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Tag: Church

Spiritual Pride Immorality Judged 1 Corinthians 5
Does Spiritual Pride prevent christians who come to church on Sunday from offering more than a cup of coffee (very light with lots of froth) to Corinthians (or Cincinnatians) seeking the Lord Jesus?

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
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True evangelism of Christ through all Scripture becomes a personal challenge to us.
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Pride in Preaching!

WE love our church — don’t we?

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
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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.
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“.. 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.

Yet sexual sin unconfronted as grace condones a witness of christian culture where unrepentance persists.
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Our Common Era flood of destruction flows from the sins of the church. 

The world sees christian sin witnessed as worship.
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The Apostle calls on leaders of the Church to judge and remove the offender of Christ.

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
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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." 
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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.

Immorality Rebuked – KJV

Sin in the Church – NLV

Wickedness in the Church – International Children’s Bible

Deviant Behavior – New Catholic Bible

Immorality Defiles the Church – NKJV

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church- ESV

Throw Out the Evil Person! – NIRV

Paul Condemns Spiritual Pride – New Living Translation

Sexual Immorality Rebuked – NASB
- And also from the NKJV a Sub-HEADING to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
Immorality Must Be Judged

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 Corinthian ‘christian‘ 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.
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The Deceiver is an enemy of Christ and enemy of the Church.
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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

Take Action, Church! Don’t overlook this.
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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.
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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
September 19, 2024
1 Corinthians 3 Meat for Ministers
and Milk for New Babes

In his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle typically begins with encouragement.

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 1:4-5 CSB

And Paul will, as is his custom, close this epistle written in Greek with the same personalness of the Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
I Corinthians 16:23-24 CSB

However HERE in the meat of his message Paul addresses the Corinthian church most pointedly, especially its ministers and leaders.

AND the Apostle also will close with a CURSE of those who would divide Christ by their own means.

If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!
1 Corinthians 16:22 AMP

1 Corinthians 3:
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Lest we take a more common casual contemporary approach let us begin with the King James Version.
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And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

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.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
1 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV
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There it is: the Apostle's initial summary of the problem reported to him of the Corinthian church. 

NOTE a few of the HEADINGS various Bibles use for their serious doctrinal issues:
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- The Church and Its Leaders
- Divisions in the Church
- Sectarianism Is Carnal
- Jesus Christ, Our Foundation
- But I cannot yet call you spiritual
Are you Spiritual? OR Carnal?

Christian, (brother, as Paul addresses the Corinthian readers, who would also read the Apostle’s letter to the whole church, including women) — Dear MINISTER to your Corinthian community — HAVE YOU RECEIVED CHRIST?

or DO you just lift up the preaching of one minister over the teaching of another?

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
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HEAR in your heart Paul's CONTRAST of those gathered together as the Corinthian church.
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πνευματικός – pneumatikos

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:1a NIV

AND the Apostle has already brought our consequent condition IN CHRIST to the forefront.

ANNOUNCEMENT of the Testimony of GOD

1 Corinthians 2

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual…

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
1 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV
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Judge ALL things, 
 yet judge NO ONE.

Are you and your church doing any better than the Corinthians?
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Fleshy Carnal ‘christians‘

Paul points to those unbelievers from the world who join us to worship God.

WE ought to influence those who are BABES in their FLESH and FAITH without including their carnality so as to be like them.

CARNAL iS NOT a nice enough word to describe someone sitting next to you on Sunday in your evangelical 21st century C.E. ‘church‘ is it?
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Never-the-less, WE all know what WE are by NATURE 
and what we were before confessing Christ.
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Some translations of the BIBLE describe our carnal ‘worldliness‘ as IN THE FLESH.

The KJV translates Strong’s G4559 in the following manner: carnal (9x), fleshly (2x).
- having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
  - governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
  - having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
  - human: with the included idea of depravity
The Humanist by embracing ALL humanity denies our demonstrable depravity as godless creatures of desire.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

PAUL had nurtured the Corinthians with SPIRITUAL MILK as babes at the breast. The Corinthians, a NEW church of Hellenists, naturally admired oratory and great emotional appeals. Christ through Paul adopted these children (though they were adults) drawn even as Greeks to this JESUS of the JEWS.

Powerful Preaching to powerless Christians

Luke describes Apollos’ preaching as eloquent

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.
1 Corinthians 3:2-3a NKJV
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IS IT STILL THE MILK YOU REQUIRE, BELOVED EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN OF THIS COMMON ERA TIME AND PLACE?
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What makes US Carnal?

Paul tells the Corinthian believers what to judge — how to identify in others MINISTERS claiming Christ.
- ζῆλος – zēlos – ENVYING
- ἔρις – eris – STRIFE
- διχοστασία – dichostasia – DIVISIONS among you
After sending a second letter to the Corinthians next year, Paul will write to the Romans in A.D. 57:

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Romans 16:17 NKJV
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In essence, give them back to the world and the enemy of Christ.
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Mere Men, Mere Ministers
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NKJV 3:4 
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

The rhetorical QUESTION of personal accountability in Greek reads:

οὐκ ἄνθρωποί ἐστε

(I imagine that you will recognize the word.)
more literally:
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eimi [are you] ou [not] anthrōpos
- LSB v.3 for you are still fleshly [sarkikos]
- .. are you not fleshly [sarkikos]
- are you not walking like mere men? [anthrōpos]?
- are you not carnal [sarkikos] and behaving like mere men [anthrōpos]?
- v.4 .. ARE YOU NOT anthrōpos?
The Apostle goes on to point out through his apologia that PERSONALITIES do not matter OR who it was that BAPTIZED you (where you publically confessed to ALL that JESUS CHRIST is LORD!)

