1 Corinthians 12:1

1 Corinthians 12:1 says, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.  Paul wanted to clarify the giving of spiritual gifts, yet we still have different views of spiritual gifts today. Verse two adds, Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.  Paul reminded the believers at Corinth where they had come from spiritually.  They were Gentiles who had worshipped dumb idols.  Their idols could never empower them to do anything, but now they worshipped the Living God Who could and would empower them.  Verse three continues, Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  We cannot come to God except through Christ.  To say that there is any other way would make the sacrifice of Christ on the cross unnecessary and would in effect curse or condemn His sacrifice.  Paul also says that the only way we can call Jesus Lord is through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God calls everyone to Him, though not all respond.  Verse four states, Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. If a person is truly a follower of Christ, a says, Now believer, then they have some spiritual gift that is needed to carry out the commission of God that we go and make disciples of the whole world.  Not everyone has the same gift, and we are not to covet the gift of another or to attempt to glorify our own gift or gifts.  They come from God, and not from our own worthiness.  Verse five adds, And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  I believe Paul was saying that there are different ways in which we use our spiritual gifts, but all that we do is for the glory of God. As the Lord of the life of each believer, He unifies us in the use of our individual spiritual gifts.  Verse six continues, And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  I believe Paul was saying that even though we serve different purposes in God's kingdom, God unifies what we do.  As long as each individual Christian uses his or her spiritual gift for God's glory, then the kingdom of God will be stronger.  Verse seven says, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  We profit from using the gift or gifts that God gives us for His glory, not for our own.  If we begin to feel that some spiritual gifts, or those who have them, are more important than others and are to be desired by all, we are not following what God teaches us.  Verse eight says, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  I believe we can state that wisdom is more inborn, and knowledge is learned, but God should be the source of both.  Verse nine adds, To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  We may not think of faith as a spiritual gift, but God tells us that He not only provides salvation for us, but the faith to respond as well.  Paul said that some were given the gift of healing, but that the gift of faith and healing were both given by the Holy Spirit.  Verse ten continues, To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  Paul lists several gifts here, and states that they are given to different people. We might want to put the working of miracles ahead of discerning of spiritual truth, but Paul tells us that all these gifts are necessary, and we simply need to allow God to develop ours.  In verse eleven Paul concludes, But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. As followers of Christ, we all have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we need to put control of our lives in His hands.  When we do, the church will work together for God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

1 Corinthians 11:23

1 Corinthians 11:23 says, For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  Paul said that what he was teaching them about the Lord's supper he had received from the Lord Himself.  Paul was not there physically, but God revealed to him spiritually what the Lord's supper was to signify.  We likewise were not there physically, but we know spiritually what the significance is.  We can never treat the Lord's supper as anything less than an opportunity to witness to and remember what Christ did for us on the cross.  Paul said on the same night that Christ was betrayed, He took the bread.  We are not going to be prevented from sharing in the Lord's supper if we are not truly His, but it is going to mean nothing to us.  Verse twenty-four adds, And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  Paul said that Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread, and then told them why they were to do this.  They were to do it in remembrance of Christ sacrificing His body for their sins.  Christ did not specify a time when they were to observe the Lord's supper, but did say that whenever they did that they were to remember why they were doing it.  Verse twenty-five continues, After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  Paul said Christ then took the cup, blessed it, and reminded them that it represented His blood shed for them on the cross.  The bread and wine, or drink, do not miraculously change into the actual body and blood of Christ, but they do represent those two things.  This was never intended to be a feast, but it was also never meant to be simply a ritual that we go through periodically.  Verse twenty-six states, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.  The Lord's supper is a witness to those gathered of His death until He comes again.  Anytime we observe the Lord's supper, we need to take seriously what it represents.  Verse twenty-seven adds, Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  I believe that this means not only if we observe the Lord's supper with unconfessed sin in our lives, but also with an attitude that it is just something that we do in church, like singing songs.  I believe the Lord's supper, though observed as a body of believers, is an individual observance for each individual believer.  Each person must examine their own life and motive for observing the Lord's supper.  Verse twenty-eight continues, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  We are called on to examine not others, but ourselves.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  Paul says that when anyone participates in the Lord's supper without first making sure that they truly understand what it represents and remove anything from their lives that make them unworthy to partake, they bring condemnation on themselves.  Each individual believer must determine if their own life meets these criteria.  Verse thirty says, For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  I believe that Paul was saying that observing the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner could even bring physical consequences.  We cannot be whole in our relationship to God if we do not take salvation seriously.  This can indeed affect our everyday life.  Verse thirty-one adds, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  I believe Paul was once again warning us to judge our actions and attitude toward the Lord's supper.  If we deal with any sin in our lives by confessing it beforehand, we do not have to be concerned about God judging us afterward.  Verse thirty-two continues, But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.  God will let us know, will chastise us, when we are not following His will in our lives.  God does this so that we can remain true to Him and not have any reason for the world to condemn our faith.  Verse thirty-three states, Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  Paul said that when we come together that we should tarry in fellowship that all might go away uplifted.  Verse thirty-four adds, And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.  The Lord's supper is to be a witness to Christ's sacrifice for our sins on the cross, and not a time to feast for our own pleasure.  We are to gather as one body, not as haves and have-nots, and are all to examine ourselves individually to make sure that we have nothing in our lives to prevent us from being worthy spiritually to participate.

