led his followers to the right answer from Scripture to your question. Do you recall what David said?

    מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד יְהוָה רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָֽר׃

    The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    Moses followed the unseen Shepherd as he led the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.

    So is this place like when you showed me what happened east of Eden?

    These scenes take place in the unseen places above the heavens — or beneath the earth — places connected to the timeline of man yet separate from the mortal life of any one man or woman.

    I don’t think I understand, I thought as my Guide explained unseen places where He has evidently led me.

    Allow me to show you one such unseen scene from around the time of Moses. The actions here impact a righteous man who lived in a different land. But this scene does not take place there.

    Unseen in Uz

    One day the angels [sons of God] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [the adversary] also came with them.

    The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

    Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

    Job 1:6-7 NIV

    Do you know this story?

    Yes. It’s about Job, who suffers all kinds of evil without knowing why.

    Is Job part of this conversation with the LORD in the unseen place? So who is the main character in this story of Job?

    I knew the obvious answer. Job was clueless about God allowing him to suffer severely for some time.

    Satan.. And didn’t you also say that Moses called him the Serpent?

    You yourself recognized the Serpent as the hunter. And what prey does he hunt?

    Souls! The soul of Cain.. the soul of Eve.. the soul of Adam..

    So too is Satan hissing at God when he calls for evil to tempt Job’s soul toward the pit of darkness.

    So the Serpent’s name is really Satan.

    שָׂטָן

    śāṭānnoun

    superhuman adversary, הַשּׂ׳ :
    a. of Job, one of בְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים Job 1:6, 7 (twice in verse); Job 1:8, 9, 12 (twice in verse); Job 2:1, 2(twice in verse); Job 2:3, 4 (twice in verse); Job 2:6, 7.
    b. of high priest of Israel before י׳, Zechariah 3:1, 2(twice in verse); Greek Version of the LXX. ὁ διάβολος.
    c. as proper name שׂ׳ Satan 1 Chronicles 21:1 (interpret 2 Samuel 24:1), Greek Version of the LXX διάβολος (Greek Version of the LXX σατάν 1 Kings 11:14, 23; Σατανᾶς Matthew 4:10; Mark 1:13; Luke 10:18 + 33 times NT).

    Source- [Lexicon :: Strong’s H7854 – śāṭān

    And as Moses said, this Tempter is cunning; and as a spirit shepherding evil in the unseen places he has many names, sometimes even appearing as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

    שָׂטַן

    śāṭan – verb

    Outline of Biblical Usage
    (Qal) to be or act as an adversary, resist, oppose

    Strong’s Definitions
    שָׂטַן sâṭan, saw-tan’; a primitive root; to attack, (figuratively) accuse:—(be an) adversary, resist.

    Strong’s Number H7853 matches the Hebrew שָׂטַן (śāṭan), which occurs 6 times in 6 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

    Job seemed helpless; not able to do anything about the evil.

    Satan requested permission from God to contend with him on earth.

    My thoughts and countenance were really quite dejected by now..

    Remember what David said about the valley of the shadow of death? .. It is the place of evil.

    I recalled briefly the Lord’s words to Cain before he murdered Abel.. The LORD cautioned Able BEFORE he turned against his brother and against the LORD who was with him and leading him along the valley of the shadow…

    So how can any man resist evil from these unseen places and remain faithful to the LORD?

    Do you know how David petitioned the LORD when God was angry at him for his sin?

    Just like Moses, I thought, David had murdered a man. He had blood on his hands.. NO LESS THAN CAIN!

    A psalm of David. A petition. NIV

    LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

    Psalm 38:1 NIV

    Some prayers are praises to God who we cannot see, while others are petitions from our place near the valley of the shadow to the unseen place — a place above time and circumstance where the Lord sits on the Throne of justice and the Mercy Seat of redemption.

    Psalm 38 NASB, KJ21, OJB, WLC

    Yᵊhōvâ

    Hashem, rebuke me not in Thy wrath; neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.

    2 (3) For Thine khitzim (arrows) pierce me, Thy hand presseth me sorely.

    3 There is no soundness in my flesh, because of Thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin.

    4 For mine iniquities have gone over mine head; as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

    5 My wounds are foul and corrupt because of my foolishness.

    6 (7) I am bent down; I am brought low

    I go in mourning all day long.
    7 For my sides are filled with burning,
    And there is no healthy part in my flesh.

    8 I am feeble and sorely broken; I have groaned because of the disquiet of my heart.

    David pleads for mercy, confessing his guilty deeds by which he deserves the WRATH OF GOD.. He then bows down to God acknowledging:

    Lord, all my desire is before You;
    And my sighing is not hidden from You.

    I know now after seeing these unseen places that I have NO right to expect anything from God…

    David is quiet before the LORD, then pleaing:

    Yes, I am like a person who does not hear,
    And in whose mouth are no arguments.
    15 For I wait for You, Lord;
    You will answer, Lord my God.

    AND listen to David’s plea to the Judge of all men. Read it:

    (WLC 38:21) וּמְשַׁלְּמֵי רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה יִשְׂטְנוּנִי תַּחַת רדופי־ טֽוֹב׃

    They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

    Psalm 38:20 KJV

    Eve encountered an adversary opposed to God! As did the first adam and the sons of adam.. Job.. and David.. And yes, so have you. And WHY? David tells us.

    Because those who follow God and do what is good suffer evil by the hand of the adversary of the LORD God lurking in the unseen places. For Satan is an enemy of all Light which overcomes the darkness.

    21 Do not abandon me, Lord;
    My God, do not be far from me!
    22 Hurry to help me,
    Lord, my salvation!


    The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

    Gospel of John 1:5 NIV

    The Gardener the Shepherd and the Hunter - Introduction to a story by Roger Harned

    To be continued…

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