The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth. It appears from what he wrote to them that some of them were on the right path spiritually but while others were not. Perhaps the majority were not. So he wrote to them to address some issues that needed to be resolved in order for them to be able to grow in their walks of faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. For there were factions (divisions) among them, and immorality, and spiritual immaturity, litigations in pagan courts, abuse of the Lord’s supper (communion) and false teachings regarding the resurrection of the dead.
Paul wrote, “Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:18-21 ESV)
Now some people were arrogant, and they thought that Paul would never show up and that he would never do anything about these issues in person. And honestly I don’t know if Paul did or did not show up. But what this reminds me of in our present age is the arrogance of so many professers of faith in Jesus Christ who are convinced that they have salvation from sin and eternal life guaranteed them, that it cannot be taken away from them, but regardless of how they live. So they don’t really believe that God is going to “show up” one day and judge them for their insolence and their rebellion.
Yet the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. Therefore, God is going to do what he said that he would do. Whatever he promised, he will fulfill, according to the conditions of those promises. And whatever he threatened, he will do the same. For our God does not lie, and he does not play games. He does not give out false threats which he does not intend to follow through on if we do not comply with his demands and if we decide to go our own way, instead. For if sin is what we practice, and not obedience to God, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. We will die in our sins.
And yet the Lord does not give out these warnings hoping that we will continue in our sins so that he will have cause to judge us. And so he will encourage us in the same way in which Paul encouraged the Corinthians. “Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?,” Paul told them. God is giving us the same options. Will we surrender our lives to him, submit to him as Lord (Owner-Master) of our lives, and follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living? Or will we continue in deliberate and habitual sin against him, convinced heaven is our destiny?
For the gospel of Jesus Christ requires that we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and thus raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Thus, we are not to let sin reign (be in power) in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, we will die in our sins. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it leads to righteousness and to sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God.
For Jesus said that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God the Father in heaven.
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Here is Your God!
An Original Work / July 18, 2012
Based off Isaiah 40:9-31 NIV
You who bring good tidings to Zion,
Lift up your voice; raise with a shout,
And do not be afraid of the people.
Say, “Here is your God!”
See how the Lord God comes now with power.
His arm rules for Him; His reward with Him.
He tends His flock just like a shepherd,
His lambs in His arms.
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from beginning?
Our Lord sits enthroned above all things.
None to Him compare.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens.
Who made all of these? Who calls them by name?
Because of His great power and strength,
All accounted for.
Why do you say, “My way is hidden
From the Lord, and my cause forgotten”?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord, He is your God.
He will not weary. He gives us power.
Those who trust in Him will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings just like eagles;
Walk and do faint not.
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