Paul cleared it up for both the early church and us … our whole existence is dependent upon our relationship with Christ Jesus. Through our faith in Him, we have a completely righteous standing with God and are not merely bound to a list of rules and regulations to live by.

When we mess up, we confess our sin and are forgiven. In the law, messing up could result in death. So, Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ (made dead), yet I live, and … I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [Gal. 2:20]

READ/LISTEN: Galatians 1-3

Paul catalogs his sufferings for the Gospel in 2 Cor. 11. He also mentions his ever-present concern for the well-being of all the new churches which have sprung up since Christ’s ministry to men. It was a prayer and oversight burden he carried with him at all times. This was a natural byproduct of his leadership and fatherhood over them.

That’s what parents do … they carry a constant prayer burden for their children. It’s not grievous, unless the children are in extreme suffering. Their greatest impact is through ongoing prayer. You can say things to God about your children that are difficult to say to their face. Things can be remedied through God’s intervention that could never be accomplished in the flesh.

READ/LISTEN: 2 Cor. 11-13

Paul received an offering from the church at Corinth (I was there) to be given to the Lord’s people in Jerusalem who were in need. Here we see the primary author of the New Testament talk on the subject of giving.

He encouraged liberal giving, pointing out that those who gave sparingly would reap sparingly. Nevertheless, he encouraged them to prayerfully and thoughtfully evaluate what they could give and be happy about it.

The joy of giving is one of the rare blessings here on earth. God wired us to experience a deep joy when we open up our heart and bless others.

READ/LISTEN: 2 Cor. 7-10

Paul describes the hardships of being a leader in 2 Cor. 4. He makes it clear that the authority and responsibility he carries is accompanied by great trial, yet for a reason. In every challenge he faces, Christ is WITH him to enable him to overcome the obstacles. The victory is greater, the example to less mature believers is stronger, and the journey is more compelling.

Parents, leaders, elders … you are NOT ALONE in your trial. Remember that, “I can do all things through Christ which (Who) strengthens me.” [Phil. 4:13]

READ/LISTEN: 2 Cor. 3-6

Paul explains the believer’s position in victory by  this word picture … like a soldier who has returned from the battle where he was victorious over his foe. Also stated … we are ALWAYS victorious. We are ALWAYS led in this manner because Christ has defeated every foe.

Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer …. I have overcome the world.” [Jn. 16:33]

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 15; 2 Cor. 1,2

Paul explained that our bodies that we live in now cannot inherit or exist in the eternal life to come. We are all in an earthly mode right now, but we will be changed so we can exist in the heavenly, eternal mode with God. We are so frightened when these vehicles of flesh we travel in become broken or damaged. Good news! They won’t last forever, but will be replaced by a heavenly body.

Now, we are given a responsibility to maintain our bodies because they are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. We take care of them, but we don’t put our eternal hope in them. Our hope is in the Lord.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 13-15

In communion, we receive Christ’s body and blood, both of which were given for us. Now, WE are His body. We all have a function to perform, and we are all dependent upon the Head which is Christ. Each person was created with a certain task to perform in His body. We are different. Paul warns that we are not to despise any members of this body because they are different. In fact, we are to honor and prefer one another.

Recognize and appreciate your differences. In loving preference, be an example of Christ’s love by treating others with the honor and respect they deserve as members of Christ’s body.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 10-12

Paul totally lived to serve Christ. He stated that his lifestyle was built around winning men to Christ. He gave up being married so that he could devote his energies to serving the Lord rather than being subject to the responsibilities owed to a mate. His personality was flexible with each person he met … to be able to relate to them, gain their confidence, and begin teaching and witnessing to them about Jesus.

When we meet people, we are wise to do likewise … prayerfully angling to move them closer to the Lord and His Word.

We are all things to all men to win them.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 7-9

Upon reading Paul’s discourse on sexual behavior in 1 Corinthians, one distinctly discerns that God’s desire for our sexual purity is generally stronger than the message being preached in many pulpits today. With rampant sexual flooding of media and social marketplaces, our culture certainly tries to make it seem that God’s standards for sexual conduct are far too puritanistic.

Our standard is not what society says … it’s God’s Word. Pursuing lustful pleasure should be displaced by the desire to please God with thoughts, deeds, and words. We are instructed to flee the very appearance of evil.

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 4-6

Paul gives us a primer on God’s wisdom in 1 Cor. 1 & 2. In essence, he declares that Christ Jesus IS God’s wisdom, and that His Spirit IN US gives us His understanding on issues. Those WITHOUT God’s Spirit don’t see or understand in the same way. It all boils down to this: live life listening to the voice of God’s Spirit within us which is the Spirit of Christ and not the voice of our own carnal, selfish nature.

Paul states, “We have the mind of Christ.” Our life on this side of heaven should be a life of obedience to the Lord and His commands. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.” [Jn. 15:7]

READ/LISTEN: 1 Cor. 1-3