1 Cor. 5, 6

To the Corinthian church is given emphatic parameters for human sexual conduct. Paul connects the sanctity of the human body with moral purity … avoiding out-of-bounds sexual activity as an act of worship. We are to yield our bodies in purity to God because they are His temple.

For some reason, the Greeks in Corinth brought immoral elements of their culture into the Church, thinking they were not that much of an issue. WRONG! Paul’s wrath was stirred up at the thought of immorality in the Church.

Our culture is no better. In fact, moral impurity is piped into our homes through the media like no other time. What are we to do? FLEE! … as if a tsunami of deadly water was about to drown us. Get to the moral high ground ASAP.

1 Cor. 3, 4

There is coming a day when God will judge and reveal ALL. We will receive for what we have done at the Judgement Seat of Christ … sin is forgiven, but each man’s life and work will be revealed. You have either built your life on gold, silver and precious stones, or wood, hay and stubble. What will turn up when it’s your time?

Paul encourages us to set our affections on things above and not on this earth. [Col. 3] When we live with eternity in mind, our values and goals will change. Also, we will bring the Lord’s power into our lives to maintain a Godly thought-life and lifestyle to please HIM.

1 Cor. 2

We have this awed respect for the Apostle Paul, but he himself made it clear … he did not preach with eloquence or human persuasion. He rather relied upon God’s power to be demonstrated in his message. [v. 4, 5]

When preachers and teachers aim at anything but the powerful simplicity of God’s message, they are probably missing it. Pastor Larry Lea said he would, “Read the red and pray for the power.” That is good advice for preachers.

When God shoots out His arrows, we should be less mindful of our aim and more focused on just delivering the Gospel message in clarity and simplicity.

A story: Once I went to the hospital to sing to a patient to encourage him. After I sang in the room, he thanked me. I noticed the man in the bed next to him was visibly shaken. I offered a prayer and left. Years later, a friend told me that the man in the next bed was his uncle. He accepted Christ because of that experience. I aimed at one, but God hit the other with His arrow. (The nephew was Bob Vogel, an all-pro lineman from the Baltimore Colts … a great guy)

1 Corinthians 1

Paul diminished the need to use eloquent words or gimmicks to amplify the message of the Cross of Christ. Rather, he clarified the intrinsic power of a simple message about the Cross. Obviously he is referring to what Christ did on the tree to redeem us from sin.

We are tempted to embellish the message. Is it not powerful enough on its own? YES. Paul preached this message of the Gospel and made it simple so the power and sufficient truth was not clouded or concealed by any means.

It’s a simple message and we need to keep it so. It’s the POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION.

Romans 16

A study of the early Church would reveal that they primarily met in homes. Until 300 a.d. it was against the law to meet in public buildings. This probably contributed to the health and authentic, energized growth of Christ’s followers. In homes, the believers would fellowship, eat, study, and pray together. When persecution of Christians occurred, the home meetings became essential.

Although we are still free to meet in public buildings (such as Trinity Church), meeting in homes still stimulates the healthy factors that cause Christians to grow and flourish in their faith. Home fellowships cause you to “get into” the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Find one soon to join.

Romans 15

While we were yet all corrupted and stained by our sin, Christ died FOR us to redeem us from our condition. He set the example of laying down your life for someone else who may not even deserve to be redeemed. That’s the love of Christ.

Paul restates our responsibility to love our neighbor in this chapter of practical admonition.

It’s a matter of displacing our natural inclination to think about yourself all the time with looking out for the interests of others. Self absorption enhances THIS LIFE. Loving your neighbor before yourself enhances our ETERNAL LIFE.

Romans 14

Faith is the sanctioning agent by which the Christian exists. Faith is like the fuel in your car … no fuel, no go … no faith, no flow.

Faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God. It is dispensed to us, also by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. So, it comes from God. If He hasn’t given to to you, you don’t have it and your spiritual life stops.

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. The just go on living by their faith.

Lord, increase our faith.

Romans 13

In the late 80s there was a pro-life movement called “Operation Rescue.” [Prov. 24:11]

On a Saturday in 1988 in Ohio, I willingly restricted the way of pregnant women at an abortion clinic. I was not alone. Several hundred were gathered at the site, many of whom were church leaders, myself included. I was arrested and was given a jury trial in which I was found guilty. I violated a civil law to help enforce a higher law … the preservation of life. I was placed on three years probation and served 120 hours of community service. Our efforts prevented eleven abortion appointments that day. I would do it again.

Romans 12

This chapter offers a handbook for Christians on everyday living and getting along with others. If you know of someone who has relationship issues, have the read this passage.

God’s oversight and involvement in the minutest details of our lives is amazing. If we get into it with someone, He tells us, “I am watching and will arbitrate justly.” We are NOT to take matters into our own hands. We don’t judge as He does … we don’t see all that He sees.

God is in no hurry. He has eternity to solve problems.

So, relax and trust Him.

Romans 11

The Apostle Paul was a brilliant man. The letter to the Romans displays his amazing powers of reason and deep insights. And yet, he himself pays tribute to the omnipotent mind of God when he says, “We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works!” [v. 33, the VOICE]

The more time we spend with the Lord through prayer and the study of His Word, we accumulate the wisdom of God for our lives and the lives of those we influence.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. [Acts 4:13]