Thanks, Shayne for your insights on Romans!
1 Corinthians is a real gift to the Church today because it is a letter written to a church that really wanted to do the right thing, but was struggling with how to get it done, because the people who were in the church were really imperfect. Sound familiar?
We divide over things that don't really matter, and fail to address significant shortcomings or error. Paul, through his letters, tries to explain to the Corinthians the importance of getting the heart right and not focus on externals. Then, as now, it is easy to place too great an emphasis on styles or personalities when it is the power of the Cross and our resurrected Savior that should be our focus. To a world that is skeptical and unbelieving, the message of the Cross seems pretty crazy, but when the Holy Spirit takes that same message and penetrates our souls with it, the Cross becomes a symbol of the power of God.
Romans is a richly thematic book which lays out the case for serving God and the security that is ours as believers in Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians is a detailed, practical explanation of some of the do's and don'ts of living together as a church body. He gets right the heart of the matter and we are grateful today for this letter. Today we still deal with the same issues that the church in Corinth had to work through.
P. Randy
a little behind on my reading. but as for Chapter 1. i had to read twice. Reallllyy read it. First i found it funny that Paul was writing them to talk about Divisions in the Church!!!. Well i was reading and i noticed that he was talking about quarrels among you.
ReplyDeleteI started laughing because it seemed like no one wanted Paul to know of this going on. so it was like a secret.
You when you have a quarrel some make it sound like tatteling like little children. Well Paul was not keeping any secret because Paul announced who it was who was the Tattler. it was Chapter 1:11 someone from Chole's household now i am sure back then its the same as today. when you are called out by your household somebody knows who it was. If it was Chole i never thought of her before never thought of her Name until now. but she must have been listening in or in on it. or someone in that household. but NOW everyone knows where the secret came out from. CHLOE or her household, that they were quarrels. So CHLOE must be Miss super christian that tattles or is a miss CHLOE who is the Man who wears the pants in the family to call it HER household. i dont think in all of the Bible i have ever heard someone call out a womans household before. anyway.
it made me laugh.
But really are we not the same as we were when we were little. I guess that would mean i will call myself a little one not to call out on anyone. But i will be the first to say. I will stop tatteling. wow Donna's household. lol
i love you all. dont take me serious and tell mike i called it my household. lol