Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 24, 2020

“Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.” – “only one thing is necessary”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 7:17-24.

“Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk.  And so I direct in all the churches.  Was any man called when he was already circumcised?  He is not to become uncircumcised.  Has anyone been called in uncircumcision?  He is not to be circumcised.  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.  Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

Were you called while a slave?  Do not worry about it;  but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.  For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman;  likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.  You were bought with a price;  do not become slaves of men.  Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.”  1 Corinthians 7:17-24.

—————

It is noteworthy the emphasis that is made in today’s Scripture, by repeating it three times as shown by my bold italic font, that each one is to remain in that condition in which he was called.

We can get so focused, worried and bothered, and busy on improving our earthly condition that we can neglect our spiritual condition.  Only one thing is necessary which is our salvation.

We learned this from the story of Mary and Martha.

“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village;  and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.  But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42.

The Apostle Paul also teaches us the importance of focusing on our salvation.

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14.

The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price illustrate this point.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again;  and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:44-46.

If we can improve our earthly condition without being worried and bothered and without neglecting our spiritual condition, then we can do it.

“Were you called while a slave?  Do not worry about it;  but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.”  Verse 21.

We belong to God and can and should trust God to provide all that we need.

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.  Heidelberg Catechism.

In conclusion, we are content in whatever circumstances that we are.

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”  Philippians 4:11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 23, 2020

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 7:8-16.

“But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.  But if they do not have self-control, let them marry;  for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.   And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband;  for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.  Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave;  the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.  For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”  1 Corinthians 7:8-16.

——————–

My mother died in 1996, and my father died in about 2007.

My father filed papers in Court in about 1977 seeking to obtain a divorce, and my mother fought the divorce.  She did not feel that today’s Scripture (“Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave”) applied, because even after he filed the papers (and could have avoided at least a long and hard fight if he admitted that he was not a believer), he continued to claim that he was a believer.

My father did finally obtain a divorce from the Court in about 1979 after a long and hard fight.

But, in any event, my father’s salvation was most important to my mother.  Even, if my father was not a believer, my mother had hope.

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband;  …  For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”   Verses 14 and 16.

I think that you could interpret the “For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” which is immediately after the Scripture “Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave;  the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.” as reason for a spouse to let go of her unbelieving husband.  In other words, there is no guarantee by not letting the unbelieving one leave that a spouse could save the unbelieving spouse.

But, my mother accepted my father’s continued claim to be a believer and interpreted both Scriptures as giving hope.

When my mother was permanently in a nursing home close to death almost 20 years after the divorce, and my father had remarried shortly after the divorce and was taking vacations around the world, my mother would repeatedly ask me:  “Do you think he will come back to me?”  And, I would be amazed at her faith and hope, and certainly not wanting to crush her hope, I would say;  “Maybe, Mom.”

My father never did come back to my mother, but, most importantly, I believe my father was saved.  I do not know at what point in time that he was saved.  I do not know if he was saved before he met my mother.  I do not know if he was saved during their marriage.  I do not know if he was saved after their marriage.  But, most importantly, I believe that he was saved before his death.

Today’s Scripture gives hope for spouses who are married to an unbelieving spouse.

“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband;  …  For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?  Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?”

“In hope against hope he believed, …  Without becoming weak in faith … with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.”  Romans 4:18-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 22, 2020

“However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 7:1-7.

“Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.  But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.  The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.  The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does;  and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.  But this I say by way of concession, not of command.  Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am.  However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.”  1 Corinthians 7:1-7.

————–

Today’s Scripture teaches us that “each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.”  Verse 7. 

It is a gift from God to be single.

“But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.”  1 Corinthians 7:8.

“No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”  2 Timothy 2:4.

“But if you marry, you have not sinned;  and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.  Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.”  1 Corinthians 7:28.

“But I want you to be free from concern.  One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;  but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and his interests are divided.  The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit;  but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.  This I say for your own benefit;  not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 7:32-35.

But, it is also a gift from God to be married.

“An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.”  Proverbs 31:10.

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Psalm 127:3.

“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.”  Psalm 128:3.

“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”  3 John 1:4.

In summary, it may take a lifetime to understand what is God’s gift and will for us.  We can pray for what type of gift that we want.  But, most importantly, we trust in the LORD with all of our heart and do not lean on our own understanding.  We do not reserve our happiness until we obtain what we want.  We are happy if we are single, and we are happy if we are married.  God does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.  In any event, what is most important is that we reach heaven.    

