https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt Made with a quick smile en-us 2018-03-28 22:08:07 UTC 2018-03-28 23:56:49 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png rodney_curry https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247092832 In verses 1-4 of chapter 10 the apostle Paul enumerates the spiritual privileges of Old Testament Israel. “All our fathers were under the cloud and they all passed through the sea.” That is to say, the whole nation enjoyed the divine presence and protection of the Lord, and all were brought safely through the parted waters of the Red Sea. “They all were baptized into Moses by means of the cloud and the sea;” the whole nation was sacramentally identified with Moses, the servant of God and the divinely appointed redeemer. “They all ate the same spiritual food…they all drank the same spiritual drink.” The whole nation was sustained in the wilderness by the food and drink the Lord miraculously provided for them. (Note: that divinely provided food and drink is seen as being an Old Testament parallel to the New Testament sacrament of communion which represents the spiritual sustenance we receive from Christ.) Despite the privileges and blessings they received, verse 5 indicates that “God was not pleased with most of them—their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” The same God who so graciously provided for them also struck them down when they abused and despised His grace. The fact that their bodies were scattered in the wilderness emphasizes the fact that they did not attain their final destination, namely, the Promised Land of Canaan.]]> 2018-03-28 22:11:33 UTC https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247092832 rodney_curry https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093062 Verse 12 issues a warning against presumption—the false confidence that we are standing secure, and therefore, do not need to be concerned about our moral and spiritual well-being. The Corinthians were confident that they had attained spiritual maturity and they were tempted to assume that they were immune to God’s judgment no matter how they lived. Thus, they had need of the warning issued in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; a warning to which we, also, must take heed.]]> 2018-03-28 22:13:19 UTC https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093062 rodney_curry https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093095 Verse 13 provides the assurance of God’s divine oversight and assistance in our struggle against temptation and in the time of trial: “God is faithful.” God’s faithfulness assures us that we will never be overmatched when we encounter temptation or trial: “He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.” God’s faithfulness assures us that He will provide “the way of escape.” Note that the passage does not say that the Lord will provide a way of escape “so that you may avoid the trial;” it says, the Lord will provide a way escape “so that you may be able to endure the trial.” The emphasis is not upon the avoidance of trial, but upon the successful endurance of trial for our spiritual growth unto the glory of God (note 1 Peter 1:6-7).]]> 2018-03-28 22:13:38 UTC https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093095 rodney_curry https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093244 In verse 23 Paul once again states the great axiom or principle for New Testament Christian living: “Everything is permissible.” Because of the Corinthians’ confusion with regard to this principle, Paul adds two qualifications to it. First, “Not everything is beneficial.” That is to say, not every activity is spiritually profitable; some activities, although not expressly sinful, may be detrimental (by way of example: the viewing of movies with heavy emphasis on violence or sexuality or profanity). Second, “Not everything is constructive.” Not every activity is conducive to our own spiritual growth or the spiritual well-being of our Christian brothers and sisters.]]> 2018-03-28 22:14:43 UTC https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093244 rodney_curry https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093331 In verse 32 Paul exhorts us as Christians to live lives that are inoffensive; he commands, “Cause no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or to the church of God.” What is envisioned here is a life that does not cause harm or injury; a life that does not provoke others to anger or wrongdoing; a life that is not objectionable because it is glaringly inconsistent with the life of Christ. The way to heed this exhortation to lead an inoffensive life is presented to us in verse 33, “I try to please everyone in every way; not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.” By his own example, the apostle Paul points out that the key is living a life that is oriented towards others rather than self-oriented and self-absorbed—it is living a truly Christ-like life.]]> 2018-03-28 22:15:35 UTC https://padlet.com/rodney_curry/6l87gfyz97gt/wish/247093331