Life Application
Bible Studies
The Way Ministries.
Topic: Principle
or Fact Series
Text: 1 Corinthians
Principle:
“A fundamental truth or proposition
that serves as the foundation for a belief system or a chain
of reasoning” (Google)
Fact: “Something that is true or can be
proved with evidence”
Do I live my life on Facts or Principles? How does living a Principled life influence kingdom living? How did the Apostle Paul address the Corinthian church in light of the facts?
Facts or Principles: The Principles of Being Single (Dr.
Myles Monroe)
o
Principles have been in existence long before we
were born
o
Principles are interesting – The are unmoved
(remain in place), never change, silent. Principles are there before you make a
decision and remain in place after you’ve made that decision
o
Stick to the Principles (God’s Principles) – You
will give yourself to anyone when the Facts look right [Principles thrown out
the window]
o God
encourages us to keep His Principles (We keep on experimenting with the
Principles) Deuteronomy 12:28
Be careful to obey all
these words that I command you, that it may go well with you
and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in
the sight of the Lord your God.
- If you know how to read a principle you won't get lost. Everyone should bow to the principles of God in your life
- Principles don't change or shift
- Anywhere on this planet, God's Principles don't change. They apply at all times everywhere.
- God's principles are universal - no consideration for cultures or place. God's answers are the same for all people everywhere
- God's words supersede culture
o
A Fact is the present state of things (I bought
a bright red shirt. This has to be my all time favorite shirt. I wash the shirt
with some of the other all-time favorite things. The shirt gets washed out; my
other all-time favorite things are messed up). Facts change!
o
The Facts will make you nervous
Ø
Don’t devalue yourself because of facts
Ø
Don’t reduce your value to satisfy an immediate
need
o
If you live by Principles then Facts cannot
control you (remember, the Facts are temporary)
Ø
Whatever we are facing right now is temporary
(another door will open – wait [actively?])
Ø
The Fact is that “It is raining” – The sun will
shine again!
Corinth was a key Greek urban center under Roman rule that
eclipsed Athens in size and importance by the time of the great fire in 146 BC.
It was rebuilt in 46 BC by Julius Caesar as a Roman colony and inhabited with
approximately 100, 000 persons. By the time of Paul, it had become the
wealthiest city in Greece (Blomberg).
The city of Corinth was famous for a huge stone mountain
called the Acrocorinth, with the temple of Aphrodite on top. This was the
ultimate symbol of the dominance of pagan religions. Before Christ, these
temples employed thousands of priests and priestesses who “doubled as
prostitutes”. In addition to this, there were more prostitutes available on the
ground level for interested parties. It is from this culture that the word “Corinthianize”
(“play the harlot”) and “Corinthian girl” (whore) became a slang (Blomberg).
The Corinthian church was called out of this culture and the
Apostle Paul pens letters to the church to address “plaguing issues” with the
church @ Corinth. He received a report from the household of Chloe about the
state of the church: “For it has been
reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my
brothers” (1 Cor. 11). The church can gain understanding as to how to deal with
issues by taking heed to the principles and guidelines outlined by the Apostle
Paul to the Corinthian church. He addresses the issues of jealousy,
divisiveness, sexual immorality, the failure to discipline members, wisdom,
apostolic ministry, lawsuits, singleness, marriage and divorce, worship and
doctrine (Nasb).
1 Corinthians 7
This is one of the most interesting chapters in the New
Testament, due to the nature of its being Paul's apostolic answers to no less
than six questions propounded in a letter from the church at Corinth, that
letter being lost, of course, and thus leaving the communications in this
chapter to be understood very much in the same manner as listening to one end
of a telephone conversation.
Significantly, Paul had sternly reprimanded the Corinthians
for the various sins already noted in the first six chapters, before getting
down to the problem of their questions. Therefore, the second major division of
the epistle begins at this point, from whence through the next nine chapters he
would deal with questions raised in the lost letter.
The six questions
treated in this chapter are:
(1) Should married couples continue normal sexual relations
after becoming Christians? Answer: Yes, it is their duty to do this (1
Corinthians 7:1-7).
(2) Should single persons get married? Answer: Yes, in all
normal situations; but for the gifted, such as Paul, celibacy was advantageous,
especially in unsettled times (1 Corinthians 7:8-9).
(3) Is divorce permitted for Christians? Answer: No (1 Corinthians
7:10-11).
(4) When one partner of a pagan couple becomes a Christian,
the other refusing to do so, is such a marriage binding? Answer: Yes, except
when the unbeliever deserts the Christian partner (1 Corinthians 7:12-16).
(5) Should Christian
fathers (or guardians) give their daughters in marriage? Answer: The fathers
and guardians were given authority to solve their individual problems, there
being no sin involved, however the decision went; but certain guidelines were
suggested (1 Corinthians 7:25-38).
(6) May a Christian widow remarry? Answer: Yes, provided
that she marry "only in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 7:39-40).
“Like many other chapters which are sometimes labeled
"difficult," this one contains some of the most instructive teaching
in the New Testament, and affords glimpses of the apostolic method which add
greatly to one's faith in the integrity of the apostles“. (Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible)
Let's examine The Apostle Paul's answer to these key questions as we seek to live our lives based on the Principles of God's words versus the Facts as we see it.
Next post - 1 Corinthians 7
References
Dr. Myles Monroe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2GTUbHYW1Q&t=902s
Blomberg, C. From Pentecost To Patmos. USA: Broadman & Holman Publishers (2006)
No comments:
Post a Comment