1 Corinthians 11:17

1 Corinthians 11:17 says, Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.  Paul said that when the church gathered together, it was not to become better in Christ, but for their own purposes.  The way they gathered together did not bring unity in Christ, but separation based on worldly status.  We today cannot allow our earthly status to prevent us from worshipping with any of God's followers.  Verse eighteen adds, For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.  Paul said that he heard that there were divisions in the church when they met, and that he partly believed it.  Paul did not want to believe that Christians would act in such a manner as to bring dishonor to God, but since he was hearing the reports, he had to at least consider that it might be true.  We are not to condemn the actions of people in a church simply based on what we may hear, but if their actions are such as to bring dishonor to the church as a whole, we must deal with it.  Verse nineteen continues, For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.  Paul said that they must have allowed heresies into the church.  We today must be careful that we don't allow false teachings to enter the church.  If we decide that the doctrine of the church is more important than the teachings of Christ, then we may allow heresies to enter the church.  If we fail to speak out against social injustice, or even go so far as to endorse it, then we have allowed heresies into the church.  There can be no them and us in the church, as we are all the same in the eyes of God.  Everything in the earth belongs to God, and we are entrusted with using everything for His glory, not for our own selfish desires.  Verse twenty states, When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.  Paul was addressing the observance of the Lord's supper, and the fact that they were not observing it for the right reasons.  This should be a time when the church is truly united, but they weren't.  Verse twenty-one adds, For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  Now, as we observe the Lord's supper, we all have the same amount of bread and drink, but evidently in the church at Corinth it was more of a real supper.  Instead of uniting as one group of believers sharing everything equally, they were breaking into groups where some over indulged and some went hungry. Verse twenty-two continues, What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.  Paul said that if they wanted to overindulge, they should do it at home, and not show that they despised the church of God by shaming those that had nothing.  Today, as followers of Christ, our conduct should be the same anywhere we are, and especially should never do anything to shame Christians who are less fortunate than us when we gather as the body of Christ, the church.  If we start to whisper about how people are dressed or how they act, then we do not bring honor to God.  Our actions, especially when we gather together in God's name, should be never in anyway bring dishonor to God or cause anyone gathered with us to feel like they are less than we are.  We are all but sinners saved by grace, and through salvation we are all made equal, no matter our status in the world.