“5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:6-6.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 104:11-12.

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude;  and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:14-16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 21, 2020

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?  May it never be!  Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her?  For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”  But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  Flee immorality.  Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:15-20.

——————–

In a nutshell, we glorify God in our body by our body being a member of Christ’s body.

“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.  This mystery is great;  but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”  Ephesians 5:25-32.

We glorify God by being in Christ and showing off “the glory of His grace”.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-5.

We glorify God, because the accomplishment of the redemption of God’s own possession glorifies God.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.

“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”  Zephaniah 3:17.

“Let the glory of the LORD endure forever;
Let the LORD be glad in His works;”   Psalm 104:31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 20, 2020

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. … Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 6:12-14.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.  Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them.  Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.  Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”  1 Corinthians 6:12-14.

———————

Question 1:  What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer 1:  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.  Westminster Larger Catechism.

There are all kinds of things that we can enjoy, but what is most important is to serve God, thereby glorifying God, and reach Heaven, thereby to fully enjoy God forever.  

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  …  Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.”  Verses 12 and 14.

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.

“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful, but not all things edify.  Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.”  1 Corinthians 10:23-24.

“Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”  Romans 14:16-19.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 19, 2020

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived;  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you;  but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

——————

We try to prove our own righteousness by claiming that we do not practice one type of unrighteousness and point to others who do practice that type of unrighteousness.

We may say:  “I am not a thief like this other guy.”

But, are you covetous?

Or, we may say:  “I do not covet this professional athlete’s money.”

But, do you covet the professional athlete’s wife?

There is a long list of types of unrighteousness listed in today’s Scripture for a reason.  And, there are different ways that we can exhibit each type of unrighteousness for a reason.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

But, how far from perfect we are!!

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-12.

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:1-3.

Reformed Doctrine summarizes this point of man’s natural condition as “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.

Unless we receive God’s grace, we will not even want to be perfect.

And, unless we receive God’s grace, we are not able to be perfect even if we wanted to be perfect.

But, there is hope!

“Such were some of you;  but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  Verse 11.

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32.

We need God’s grace to wash us, to sanctify us, and to justify us.

We need God’s “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.  

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions. Canons of Dordt in the section THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 17, 2020

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And his tongue speaks justice.” 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

“Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?  Do you not know that we will judge angels?  How much more matters of this life?  So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?  I say this to your shame.  Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be defrauded?  On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud.  You do this even to your brethren.”  1 Corinthians 6:1-8.

—————

To help us understand the general wisdom of this Scripture, it may help us to understand it in four steps.

First, let us not forget the importance of trying to settle our case before we “go to the law” to file a lawsuit in Court.

“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.”  Luke 12:58.

Second, even after the filing a lawsuit, many people try to resolve their cases through mediators for different reasons.  But, one of the reasons that many (not all) choose a particular mediator is that they know and trust that particular mediator.

Is it not at least generally better to choose saints that you know and trust to resolve your case, rather than choose the unrighteous whom you do not know and do not trust?

Third, saints possess the wisdom of God and the righteousness of God.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:20.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”  Ephesians 1:3.

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.”  Proverbs 37:30.

Is it not at least generally better to choose saints that possess the wisdom of God and the righteousness of God to resolve your case, rather than choose the unrighteous whom are foolish and unrighteous?

“Where is the wise man?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”  1 Corinthians 1:20.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”  1 Corinthians 1:25.

Fourth, ultimately, our trust is in Christ.

We trust Christ to provide such saints who can resolve our cases.  For example, we read in Scripture:  “After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.”  Acts 13:20.

We trust Christ to provide governing authorities.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.  Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God;  and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.  For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil.  Do you want to have no fear of authority?  Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  for it is a minister of God to you for good.  But if you do what is evil, be afraid;  for it does not bear the sword for nothing;  for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.  Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.  Render to all what is due them:  tax to whom tax is due;  custom to whom custom;  fear to whom fear;  honor to whom honor.”  Romans 13:1-7.

But, more comprehensively and more generally, we trust Christ to provide and uphold government with justice and righteousness.

“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”  Isaiah 9:6-7.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 16, 2020

“REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.” – “So you shall purge the evil from among you.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 5.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.  You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.

…

I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;  I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Do you not judge those who are within the church?  But those who are outside, God judges.  REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”  1 Corinthians 5:1-2 and 9-13.

———————-

It may seem harsh to “REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”

Where is the brotherly love?:  some might say.

