Lesson 1279

(Lesson 1279)(03-31-15) 1 Corinthians 12:1-7

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."

Today's quote clearly and simply states that God dispenses many talents and special gifts among those who belong to Him. Paul made it very clear herein that those talents and special gifts are backed by the power of the Holy Spirit and are all to be exercised in an effort to honor and glorify God. Those gifts and special talents are also to uplift and encourage the membership of the Church as well as to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all those who wish to learn it.

In the following lessons, Paul identifies some of those talents and how they are to be applied.

Lesson 1278

(Lesson 1278)(03-30-15) 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come."

Today's quote tells us that Paul had instructed the Corinthians that the Lord's supper was to be carried out by a very select group of people and for only one very special purpose, that being to bring the Death of Jesus Christ to remembrance until He returns.

Therefore, the Lord's supper serves no purpose other than to be a reminder of Jesus' death means to the believer.

We should note that Jesus, as quoted by Paul, gave no special instruction as to when, or even if the children or God are commanded to practice the ritual of the Lord's supper.

Jesus simply said "as often" as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do it to remember the purpose of the Lord's death until He returns.

Also herein, Paul gave a warning to those who might participate in the ritual of the Lord's supper "unworthily". He said that those who eat and drink "unworthily" eat and drink damnation unto themselves. I believe it can safely be said that many of those who practice the ritual today do so unworthily.

I believe that every child of God should carefully study everything the bible says about the Lord's Supper, and deal with their findings as they are led by the Holy Spirit remembering that Paul said, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."~

Lesson 1277

(Lesson 1277)(03-29-15) 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."

In today's quote Paul spoke of the obvious disagreement that was going on among the members of the Corinthian Church. He called out those who were teaching heresy in the Church. Paul also made it very clear that, contrary to what almost every "Christian" denomination teaches today, the "Lord's Supper" was, nor is, to be eaten during a regular assembly of the Church, as that applies to Christians today, every Sunday; "When ye come together therefore into one place, this IS NOT TO EAT THE LORD'S SUPPER." That statement cannot be made clearer than Paul made it herein.

Even with that knowledge, there are still literally hundreds of millions worldwide who, contrary to Paul's instruction, still offer the ritual of the "Lord's Supper", or "Communion", at the "Church" on every designated "worship" day.

In the latter part of today's quote Paul also ridiculed the Corinthians for, more or less, bringing takeout meals and eating them in Church; "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."

A designated assembly of the the children of God is to serve only three purposes, the first is to honor and glorify God, the second is to uplift and encourage the membership by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, the third is to see to the needs of the membership.~

Lesson 1276

(Lesson 1276)(03-28-15) 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of god. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

Today's quote does not sit well with most women today. Paul, herein, seems to "put women in their place" concerning their standing alongside men. However, closer study of what Paul said in this text reveals that he was only conveying the tradition under the Law of Moses. Note that in the final verse of this quote Paul said, "we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

In that short statement Paul made it clear that none of the rules listed above were applicable to the Church.

In a letter to the Galatians the pecking order among the children of God is made very clear; "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28)~

NOTE: The phrase "baptized into Christ" means exactly what it says. A child of God is immersed, by faith, into Jesus Christ crucified, not immersed into water into Christ, as some contend.

Lesson 1275

(Lesson 1275)(03-27-15) 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

In today's quote, Paul reiterates, in essence, that being the children of God does not limit what we are allowed to do. In other words, Christianity does not restrict our activity so long as those activities fall within the parameters of the two "great" commandments; Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)However, for expedience sake, we are to conduct ourselves in a manner so as not to be offensive to those who believe differently that we.

He also reiterates that in whatever we do we are to always be careful to give all the glory to God~

Lesson 1274

(Lesson 1274)(03-26-15) 1 Corinthians 10:18-22

"Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?"

First, let me say, that in this quote, Paul was addressing the Jewish members of the Church at Corinth. He was trying to convince them that the rules of Christianity were altogether different compared to the rules under the Law of Moses before the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Today's quote demands that we, the children of God, are to shun any activity that might lean away from Christianity by promoting the rituals of false doctrines. We are not to take part in any religious ritual or symbolism that does not honor and glorify our one true God.

Paul said; "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." That means that if you are practicing the rituals of idol worshipers then you are not fully devoting your worship to God.

If you belong to God, then do those things that associate you with Him. Not the things that might associate you with false doctrines.~

Lesson 1273

(Lesson 1273)(03-25-15) 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."

I have referred back to these two verses from yesterday's quote in order to further clarify what I believe was Paul's intent when he made the reference to eating the body and drinking the blood of Jesus Christ. We must make note that Paul made that statement in the context of condemning the idolatrous practice of eating meat that was sacrificed to idols.

There are many who, when they read those two verses standing alone, accept what Paul said as confirmation that the practice of "The Lord's Supper", or "communion", was, and is still, required of the Churches to be an ongoing, oft celebrated, ritual.

In my opinion, that assertion is misleading and wrong. Paul was clearly not referring to the literal body and blood of Christ when he made that statement. He used the body and blood of Jesus as a metaphor for the sanctifying factor, the glue, that binds the lost to God through faith in that same Jesus Christ, crucified.

The partaking of the body and blood of Jesus Christ represents an immersion into His sacrifice, it is our baptismal (immersion into by faith) a union with His death, burial, and resurrection. The event is not something that I can confirm is to be, or even can be, practiced over and over again.~