This brother had already allowed Satan to rule in his heart, so by withdrawing fellowship from him and casting him from their midst the church would be putting him back into the kingdom which Satan reigned (Col. 1:13a; John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19).… Read More 1 Corinthians: “Deliver This Man To Satan”
Not all of the Corinthians were receptive to sound doctrine. These “arrogant” opponents did not think Paul would set foot in Corinth again and admonish them in person. However, he assured the church that he would come to see them personally soon. Once he arrived, Corinth would see that his opponents were “all talk,” but Paul had divine power on his side. He ends his discourse on this subject by asking them if they wished him to discipline them harshly with miraculous power, or in a more loving and gentle manner.… Read More 1 Corinthians: The Easy Way…Or The Hard Way?
The Corinthians thought the apostles and prophets must be living the good life due to converting all those people and having so much respect within the brotherhood. In reality, they lived a hard life of toil and were considered to be on the same level as “scum” (perikatharmata, pond scum, slime) and “refuse” (peripsema, dirt or filth you would wipe away, garbage)…and yet they responded to such persecution exactly as Jesus directed them (cf. Lk. 6:28; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9; Rom. 12:17).… Read More 1 Corinthians: “We Have Become A Spectacle”
It’s easy for us to “think of (ourselves) more highly than (we) ought to think” (Rom. 12:3). We might do this by emphasizing who taught us, where we went to school, what our jobs or incomes are, what office we hold or work we do in the church, to whom we’re related, what VIP we know, or where we live. We must realize that we are all the same in God’s eyes, and view ourselves and each other with humility.… Read More 1 Corinthians: We’re All The Same In God’s Eyes
Nothing written in God’s Word has ever commanded or promoted the decision to give allegiance to mere men instead of the Lord; indeed, the exact opposite is recorded in Scripture (Matt. 23:5-12). By glorifying Paul, Apollos, and others instead of Christ, the Corinthian Christians had indeed “go(ne) beyond what is written.” To go beyond the authority of God’s Word is sinful (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Josh 1:7; Prov. 30:6; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-10; Rev. 22:18-19).… Read More 1 Corinthians: Do Not Go Beyond What Is Written
Pre-Denominational Christianity 
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