But, we need to recognize the harm that would occur to the rest of the church if the wicked man was allowed to stay.

“Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?”  1 Corinthians 5:6.  In other words, if that wicked man would be allowed to stay in the church, he would infect the whole church with wickedness.

It is not a strange principle to “REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.” 

We see an example of the application in the Old Testament.

“But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the Lord your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk.  So you shall purge the evil from among you.”  Deuteronomy 13:5.

We also see the leper analogy.

“As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, ‘Unclean!  Unclean!’  He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection;  he is unclean.  He shall live alone;  his dwelling shall be outside the camp.”  Leviticus 13:45-46.

We also see the analogy today from the policy and practice of social distancing and removing the one who tests positive for cornavirus from the midst of others and putting him or her in some type of quarantine.

We also see that no immoral man will be allowed to be in heaven.

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”  Ephesians 5:5.

But, there is hope! 

There is hope for the leper.  He and his house could be cleansed.  See Leviticus chapter 14.

There is also hope for the one infected with coronavirus.  We have seen many recover and released from quarantine to dwell with their family and friends.

And, there is even also hope for the wicked man.  “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”  1 Corinthians 5:5.

If they do recover, then they could be returned to the others after recovery.  And, there will be much rejoicing from the others upon their return.  But, until recovery happened, they remain removed.  There is too much risk to the others if they would be allowed to be with the others while they are contagious or while they continue to be arrogant, steadfastly acting wickedly.

In summary, there is hope, because God restores.  “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.  For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The LORD says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’”  Jeremiah 30:1-3.

We live in a day and age when church discipline is ignored or neglected.  But, church discipline is important.  It is one of the three marks of the true Church.

Article 29:  Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.

We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church.  But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not of the Church, though externally in it;  but we say that the body and communion of the true Church must be distinguished from all sects, who call themselves the Church.  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these:  if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein;  if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ;  if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin:  in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church.  …  Belgic Confession. 

“Do not be bound together with unbelievers;  for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?  Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For we are the temple of the living God;  just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.  We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.  May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.”  2 Thessalonians 3:3-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 15, 2020

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 4:14-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.  But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power.  For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.  What do you desire?  Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?  1 Corinthians 4:18-21.

————–

Today’s devotion will focus on the power of the kingdom of God.  “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”  Verse 20.

First, the kingdom of God has power to convert those dead in sin, hostile to God, and slaves to sin to being alive in Christ, faithful followers, and slaves of righteousness. 

“… we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:23-24.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation …”  Romans 1:16.

“and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:4-5.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3.

In summary, this power of God for salvation is comparable to the power that brought about “a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid” in the language of Canons of Dordt in the section THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Article 12.  And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation:  a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid.  But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted;  but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable;  not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the author of this work declares;  so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner, are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe.  –  Whereupon the will thus renewed, is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence, becomes itself active.  Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.

Second, the kingdom of God also has power to compel obedience to Christ.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Third, the kingdom of God has power to perfectly grow the kingdom and perfectly purify the kingdom as the following parables of the mustard seed and the leaven teach us.

“So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”  Luke 13:18-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 14, 2020

“God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 4:8-13.

“You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us;  and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.  For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death;  because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ;  we are weak, but you are strong;  you are distinguished, but we are without honor.  To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;  and we toil, working with our own hands;  when we are reviled, we bless;  when we are persecuted, we endure;  when we are slandered, we try to conciliate;  we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.”  1 Corinthians 4:8-13.

—————

First of all, today’s Scripture applies to the apostles.

“For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death;  because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”  Verse 9.

Not too many of us today experience sufferings like the apostles.  “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;  and we toil, working with our own hands;  when we are reviled, we bless;  when we are persecuted, we endure;  when we are slandered, we try to conciliate;  we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.”  Verses 11-13.

Why did the apostles experience such suffering?

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;  perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken;  struck down, but not destroyed;  always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death works in us, but life in you.”  2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

We may also be called to share some suffering, if necessary, for a while.

But, there is also hope for us!

We will share in the comfort of God.

“and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”  2 Corinthians 1:7.

God’s grace is sufficient for us to endure what suffering that we experience.

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Our suffering proves our faith and results in our glory.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8:16-17.

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  Philippians 3:10-11.

We glorify God and build faith in God in others by both showing God’s power and also showing that God’s power comes from God and not ourselves.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”  2 Corinthians 4:7.

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