I Corinthians: Recent Episodes
Twin Cities Grace Fellowship
Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher finishes his examination of 1st Corinthians. Paul's final words not only serve as reference points to issues that arise in 2 Corinthians but also as final words of exhortation and warning. Paul communicates the Corinthians ought to esteem and submit themselves to those who do the work of the Lord and are addicted to the ministry. Thus, Paul's commendation of Timothy, Apollos, the house of Stephanas, and others shows how the doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction within the letter ought to work in the Corinthians.
One of the final problems Paul corrects the Corinthians on is their view of riches and use of them in the ministry. Paul was led to remember the poor, especially the poor saints at Jerusalem. It was an opportunity the Holy Ghost used to teach the church about giving. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher teaches the godly attitude and course Paul was teaching concerning their giving in this ministration, which becomes a pattern for all grace-giving.
One of the mysteries Paul was a steward is in the realm of understanding the bodily resurrection, specifically of those that are alive when Christ comes. Flesh and blood (those living) cannot inherit the kingdom of God, therefore, what will happen to them? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher in this sermon goes through the mystery that Paul shows to the Corinthians.
In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher continues to develop Paul's answers to the questions - how are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? In this passage, Paul details that there is a natural body and a spiritual body and that which was first is natural and the spiritual afterward. The natural body generated by Christ from the dust of the earth is earthy and due to sin is sown in corruption, dishonor, and is weak; yet, the spiritual body is generated from the power Christ has to subdue all things unto Himself by His resurrection. This spiritual body bears the image of the heavenly - the Lord from heaven and is raised in incorruption, glory, and power. Paul then provides us a great and precious promise as we have borne the image of the earthy so we will bear the image of the heavenly, the second, and the last because of the second man and last Adam - Jesus Christ Who is the resurrection and life.
Resurrection is not a fable but rather a forethought of God reflected in the third through sixth days of Creation. Therefore, creation itself provides lessons of resurrection answering the two questions fools ask - how are the dead raised? and, with what body do they come? In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher preaches on the lessons of creation that Paul uses concerning our future bodily resurrection because of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
Resurrection makes all things new, even suffering. If there is no resurrection from the dead then Christians are of all men most miserable, there is no advantage in suffering, and Christians should just engage in pagan hedonistic philosophy - "eat, drink, for tomorrow we die". Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher details in this sermon the advantage of resurrection in suffering in this life and the life to come and the admonishment and warning Paul gives concerning those that have the knowledge of God but have been deceived and had evil communications corrupt their good manners.
What are the consequences if there is no resurrection from the dead? What would this mean for Paul and those with him preaching the resurrection? What would it mean for those who have believed in Christ, that He rose from the dead? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher picks up Paul's argument of the negative and positive consequences if there is or isn't resurrection from the dead. Resurrection is a part of God's plan that God may be all in all through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and destroy all enemies.
Paul knows a fundamental issue to the manners in the church at Corinth was not only from a lack of charity and a lack of understanding but from some evil communications. The Corinthians have allowed evil communications concerning the resurrection from the dead to come in and Paul discerns it has corrupted their good manners. Hence, Paul's exposition and defense of the bodily resurrection from the dead. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher delivers the opening points of Paul's exposition - the gospel, his preaching, and eyewitnesses of Christ's resurrection from the dead.
The gathering together of the members of Christ's body in one place is to reflect decency and order and function decently and in order. Decency and order promote understanding and edification. Paul's instruction on this matter infers a lack of charity, decency, and order and thereby a lack of edification. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher covers the course, waiting, and manner of service the Corinthians were to have in their gathering. The detail of the manner of service the Corinthians were to have provides us much understanding of how the church is to function that "all things be done unto edifying."
The gift of tongues is one of the most confused spiritual gifts of all time; however, it wasn't confused to the apostle Paul. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher highlights some key features of the gift of tongues that easily identify the counterfeits. The gift of tongues was a sign for unbelievers outside the church. The gift of tongues was permitted in the church only when there was an interpreter, thus making the gift of tongues a legitimate language not gibberish. Learn more in this sermon.
Before the "perfect" comes the church was to operate with that which they possessed "in part", but to do so with "charity". Charity would guide the church's use of the spiritual gifts to edification. We traversed through Paul's instruction that prophesying genders to edification whereas tongues, the spiritual gift the Corinthians coveted, do not.
Charity was to accompany spiritual gifts and without it, the Corinthians were nothing and profited from each other nothing. To signify the greatness of charity Paul turns to describe that the spiritual gifts would fail, cease, and vanish away. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher illustrates the present time of Paul's life and a future time of Paul's life with regard to the church. There would come a time when the perfect knowledge would come and it would afford the Corinthians to no longer be children, but men. What was "in part" would be done away, but charity both then and forever would abide.
In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher continues to exposit the greatness of charity and the features revealed in God's Word in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Contextually, charity must accompany the spiritual gifts the gift is to reflect the gift-giver. This sermon continues to examine charity specifically that it "doth not behave itself unseemly", and "seeketh not her own".