1 Corinthians 11:8

1 Corinthians 11:8 says, For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Paul here was speaking about the creation of men and women.  Man, Adam, was created from the dust of the earth, and woman, Eve, from the rib of the man.  Still, the woman was not created to serve the man, but to be a helpmate, or completion of man.  None of the other animals were capable of filling this role.  The fact that the man was created first in no way makes the woman less in the eyes of God.  When we start to speak about the role of men and women, we must understand it as they are themselves under the leadership of God.  We cannot expect those who do not believe in Christ as Savior and Lord to live by God's standards.  Verse nine adds, Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.  This is really in my opinion a continuation of what I was just discussing.  When we read the creation account in Genesis, we do see that woman was created out of man, but not to be his servant, but to be his companion.  The key will always be that both are under the leadership of God.  When God's will comes first, both will be in agreement as to how they can best serve and bring glory to God.  Verse ten continues, For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.  Matthew Henry sees this as having her head covered in public, but I believe it means that she should do nothing that would dishonor God and His angels.  Verse eleven states, Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.  I believe that Paul was teaching that both men and women need each other, but they need to both be following God's will in the relationship.  Men and women were created for different purposes in the world, but they were both created to follow God's will and to uplift each other.  Verse twelve adds, For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.  Since creation, where woman was created out of man, man has been born of woman, but as Paul reminds us, both are from God, as are all things. Verse thirteen continues, Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Again, I believe that Paul was referring to the customs of that day, but if we truly believe that God is dishonored by the way we dress, then we should change the way we dress. Verse fourteen says, Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  Paul lived in the same time as Jesus for part of his life, and he said it was a shame for a man to have long hair.  Yet, we always see Jesus portrayed as having very long hair.  Now, is this an accurate picture, or does it really matter? We are not called to be like Jesus physically, but spiritually.  Verse fifteen adds, But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  Paul says a woman should have long hair.  We often get into disputes about men having long hair, but seldom apply the same dispute to women having short hair.  I believe we must interpret what Paul was saying to mean that whatever we do must be done for the glory of God and not for our own vanity.  Verse sixteen continues, But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.  I believe that Paul was saying that if a person disagreed with the way that custom taught that they should dress, there was no rule in the church that they had to comply.  The way we dress in church has changed even in my lifetime.  Women used to always wear dresses and men suits and ties if they had them, especially the preachers.  Now, it seems that wearing a tie is almost an oddity.  Again, it isn't what we wear that is important, but that we follow God in all things.  As long as men and women are truly following God, there will be little room for contention in the relationship between the two.  God must be in charge of both, and He will always lead them to unity through Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 says, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.  I believe that Paul was asking those early believers to follow his example of living by faith.  He had already said that they were not to be divided by considering being led to Christ by one person was more important than being led to Christ by another.  I don't believe he was saying they were to put their faith in Paul, but they were to follow his example of living faithful to Christ.  Verse two adds, Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  Paul had been writing about some of the controversies that existed in the church, but here he praised them for what they were doing correctly.  We need to uplift our fellow Christians when they are doing the right things for God, and not just look for reasons to condemn them for doing things that we view as wrong.  As long as they are truly saved by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we need to uplift them.  In these next few verses, Paul writes about the relationship between men and women, or more specifically between a husband and wife, under the leadership of God.  Even those who profess to take the Bible literally generally say these verses are not to be taken literally today.  This is also why some claim that Paul looked at women as being less important, or under the power or authority of men.  We must remember though that both men and women were seen as being under the authority of God.  As long as any relationship is under God's authority, then there should be no controversy about how things work out in this world.  Verse three continues, But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  Paul first pointed to Christ as being the head of the relationship.  If we base the relationship between a man and a woman on anything other than both being under the Lordship of Christ, we create unnecessary problems. Verse four states, Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  Paul was addressing some of the views about the way people were to dress in that day.  He said for a man to pray or prophecy with his head covered dishonored God.  We can take this verse literally or we can view it as Paul addressing the view of the world in that day.  I personally do not believe that we need to be concerned with the way people dress, as long as it does not distract from our witness for Christ.  We know that in parts of the world today the way that people dress, especially the women, is very important to some religions.  We need to remember that Paul was addressing things that might interfere with our witness for Christ, and not a dress code for Christians.  Verse five adds, But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  Paul said that if a woman prayed or prophesied with her head uncovered, she was attempting to take the position of a man. We must acknowledge that God does give a man and a woman differing roles in their relationship to each other under the leadership of Christ.  Ultimately, the responsibility of the spiritual wellbeing of the family falls on the man.  He is not to be a dictator, but an obedient servant of Christ.  When the relationship is truly placed under the control of Christ, there will be no disputes about leadership.  Christ is the leader of the Christian home.  Verse six continues, For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.  Now, do we take this literally to still apply today, or do we take it as a cultural custom of that day?  Some religions today still make a woman having her head, and sometimes her face, covered in public a requirement, but I don't really believe that is what God expects.  I do believe that he expects both men and women to dress appropriately, but I personally do not believe we apply this teaching literally.  I believe Paul made these statements based on the way the world would view the man and woman.  They were to do nothing to dishonor each other or God.  Verse seven concludes, For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.  Here, we could take the literal interpretation and say that man is somehow closer to God than a woman can ever be, but when we look at the teachings of the whole Bible, we know that with God there is no male or female when it comes to a relationship with Him.

