A Day of Remembrance

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Remember

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NLT)

Today and throughout the year we ought to remember those who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom.

Remember

Today and throughout the year we should also remember someone else who willingly died for us.

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have a rich and satisfying life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  (John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us to free us from the grasp of sin and allow us to live for what is right.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed.  (1 Peter 2:24 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  (1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT)

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  (John 8:36 NLT)

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 12)

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Addressing the pride and arrogance of the Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 4:6-13 (NLT)

6 Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. 7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
8 You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. 9 Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.
10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. 11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. 12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.

  • Pay attention to the scriptures, not the opinions of man.
  • Do not judge others. Don’t be proud and arrogant.
  • Everything you have is from God.
  • God will supply all of your needs.
  • Humility is the only acceptable posture for the Christian, in light of all that God has done for them.
  • Don’t think you are better than you really are.
  • Christians should expect to be mistreated for their faith.

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
(1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 11)

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 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’ (Matthew 25:23 NLT) 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NLT)

1 So look at Apollos and me as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. 2 Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. 3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.
5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

  •  God can use anyone to share spiritual truths.
  • Spiritual truths are revealed by the Holy Spirit.
  • People sharing spiritual truths use the Spirit’s words, not words that come from human wisdom, to explain Spiritual truths.
  • Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
  • Our purpose should be to please God, not people.
  • A clear conscience does not prove you are right.
  • God will judge everyone according to what they have done.
  • Do not judge others.
  • God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.  (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 10)

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So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19 (NLT) 

1 Corinthians 3:16-23 (NLT)

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
18 Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say,
“He traps the wise
in the snare of their own cleverness.”
20 And again,
“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise;
he knows they are worthless.”
21 So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you— 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

  • The body of believers is the temple of God.
  • Christ is the head of the church.
  • Collective and corporate worship is a vital part of spiritual life.
  • God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple.
  • Christians should aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
  • God’s temple is holy.
  • The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.
  • Don’t boast about following a particular human leader.
  • Christians are heirs of God’s glory.
  • Christians belong to God, not the leaders of their church.

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 9)

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Gold, Silver, or Jewels vs. Wood, Hay, or Straw

1 Corinthians 3:5-15 (NLT)

5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

  •  Christians were created to do good works, which God prepared in advance for them to do.
  • Within the body of Christ, some plant “seeds” (lay the foundation) and some water “the seeds” (nurture believers).
  • God makes the seeds grow. God alone produces results.
  • The Church (us) is responsible to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church.
  • Both those who plant and those who water will be rewarded for their hard work.
  • Christians need to be careful to make Jesus Christ the foundation of the Gospel.
  • On the judgment day, some of our work will survive and some of our work is burned up.
  • Salvation is not dependent on works.

 

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 8)

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The Need to Transition From Milk to Meat.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NLT)

1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

  •  Some Christians can only digest “milk”, not “solid food”.
  • When sharing with believers, adjust your message to match the spiritual maturity of your audience.
  • Some Christians are controlled by their sinful nature.
  • When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: … quarreling, jealousy … and other sins like these.
  • Live in harmony with each other.
  • Don’t participate in quarreling and jealousy.
  • Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

 

I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.   (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

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He is Risen!

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“Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen.”

(If you have not read the Good Friday post I suggest that you read it now.)

The Resurrection

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1-7 ESV)

 More than 500 people saw the resurrected Christ.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

40 days after Easter Christ was taken up into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God.

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 ESV)

Christ is now preparing a place for all Christians in Heaven and will come again to take all believers to be with him.

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3 ESV)

Do you believe this?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

You may also want to read “Whoever  Believes”

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Good Friday

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Good Friday is the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross a little more than 2000 years ago.  Jesus suffered the slow, public, painful, humiliating death that was generally reserved for those who had committed heinous crimes.

  • Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Son of God.

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I (God the Father) am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them …  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:2-7 ESV)

  • Scripture tells us that Jesus created the world.

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV)

All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3 ESV)

  • Scripture tells us that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. (John 1:1 ESV)

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

I (Jesus) and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 ESV)

  • Jesus Christ, God the Son, out of obedience to God the Father, died on the cross.

… but (Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV)

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)

  • Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)

… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the universe, God the Son, willingly came to earth in human form to die on a cross so that our broken relationship with God could be restored.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

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Maundy Thursday

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Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. Many people refer to this event as the Last Supper.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  (Luke 22:7, 8, 14, & 15 NLT)

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” During the Last Supper Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment.

“ …. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. … So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”  (John 13:33-35 NLT)

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  (1 John 4:7-11 NLT)

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Reflections on 1 Corinthians (Part 7)

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Wisdom from the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:8-16 (NLT)
8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,
“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to teach him?”
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

Wisdom from the Spirit

  • God’s truth is undiscoverable apart from divine revelation.
  • God’s truth is not learned through academic pursuits.
  • God’s truth is only revealed by the Holy Spirit.
  • The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth.
  • The Holy Spirit gives believers words to explain spiritual truths.
  • Unregenerate people are unable to evaluate spiritual truths.
  • Believers have the mind of Christ.

 I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
(1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

“Reflections on 1 Corinthians” will be continued in future posts.

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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