2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.
Well my Friends, it’s the weekend again, and you know what that means; worship, fellowship and spiritual refreshing. At least that is what it should mean, but with all things human, there’s always a fly in the ointment. And the fly in the ointment of the Corinthian church was a host of serious divisions amongst the members, with people opting to follow individuals, letting them be their guiding light, rather than the basic doctrine of Christ. That occasioned Bruh Paul to write in his first letter to them. ‘Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you: or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius.’ (1 Cor.1:12-14) Now we can understand some of the distrust and subjectivity because the faith was then new in Corinth, but today, centuries later, there are still divisions in the church over form and function, with different cliques holding different opinions and choosing to follow one person or another. Friends, that’s totally unacceptable behaviour which only causes dissension and eventual downfall. Instead, the exact opposite, unity should be the worldwide goal of Christ’s Church. Jesus said it in plain, simple terms. ‘And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.’ (Mark 3:24-25) Yes my people, that’s the law of nature; anything that’s divided stands a much greater chance of falling apart than staying together. And sadly, the supposed church of Christ today, is more divided than unified. People are still being haughty and arrogant and thinking themselves more Christ like or Christian than others, solely on the basis of outer appearances and behaviour. Just because some people don’t behave pious and holy in their outward, everyday walk doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t pious and holy. By the same token, those that put on the pious, holier than thou act, aren’t necessarily true believers, it could be mere posturing, like Jesus said of the Pharisees. That’s why Bruh Paul told the Corinthians about judging and looking on outward appearances and reassured them that ‘If any man trust to himself that, as he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.’ I know it sound’s confusing, but that’s Bruh Paul’s style. He wasn’t into boasting and the outward piety stuff. He was confident in his abilities and knew where his spiritual authority came from, so though he was very vocal and therefore seemed somewhat showy, he always deflected the human praise away from himself towards God. Meanwhile some of the other leaders seemed to glory in their personal status, taking the glory to themselves, rather than giving it to God. Thus in his second missive Bruh Paul wrote: ‘For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether (if) we be beside ourselves, it is to (for) God: or whether we be sober (of sound mind) it is for your cause. For the LOVE of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.’ (2 Cor.5:12-15) That says it all Friends. None of us have anything to glory about, because whatever we have comes from and through Christ. We cannot and did not earn salvation and eternal life, so what’s there to blow our horns about eh? Nothing! It’s only through God’s overwhelming grace, mercy, LOVE, and forgiveness that we can even talk about being saved and having an after life. So all those who think they’re such hot shots in ministry and have a special place in Christ because of some outward success, let them think again, for the believer who has nothing to glory about outwardly, also belongs to Christ. ‘For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.’ (Rom.14:7-8) And that’s the living truth Friends. So please, let’s not be followers of those who glorify themselves, because all they have comes from God, and all believers, despite our frailties and regardless of our earthly status, are also fully LOVED and acknowledged sons and daughters of God. Much LOVE!…our earthly duty is just to do our best…so that in all things…God…not us…may be glorified…
Well my Friends, it’s the weekend again, and you know what that means; worship, fellowship and spiritual refreshing. At least that is what it should mean, but with all things human, there’s always a fly in the ointment. And the fly in the ointment of the Corinthian church was a host of serious divisions amongst the members, with people opting to follow individuals, letting them be their guiding light, rather than the basic doctrine of Christ. That occasioned Bruh Paul to write in his first letter to them. ‘Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you: or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius.’ (1 Cor.1:12-14) Now we can understand some of the distrust and subjectivity because the faith was then new in Corinth, but today, centuries later, there are still divisions in the church over form and function, with different cliques holding different opinions and choosing to follow one person or another. Friends, that’s totally unacceptable behaviour which only causes dissension and eventual downfall. Instead, the exact opposite, unity should be the worldwide goal of Christ’s Church. Jesus said it in plain, simple terms. ‘And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.’ (Mark 3:24-25) Yes my people, that’s the law of nature; anything that’s divided stands a much greater chance of falling apart than staying together. And sadly, the supposed church of Christ today, is more divided than unified. People are still being haughty and arrogant and thinking themselves more Christ like or Christian than others, solely on the basis of outer appearances and behaviour. Just because some people don’t behave pious and holy in their outward, everyday walk doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t pious and holy. By the same token, those that put on the pious, holier than thou act, aren’t necessarily true believers, it could be mere posturing, like Jesus said of the Pharisees. That’s why Bruh Paul told the Corinthians about judging and looking on outward appearances and reassured them that ‘If any man trust to himself that, as he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.’ I know it sound’s confusing, but that’s Bruh Paul’s style. He wasn’t into boasting and the outward piety stuff. He was confident in his abilities and knew where his spiritual authority came from, so though he was very vocal and therefore seemed somewhat showy, he always deflected the human praise away from himself towards God. Meanwhile some of the other leaders seemed to glory in their personal status, taking the glory to themselves, rather than giving it to God. Thus in his second missive Bruh Paul wrote: ‘For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether (if) we be beside ourselves, it is to (for) God: or whether we be sober (of sound mind) it is for your cause. For the LOVE of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.’ (2 Cor.5:12-15) That says it all Friends. None of us have anything to glory about, because whatever we have comes from and through Christ. We cannot and did not earn salvation and eternal life, so what’s there to blow our horns about eh? Nothing! It’s only through God’s overwhelming grace, mercy, LOVE, and forgiveness that we can even talk about being saved and having an after life. So all those who think they’re such hot shots in ministry and have a special place in Christ because of some outward success, let them think again, for the believer who has nothing to glory about outwardly, also belongs to Christ. ‘For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.’ (Rom.14:7-8) And that’s the living truth Friends. So please, let’s not be followers of those who glorify themselves, because all they have comes from God, and all believers, despite our frailties and regardless of our earthly status, are also fully LOVED and acknowledged sons and daughters of God. Much LOVE!…our earthly duty is just to do our best…so that in all things…God…not us…may be glorified…
SCRIP-BITS 