1 Corinthians 10:22

1 Corinthians 10:22 says, Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?  I believe that Paul is warning them and us against doing anything that would imply that we were stronger than God.  If we begin to do things that are not consistent with the teachings of the Bible, this is what we are actually implying.  We must follow God in all that we do, and not decide that we know best how to live life on our own.  Verse twenty-three adds, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.  I believe that Paul was saying that nothing in this world could truly come between him and Christ as his Savior and Lord, but that not all things that he was free to do were expedient.  Paul did not want his freedom from the power of the things of the world to hinder his witness.  We today need to be the same way.  Some things, in and of the world, are harmless, but if they affect our witness for Christ, we should avoid them.  Verse twenty-four continues, Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.  I don't believe Paul was telling us to covet what someone else has, but instead that we are to put their welfare first.  We are to live life in such a manner that we in no way hinder anyone from coming to Christ.  We can never have a me first mentality, but must always put God first.  Verse twenty-five states, Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:  Paul was again referring to meat sacrificed to idols.  If that meat was being sold in the marketplace Christians did not need to ask about it origins.  It was no different than any other meat.  Still, if it were to be seen as somehow being charged by having been sacrificed to idols, and to be purchased with that thought or understanding in mind, it could affect a person's witness for Christ.  They were to simply purchase it as meat to eat and not give any credit to its origin as something sacrificed to an idol.  We today know that nothing in this world has any power over our relationship to Christ, but if we in any way give credibility to anything done in name of an idol, it can affect our witness to God.  Verse twenty-six adds, For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.  Paul recognized that everything in the world belongs to God.  Since the fullness of the earth is God's, we as His people have the freedom to enjoy it.  That does not mean we have the freedom to abuse it for our own pleasure though.  Verse twenty-seven continues, If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.  Paul said it was okay to go to a feast with non-believers and eat what they were eating, as long as the origin of the meat wasn't brought up.  There would be no hint of the meat being used in the worship of idols in this case.  Verse twenty-eight says, But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:  Paul said that if the fact that the meat had been sacrificed to an idol was made, then the Christian should not eat it.  I think we can apply that to many things today.  We are commissioned to go into the world, but if those we are witnessing to begin to practice idolatry and invite us to join in, then we need to politely abstain or leave.  We may know that everything belongs to God, but they do not.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?  I believe that Paul was saying that even though our liberty in Christ should not be determined by others, that same liberty should not be used to harm anyone else's chance of accepting Christ.  We must judge our actions not only by what we are free to do spiritually, but also by how that will affect others. Verse thirty continues, For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?  Paul asks if we give thanks to God for the things we partake of, then why should people speak evil of us.  We need to make sure that God is given the glory in all that we do, and then what the world says about us really shouldn't matter. Verse thirty-one states, Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  Again, Paul says that whatever we do should be done for the glory of God.  As long as this is true, then we never have to be concerned about our actions.  Verse thirty-two adds, Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:  I believe Paul was warning us that even though we have no concern about our actions in God's eyes, we still have a responsibility to not cause others to stumble in coming to Christ.  Freedom brings responsibility and not just indulgence.  Verse thirty-three concludes, Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.  Paul said he put the salvation of others ahead of his own knowledge and freedom through Christ.  So should we.

1 Corinthians 10:12

1 Corinthians 10:12 says, Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  I believe Paul was warning against a feeling that we are strong enough to stand spiritually by our own abilities.  If we begin to feel that we don't need God's direction every day and are not satisfied with His provision for us, we set ourselves up for a fall.  We, as followers of Christ, must acknowledge that we can never stand without faith in God.  We can never feel that we have reached a point where we can stand on our faith in our own abilities.  Verse thirteen adds, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  Paul told those at Corinth that they had no temptation that was not common to everyone.  We may be tempted by the things of this world, but this is nothing new.  People have been tempted to rebel against God since the beginning.  Paul also gives the Christians at Corinth an assurance.  If they continued to trust God, He would never allow them to be tempted more than their faith could stand.  When temptation came, He would provide an escape for them.  We need to claim that promise today.  God is with us to deliver us from any temptation if we only put our faith in His guidance.  If we are attempting to stand by our own strength instead of faith in God, we will fail.  God provides the escape from temptation but we must trust in His leadership to escape the temptation.  We are helpless to save ourselves.  Verse fourteen continues, Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.  Paul said that when we were confronted with a temptation to allow any idol to come between God and us, we were to flee it.  There is no room for idols, whatever they might be, in the life of a Christian.  We cannot dabble in things that put anything else ahead of God, whether it be riches, the stars, or anything else.  We are to flee from allowing anything to become an idol in our lives.  Verse fifteen states, I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.   Paul said that as wise men, he encouraged them to judge what he said.  When people proclaim things about God today, we need to judge what they say based on what the Bible teaches.  Even when we do this, we must make sure that what is being taught is consistent with the whole teaching of the Bible and not just certain verses picked out of context. Verse sixteen adds, The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?  Paul was speaking of the observance of the Lord's Supper, in which the wine and bread were symbolic of the blood and body of Christ.  These things did not literally become the blood and body of Christ, as some teach, but are merely symbols.  Verse seventeen continues, For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.  Paul said the observance of the Lord's Supper was to unite believers, and not divide them.  Yet, even today the Lord's Supper can divide Christians.  Verse eighteen asks, Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?  I believe that Paul was saying that those who believed in the idols that meat was sacrificed to felt that the meat was transformed somehow by being sacrificed.  For them, it was more than just food to eat.  Verse nineteen adds, What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? Paul said he knew that the idols were nothing, and that things sacrificed to them was in no way any different physically, but that did not mean that they couldn't become a problem to our witness for Christ.  Verse twenty continues, But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.  Paul said anything sacrificed to idols was sacrificed to the devil and he didn't want Christians to partake of the devil.  There was a difference between buying and eating food sacrificed to idols and sitting down at the table by the altar and eating it.  Though neither were changed, the perception was very different.  We may know that certain actions are harmless today, but we must do nothing that could be seen as going against God's teachings.  In verse twenty-one Paul concludes, Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.  We cannot be God's people and continue to follow the ways of the world.  No matter what the situation may be, we must always put the will of God first so that we can be effective witnesses for Him.