Ministers of Christ

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
1 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV

The Apostle had pointed to their divisions by minister and he will mention Peter [Cephas] even more in his rebuke of their schisms.
- Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” – 1 Cor. 1:12
- whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, – 1 Corinthians 3:22 LSB
Paul uses imagery of sowing [planting a new church in various places] and watering [the very symbol of baptism, cleansing and in a sense the milk of pure nourishment required for growth].

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one..
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one? (as opposed to divided?)

What does the Apostle mean by this?
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Paul will later emphasize the ONENESS of spirit in ministers of the church writing later in this letter:

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

For even as the body is one^G1520 and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one^G1520 body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:12 LSB

3:8b ..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9a For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field..

the Reward of your Labor
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The Apostle now changes the metaphor and picture of faith for the Corinthian church to visualize in his Epistle.

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. - 1 Cor. 3:9 NLT 
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..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

θεοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν συνεργοί θεοῦ γεώργιον θεοῦ οἰκοδομή ἐστε
1 Cor. 3:9 TEXTUS RECEPTUS
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For those of us who do not understand Paul's eloquent GREEK text, rather than leaning on a single ENGLISH translation let's observe some of what we know from Paul's Greek words in this verse.
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For we are laborers together

synergos – συνεργός
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers^G4904 in Christ Jesus – Romans 16:3

Timotheus my workfellow, G4904 – Romans 16:23a
with God [THEOS], you are God’s

geōrgion – γεώργιον
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I didn't know this one. a (presumed) derivative of γεωργός (G1092) husbandman
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husbandry – a cultivated field, husbandry (as in the animal husbandry of tending sheep), tillage (tilling soil for planting and growth)

It is the WORK -early work – BEFORE the harvest.

You are God’s farming, translates the HNV and in most English translations: you are God’s field.

SO Paul has been preaching that it does not matter to YOU THE SOIL in Corinth (or in your home church) the names of the MINISTERS who labored in you.

EACH will have their separate reward.

The Apostle then builds on this:

You are God’s [Theos]

oikodomē – οἰκοδομή

metaph. edifying, edification

the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
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..and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. 1 Cor. 3:8b RSV
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What wage have you earned for edifying other Christians?

(Paul will speak more to this later.)

NEXT: Christ’s Contractor

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation..
1 Corinthians 3:10a NKJV – Paulos klētos apostolos iēsous christos

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
July 8, 2024
Doctrines of the Common Era
2025 Common Era christians only

Are christian pulpits erasing Christ’s line in the shifting sands of Biblical DOCTRINE?

Is our Church proclaiming JESUS Christ in these last days?

SATURDAY Series – Biblical Jargon for Common Era Christians

JAN & FEB 2025 CE

FOR the first two months of 2025 C.E. we examined true teachings of the Bible to understanding a few COMMON christian terms.

Take ANY commonly used christian jargon such as: gospel, grace, saved, redeemed, soul, flesh, sanctified, justified, forgiven, hell, heaven, lord, king, priest, prophet.. and MANY MORE..

2024 C.E.

Here’s a QUESTION for fellow believers about our terms of teaching, preaching and our personal fruit of the faith:

Christian Doctrine —What’s the Point?

WHAT teachings did YOUR ‘christian‘ church preach in 2024 of the Common Era?

How has DOCTRINE from Scripture evolved in two millennia of Church teaching into a blurred line in the sand erasing Biblical Truth?
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Which doctrines will fit into a Common Era culture that no longer lives in Truth or desires a relational church?
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Is YOUR Gospel simply GOOD NEWS for a COMMON ERA AUDIENCE to APPLAUD?

IS corporate worship of JESUS Christ as God our Savior, the One Redeemer from SIN INCLUDED in YOUR Common Era evangelism?

As a Christian follower of the Lord JESUS Christ, Roger invites you to examine our evolving COMMON ERA culture in ‘christian‘ worship and practice.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com
- Does worship by your church resist the temptation to ERASE Christ’s DOCTRINES commanded by Scripture?
Compare and apply the teaching and preaching of
- The Life of the Common Era church
  - to Scripture
God-willing, we will continue our focus on preaching in 2025 C.E. by defining, applying and comparing the TEACHING of the church with the Word of the BIBLE.

Find the Way, the Truth and the Life in our Everlasting Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. –
Hebrews 5:12

2025 CE Doctrine

SATURDAY POST SERIES – Biblical Jargon

January & February

Biblical Jargon for Common Christians

Category: Doctrines CE

Comment on Scripture (you who believe).

MORE looks back at DOCTRINE
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Although we began this category in 2023 C.E. as an updated look at DOCTRINE, in our travels with the Apostle Paul in ACTS and re-reading some of his LETTERS to the churches I have once again begun ASKING US the QUESTIONS of our Biblical Christian Doctrine and hope to hear your answers about these foundational beliefs. - RH
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Proclaim the scriptural doctrines of the Gospel.

About Roger – TalkofJESUS.com Doctrine & teaching

2024 of the COMMON ERA DOCTRINE

Please comment on any DOCTRINES C.E. post listed chronologically below:

DOCTRINE DEFINED

GOD

SCRIPTURE
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THE DOCTRINE [teaching] of JESUS CHRIST [3-post SERIES]. 
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(Perhaps the most controversial of all BIBLICAL revelation of GOD.)

JESUS

JESUS – 2

JESUS – 3

Don’t miss our look at the Trinity

Holy Spirit

Trinity

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
June 29, 2024