Author: Jon Mitchell

1 Corinthians: Giving Up Freedoms and Keeping Our Scruples To Ourselves

The agape (self-sacrificial) love God wants all Christians to have for others must motivate each of us to not “seek his own good,” but rather “the good of his neighbor,” even to the point of being willing to forego that which God gives us the freedom to do.  However, we love our freedoms.  We don’t want to give up anything we have the right to do.… Read More 1 Corinthians: Giving Up Freedoms and Keeping Our Scruples To Ourselves

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1 Corinthians: The Value of the Old Testament…And Humility

What is written in the Old Testament is there to serve as an admonishing, instructive example to Christians today (cf. Rom. 15:4; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).  This is why we must study the Old Testament, even though we are not obligated to follow the tenets of Moses’ law as Israel was (Heb. 8:7-13). And in doing so, we must not arrogantly think that just because we follow God in various ways that we could never fall prey to unrepentant sin. … Read More 1 Corinthians: The Value of the Old Testament…And Humility

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1 Corinthians: “Baptized Into Moses”

Since clouds are also composed of H2O, one could say that Israel was completely surrounded by water – the cloud being above them and the Red Sea on either side of them.  This is why Paul says that they “were baptized (baptizo, literally immersed or submerged) into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (10:2).  Just as one is completely surrounded by water while being baptized (baptizo, immersed, submerged) for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16), Israel had also been surrounded by water during their escape from Egyptian bondage. Thus, Israel’s Red Sea crossing also serves as a copy and shadow of what baptism does for Christians today.… Read More 1 Corinthians: “Baptized Into Moses”

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