Charity bear injuries upon one's own estate. It envy's not another's estate and does not vaunt its own estate. In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher brings to view humility and lowliness of mind as the remedy for vaunting. Instead of vaunting one with charity esteems not their personal estate but to use it to better the estate of another.. Herein is the mind of Christ and God's love toward us in Christ.
The progression of what "charity" is and isn't and there what it does and doesn't moves from bearing injuries upon your own estate to now your view of others estate. In this lesson, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher examines how charity views and treats the estate of another as to not be the vessel by which the Christian avoids bringing injuries upon another's estate in envy.
Charity suffers long, but that isn't it. Charity is kind. This one-two punch of charity provides the strength to not be weary in well-doing. Charity being kind isn't simply to those are worthy of it, but to those unworthy. Charity is kind toward those we suffer long, to those whom we bear injuries from. In this lesson Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher once again draws out the source, power, and labor of charity.
The glory of charity has no bounds - it is reflected when it is free and when it is supposedly bound by injuries. Charity suffers long and is kind. Yet, what does longsuffering mean? To what injuries to we bear so long? Is it all or some and for how long? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher, examines details of charity as it suffers long where we get a further glimpse of the prominence of charity and of our Savior's love toward us at Calvary and beyond.
The glory of charity has no bounds - it is reflected when it is free and when it is supposedly bound by injuries. Charity suffers long and is kind. Yet, what does longsuffering mean? To what injuries to we bear so long? Is it all or some and for how long? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher, examines details of charity as it suffers long where we get a further glimpse of the prominence of charity and of our Savior's love toward us at Calvary and beyond.
Body identification is important to understand the equality and the diversity within Christ's body which we are members of having believed the gospel of the grace of God. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher clearly brings out being "baptized into one body" we are "of the body" no matter what member of the body we are. Also, being a member we are different from other members for the profit of the whole.
A major them to 1 Corinthians is fellowship. Fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and with those that belong to Him that there be no division and Christians would be perfectly joined together. The apostle Paul brings this unity up in the context of the diversity of spiritual gifts. Such gifts weren't to divide but profit the whole body of Christ. The communion of the church can be seen in who baptized them, what baptism means, where we are all baptized into, and that which we all drink. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher details the significance of baptism in understanding unity, as well as, the provision of our drink and unity.
The spiritual gifts given by the Spirit of God were given for the profit of the whole. Paul then utilizes the physical body as an illustration of the concept of diversity in unity for corporate edification. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher expounds that unity is ours as Christians because just as the physical body is one so have we been baptized into one body. And just as our physical body has many members so also has the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts was to manifest these wonderful truths.
The spiritual gifts provide us understanding of the live of the local church early in the dispensation of the grace of God. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses that the spiritual gifts would operate until the perfect knowledge of Christ would come. Yet, once the perfect came, the vitality of the church would continue through the word of truth effectually working in the life of them that believe. Spiritual gifts help us to understand the diversity and unity to be had in the functioning of the body in the church.
The apostle Paul makes it clear he is addressing the full onslaught of the Corinthians ignorance when it comes to spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were once carried away unto dumb idols and such dumbness has corrupt the spiritual gifts and the manifestation of the Spirit. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses that spiritual gifts are not dumb, vain, or profane. Instead, spiritual gifts are the power to minister Christ's ministrations to carry out the operations of God. In this lesson Josh also briefly examines how God does work today.
Spiritual gifts are not simply vain hysteria nor were they to be used for profaning the Godhead that gave them. Spiritual gifts had a purpose to minister something to carry out an operation of God. In this lesson, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses the purpose, intent, and activity with the Godhead as it concerned spiritual gifts, administrations, and operations.
The Corinthians manifested their ignorance concerning spiritual gifts with similar past dumbness with dumb idols by permitting others to teach, "Jesus is accursed". Paul addresses this error, but has been sprinkling in this epistle prior to chapter twelve the Lordship of Christ. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher delves into two primary things to understand when considering the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that is, He is creator and redeemer.
Ignorance destroys the spiritual growth of the believer and of the local assembly. The Corinthians were riddle with problems from a lack of knowledge and understanding and there abuse of spiritual gifts was no different. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher looks at Paul's introduction to spiritual gifts by calling out the Corinthians ignorance, past Gentile dumbness, and the fruit of all this which is supposed spiritual gifts used to call the One that gave them, Jesus Christ the Lord, accursed.
Having received the Spirit of God we are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God provides us the spirit which is of God. Thus, the Spirit of God reveals to us the things freely given to us of God and teaches us those things by comparing them to the spirit of the world. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher points out that our discerning, examining, and judging is all part of the renewing of our mind for the spiritually minded believer. Discernment, examination, and judgment in light of Christ begins with us and how we are viewing ourself and how we are viewing another. Do we see others in the church as the Lord's body? Do we shew the Lord's death? Are we partaking in the Lord's supper and not our own?
The table of the Lord is to be in the mind and hearts remembrance of every member of the body of Christ. Christ did the will of the Father in love for us. A testimony deposited in the word of truth. A testimony we ought to be feasting upon and behold as it changes us. The Corinthians were not eating and drinking at the table of the Lord and it showed in not having the Lord's supper, but their own supper. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher examines the shewing of the Lord's death we are to be engaged in when the church gathers together in one place, as well as, the skill of discerning the Lord's body.
