July 25
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WOUNDING THE WEAK IS A SIN AGAINST CHRIST
7 However, not all people have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Now food will not bring us close to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. 9 But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will his conscience, if he is weak, not be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through your knowledge the one who is weak is ruined, the brother or sister for whose sake Christ died. 12 And so, by sinning against the brothers and sisters and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to sin. – 1 Corinthians 8:7-13
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Let me refer to the council at Jerusalem where things were clarified regarding the guidelines for the Gentiles who became believers. Acts 15:19 says that “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
In this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, he continues to enlighten the believers about their query on eating foods offered to idols. Even though this letter is written probably ahead of the Acts of the Apostles, they are tackling the same issues on following the Mosaic laws. Paul is addressing the deeper issues lying around this question regarding food. In verse 8, we hear Paul points out that food isn’t the issue here. It is being wary of the freedom that they have received in Christ that it doesn’t become a hindrance for the Gentile believers who are still weak in their faith to be confused or sin. In verse 10, he addresses those who are mature in their Christian walk to be watchful about being legalistic about these things concerning foods that were offered to idols. What good would it do if a baby Christian who is used to his or her custom become judged harshly by a mature believer? Paul says that they can ruin the new believer who is still very weak and may lose their faith. It is a sin against Christ if the weaker believer is ruined.
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REFLECTION
• Why was Paul very adamant to exercise wisdom in dealing with weak Christians?
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ON KNOWLEDGE, LOVE & THE ONE TRUE GOD ILMA’S VLOG
July 24
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ON KNOWLEDGE, LOVE & THE ONE TRUE GOD
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes one conceited, but love edifies people. 2 If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
4 Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. – 1 Corinthians 8:1-6
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In this letter Paul addresses the question whether food sacrificed to idols can be consumed by believers. It is interesting how Paul began this letter with the principle of knowledge and love. In the beginning of this letter, he differentiates the effects of the two principles: knowledge makes a person conceited or arrogant, but the one who operates in love builds up others. Paul further warns the believers to watch out if anyone is assuming that he knows anything because the more he claims he knows, the more he doesn’t really understand. If anyone loves God, he or she is surely going to be acknowledged by God himself.
After Paul explains the principles of knowledge and love, he begins to answer their query on the eating of food sacrificed to idols. He explains that idols have no value at all and that there is only one true God. He further explains that despite the many idols that many have been worshiping, there is only one God. This one true God, is the source of all things and the only reason why they are still alive. He is the reason why all things are created and it is only through him that anything is possible.
For those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ, it is impossible to have knowledge and wisdom. Without Jesus, there can never be true love. The love that the world knows is not the perfect love that God the Father offers. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Paul answers the question on eating food offered to idols by giving them a glimpse of the true character of God, full of wisdom and love.
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REFLECTION
• How can a Christian bring knowledge to those who don’t know the Lord?
REMINDERS ON MARRYING OFF & RE-MARRIAGE ILMA’S VLOG
July 23
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REMINDERS ON MARRYING OFF & RE-MARRIAGE
36 But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let them marry. 37 But the one who stands firm in his heart, if he is not under constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better.
39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. – 1 Corinthians 7:36-40
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In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul answers the question of the Corinthian church whether the fathers should arrange a marriage for their daughter. According to a commentary “anyone” mentioned in verse 36 here refers to the father of a young woman or man of marrying age (his virgin). Acting dishonorably toward his virgin has nothing to do with any kind of improper moral behavior, but with denying his daughter or son the right to marry, based on the way Paul values singleness. In that culture, a young person’s parents had the primary responsibility for arranging their marriage. So, based on what Paul has already taught, should a Christian father recommend celibacy to his child? Paul says it is not wrong for a father to allow his young daughter to marry, even allowing for the desirability of singleness at the present time. In verse 37, Paul recommends being single not only to the unmarried but also to the fathers when they marry off their daughters.
In verse 38, Paul explains that it is neither good nor bad to marry off their daughters or not, but that because of the current distress going on in Corinth, they will be better off to stay unmarried. In verses 39-40, Paul addresses the question about remarriage to the widows. He reminds the women that they are married to their husbands for life but are free to re-marry after they die, but he recommends to stay unmarried after because then, they will be undistracted to serve their Lord God wholeheartedly and undividedly.
It may baffle many unbelievers why Paul recommends singlehood for believers, but I understand that he is making them see that there is less worldly concerns for the single because the married people are bound to please their spouses and family.
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REFLECTION
• How is Paul right in recommending singlehood to serve God more faithfully?
UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION TO THE LORD ILMA’S VLOG
July 22
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UNDISTRACTED DEVOTION TO THE LORD
32 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; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 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. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
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In the earlier verses of this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, he had been advising the Corinthian believers to stay unmarried or be where they are when they are called by the Lord. In this part of his letter, he warns them from being distracted by many concerns in the world. He presented a comparison of the married versus the unmarried in terms of their distractions and priorities. Paul says in verse 32 that he wishes them all to be free from many concerns. In verses 33-34, he illustrates the ways that marriage can bring some distractions in the believer’s life. He points out that the married wife or husband’s interests are divided. The unmarried man or woman is concerned with the things of the Lord and can give their full attention to serving the Lord, whereas the married man or woman have to fulfill their duties to their spouses which may bring a conflict in interest. It can compete with one’s priority and attention that should be wholeheartedly given to the Lord. There are less responsibilities and duties to a single person rather than those with spouses and children.
