1. LOYALTIES
EXPLANATION
The Corinthian congregation rallied around the various leaders, namely Peter, Paul & Apollos. By doing that it led to intellectual pride and created a rift ... a spiritual division in the church. They should have rallied around the Lord in whom they believed.
IMPORTANCE
Loyalty to human leaders or human wisdom can and most times will cause a schism in any church. This was the case in the Corinthian church. This cannot be allowed to take place. We are supposed to take care of our fellow believers, not fight with them. They should have, just as we should have, our total allegiance to Christ, letting him lead us by the Holy Spirit.
2. IMMORALITY
EXPLANATION
Paul received a report of uncorrected sexual sin in the Corinthian church. The people had allowed themselves to become completely indifferent to immoral sin. Some others had misunderstandings about marriage. A Christian is to live a moral life, keeping their bodies for God’s service at all times.
IMPORTANCE
A believer must never compromise with sinful ideas and practices. There is no need to blend in with the people around us. We must live up to God’s standard regarding morality and not ever condone immoral behavior, even if the world accepts it as normal. As a matter of fact, there are a multitude of immoral practices that are coming to the forefront of society today and the world is recklessly determined to shove it in our faces in the effort to normalize it. We mustn’t succumb to their ‘in your face’ approach. Our focus must be on Christ and the price he paid for our freedom. Once clean, don’t go rolling in the mud again.
3. FREEDOM
EXPLANATION
The Apostle Paul purposely taught freedom of choice regarding life practices that were NOT expressly forbidden in Scripture. Some of the church goers felt certain actions, like eating the mean of animals used in pagan rituals, were corrupt by association. But there were others who felt free to participate in such actions without feeling any guilt as if they had sinned.
IMPORTANCE
While we are indeed free in Christ and are able to do whatever we so choose, we mustn’t either go against God’s standard for godly living or abuse that freedom by being inconsiderate or insensitive to those who may think what you are doing is wrong. We must never encourage those type of people to do something THEY may consider sinful, even if we do not.
Up next is the conclusion of the 1 Corinthian Mega Themes. Until then, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
Richard Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible
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