Once it is understood what the Lord's table and the Lord's supper are and that they are not the same thing it is easier to understand the Corinthians were having their own supper. We belong to and are for the Lord. Therefore, all that we do and say is to be done in view of His Word and from the heart obey. Thus all is the Lord's. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher expounds that the Lord's table is to impact the Corinthians supper (that it be the Lord's) in order to shew the Lord's death. The spiritual provision of the Lord's table provides an outward shew till Christ comes.
The Corinthians were not having the Lord's supper. They partook in their own supper - so what is the difference? Both involve a meal and eating; however, the Lord's supper reflects the Lord Himself, His will, and sacrifice. Their own supper reflects themself, their own, and their own consideration. This was manifest in that one was drunken and another hungry. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses the difference between the Lord's table and the Lord's supper and what we are to do in spirit and body is to be the Lord's.
The Lord's Supper and the Lord's Table are almost entirely conflated within the church; yet, they are not the same. The Lord's table provides all things to be the Lord's. The Lord's death is like no other death. The Lord's body are the souls He has redeemed by grace through faith. Our mortal bodies are the Lord's. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof. Christ died, rose, and revived that He would be Lord of both the dead and the living. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher examines the table of the Lord is the spiritual provisions we have received and find our spiritual growth from - by the Word of God. Learn that the mind of Christ is to be exemplified in the life of the believer even to the degree that a supper together belongs to the Lord.
A final look at the Corinthians head-covering custom and the societal nature of men and women's hair to reflect the ordinance of godly headship. The custom isn't to be contended, but the ordinance.
The marriage bed is undefiled and is to be enjoyed and honored. These verses oftentimes are abused and misused to imposed intimacy instead of being the "benevolence" that promotes and is winsome toward intimacy.
Marriage is one of many ways to avoid fornication; that is, to enjoy your own wife or your own husband in due benevolence. The marriage is honorable and the marriage bed undefiled and should be understood graciously.
We are purchased by a price and are no longer our own. Therefore since we belong to the Lord our body and spirit joined to Christ we are to glorify Him with both.
Those washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ live not by the chants of the day, but by the power of God. Our body doesn't belong to sin or the world, but by the One Whom bought it therefore it is for Him.
Upon what do we make our judgments in this life based. Is it upon the laws of men, the wisdom of the world, our own opinions, etc or upon the wisdom of God and that which is "expedient"?
The world may allow and permit unrighteousness, but such things are not expedient for those in Christ. We are not to yield to the wisdom and power of the world, but the wisdom and power of God.
Paul corrects from the premise of grace. Dare any of you (Corinthians) act like the unrighteous that will not inherit the kingdom of God which you were, but you are washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ.
Paul's correction for the Corinthians going to law against another before the unjust is based upon the knowledge of the superiority of our vocation in the life and world to come.
Paul's correction for the Corinthians going to law against another before the unjust is based upon the knowledge of the superiority of our vocation in the life and world to come.
The Corinthians shame intensifies in chapter 6 instead of forgiveness they go to law, instead of suffering they defraud, and instead of dealing with the matters in the church they esteem the world's laws greater than the gospel. Such shame manifests Christ isn't weak, but strong, but they are weak.
Learn more about keeping company which is part and parcel of the believers fellowship in Christ. Therefore, the identity and conduct of those we keep company with is vital to be able to judge right judgments and do so from God's perspective.
Those that are "in Christ" are washed, thus justified and sanctified. As the Corinthians are unleavened they are to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The church is unleavened, but in its life needs to be cleansed, to perfect holiness by correction, repentance, and restoration.
The Corinthians failure to esteem the wisdom of God has resulted in an embrace of the wisdom of God along with its fornication. Paul now begins to deal with their unrighteousness with the necessary reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
After upholding God's wisdom in Christ in the face of the Corinthians love for the wisdom and riches of the world, Paul addresses the results of such love for the world, that is, you act it. Paul takes on the sexual and spiritual fornication in the upcoming chapters.
Paul wraps of the first major section to the Corinthians by holding them accountable to that which he has written to them concerning the wisdom of God in Christ.
Paul's warning of his coming to hold the Corinthians responsible to follow the Paul's ways which be in Christ - such is the kingdom of God.
A quick survey of the sufferings of Christ that Paul was appointed to that his faithfulness manifested which stood in stark contrast to the Corinthians lack of faithfulness to God, but love for the riches of the world.
Paul sets what God has set forth with the apostles in contrast to that which the Corinthians are experiencing to serve as a warning they are esteeming lightly Christ, but the world highly to their own condemnation.
God uses the opposite that the world esteems to manifest His glory. The Corinthians love for the riches of the world put them in contrast to what God had appointed and manifest in Paul.
The Corinthians esteemed the riches of the world and such esteem was the root for their divisions, contentions, strife and envy. Paul corrects them their thinking concerning the riches of the world to that of the riches of God.