I can attest to the distraction that marriage can bring to one’s walk with the Lord. It is very easy for us to please the one we married and make them first than the Lord. Of course, Paul wasn’t prohibiting marriage, but merely pointing out how easily we can make our spouses and children idols that may compete with making the Lord first in everything. Before I was truly saved, my life was focused on serving my husband rather than making the Lord first. I am thankful to the Lord that He has corrected this. Now, my husband knows that my Lord comes first in my life. He knows I love him but my love for my Master can never compare with my love for anyone else. It took a while before he understood what that meant. We must seek to secure undistracted devotion to our Lord and Savior.
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REFLECTION
• How can married people avoid making idols of their spouses?
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE UNMARRIED ILMA’S VLOG
July 21
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INSTRUCTIONS TO THE UNMARRIED
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think, then, that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the present form of this world is passing away. – 1 Corinthians 7:25-31
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In this letter, Paul addresses the unmarried. He uses the word virgin both for men and women who haven’t been committed to someone in a covenant. Paul wrote this letter approximately in the year 53-54 AD according to some bible introductions to this book. Persecutions of believers started and Stephen had been martyred. Roman Emperor Nero began his cruel persecutions of Christians. During these times, it was completely illegal to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. To declare that you are a follower of Jesus was considered a capital crime against the state of Rome. It was during these “distressed” times that Paul wrote this letter. Eusebius, a Christian who wrote a history of the early church in around 300 AD wrote a description of the unthinkable torture and executions of early believers. Husbands, wives, children, the elderly, pastors or anyone who admitted that they were a follower of Christ, would be denied disowned by their own families because of the impact it would have on their own lives. They were almost considered criminals against the Roman Empire.
It is in this context that Paul instructs the single men and women of the body of believers. He says that the Lord has not commanded this, but because of such circumstances they are experiencing. He is advising the unmarried to stay single and to stay put whatever situation they are at that moment. Being a follower of Jesus has presented many challenges because of the Roman oppression of faith in Jesus. Paul isn’t discouraging marriage, but presents the advantages of remaining single in the time of distress.
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REFLECTION
• Is Paul’s advice to the unmarried still applicable in our current times now? How?
REMAIN WITH GOD IN THE CONDITION YOU WERE CALLED ilma’s vlog
REMAIN WITH GOD IN THE CONDITION YOU WERE CALLED
17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And so, I direct in all the churches. 18 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. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each person is to remain in that state in which he was called. 21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is the Lord’s freed person; likewise, the one who was called as free, is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
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In this part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he explains the importance of remaining with God whatever condition you were experiencing when you were called. If you were called when you were single or married, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, slave or free, you need to stay with the Lord and continue to serve him and be used by him for his kingdom purpose. Paul mentions circumcision and uncircumcision as an example here. He knows that the Jews place so much emphasis on the importance of circumcision before they can be accepted. Paul is not discounting their adherence to their Mosaic laws as long as they don’t impose their laws as a requirement to be called in God’s kingdom. Paul’s ministry focused on bringing the gospel to the Gentiles as well. Circumcision and slavery is not the topic in this part of his letter. He was actually reminding those who are called to serve Christ to remain in the place they are holding when they were first called. In other words, we do not have to wait for things to change before we serve the Lord. Verse 20 clearly tells us that we are to stay put where we are.
Sadly, many of us have a different view of what it is to be a Christian. We place so much conditions before we actually wear the new nature in Christ. Our fallen nature discourages us to accept the invitation of Jesus without adding our contribution to the salvific act of Christ. We think we can add something from our own effort to change our conditions when God called us first. We need to obey and let the grace and mercy of God transform our lives instead of doing it ourselves. Only God can transform and save us.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God asks us to remain where we are when he called us?
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED ILMA’S VLOG
July 18
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INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SINGLE AND THE MARRIED
7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.10 But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to divorce his wife. – 1 Corinthians 7:7-11
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In this letter, Paul advises both single and married people. He reminds them that his wishes is for them to be like him, single and serving the Lord. He recognizes the fact that each one had been given different gifts to use to do kingdom work. In verse 8, he addresses the single and the widows. He wants them to remain unmarried. Why? I think that Paul presents the upside of being single. When one is single, they can focus on serving the Lord with undivided attention. When one is married, there comes many distractions to making God our focus. There will be responsibilities that one needs to take care of and it can sometimes impede in your priorities. There is also a lot of challenges that come with relationships, but God created us for it. The only way we can have healthy relationships with others is when we have a healthy and deep understanding of our relationship with God. Otherwise, we will fail in our foremost role of being a servant of Christ.
Even though Paul warns them of the troubles they will face when married, in verse 8, he gives them a solution to their passion. He recommends to marry and have their own husband or wife. In verse 10, he gives them the consequence of their choice to marry. It is a permanent covenant where they will remain together forever. We still see the wisdom of this teaching because even though the wife decides to leave when they were disallowed to do so, she cannot re-marry. She can be reconciled again to her husband. The husband is instructed never to divorce his wife.
But what do you do when things do not work as you thought it would when you get married? This teaching is clearly for believers. It reiterates the marriage covenant’s permanency and foundation. Since it is God who allowed them to marry each other, no one can break that promise, not even their own selves. God gives a way out for those who didn’t enter this covenant agreement in God’s perspective.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it better to be single when you are a Christian?
DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES TOWARDS EACH OTHER ILMA’S VLOG
July 17
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DUTIES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES TOWARDS EACH OTHER
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife also to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise, the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 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. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command. – 1 Corinthians 7:1-6
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In this letter, Paul addresses the teaching on marriage. He talks about how a man shouldn’t touch a woman. Because of the existing issues about sexual immorality in the church at Corinth, he advises the men to marry and have his own wife, and likewise the women to have her own husband. He then explains the duties of husbands and wives once they commit to be with each other in verses 3-5. They both have a duty to fulfill to each other. In verse 4, he reminds the wife that since she became one with her husband, she now does not have authority or ownership to her own body and vice-versa with the husband. It is interesting how the world twists the concept of marriage. When a man and a woman marry one another, they still think that they can do what they want with their own bodies or that they have authority over it. Many worldly couples please their own selves and there is no covenant to keep each other holy and fulfilled with one another. In verse 5, Paul advises them to ensure that they do not deprive one another of their own bodies if they are married. The only thing that should stop them from indulging in pleasuring each other is when they have to come together to pray. In other words, Paul is explaining that God still comes first in their relationship if they have committed to Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just like a man and woman becomes one flesh when they get married, believers and Jesus Christ becomes one as well. We need to submit to each other as husbands and wives and submit to Christ as our head in our spiritual lives.
Sadly, many worldly people operate individually even when they get married. They do what they want when they were still single and never submitted to each other. When they do this, they give Satan the power to destroy their relationship
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REFLECTION
• Why would the world not understand the concept of submission to each other?
THOSE WHO WON’T INHERIT GOD’S KINGDOM ILMA’S VLOG
July 15
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THOSE WHO WON’T INHERIT GOD’S KINGDOM
And this to your brothers and sisters! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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
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In this letter of Paul to the Corinthians, he enumerates those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. He specifically points out the unrighteous people who are the following:
• Sexually immoral- gotquestions.org defines this as “porneia” which is translated as “whoredom, fornication, idolatry. It means a surrendering of sexual purity and primarily used with pre-marital sexual relations. From this work, we get the English word “pornography”, stemming from the concept of “selling off.” It is the selling off of sexual purity and involves any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship.
• Idolaters -Merriam Webster defines this word as the worship of a physical object as god or immoderate attachment or devotion to something or someone. Some synonyms would be: worship, adulation, deification, hero worship.
• Adulterers -for Christians, adultery is the sin of a married man having sexual relations with anyone other than his wife or a married woman having sexual relations with anyone other than her husband. James 4:4 specifically says that adultery to God is friendship with the world.
• Homosexuals- sexual relationship with same sex. Leviticus 18:22 prohibits this act.
• Thieves-getting something that isn’t yours, to satisfy your desire to have it.
• The greedy- Proverbs 1:19 says the greed takes away your life. It consumes you.
• Habitual drunks-Ephesians 5:18 says that habitual drinking leads to wickedness.
• Verbal abusers- Matthew 12:36-37 reminds us that we will be accountable for each word we utter. Verbal abusers will struggle with accounting for their wickedness.
• Swindlers-are dishonest and defrauders. They purposely do it to gain something for themselves.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Paul enumerated to the Corinthians these sins?
AVOIDING LAWSUITS AMONG BELIEVERS ILMA’S VLOG
July 14
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AVOIDING LAWSUITS AMONG BELIEVERS
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? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 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? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. – 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
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In this letter, Paul confronts once again the Corinthian church of their trivial issues that cause the members of this church to be divided. In verse 1, he raises a question to the family of believers about bringing to court their insignificant issues. He is rebuking them for not dealing with the issues at hand in a loving and wise way. The members of this church were having disputes that they become so petty to bring it to the higher courts. Paul wants them to realize that believers are given the chance to judge the world, or even angels. In verse 3, he reiterates the authority given to those who serve Christ. If the believer has been given the Holy Spirit to live inside him, then he has the gift of wisdom to discern and recognize what is right or wrong and what is loving or not.
He questions them in verse 4 about leaving matters to be decided upon by those who do not belong to the church. Of course, Paul doesn’t discount the importance of government and civil laws. What he is trying to address here were the reports that reached him regarding the unimportant quarrels that could easily be resolved among their fellow believer. In verse 7, he points out to them that he considers it a defeat when they are doing this immature and unloving way to deal with differences among their brothers and sisters in Christ. He was stressing the point that it is better to be cheated on rather than bring it to human courts. It would only show that the family of believers are not united in their understanding of God’s laws.
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REFLECTION
• What does lawsuits among fellow believers reveal to unbelievers and the world?